Charleston 1830 Letter from Ann to her brother William M Reid

Castle Pinckney

1830 Stampless Letter from Charleston SC. Written by "Ann" to her brother William M Reid.

In Part...
"i now set down to address you a few lines. I intended writing you before this but was prevented. I have nothing but meloncholy new to relate to you, there have been several dreadful accidents lately. On Thursday 29th of July we had a severe squall accompanied by thunder and lightning. A party of youn men, consisting of Rufus Ingraham, youn Harleston, Bull, also 3 negroes had gone out on a fishing excursion; they were on there way home when the squall overtook them near Castle Pinkney [Castle Pinckney was a small masonry fortification constructed by the United States government by 1810 in the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina.] and capsized the Boat. Several boats went to their assistance and were enabled to save bull and Harleston but meloncholy to relate, Ingrahama and the 3 negroes were drowned.

 It evoked a great excitement as you may suppose, rewards were offered for the body of I and they were 2 days looking but to no purpose, it is supposed the bodies must have been taken by sharks as 2 were caught a few days afterward, one measuring 14 feet 9 inches and the other 10 feet. A fur Cap was found in one and a Negroes Skull in the other. I think Mrs I ought indeed dread water works, more even you recollecto she had a sister drowned much about his age. he was quite a promising youth, I understand; he helped to support his mother with his salary. I met him the morning previous, looking quite well. He was rather handsome.

 The same afternoon a young girl, by the name of Heckley was struck DEAD by lightning standing by a window, eating a piece of watermellon her mother was lying on the bed in the same room, was not injured but the part of the house that was struck very much shattered. We know not the day or the hour. Mrs Cohens house in Broad St was also struck but not much injured.

 A few days ago the Steam boat Macon, which has been running all the Summer to the toland??? Boiler burst, just as she had landed her passengers scalded 4 negroes & the engineer, who died the day after. The negroes have got better, the providences of God have been very awful this summer everywhere.

There has been a dreadful fire in Wilmington during a thunderstorm a house was set fire to by lightning. The fire raged, the whole time during the storm, what an awful scene it must have been. Ancrum Berry was among the principal sufferers. There has also been a dreadful storm of rain at the North, it rained for 4 days without ceasing, bridges, factories, mills and ??? have been floated away, in one place houses were swept away, one with 14 persons in it. it occurred in Vermont. Mrs Keith sailed yesterday for the north............................

Thomas Simons of South Carolina

6 letters, dated 1790s, from Thomas Simons of South Carolina, written from Charleston SC, Newport, Rhode Island and New Haven, Connecticut, all addressed to Charles Ludlow, an early Wall Street, New York City merchant banker. The letters were carried by hand and have no postal markings. A summary of each follows:

[Simons to Ludlow; dated Charleston, South Carolina, Dec 10 1793; 1 p.] "I was requested by our friend COL Read to forward a Bill of Exchange of one hundred dollars to you, the second of which I now inclose. The first you will receive by the Ship INDUSTRY. The bill is drawn on Messrs. Hoffman & Seton. I was happy to hear by Mrs. Read of you & your family. She speaks highly of your charming little daughter. I was in hopes that we should have had the pleasure of seeing Mrs. Ludlow & yourself in this Country, but Mrs. Read does not give us much encouragement to expect you soon. Mrs. Simons joins me in requesting our best respects to Mrs. Ludlow & your father & mother. We will also thank to remember us affectionately to Mr. & Mrs. Livingston & Miss Vanhorne when you see them ... [signed] Thos. Simons ..."

[Simons to Ludlow; Charleston, Dec 10 1793; 1 p..] This brief letter originally enclosed the first Bill of Exchange, mentioned above. In those times important letters and documents were often sent in duplicate -- by different ships or land routes -- to insure delivery against loss.

[Simons to Ludlow; "Rhode Island," Aug 18 1795; 3 pp.] "I have to acknowledge the receipt of your two favors, the last of which I received this morning. Your first favor I should have answered sooner, but I have left Newport & stay above five miles from it in the Country. I am in hopes that the Country here will be of more service to Mrs. Simons & to our girl than Newport, that we cannot so much find here as there. We are agreeably situated on a pleasant farm, which is open to the sea. Mrs. Cain was so well pleased with it she has joined us. Mr. Read I am in hope will also make one of our party. This is certainly the place for invalids. The day is pleasant if you do not vapor yourself in the heat of the Sun, but the agreeable coolness of the evenings contributes more to one's recovery. In your last you mention that you can get 18/6 for my ... indentures payable in Oct, if that price can now be obtained I will ask you to sell them. The first day of Oct is about the time I expect to be In New York. I will therefore [reqeust you] to file them payable on that day. If you cannot get that price, I will thank you to wait until the first of Sept and then sell them, unless you wish that they will sell better now, as I have no thoughts of funding them. I am in hopes that Mr. Read is in New York by this time & we shall meet him soon. The season is so far advanced ... [signed] Thos. Simons ..."

[Simons to Ludlow; from Mrs. Hazards, Thames Street, Newport, Aug 8 1795; 2 pp.] "I wrote you a letter just as I was about sailing from New Haven & inclose one for Charleston. I have to apologize for the trouble I then gave & now give you & shall rely on your goodness for my excuse. I have not received a line from any of my friends since I left New York. I can account for it no other way, than to suppose that their letters are at New York. If you should have any letters, bring them for me. You will greatly oblige me by sending them forward. We are in hopes that you feel no inconvenience from the heat of the weather in New York. We find it pleasant here & may make our best respects to Mrs. Ludlow & Miss Vanhorner and let them know that NewP. has increased very much, but that our little daughter has had a fever. She is now getting the better of it ... let me know what you can get for my indentures payable the first of Oct ... [signed] Thos. Simons ..."

[Simons to Ludlow; New Haven, Connecticut, Jul 26 1795; 2 pp.] "I was obliged to leave New York so early on Sat week morning, that I could not take my leave of you, as intended, without disturbing you. I therefore send up my indentures to you & will thank you to keep them until you hear further from me. Mrs. Simon recovered very much since she has been here. Her eye is much better. Our stay here has been much longer than we originally intended, on account of Dr. Flagg's daughter being sick. We shall, however, sail I hope tomorrow. We have spent the time very agreeably; Mr. Platt's and Mr. Broome's families have been very polite and attentive to us. Will you be good enough to make Mrs. Simon's & my best respects to Miss Vanhorne & Mrs. Ludlow & inform them of the flattering prospect we have of their speedy recovery. Mrs. S. requests of Mrs. Ludlow to beseach such sweet meats she thinks will keep best for her. I will be happy to hear from you ... [signed] Thos. Simons ... P.S. Mrs. S. has had 4 half gallons I've made here for her sweet meats, with her name, which I will forward to the person, who is to make the sweet meats, as would not wish to trouble you with them."

[Simons to Ludlow; Rhode Island, Sep 28 1795; 2+ pp.] "We had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Read on Monday the 4th Inst., but he had stayed so long we dispaired of seeing him here this season. He mentioned to me that you did send him to inform me that I could not get the price that you respected for my indentures. I hope, however, that you have sold them, as I have no idea of sending them to Carolina to be funded. I desired my friiends in Carolina if they could get me a small sum in indentures to get COL Read to inclose them to you; if has sent any, I will be much obliged to you to put them in a broker's hands to be sold immediately. I am giving you a great deal of trouble. If I could be of any service to you, I wish you would command me. I will thank you to make Mrs. Simon's compliments to Mrs. Ludlow & Miss VAnhorne. I inform them that Mrs. Simon is considerably better, but her eyes are still weak that she does not venture to [word not clear] ... [signed] Thos. Simons ...

Find this item on E-Bay

1848-53 JOHN SPRINGS, SOUTH CAROLINA LETTERS

22 handwritten letters, 1848-1853, John Springs III (1782-1853) to son-in-law, AB [Adam Brevard] Davidson of Rural Hill Plantation, Charlotte, North Carolina.


Excerpts:
Sept. 11, 1848, NY - "I arrived here in my usual health from a trip down east as far as Portland having seen much of New England and the Yankey country. It is now very dry and some terrible disasters are taking place from fire. Last night between one and two hundred houses were burnt in Brooklyn just across the south river from this. A number of Engines went over from here to their assistance and they have Telegraphic News from Albany that a second fire has taken place in which 500 houses were burnt, and the fire still rages unstoppable."
Fugitive Slave Law

Oct. 2, 1850, NY - "A runaway rascal (James Hamlet) has been arrested here by the Marshal under the late law, and by him and his Posse taken to Baltimore, and delivered to his owner, a the expense of the US Government. I believe the law with a large part of the community here is a popular one, but is creating a great excitement among the colored Gentry and a few Abolitionists. I see it stated that about 200 runaway villains had left Pittsburg armed to the teeth denouncing the Government and the Country that would not protect them, and determined if necessary to fight their way to the Queens dominions of Canada. Meetings are being had in all the cities and principal towns and strong resolutions entered in to resist the fugitive slave law. One took place here last night, made up of blacks and a few Abolitionists, the strongest resolutions introduced and adopted, calling on all Patriotic lovers of liberty to join and aid, in resisting the law...my own private opinion is it would have been better as some number [ministers?] proposed to have paid the owners for their property, out of the Treasury of the US. Collections are making to pay the passage and expense of some of the villains who may choose to go to Canada so as to get them entirely out of reach of their masters and the people here are gratified at that as they don't want them among them. I do wish there was some way to get our free blacks all off to the free states. I would be willing to contribute liberally to that."

Aug. 8, 1848, Philadelphia - "...reached this last night enjoying so far good health, and without any occurrence worthy of notice, save that between Washington and Baltimore we run over a drunk man lying in the road mashed him to a mummy. I found much political confusion and excitement at Washington I believe mostly growing out of the Presidential election, and from what I see in the Papers today it is feared the Democrats in NC will have a majority in the Legislature if they do not get the Governor."

March 18, 1850, Columbia, SC - Building of Greenville road, 15 miles finished, bringing down cotton and other commodities. "170 bales have been brought down in one trip."

Aug. 7, 1850, Stratford, CT - "We were eight days in Washington and each day attended in the Senate, saw and heard some of the great men of the nation. We remained one day in Philadelphia and six in N York. There was much excitement at Washington on the great compromise bill, and I was mortified to find discussion in Congress was mainly among the Southern men. It seemed they could not agree on any measure among themselves. Since I left that I don't often hear the subject mentioned. It at present seems a difficulty may take place between the US and Texas respecting her boundary with N Mexico."

Ebay Item number:230437618067

Doctor's letter re Sarah Tullis' child, South Carolina, 1822

E-mail: bjberrykeeper@yahoo.com

Dr. James Coleson
South Carolina
12th, March, 1822

This very day of 12th, March, Sarah Tillis, Indian wife of John Tillis, was gathering in the foothills when she wrapped her infante childe in it's blanket and laid the childe down to sleep. Mrs. Tillis continued to gather in her basket when she heard her infant cry out. When Mrs. Tillis turned, a large catamount had stolen her infant childe in it's blanket and tooken the childe at a run into a shallow cave. Though naturally reserved and silent, Mrs. Tillis chased the catamount down and fought the beaste with a limb from a tree for the return of her childe. I examined the childe today and the wounds of the childe are simple and not likely to cause illness, although Mrs. Tillis insists on doctoring the wounds herself with Indian remedies. I see no harm in this action. I will check on the infant childe tomorrow noon.

Notes: Letter is refering to Sarah Tullis, wife of John Tullis. Sarah and John are the parent's of Elizabeth Tullis. Elizabeth Tullis married Prettyman Berry and resided in Hog Mountain, Georgia.

An 1860 pre-civil war dated letter from William Wadsworth to his sister, Emma Wadsworth

1860 PRE-CIVIL WAR LETTER WRITTEN BY CORPORAL WILLIAM WADSWORTH

"…A good nigger is worth from fourteen to eighteen hundred dollars here…." William Wadsworth, July 1, 1860"

A pre-civil war dated letter from William Wadsworth to his dear sister, Emma Wadsworth. The letter by Wadsworth is written from Camden, South Carolina on July 1, 1860.

Little did William Wadsworth know, but a short two years later, in 1862, he would muster into Company "I" of the 83rd Illinois Infantry. His perspective on the South in 1860 is very interesting. What he was doing in South Carolina at the time is left to the imagination.

At the time this letter was written, Abraham Lincoln was busy campaigning and was soon to be elected President on November 6, 1860. South Carolina would be the first to secede on December 20, 1860, on the heels of the Lincoln winning the election. What a time for Wadsworth to be visiting South Carolina. The political atmosphere must have been exciting with the North and South at each other’s throats. This letter gives us great insight into the days just before the Civil War commenced.

WADSWORTH LETTER

Below I have quoted excerpts of the letter

"July 1, 1860

Miss Emma--Sister

I received yours of the 16th and was very glad to hear from you. I am well and doing as well as could be well as could be expected for these times. You asked me to tell you what I think of the South. I think just as I always have about the South and the Slavery question. I always thought that if you would rather live in a slave state than a free one and I expect to live farther South than this before many years. I do not believe that Slavery is right, but still I think that under the circumstances that they are held in the South that it is better to keep them as they are for the Slave and Master, although there is is not one Slave out of ten that does not work enough to pay his master the interest on the money that he has invested in him. A good Nigger is worth from fourteen to eighteen hundred dollars here. As for politics there is not much ‘tis made here yet. I think that the race in this state will be pretty close between Bell and S.A. Douglas.

******
[Wadsworth refers here to John Bell and Steven A. Douglas. John Bell initially opposed secession; however, he later gave his full support to President Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Army. In 1860 Douglas was nominated by northern Democrats for the presidency.] ******

You spoke in your letter about some of them trying to make a split in the…church on the slavery questions there is…and I suppose they can all do what they please, but I hope that they will find…foolish enough to have anything to do with such measures, and I think that if old John Miller would strain as hard for the salvation of his soul as he does for popularity, that he would let such things alone and to counting up men he has cheated in horse trades and pay them the difference.

I left Lexington about a month ago. Times got so dull that we had nothing to do and as I was the lost jer in the shop, I had to take my chances. I came from Lexington to here. I have a good job here carrying on a shop for a man that does not know anything about the business. I am getting two dollars per day. I have been out of stock for two or three days but look for more everyday. I cannot tell anything about when I will be at home. I have not got a letter from Lib since I left home. I wrote to Ed twice or three times and to Lib once but have got no answer yet. I do not think that I will write anymore unless they write to me.

Politics does not bother me as much as the girls. There are so many good looking ones here and they all want to marry. I have almost made up my mind to tie to one of them, but I cannot decide which. I think that I shall find one after…need not be surprised if I should bring her home with me when I come. If I do you…expect to see something good looking. We will have a grand ball at the hotel where I am boarding on the fourth and as I am one of the floor mangers, I will have a good chance to look around among them.

If I leave the man that I am at work for soon I will go farther south, and I think that I will stay here and after the first of next month I am going to try to carry…on the shop on my own …
Give my respects to all inquiring friends and not to ones that do not inquire to. Tell Kate and James that I would like to hear from them….[edited the rest of the letter].

Yours truly….Wm. Wadsworth"