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From Eliza M. (Boykin) Cobb to her daughter, Penelope Beatrice Jones |
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Eliza M. (Boykin) Cobb, of Mifflin, Henderson Co (3rd District), TN, is the wife of Dr. Pharoah Boone Cobb. Eliza is writing to their daughter, Penelope Beatrice Jones, wife of Samuel Jarrett Jones. It is not certain where the daughter resides at this time, but Penelope and Sam J. Jones are recorded in Dyer County census begining in 1870.Their daughter, Alice Applewhite Jones, married Allen Lassiter and moved to Trenton, Gibson Co, TN. Alice and Allen Lassiter are my great grandparents. At the time of this letter, 1861, Penelope and Sam have one child - Robert. Penelope was raised in Henderson Co., TN and this letter relates all the news from home, listing folks and family that she would have known. The 1860 Henderson Co TN census records many of the surnames mentioned in this letter. I have tried to document many of the names listed. I will appreciate your updates and corrections.
19 Feb 1861 Dear Daughter, As I have a several things to write about, I have selected a large sheet which will be filled, before mail day. We are all as well as usual, old Fail and myself (torn page) ............, and Mrs. J H THOMAS recovering, is all that are complaing I believe. We had a very sudden marriage last week, ADELINE WEST (1) to Mr. SAYLE (5). They had no one but the waitors. MANLY had to give place to JO FRY (2). LIZ HENDRICK (3) and MARY WEST (1) were the young ladies, and I believe COLUMBUS (4) was the other. They were married on Thursday evening at 5o'clock, started or went to Lexington the next day (evening) to WILLIAM PENN's(5) of Lexington, who married Mr SAYLE's(5) sister. They had big crowd, gave a Union supper. He (Sayle) was in school monday morning. ALICE (6) and I called on AD (7) yesterday morning (monday). She looked quite pleased and happy. They think Sayle a second Soloman. I will just on, and give you all the news of the day. Mrs. CAWTHERN (8) is in much trouble. Mrs. GRAY (9) died last week, before she could get to see her. Her death was sudden to all. They all thought she had dyspepsia, and it was DROPSY (10). She sent for your pa, but she was too far gone. She told your pa to tell her, what he thought of her condition. He could not alarm her, for she was prepared, and did not fear to die though she would like to live until April. GRAY had written to her, he would come then, but he had disappointed her several times. She sent a passing word for me to come, and I intended going when your pa returned, but she died the second visit. I felt so sorry, I could have shed tears if it had done any good. I forgot to tell you about our negroes being stole. Your pa got a letter from Jo to that affect, but it came through the negroes, and it was all nothing. My memory is no better, and it causes me much distress at times. S. COOPER (11) came and staid a short time as usual, was in one of her glees. It ..........that she is after BEN, but she and 2 children are at her mothers. DEAN died 2 or 3 months ago. BOB PURDY (12) has gone to the Bend. A Mrs. WILLIAMS a widow occupies the house he left. She is under bad character, but whether she is inocent - I know not. She has been here ever since Christmas, and no one ever called on her, until last week Mrs. HOLTUM(13) broke this and Mrs. PYLE's(14) daughters, S. CROOK, and J. P. THOMAS's wife followed. She is rich they say, but married an old man, and he was jealous of her, and he made his will, and did not leave the youngest child any thing. But she broke the will and atained 15 negroes, and more I suppose. I feel sorry for her. Ms Holtum said "she thanked her a thousand times for her visit." Mrs. WOOD has returned from the North, her sister came back with her. I have not heard where she intends living. They say ADELIA and TUCKER will not marry. MAT P. has returned, she weighed a few days ago, 130. I believe it was. RUSSELL STUTTS (15) and his lady, live in that house ______(torn page). I could tell you SARAH STUTTS married BARRINGER (16), yes they live where INGRAM lived. B.(Barringer) bought it- weather boarded it, and is fixed nice they say. Mrs. DIRKINSON's house takes boarders. She has DR. TIDWELL, DR. B. EDWARDS, and BOINKLEY/BRINKLEY DICKIMAN, he is studying medicine. Your pa (17) has moved his drugs in the old Bradford store house. They are much better fixed than they were. I have not had a letter from ______ nor Eliza for a long time. Mrs. HENDERSON (18). How does she come on? She asked me and DR HUBBARD to write to her and of course we promised. I fulfilled mine though it was an effort, for I was not well. SALLIE PAYNE married a Mr. MERRIWEATHER, a widower, They say he is not smart at all. KATE SHIELDS and BOB TAYLOR (19) were married this winter. Your pa expects to go to Miss- to get an overseer this week. FAIL (20) has bought him a small poor place, near Mrs. PAYNE's. My mind has been much disturbed of late, at the present disturbance in the government. There is an awful cloud gathering, that will burst upon us, and overwhelm us in distress and misery, I fear. Is Samie a Cecedar, or Union man? and how does brother Jack stand? I am anxious to know. If the S. Carolians strike the first blow, there is no telling where it will end, or what will be the result; but civil war will inevitably ensue. They are determined to take fort Sumter and that will be the commencement. (21) You were saying something about bean seed. Plant them and save me some seed and any thing else you want. I know of no chance to get them, unless you send them by Emma Jelks. But take the beans and any thing you have not. I am so anxious to hear form you. How is your bladder disease? I wish you would come up and let your pa do something for you. We would all be so glad. Tell Samie to come, and bring you, before he begins to plough. I had forgot to tell you, that JINIE___ and MILLS EDWARD will marry so says reports. CORSINNE (22) is as sad as ever, and is the most anxious creature to go down among you all, you ever saw. CLI sent word he intended to bring her down. MARY and all the children talk of you often. WILLIAM will be here in March I recon. Write soon, I have not written to JOHN nor ELIZA for months, is the reason they do not write, I recon. Let me know if you will come. Love to SAMIE and a Kiss for dear ROBERT (23) and my prayers for you all. Aff EMC (24) The apples have given out 2 or 3 weeks ago, but I saved these for you hoping to have some chance. I sent E. J. she can get more.... vacinity. Mary sent the waggon and horse to ROBERT JONES. I intended to get it mended. She let THAD break it. P.S. I had finished this befor Fail came, to send by mail, but you will get it sooner now, I feel very unwell this morning as is often the case. I sincerely wish you were nearer, so that I could be with you, when I am able to be out.(25) Try and have a long letter for me by the time your pa returns. I mean if you are well enough. JES says to tell AMANDA and FESABY to take care of her everydays and stockings. She sends howdy to all.
1-- A. M. WEST (ADELINE) 17 F and MARY A WEST 15 F
2-- J. H. FRY -26 MALE
3-- MARY E. HENDRIX - 18 F
4-- C. C. CAWTHERN (CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS "KIT" CAWTHON) - 17 M
5-- REVISED INFO -- West Family Bible Records received via internet correspondence (Spring, 2005)
ADELINE MAHALA WEST (Born: Sunday, 21 Aug 1842, TN - Died: 10 Oct 1903, Alameda, CA)
A. S. Sayle's sister: CORILLA FRANCES SAYLE - B. 1834 IN TN A. S. Sayle's brother-in-law: WILLIAM EVANDER PENN (1832-1895) Opened law office in Lexington, TN about 1852, married CORRILLA FRANCES SAYLE on 30 April 1856, Adopted two girls and a boy. One of the girls died as child. Captain Penn assigned to Andrew N. Wilson's Reg., Sixteenth TN Cavalry in Conf. Army. At the war's end, Penn signed his parole at Shreveport, LA, on June 21, 1865. He and family moved in Jan 1866 to Jefferson, TX to practice law. Later, William was ordained minister in Baptist church. He wrote and published hymnals. He led revivals in other states, Scotland and England. He later settled in Eureka Spring, Ark and is buried in Eureka Springs Cemetery. This info is recorded in The Handbook of Texas Online.
A.S. Sayle's brother who was not mentioned in the letter: SAMUEL A. SAYLE 6-- ALICE COBB, daughter -19 & her mother, ELIZA M (BOYKIN) COBB 54 - Author of the letter 7-- A. M. WEST (Adeline Mahala) SAYLE - Mrs. Algernon Sydney Sayle
8-- Mrs. CAWTHERN / CAWTHON Probably M. D. - 37 F AL 9-Mrs. GRAY Believed to by Mrs E.D. (Sarah) Gray - mother of Balys E. Gray www.tngenweb.org/goodspeed/madison/bios.html#gray 10-- Dropsy. A contraction for hydropsy. Edema, the presence of abnormally large amounts of fluid in body tissue
11-- OLD MIFFLIN CEMETERY, CHESTER CO, TN
12-- BOB PURDY -- 1860 HENDERSON CO, MIFFLIN, TN CENSUS, DIST 3, DWG. 268 Bob Purdy HAS GONE TO THE BEND - An aritcle by the United States Fish and Wildlife reports...The Alabama portion of the Tennessee River Basin is located along what is called the "Great Bend". The name Great Bend was an Indian term adoted by early settlers to describe the arc of the Tennessee River as it reached its southen most bend in what is today Alabama.
13-- Mrs. SUSAN HOLTUM - 24 F
14-- DAUGHTERS OF MRS PYLE RESIDE IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, MOTHER NOT LISTED.
15-- RUSSELL STUTTS - 22M NC
16-- SARAH F STUTTS - 18 F TN
17-- Your PA: DR. PHAROAH BOONE COBB -61 M TN
18-- Mrs B. L HENDERSON - 30 F VA NEXT DOOR NEIGHBOR OF ELIZA M. COBB, LETTER'S AUTHOR 19-- CATHERINE BLAIR SHIELDS (1834-1908) married ROBERT LONG TAYLOR (1834-1906) on 1 Jan 1861. They were both born/died in Grainger Co TN. This was where Pharoah Boone Cobb was born and they were probably family or atleast friends. Listed May 2003 by Ann Blomquist akblomquist@cfl.rr.com 20-- FAIL - short for Pharoah 21-- Letter written just before the firing on Ft. Sumter and the start of the Civil War
22-CORSINNE -- C. (Adelia Corsinni) Cobb - 9 F TN
23-- ROBERT JONES (b. 1860)
24-- ELIZA M (BOYKIN) COBB - Letter author and wife of Dr. Pharoah Boone Cobb. 25-Dr. Cobb returned home before the letter was mailed. He would deliver the letter during his trip to Mississippi.
1850 Census - Penelope Cobb - Dr Pharoah Boone Cobb, father, Mifflin, Dist 3-Dwg 248, Henderson Co, TN
1860 Census -Jane Jones (possibly) - S. J.Jones, husband, Denmark, Dist 4 - Dwg 858, Madison Co, TN 1870 Census -Rachael Jones - Sam Jones, husband, Friendship, Dist 14-Dwg 91, Dyer Co, TN 1880 Census - Penelope Jones - S. J.Jones, husband, Dist2 -Dwg 231, Dyer Co, TN 1890 Census -Burned records
1893- Penelope Jones - Widow's Indigent Pension Application
1900 Census - Penelope Jones - widow, head of household, son Ernest-23 and granddaughter Annie-9
1910 Census - Penelope Jones -widow, living in house of son, Frank Earnest and family 1915 - Widow's Indigent Pension App. - Penelope Beatrice Jones -Recorded as widow, living with children. She is the mother of 8 children - 6 boys and 2 girls. Since the death of their father in 1893, three sons have died. I determined the deceased to be (1) Robert, (2) Edward, and (3) Algenon [d.1903 - Old Finley Cem.]
1920 Census - Penelope Jones - widow, 81 - living in home of son, Claud and family
1920 - Beatrice Jones - buried at Finley Cemetery - age 82, Jun 2, 1920
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