Read the Letters
1850-03-24
To Henrietta from her sister Rebecca. The latter part of this letter was torn in half, so it was impossible to read and very hard to date, but due to its contents, I believe that it was written on March 24, 1850. Rebecca mentions Henrietta’s baby who, at 14 months, would have been Antonie. She also mentions how her son Edward, age 2 or 3, talks about Antonie.
1850-03-27
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. This undated letter was written in 1850. Henrietta has only one child, Antonie, and she refers to the coming marriages of Silas and Mary [Charlotte] Gex, John’s siblings, who were both married in 1850. Mary married Dr. Oscar Hamilton, who Mary Mariam believes had previously been married to Sally Ann Bridges. She closes her letter sending all of her love to John and “the black folks.”
[One year after Mary and Oscar married, their daughter Nannie was born. Sixteen days after her birth, Oscar died. I have not been able to find the cause of his death. Mary Charlotte died 4 years later from ‘consumption’ the term that was used in the 1800’s to describe tuberculosis. Nannie was then raised by her Gex grandparents and later by her uncles. She also died young, at the age of 25.]
1850-09-04
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. This undated letter was written in 1850, before Henrietta’s second son, Brooking was born. Mary Mariam writes about her unhappiness with her husband and how much she wishes she could be with Henrietta and John. She is confined at home because Roger has gone to Arkansas to sell mules, therefore she feels that she can’t leave for visits until he returns. In her sadness, she says:
“If home is not happy – there is none to be found here.”
She also writes that she is making catsup. Apparently, at one time, it was made with either anchovies, walnuts, or mushrooms, but by the mid-1800s, tomatoes were used as the main ingredient. I learned from a later letter that Mary Mariam’s catsup was tomato-based.
1850-11-01
To Oscar F. Hamilton from John Francis Peggs. This letter was written between two brothers-in-law, both of whom were married to Jean Antonie Gex’s daughters. John Francis Peggs, the author of the letter, is married to Sarah Louise, and Oscar F. Hamilton is married to Mary Charlotte. Peggs wants to know if his daughter Cyrene, could board with them and go to school where they are living in Warsaw, Kentucky. Cyrene would have been 10 years old. I don’t know if Cyrene moved in with her aunt as suggested in the letter. Oscar Hamilton died six months after this was written.
1851-00-00
To Elizabeth [Bettie] Downing from Josephine Downing Price. They were both nieces of Mary Mariam and first cousins to Henrietta. In the letter, Josephine writes about her daughter’s passing a year earlier in 1850. She expresses her intention to place flowers on her daughter’s grave as well as on the grave of Elizabeth’s baby [probably Joseph Downing Mason] who is also buried there.
1851-00-10
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She described her journey home after visiting Henrietta and shared that she had received special attention on the boat from Col. Williams. She expressed her joy that three of her children, Henrietta, Virginia, and Edward, live close to each other. However, she also alluded to Henrietta that while Edward tries his best, it’s important to keep in mind that both Virginia and Edward are her stepchildren and had a disadvantage in their upbringing, particularly Edward.
1851-01-02
Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Based on the content of the letter, it is likely that this letter was written in 1851. Mary Mariam has been feeling sad and unwell and recently had a Christmas dinner with her daughter Rebecca and her family. The meal consisted of a variety of dishes:
“I had a piece of old bacon at the head, a large turkey at the foot, beef steak, vegetables, stewed peaches and pickle and jelly and catsup varieties and apple and potato pudding‘s and preserves of different kinds.”
In the letter, she also mentions a hanging that her “negroes” went to. The murder of a Mr. Frederick Nichols by some of his “negroes” which were covered in news articles at the time.
1851-03-16
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes about their family members, including Henrietta’s siblings Virginia, Rebecca, and Roger, as well as Henrietta’s children, Antonie and Brooking. Although the letter is quite long and difficult to read, Mary Mariam does offer some advice to Henrietta about how to treat her husband, John Anthony. She urges Henrietta: “You must make your house pleasant to him [her husband John Anthony] when he returns from his fatigues you must be all that a gentile sweet girl can be to him.”
1851-04-14
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Mary Mariam tells about a disagreement between her brother Collett and brother-in-law Samuel Everett, which has caused a rift between them. She also shares the sad news that one of their slaves, Jack, has passed away from typhoid fever. She mentions that Jack was worth $1000, highlighting the economic value placed on human beings during that time. Mary Mariam also shares some details about her recent travels. She visited Morgan Station to see her father and sister Emily, and her brother Collett was also there.
1851-04-18
To Henrietta [Princy] from Elizabeth Morris Craig [Bettie], Virginia’s daughter and Henrietta’s niece. She wrote it when she was 16 years old and away at school, addressing it to her aunt Henrietta [Princy].
1851-05-06
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. In the letter, Mary Mariam writes about some serious problems between Roger and his father. It seems that Roger is struggling with his mental health, and he eventually leaves in October to move to Illinois. Mary tells Henrietta:
“Roger has not been well. He (?) sold all his mules a few days ago and then apologized. I think he had a fever and a headache. He’s not much company for me when he’s well, but he’s a good son and a gentleman.”
Mary Mariam also gives her daughter some advice, saying:
“My child, be frugal and industrious until Mr. G is out of debt and has all the conveniences he desires. He is very dedicated to his interests, perhaps too much so, for his own ease. You must do everything in your power to make him happy. Be kind to his parents and friends, and if you feel disrespected by them, examine yourself – it may be your fault. Be faithful to Mr. G’s interests, and you will add to your own and your dear mother’s happiness too.”
Finally, she writes about riding her horse to the turnpike to catch the stagecoach, which was their primary mode of transportation in those days.
1851-06-02
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She is planning a trip to visit Henrietta and hopes that her husband will join her. She is also hoping that her father and sister Henrietta [Henny] will also go. She has been unwell and writes that one evening she smoked a pipe. She wrote:
“Your Father is the most devoted to the interests of his children. He says he will have 10,000 dollars to put on interest at New Year or to put it in some profitable place. I wish he would divide it, but enough of this.”
1851-08
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Although this letter is not fully dated, I am confident that it was written in 1851. Mary Mariam asks how many teeth Brooking had, as he would have been 10 months old. She writes that she has been to visit her father, who she says, is quite unwell. She also talks about Roger who was still living at home. Roger moved out two months later, in October 1851.
1851-08-03
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. This is basically news about the family. She lists the food that she is serving for Sunday dinner as:
“a joint of bacon, a roast of beef, two chickens, a fine catfish that cousin Winston sold us, all kinds of vegetables pickles catsup and, and, a fine freezer of ice cream and a Lexington sponge cake and also one of fruit cake.”
Catsup, or the making of catsup is often mentioned in her letters. Apparently, it was a staple on the tables in the 1800’s.
1851-09-01
To Henrietta from her Uncle Collett. He is sending her some peaches and he hopes that she will be able to get some to her mother “Sister Mariam.”
1851-09-28
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She is so unhappy and misses her daughter so much.
She says: “I was truly happy to hear so particularly from you all, and to hear you all were well and in the enjoyment of so many blessings of which I fear you are not thankful enough but still, I like you – feel sometimes as if I could not, be even tolerably happy when I can’t see you and my dear little lovely smart sons whenever I desire to do so and I often feel as if it was such a great privilege John’s Father & Mother has to be so near their dear children – if I could, like them be so, I could go any day, even to see Antonie running about the yard and lovely little Brooking, peeping out the door, to welcome his father when he comes to the house from his useful and laudable engagements – but again, I feel as if I should be even gratified as it regards my children. They are situated (I think desirably), I have not one doubt about either of your husbands ever being anything but what a fine parent could desire.”
1851-10-08
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Although this letter isn’t dated, I am confident that it was written in October 1851. Henrietta’s brother Roger, who seems to have a terrible relationship with his father, has finally decided to leave home and go to Illinois. Her mother says:
“My dear Roger speaks of getting in all his money‘s and going to Illinois in a few days to get land. He says he sees no good he can accomplish here and you know I have always lived for my children. And I am still willing to do all I can for each and everyone of them. Your father is all devoted to his interests or what he considers so.”
Roger leaves a few days later, on October 17, 1851.
1851-10-09
To Henrietta from her sister Rebecca. This letter appears to have been written in October 1851. Rebecca writes about wanting to see the boys, but especially the baby, who would have been Brooking, just under one year old. She also talks about not being able to ride the horse and her swollen feet. One month later, she delivers her baby daughter Mariam.
1851-10-21
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Mary Mariam writes about illness [typhoid fever] and death in the neighborhood. She also tells Henrietta that Roger has left home for Illinois to buy land and she doesn’t know when he will be back. She also expresses concern that there might be discord between the two sets of children in the family, hers and those from her husband’s first marriage. She says:
“I well know two families of children are watchful but let each one enjoy all that is theirs. I shall always encourage a spirit of right.”
She also mentions that Edward does not write to his father, another sign of discord in the family between father and especially his sons.
1851-11-19
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Mary Mariam writes about the birth of Rebecca’s baby Mariam. In several places, she talks about her husband, Henrietta’s father being ill but, in this letter, she specifically refers to his drinking. She writes,
“He has no son with him now [Roger has left home] but he will try to make a future for you all. He is quite crazy and sick but no trouble.”
The impression that one gets from her letters is that her life with him is quite difficult and she is very unhappy.
1851-11-29
To Henrietta from her niece Mary, the daughter of Laura Frazer. She gives her aunt news of the family and talks about the trip that Henrietta’s mother [Big Ma] made to visit her father in Mt. Sterling. It seems that while she was gone, Henrietta’s father went on a drinking spree.
“Grandpa was on a spree [as the Negroes say] for about 10 days, repeated a good many of his old tricks I believe. Big Ma went up to Mount Sterling about two weeks ago and I think it was during her absence the old man concluded to get merry.”
This is a theme that is alluded to throughout the letters. It seems that Mary Mariam’s husband, Robert Brooking Sr., was mentally unstable and had a drinking problem that was a concern of the family.
1851-11-99
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Although this letter wasn’t dated, I am confident, due to its contents, that it was written in 1851. Mary Mariam writes that:
“father is going to miss Roger”
who left home in October that year. She also tells Henrietta:
“And you my dear child be a faithful prudent wife. Be a companion and an advisor, not a servant or a menial such a Man [manner] as your dear husband could not admire you. Be cheerful and agreeable to all his friends. Should he have any faults do not observe them and they will soon vanish as the mist before the sun.”
1851-12-02
To Henrietta from her sister Rebecca. Rebecca just had her third child, Mariam, named after her mother. She had been sick before the baby was born with typhoid fever. She writes about her delivery but also about how hungry she was as she was only allowed to have tea and crackers!
1851-12-14
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Due to its contents, I am confident that this undated letter was written in 1851. Mary Mariam has yet to hear from her son Roger, who left home in October. She also mentioned that Rebecca has been “confined” for a long time and talked about the baby. She is referring to Rebecca’s baby, Mariam, who was born the month before, in November. She also writes that her brother Collett, is planning to marry Jane Luket. [Collett married Jane on December 18th, 1851.]
1852-01-05
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes about her brother, Collett Richardson’s marriage, and about some fabric that she bought at an auction of dry goods in the ballroom of the Flanagan house in Winchester. She has been traveling around via sleigh due to all the snow. Apparently, they have “hired out” some of their slaves and she names them. She again writes about how she misses her children and says:
“I do love to attend to my children’s wants even if they have enough or you both have. I do wish I could fly away through this snowy day and see you and eat Rabbits and Birds and talk to you all.”
1852-02-00
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Although this wasn’t dated, I am confident that it was written in 1852. Henrietta had two children by then, and her mother refers to Antonie and his dear little brother; Robert Brooking who was born in 1850. Mary Mariam writes about family news, and the visit of her sister and father, and admonishes her daughter to:
“be a loving and prudent wife.”
She also wrote:
“Roger said he was working for life, but said nothing about coming in, but wrote to have his money sent out to him as soon as collected which he expects is due the first of March.”
Here is another indication that the letter was written in 1852, as Roger left home in 1851.
1852-02-05
To Henrietta [Prince] and Virginia from their sister, Rebecca. This letter was very difficult to read. In it, Rebecca writes about her baby daughter, Mariam, and the comments that the family made about who she resembles and how happy they are that she was named after her mother. She mentions the “negroes” and the various tasks that they do, and writes about illness in the neighborhood, particularly typhoid.
1852-03-10
To Henrietta [Princy] from Rebecca. This letter, though lacking the year, was written in 1882. Rebecca mentions the presence of typhoid fever in the house and about her baby girl who was born the previous November. Many in her family are sick including the “negroes” and one of them [Patsy] has died. She talks about having to get up at night and nurse the babies. Perhaps she is nursing Patsy’s baby as well as hers. She writes:
“Lewis, Bewford, Mary, Jim and Albert are all ill of the negroes. Mr. Spencer and Edward [her husband and son]in the house little Phoebe has had a long spell of fever and is just out, can rock the crib and Nelly [another slave]and I do all of the work.”
She also writes:“I cannot bring anyone to come here, the Drs. all say that typhoid fever is contagious.” She then writes “it would make your heart ache to see poor little Ed writhing under the scorching fever and hear Mr. S groan. Of course, I cannot feel so much for the poor sick negroes.” She wonders if Henrietta is, as she uses the word ‘humped,’ pregnant again.
1852-03-16
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes about the typhoid fever that Rebecca and her family are still dealing with and how ill they have been. Two of the Spencer “slaves” [Patsy and Buford] have died. Rebecca, her husband John, and son Edward have all been ill with typhoid.
1852-05-02
To Henrietta from her brother Roger. He has left Kentucky and moved to Illinois to start farming. He tells her about what he has been doing and says that he has been keeping a “bachelor hall,” but has been to town and called on quite a number of ladies.
1852-05-12
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes that she has sent Roger his clothes and bedding as requested. Many of the servants are sick with scarlet fever or measles. She complains about her loneliness:
“I often think when I am here so lonesome, if I could just be with you, situated to assist you in everything, I would enjoy it so much. I sit sometimes and see all the little negroes get over the fence in the yard and gather Dandelions and (they) look so happy. I think what would I give if I had enough to make me thus lighthearted, but I should not murmur.”
1852-06-07
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes about a couple of murders:
“Sam Hansen killed Bill Anderson a few days ago both drinking I suppose. They disagreed above town somewhere at a Jack stable and he knocked him in the head with a piece of plank. He is at large and I do not hear much about it and on Sunday last, at the June meeting, one of Billy McConn‘s man killed one of Dr. Martin’s, Charlotte’s child Norbum and stabbed his man Frank seriously”
In this letter, she also writes about her help and about how much she misses seeing her daughter and her two grandsons. She laments that she is not “the head” [she does not have the power] but if she were, she would: “divide out and set all at ease” [she would divide their assets between the children, his four from his first wife and their three.] She also writes about Edward, the eldest, who has moved to Missouri and is trying to make a living for himself but is finding it very difficult. She admonishes Henrietta to stop nursing Brooking, who is over one and a half years old:
“Brooking shouldn’t suck anymore you must take care of your health and do not get wet or cold.”
1852-07-02
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Apparently, Antonie and Brooking have had whooping cough. Then she writes about how Lexington, Kentucky is draped with black due to the death of Senator Henry Clay:
“The town was looking very mournful. They had just done tolling the bells when we got there and all the houses were closed and hung with crape and slow cannon firing. I saw a good many of the family going and coming to see Mr. Clay as we passed. I suppose there will be an immense crowd when his remains arrive.”
Their servant Abram died and she is anticipating a visit from Henrietta. She has had the house cleaned and some of the buildings white-washed. She tells Henrietta that:
“You must learn to be fond of a garden and cultivate flowers and have a nice garden when home as nice in order and all things pleasant, every member of the family is most happy. And you must always be pleasant. We females have much to perplex us often but we should be the Lady always. We might in after life wish that we could recall somethings. Do not think I write to you this because I fear you are not prudent. I believe you are less inclined to do wrong than I am, but I know “the right” and approve it too.”
1852-07-21
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She is giving family news and writing about Henrietta’s coming visit. She is going to go visit her father and family in Mount Sterling and will be “going up in the stage” [stagecoach].
1852-09-27
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Henrietta has just been visiting and her mother writes about how much she misses her and the children. Her stepdaughter, Virginia, is visiting. She says that she hasn’t been able to visit a neighbor because:
“I have not been to see her I am so confined no horse I can ride and I can’t walk. It is bad to be old and poor.”
1852-10-17
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. This undated letter was easy for me to put a date on because Mary Mariam says that she is writing one year after Roger’s departure, which was October 17, 1851. In this letter, she expresses clearly her unhappy marital situation and writes:
“I feel as if I was not so selfish. I am a creature of warm affections and I’m ready and willing to perform the duties of a wife, mistress and all, as well as mother, but your father, as you know, does not or cannot feel as I do, and then he has power to withhold many little things that would greatly add to my enjoyment by the way of rendering home agreeable to me, his children, and friends and to himself too if he was wise enough to see it, which makes my affections stronger for those I love.” She also says, “when my mind is unquiet I am nothing and how can I be cheerful when I have not a child to cheer my lonely table at my meals or make the long dreary fireside bearable at night. But I should not murmur I find all of us have our vinegar and gall.” She also writes about being hungry for an opossum dinner. “I have been almost distracted for one but our people are too lazy to hunt.”
1852-11-10
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes that the post office has been changed and letters should be sent to Pine Grove. Her back is weak and she is lonely and depressed.
“I look around sometimes and think what have I to sustain me, one dear child far away in a rude strange land when I am really in need of him here [she is speaking of her son Roger], and you and yours my love out of my reach and indeed it is a gloomy season. It is lonely here indeed. I sometimes go upstairs and lay down and wish I could fly away and be with you just that time. I want to see dear little Antonie take off his red coat and let me see how fast he can run.”
She has sold her butter but wishes that she lived on the river where the market would be better. And here she is talking about their slaves:
“Your father is quite unwell and has so much to attend to and so many hands to watch he is almost frantic sometimes and they take all the advantages of him. You may depend some of them but let them go and—”
1852-11-18
To Henrietta and her husband, John Anthony, from Mary Mariam. Roger, Henrietta’s brother is still trying to make a go of farming in Illinois. He has a contentious relationship with his father and left Kentucky a year ago. He stayed in Illinois for one more year before returning to take over the family farm in Kentucky but not before making an agreement with his father that they can mutually live with.
1852-12-05
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes about the death of Mary Brand, the granddaughter of her sister Molly Ann, and the daughter of her niece, Priscilla. She also wrote a second letter to her son Roger. In that letter, she referred to her husband, Roger’s father as Mr. B. In this letter, she says:
“Next morning early I set out to get a little I ordered (for) home, a barrel of sugar and a sack of Folgers coffee.”
I thought that I had misread this until I looked up and found that Folger began producing coffee in 1850, so what she wrote was plausible.
1852-12-19
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes that she wishes that her son, Roger would come back to Kentucky but she has no power to help make it happen. She also talks about the things that the various servants [slaves] are doing. She mentions nine of them in the following sentence:
“I must go on to tell what all are doing, cousin Gillen is cleaning jars and cooking, Caroline, Rosa, Rachel and Kit, gone to tend to their babies and I all the time send out Sterling, and Wash and Candace and Catherine to see their children too.” She also says, “I have just got through with my pork lard and sausage last Friday and I was so perfectly broke down. (…) We rendered the lard out at the wood pile and made the sausage in the kitchen. The hogs were so young I did not have much lard to spare.”
1853-01-09
To Roger and Henrietta from Mary Mariam. There are two letters here, the first is written to Roger, who is trying to begin a life farming in Illinois. There have been serious floods that she refers to. The second letter is for Henrietta. It is difficult to know what was written as the sides of the letter have been torn off. Both parents are trying to get Roger to return to Kentucky and take over the running of their farm. Perhaps Mary Mariam copied what she sent to Roger for her daughter and that is why Henrietta also has the letter that was written to her brother.
1853-02-13
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes about the recent visit of her brother Collett and that her husband gave his “consent” for her to visit both Collett and Henrietta in the near future. She says:
“He got your father’s consent for me to go down with Papa in about three weeks to see him and make my visit to you all at the same time.” (…) “the roads are so bad no one will send a wagon to the turnpike.”
The usage of ‘turnpike’ surprised me, as I thought that it was a contemporary term.
1853-02-17
To Henrietta from her first cousin Bettie, Molly Ann’s daughter. This undated letter was written in 1853. In the letter she refers to her “afflicted sister,” the term that was used for ‘bereaved’ and she was most likely referring to the death of Mary, her sister Pricilla’s daughter.
1853-02-27
To Anthony and Cyrena from their son, Louis. He had traveled to California to possibly join the Gold Rush. He tells them about his travels:
“Horse stealing very common occurrence,”
and how it is dangerous for someone to travel alone and about the Indians in the region. He mentions moving on to:
“That will be in mountains near the Oregon line on Cloud River.”
I can’t find a Cloud River in Oregon, but there is a McCloud River in California. Therefore, I am not sure where he is referring to when he says he will make one last attempt at mining. He mentions John in his letter who would be his brother, John Anthony.
1853-04-05
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She had been to visit her daughter and told her about her sister:
“Rebecca is much confined with her children. They all have the whooping cough very bad.”
1853-04-10
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes to Henrietta mentioning her coming five-year wedding anniversary and she says that she has just read Uncle Tom’s Cabin.
“I have just finished reading Uncle Tom’s Cabin. Some natural scenes there indeed.”
She advises Henrietta to:
“Try to take a bath, clean up the house and let the children sleep and you do not know how much more cheerful you would feel. It is so beautiful a part of the day and it seems to me that it quiets us all day.”
She has only been back home for two weeks since her visit and she writes: “Well it is almost the same time of the evening that the Dianer [probably the steamboat Diana] came along and hurried me off, two weeks ago. What I am thankful, I live in the day of such good traveling means and all.”
1853-04-16
To Henrietta and Virginia from their sister Rebecca. She writes that her boys have whooping cough and that her husband is traveling to buy horses. She says that while he is gone:
“We had a white man hired but I have to attend to him and the negroes too.”
She refers to Virginia going to “New York” her reference to the coming birth of Virginia’s ninth child, Albert Craig, who is born on June 19th [she has three more].
“Well sister Virginia “and” you are going to New York again? I hope you will have a quick trip but don’t name it Clara, do name it for some of our own people and don’t get romantic. I think that is the last thing on earth to feel romantic about.”
Rebecca also writes about her baby Mariam, who would have been five months old. Apparently, Henrietta’s mother-in-law, Cyrena, uses “snuff.” Rebecca says to her sister:
“Tell cousin Cyrena I can sniff with her. I have bought a bottle of snuff and a box too so I suppose I will be conformed in the habit soon. Mr. S. is so opposed to it. I make as little to do about as possible. I keep my box in the wardrobe and put some in my hymn book when I go to church. I am afraid to snuff before Ma and Pa.”
1853-05-01
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes to Henrietta about the visit that her sisters Emily and Henrietta made to her, and how their buggy broke down. She is worried about Henrietta’s brother, Roger:
“I have been uneasy about my dear Roger but trust in the Lord. Oh, what could I do if my lovely son was taken from me, my joys now are only reflected from those of my children.”
She writes about a neighbor’s son who ran away to get married and says about the new wife:
“she is a pert slut as you ever saw.”
In closing her letter, she writes:
“do my dear be happy, be prudent, do not let anyone intrude in your and John’s rights. You will have to have a stern dignity to get along with this world. I do love everybody but no one shall set their foot on my rights certain. Give my love to Mr. and Mrs. Gex and Silas and Emma and Luke and Mary G and all the black friends and Thomas.”
1853-05-08
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes about the fall that her father had and how she had traveled up to see him along with her sisters. Apparently, he fell from his horse and hurt his leg:
“dear Father who on Sunday last, was thrown from his horse in his own yard and severely injured and all thought seriously. The horse was a tall one and very much pampered and as soon as he got up, (the horse) jumped and vaulted until he was thrown a considerable distance and fell on his left hip.”
1853-05-28
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. This is another letter to Henrietta telling her about a visit that she has just made to visit her father who fell from his horse a couple of weeks prior and injured his leg. She said that she:
“found my dear very dear old parent suffering a great deal. His left leg up to the hip swollen so that it was glossy and blue. The doct that evening bandaged it from the toes to the hip but the confinement is so painful and all the skin is off and he is so patient and so glad to have his (dear daughters) as he kindly calls us to be with him and attend to his every want. Also, his man (slave) Tom is right by him all the time”.
1853-06-18
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes that she has entertained the railroad engineers who are in the process of laying the new tracks in their neighborhood.
“They say the work will commence this winter and will probably be completed to Winchester in 18 months.”
She also writes about how she would like to go with Virginia’s husband, Mr. Craig, to see their daughters at their school after their examination, but that she believes she is too ill to join them. She is waiting for her son Roger to come home. She also refers to the home that they are building and asks:
“how does the building come on?”
1853-08-30
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes about the agreement that Roger has made with his father to return to Kentucky from Illinois.
“We have got a letter and he says he will return to Kentucky and enter into a bargain with his father that will, he hopes, give both him and his Father satisfaction.”
He has been gone for nearly two years.
1853-09-21
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes that she hasn’t heard from Roger for a long time. They are expecting him to return to Kentucky from Illinois, where he moved in October 1851. She tells Henrietta:
“Your Father seems still quite uneasy and I fear will continue so until his mules arrive. He is in a constant state of uncomfortable excitement.”She also mentions Rebecca’s little girl, Mariam “trotting around” who would be about a year and 10 months old. At the end of the letter is a note written in pencil from Henrietta to her sister Virginia asking her to come see her because she is unwell. It appears that she used the space at the end of her mother’s letter to write the note. She was newly pregnant and perhaps that was why she was “feeling poorly.”
1853-10-10
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She has been to Morgan Station to visit her father, talks about news of the neighborhood and tells Henrietta that her brother Collett’s wife, Jane, had a baby boy one month ago.
1853-11-08
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. This letter follows the pattern that she is a very lonely and unhappy woman, especially with her marriage. As the second wife of her husband Robert Edward, there seem to be problems that he is causing between the three remaining children of his first marriage and her three children.
1853-11-16
To Henrietta from her brother-in-law, Lucien Camille. He writes from Marietta, where it appears that he was attending Marietta College, established in 1835, in Ohio. He refers to her two “beautiful children” which means that the letter was likely written between 1850 and 1853. In 1854, Mariam was born and Anthony died and I assume he is writing about Anthony and Robert Brooking. It has sections torn out of it so it was difficult to read.
1853-11-27
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. Mary Mariam writes to her daughter and tells her that she is still waiting for Roger to come back home. They have killed their hogs and she is making sausage. She refers to the notorious Matt Ward, William Butler murder case. Henrietta’s brother-in-law, Luke, is coming to visit and Mary Mariam is looking forward to his visit.
1853-12-18
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She writes that she is still waiting for her son Roger to return to Kentucky:
“I got a letter from Roger 10 days ago, he said he would be at home by this time. I hope he may now be with you. Oh we are wanting him so much but he will have a close uncomfortable time in the management of this large, badly managed family. But I hope he may be able to keep all things right.”
She tells Henrietta news about the family, the neighbors and the slaves. “All the negroes are well and doing pretty well but not managed at all. I have to warm up Kitty and Cynthia sometimes. Caroline keeps her gang straight.”
1854-03-02
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She has just heard of the death of Henrietta’s eldest child, Antonie, and is devastated by the news. He was her favorite grandchild and she is stricken with grief, but is also trying to condole her daughter and son-in-law. There is no indication in this letter why he died, but according to the death certificate, it was listed as typhoid. She writes:
“I look out in the porch where he used to sit at the table and open his beautiful eyes at me and I would be so scared. Oh, shall I try to forget all his endearing ways. I never should have had a favorite amongst my little ones.”
1854-03-04
To John Anthony and Henrietta from his brother Lucien Camile. He is condoling them on the loss of their son, Antonie. He is attending a military school and mentions that smallpox is prevalent in the area.
1854-03-05
To Henrietta and John Anthony from Rebecca and William Spencer. This is a condolence letter in response to the news of the death of their son, Antonie.
1854-03-06
To Henrietta [Princy] from Warren Frazer, the husband of her half-sister, Laura. Although the handwriting in this letter is beautiful, it is quite difficult to decipher. He is sending condolences for the loss of Antonie.
1854-03-12
To Henrietta from her Aunt Emily. This is a condolence letter due to the loss of Antonie.
1854-03-16
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. She is in despair over the loss of Antonie. She wants to go visit Henrietta when she is able but wonders who might go with her. She tries to send comforting words to her daughter and John but is so unhappy herself and questions her own life. She died September 11th, six months later.
1854-06-27
To Henrietta from Rebecca. There are two letters, one from Rebecca and one from her son, Robert Edward who must have been about four years old. He was asked to “write a letter to his aunt.” I believe that this must have been written in 1853 or early 1854 because of the contents of Edward’s message. He is a little boy but has a good vocabulary. He mentions “Big Ma” who is his grandmother, Mary Mariam.
1854-08-06
To Henrietta from Mary Mariam. This is the last letter that Mary Mariam wrote to her daughter. She died on September 11, just over a month after writing this. In this letter, she writes that her son Roger has “gone South” to sell mules but she is not sure where he went, and that her husband has had a stroke. She is urging Henrietta to come visit her and to bring her husband, John Anthony, with her.
1854-08-24 ?
To Sallie and Molly Ann from Mary Mariam. Although this letter is undated, I’m sure that it was written on August 25, 1854. Mary Mariam is telling her sisters about their sister Emily who is gravely ill. Emily died on Saturday, August 26th, her 10-year-old daughter Anna died on September 9th, Mary Mariam died on September 11th and Emily’s son, Marquis, died on September 29th. I assume that they all died from the same illness. There is a second letter to Henrietta from Bettie Mason making plans to go to Morgan Station together where their Aunt Emily is dying. Henrietta doesn’t make it and she is also not with her mother when she dies.
1854-09-13
To John Antony from Rebecca’s husband, William Spencer. He wrote to John Antony telling him of the death of Mary Mariam. After visiting her sister Emily and her father in Morgan Station, Mary Mariam returned home but fell sick of the same thing [flux] and died two weeks after her sister died. Henrietta was not there when her mother died and William is urging John Anthony to bring her for the funeral service.
1856-10-10
To John Anthony from Lewis Lunseford Mason, the husband of Bettie, Henrietta’s cousin. John Anthony wants to buy a slave from him. Lewis writes:
“Charles now wishes you to buy him. It is all right. I can get 1200 for him at a word in Fayette for a farmer for his own use, but rather than separate him from his wife, will let you have him. I want you to give me $1000 for him. (…) If you conclude to take Charles you will please say so by mail or receipt of this and you can deposit the money in the bank Hamilton (?) and Mr. Brauford will send it to me. (?) I send you a bill of sale which you can keep or send back as you please if it is right. My love to Princy and all and kind regards
LL Mason
October 10th, 1856
“I have this day sold to John A Gex my negro man Charles about 24 or 25 years of age for the sum of $1000 the receipt of which is kindly acknowledged. I warrant said Negro man to be sound and a slave for life as well as this letter hereby conveyed to be clear and unquestionable. Gave under my hand this day and date own written”
1857-02-19
To Henrietta [Princy] from her cousin Elizabeth [Bettie]. This was a very difficult letter to read. Bettie wants Henrietta to come visit and wants John to join her. She is in the process of moving to a new house because the other one was too big and they needed too many servants. Bettie tells Henrietta news of other family members and tells how her family has been vaccinated against smallpox, and how she should come and get her family vaccinated too. It is Bettie’s husband, LL Mason, who sold the slave, Charles, to John Anthony.
1857-05-17
To Henrietta from Laura Frazer, her half-sister. She writes about the death of Henrietta’s maternal grandfather and how he didn’t leave anything in his will to the children of his daughter Mary Mariam. So, there is nothing for Henrietta, Rebecca, or Roger.
1859-08-22
To Henrietta from her niece Mary Frazer, the daughter of Laura. She says that she is happy to hear that Henrietta’s new house has been built. This is the first mention of the Gex Kentucky home which was, as this letter attests to, built by 1859. Mary is newly married to William Crawford Day [May 28th, 1859] and is presently in Winchester staying with her parents.
KAREN GEX ASFOUR 