Letter:
State of Tennessee Claibourn County
November the 18. 1850
Dear sister & Brother
After a delay of some considerable time, we put pen to paper to give
you some information concerning our selves and cuntry as we promised and we
feell that it is our duty in the first place to ask for givveness for our
failure in not writing as we promised and hope you will do us the kindness
to do so. I will now state to you that we are all well as common, and so as
the connection. The Helth of this County and adjoining ones ar generally
good times ar hard in this cuntry. Corn crops ar very indifferant this
season. Corn is going to b a very good price. Other property at tolerable
prices. Their is nothing very strange in thi as parts. Their as a good many
People leaving East Tennessee, some for Arkansas & some for Texas and other
places and their is a great many preparing to leave this state for verrious
places to tedious to mension, we will now state some facts touching the
perticulars of our family &c. Our daughter Manerry who married Philip
Bewley departed this life on the 30th day of May 1848 leaving one child
whose name is Joseph and we ar keeping him and has bin sense her death. we
arrived at their house some five minutes before she died but she was unable
to speak or to reccognise us. But we was informed by her attendents that
she was willing and prepared to exchange this life for a better one.
Phillip Bewley arived at my houst some three weeks back from Misouria, he
was at Jackson Harpers and they was all well when he left. Green Cardwell &
Jane ar well & have two fine children a Boy & Girl & wishes to be
remembered to you all Our daughter Eliza was married the 17 day of April
last to Wm. M. Cleveland of Grainger County, and they wish to be remembered
to you all. they live in about eight miles of us in Grainger County. I will
now state some thing concerning your mother & Father Moore. they ar as well
as could bea exspected. they still speak of selling & comeing to your
state. they tinder to you their love & wish to bea remembered by you. The
old man is getting tolerable frail, he has lost his hearing more than when
you saw him last. Brother Charles I will now say something concernig your
Father & Mother they ar well as much so as people of their age. The old man
went this Fall to North Carolina to sea his Sisters and found them well so
I am informed, he has arived back at home safe. The old man is one among
the smartest men of Claibourne County of his age. William Lewis and Family
ar well, he has three daughters Married sense you was hear. Samuel Moore
snr & Family is well. three of his childern Lewis, Jasper, & Caroline &
familes moved this fall to Arkansas. John Jennings & Family ar well they ar
living on my land and has a fine daughter making in all seven children.
Samuel N. Moore is now hear and as well togeather with his family. he is
living on the Butler farm. he expects to leave this cuntry next fall for
arkansas. they send you their love and wishes to bea remembered by you.
Concerning the lawsuit between William Butler & the the Bullards. Butler
gained it But the Administrators brought Alfred Moore in debt about the
amount that John Bullard was owing him. theas lines is Alfred more from
Samuel Moore
Give our love and respects to Alfred & esq M___* and wishes to bea
remembered by them and ___ them to write to us & tell them that if they
wish to sea their Father & Mother they had better come to this cuntry and
sea them for if they sell out I donot believe they will bea able to get to
your cuntry. Zilph sends her perticular love & respects to Elisabeth &
Lousinda Lewis and wishes to bea remembered by them she would bea powerful
glad to sea them. And now in Conclusion we will tender to you howdy &
fairwell. I hope we may meat in a better world where parting between
friends will be no more. So farewell for the presant. Andrew & Zilpha
Jennings
To Charles & Elizabeth Lewis. N.B. bea sixtain & answers this letter and
gives us all the News & that you think proper Do not bea like us fail to
write
Note:
November 18, 1850 letter from Anderson Jennings and Zilpha Jennings in
Claiborne County, Tennessee to Charles and Elizabeth Lewis in Linneus,
Linn County, Missouri.
* Alfred and Squire Moore
Provenance: Intrinsic Collectibles, 2005