Barr, Thos D. ‘recently arrived’ 19 July 1834

Transcribed by Mary Lu Johnson 4/19/99 from photocopy of the original provided by John W. Glenn, of Lancaster, SC. The letter appears to have been two separate sheets, written front and back, with the address in the center back of the second sheet, which was blank except for address. Anything not original to letter is in different type font and in parentheses.

State of Georgia Crawford County July 19 – 1834-

Dr Father Mother Brothers and Sisters }

I hasten to Inform you of my welfair and Prosperity I will Inform that me and my family Enjoys good health at this time which is

a peculiar blessing confered on mortal Creatures to which we have Every Reason to be thankful for hoping these few and Imperfect lines will find you and all my friends in the Same State- We arrived at Old Mr William Douglass on Thursday night the 2^’’ day of January 1834 after a Tedious Journey of 3 weeks lacking Two Days We suffered greatly on the road by wet and cold weather and high water In consequence of Bad Roads we were obliged to take the Lower Road ____ Augusta to Macon on the Oakmulga to which (?point) we went nearly 100 miles two low down to this Country from Macon We traveled nearly north two days We were Two late coming to this Country. All the land in market were disposed of but- one small plantation of 102 Acres near to this (?place) My Money being Nearly Exhausted I could go no farther which placed me in a peculiar Situation in a foreign land and among Entire Strangers was a hard Struggle for me James and myself hastened to the owner of that plantation and Bought it off ______for $400 to be paid in Two Years- and we moved to it the 7^’’ day of January Tolarable Bare I have to give for Pork (?Six) Cents ___ ___ Also 50 to 75 for corn from 75 to 100 cents for fodder which is diggin on a poor man

Turn over

Considering every difficulty I am well pleased with my move We have the first {rate?} of land and but 18 or 20 Acres Cleared under excellent fence James and myself has nearly Fenced up about 7 or 8 acres which we intend clearing this winter there is on the land Two Tolerable Dwelling houses Cabin Roof Excellent Stables Corn House Smoke House and an excellent well of good and wholesome water A Mr Taylor that lived on the land last summer made five Bales of Cotton and upward of 100 Bushels of Corn and no one to help him His corn he planted in the (?last) of ____ In my Opinion this is Excellent Country for a poor man - Although provisions is high this year in consequence of the wheat crop being cut off last year Thers people being cut off by drought and the immense quantity of movers from No and So Carolina I was Informed In Macon there had crossed the Savanna River this season about 900 family We are located in an excellent neighborhood and some of the kindest neighbors I ever lived beside As yet we are in (?with) 2 ½ miles of a small village named Cullodonsville on the north of us on the South a large (?Store) at Hammocks Grove 1 Mile an ½ where the Post Office is ____ we ____ ____ of Country (?Houses) purchased then and 20 m__ to Macon where the do as much business nearly as Charleston So Ca I will now give you some __ of the prosperity of the Country – (looked like tried to rub out “it”) the land is to (?adapted) to the (?cultivatin) of Corn Cotton wheat and Sugar Cane The Cain is cultivated to perfection in this neighborhood In 2 miles of me the make Sugar and Molasses.

I have visited one manufactory of sugar the other day an yesterday Martha and myself were over in Houston County about 4 miles of Flint River we seen Some People had been planting sugar cane. There is in the neighborhood Co___t (?convenient) to us an Acadamy about one mile an ½ About 2 miles an Elegant Baptist Church. The same distance a Methodist Church 4 miles an ½ a Flourishing Presbyterian Church and a Temperate Society Prevails through this Neighborhood – to which I have been told has done a great deal of good Our land is as good land as I Ever Seen We can - Get one large field of 50 or 60 acres in one body not one stick cut of it. Chesnut Trees in abundance on our land in the very yard the grow Plenty and Produced greatly last year. Polly wishes to inform you she wants John and Peggy to come and see her after crops is done working It can be rode in 7 days from Lancaster to where we live She says it would be a glad sight to her She presses me to write to you to let her had to next Christmas the loan of 5 or 6 Dollars as we have our provisions to buy at a high rate and cannot sell neither horse nor wagon as yet I Expect to sell the large horse I purchased on the day we Started In a few days or my (?little) mare 2 horses is enough for us I must conclude my letter – by subscribing myself Yours Effectionate till death

When you write direct Tho. D. Barr

Your letter to Hammocks

Grove Post Office My respects to W Glenn and family and old fri(ends? Corner folded up)

(On reverse, pages folded into rectangle about 4”x 6”, seal once affixed, addressed in top left corner with what appears to be return address:)

Cullodens _ _ 18 _ “ (postage?)

Jay 21 1834

Mr. James Ramsey

Lancaster District

South Carolina Mail

Mr. James Ramsey

Lancaster Court House Po office

{ } Barr, Tho D and M R of Hammocks Grove, GA to James Ramsey of Lancaster, SC 25 June 1836

Transcirbed 24 May 1999 by Mary Lu Johnson from photocopy of original letter in possession of John W.Glenn, of Lancaster, SC. The letter is in poor condition; first portion of letter missing. Six pages including the signature page remain. It is possible pages have gotten mixed up over the years, and are out of order or with pages missing between as they aren’t numbered. Typed by Mary Lu Johnson with grateful assistance in translation by Robert Scott Davis, Jr.

Our old Land Corn with a good Season between this ____ (corner folded) the 15 July will do well our new land about 8 acres – are very young we have not done much to it yet – We have made a Tolerable Crop of wheat part is haused and part in the field yet the wet weather Injured our wheat very much this Spring but after all we made better than 100 Dozen Excellent wheat I wish I was near you I think I could furnish you with Some of the best Wheat for ____ you have Seen for years – It Excells any Wheat I Ever raised in all my life In this Country I have worked harder this year than I have in years past this last week is the only [plou]ghing James has done for several weeks past – The wheat that we raised this Season is called the Butter Wheat – I Thought before I was done writing this letter I could have furnished you with some Good news from our army but is turned out otherwise Cap Llewallen and his Volunteers from Munroe Crawford Upson Counties was defeated Last Thursday the Cap wounded slightly mr Morgan of Crawford County and Mr Ward of Cullodonsville to be feared casualty Morgans Arm near his body nearly shot off Mr Ward shot through the Thigh Mr Ward Conveyed home to his family on yesterday morning Mr Morgan is left in Collumbus – to Submit to his fate poor fellow

Troops is Pouring into Alabama at Columbus from New York and Philidelphia of Regulars and United State Volunteers Nearly 2000 Troops has passed through Knoxvill [GA] in the Cause of a few weeks past – You wished to know how far I Live from the Alabama line We live about from 6 to 10 miles from Columbus and about 40 or 50 miles from where there has been monstrous murders committed as ___ Committing in Stewart County Randolph and Lee – Very few left in them Counties but is killed or fled – Cap Parham Told me the other day he has seen some Hundreds of Acres of Land with Good Crops Planted ___ not a single person Black nor white to be Seen homes are burnt up horse cows mules hogs and the Bo[dies] of men Lying Just the frame of Bones Bleaching on the Ground I Could relate much more But must go as It gives me pain to write Also the Same to you to Read and Close this Melancholly Line-

I Now Turn to my domestic affairs James Took Sick Just after we were done planting Cotton then the weather came on I by myself you may Guess my Situation out of 12 acres of Cotton I suppose that we will Lose Between 2 or 3 Acres – that is finally gone to a wilderness

[Another page begins; appears to be at least one page missing here]

In a few minutes a large Indian threw his Cannoe into the River It is Supposed he was one of their Chiefs as he was well dressed Brown Drew his Light pulled Trigger and away went the Lead on messenger of Death Into the Indian Chief who went headlong to the Bottom of the River and never more Seen to rise In a moment a Sheet of fire from the Brave Creek fird Muskettes like Line of Thunder Roared along the lines for nearly one hour – one fine young man of Cap Carrs Vollunteers By the name of Crossland had fired his muskette 3 Times on a Certain Indian and the Indian at him Crossland Spoke to one of the Company near him and Lord Kill that Indian for I have fired 3 times at him and he will not face the reply as my gunn is Empty Crossland Said I will Try the 4” [4^th] round he faced now to charge his Gunn and Gave the Indian too much on – Entered of his body and the Indian fired and his Ball Broke Croslands Back and Came out near his Short Ribs and Lodged in the Lining of his waistcoat So our brave neighbor Crossland fell and died in a few minutes at the feet of 2 of our neighbors that were of Capt Par(ham) _____ Crossland was the only one Killed of the Indians not Exactly Known how many Killed I will give you a melancholy Tale of another of our ___ neighbors an Exceptionable young man by the name of James Milton Allen a [?cousin] to James Kirkpatrick was at School in Gwinnette County and has been for 15 months In the first of may the Excitement was so great In Gwinnette that a number of young men both of Citizens and Schollers Volunteered their Services In behalf of their Countrys cause young Allen among the rest were among them all mounted Volunteers and came on to Collumbus to head Quarters Governor Selisg [Schley] of Georgia being at head Quarters when the [y] Arrived ordered them down the Chattahoochee River to superintend Fort McCreig Capp Parhams Term Expired – on Wednesday the 8 of June Cap Parham and his Company Paraded in order to go to Collumbus to ___ discharge Cap Germany of Gwinnettes Troop arrived and formed on the Rear of Parhams Troop – Cap Parham Informed – Cap Gormany to keep a good look for the Indians were not farr off when Capp Parham marched off for collumbus on the next day part of Stewarts Troops joined Gormany the 2 Companies just assembled about 100 or Some few ___ were attacked by nearly 200 Indians – a Spiritted fire were Kept up by both Parties for nearly one hour and one ½ in the Contest our brave young Allen fell and 7 more of his Company and five of the Stewart Troop fell Also Cap Gormany was Shot through the Thigh but is on the mend The last account on the time of the Battle a Large Indian made a bold Charge on Cap Germany the Captain Fired on the Indian & brought him down In a moment his gunn was charged and the Indian fired on Gormany and shot him through the thigh then made an attempt to scalp Cap Germany though much Exhausted by the loss of Blood he raised his Gunn and Shot down the Indian in a small ____ of him the Indians then fled and Carried off their dead 12 wholy Killed 7 wounded It is supposed a good many Indians were killed from the Quantity of Blood on the battle ground

This Indian war has Some Serious Impressions on the People Generally in this country It is thought by some reverend Divines that this Give it as there I perfes that it is – a Chastizement Sent by the Almighty for our Lord for a Scourge on the way the Indians has been treated___ per__ th__ B____ of [rest of line unreadable; holes in page] in Speculators freedom of Purchasing___ ____ them Baff_____the Creatures out of ____ __y others thank this so much Inequality ____ by the Prefessors of Christianity In Acquiring ____ his Dr__ss- and [Father? Other?] I_ _ orna_I_t Transactions Enough to Call Vengence upon this land – let it be as it may it appears to be very strange for the Indians [have?] been successful in almost Every Action the [torn; several words missing] the whites I must conclude this letter for my paper is nearly filled with a different Mater of Topics Tell Brother William Glenn I will write to him as soon as I Can in the course of this Summer I wish you would let the Gills Creek people hear this letter when convenient for you-

We begin to have warm and dry weather now do write as frequently as you can It Givens me Great pleasure in receiving Letters from Gills Creek

I am Dr Sir Effectionate yours till death

all my family Joins in sending their compliments to all of you and Gills Creek friends {Tho D Barr

{M R Barr

Letter folded, center is address:

Hammocks Grove } (?)

June 15^th } (?)

Mrs. James Ramsey

Lancaster District Lanca(ster) So Carolina Mail

Barr, James to Margaret Ramsey 4 June 1837

Transcribed by Mary Lu Johnson 24 May 1999 from photocopy of original letter owned by John W. Glenn of Lancaster, SC. Any change from original is different type font and in parentheses.

Georgia (“Cra” with a line through) Crawford County June the 4^th 1837-

Ever afectionat Aunt I am onst more permited with the opertunita of informing you that we are all well at the present for which Blesing requires our constant – gratitude to the giver of all our Blesing in hope that these lines may find you _ with the rest of my relations (?informing ? invoking) the Same Blesing father’s family is all in tolerabel good helth at presant I have waited with pations for a leter from you or some of my friends on Cane Creek But alas I hant got one what is the mater with you have you forgot me or not if you have I hant you no nor never Stop as you Beare a perticular Share of my afection and you are my Dear Aunt and so great is my afection for you that my febel pen and languaid hart can not tell whare ame I now ah in a farr Distant land so farr that perhaps we never may meet a gane in this world and if it is So may we ind an our with our (?Anguish) hart to meet in that uper wourld (world scratched through) whare parting pane and Sorow can never came –

The above lines is not only to you alone But to all of my Dear friends and relations perticulor my Grand father & Mother I close at presant the Scrall above mentioned J R Barr to Miss Margarett Rams

I have nothing more perticular to right to you times is (ill? well?) with us in Georgia and I supose it is so with you in South carolina that is to Say Coten is down the presant prises is from 7 to 8 and a half in Macon we sold ours when it was 16 to 25 cents crops looks first rate now we have hot wether and vera good seasons So far corn is vera likely at presant and is as high as my head and we have laid By some corn we planted 20 acres of coten and about the same in corn and we have it in some is first rate we will have to cut our wheat in seven or eight Days I recived a leter from brother Thomas D Barr & he stated that he had heard that Aunt Elizabeth Glenn had two Sons and if that is the case Mother wants to hear from her and what she calls them he also stated that grand Mother been (ail?) ling Some time and we want to hear from her and from ant Polley Delaney and from all neighbors and friends

I have nothing more (?) The line worth your atention Wm Thomas Barr is a likley large Boy for his age I closd close at presant by Subscribing our Selves your afectiionat friends Yours till Deth to Miss Margarett Ramsey

J R & J G Barr

Father and mother & Sisters & Brothers send thar Best respects to you and all inquiring friends (“Cra” scratched through) Crawford County Georgia

James R Barr

(folded, address in center)

Hammack Grove

10^th June 183_ (Probably 1837)

to Miss Margarett Ramsey

Lancaster District Lancaster So Carolina Mail

Barr, Thos. D. & MaryA Apr 1838.doc

Letter transcribed by Mary Lu Johnson 29 May 1999 from photocopy of original in possession of John W. Glenn of Lancaster, SC. Thos. Barr married Mary “Polly” Ramsey. There are some words that were smeared or entirely missing; those such as “Hammock” Grove that have been added based on previous proven data are in parentheses and different type font.

State of Georgia Crawford County 8 Apl 1838

Dr Father Mother Brothers and Sisters

A length of Time has passed away Since we have Rcvd a letter from S C I have wrote sevral letters thes last years and to you one to William Glenn but have Never have Recvd the first answer from Neither of you I will now Venture to Forward the 3 letter at this time I will now give you a Small account of our Welfare at this time my Family for sometime past has been Very unpopular as regards health owing to the sudden changes of the weather this winter and Spring the girls has all been sick off and on but never Confined much to bed Polly has been not very well all this winter but Still is able to be about I have Stood my own Tolerable well this Season I had Two or Three Smart attacks of Cold but continued no Great length of time this winter and Spring I am now in the Enjoyment of Tolerable Health to which we have Every Reason to be thankful for I am anxious to hear ____ more (“to hear” scratched out) from all our Friends in So Ca I have for(gone?) writing for some time Still thinking I might Receive a letter from Some One of my Friends but Disappointed I wish to hear how times (?) and what for Crops was made among you and what cotton sold for and the prices of Produce __ at this time as I want to see the difference Between So Ca and Georgia

I will now Give you the prices current Now in this County Cotton Sells at 8 to 8 ¼ now in Macon Corn Sells at 125 Corn Meal at 137 ½ to 150 pr Bushel Bacon from 9 to 12 _ pr __ Flour from 12 to 16 Dollars per Barrell Sugar from 7 to 8 _ts the D Coffee from 6 ½ to 7 lbs to the Do(llar?) and all other Domestic Articles nearly confined to the same Prices Now the Percentage on Money is Monstrous the money Loaners in this Country is making Fortunes as it is Loans Commencing on the first day last at from 16 to 20 and In Some Cases to 25 per Cent that is those that Deal in land on the Mississippi as the land there is very ____ at this time Several of my neighbours Starts _____ tomorrow week for the Express Purpose of Speculate on land on the Mississippi In the Chicksaw and Chocktaw lands these said lands About 2 years ago when Cotton was up to from 16 to 18 cents land sold High to the land Speculators and Since the fall of Cotton and the Pressure of want of money to fulfill Contracts Entered in on at that time has broke many a fine man and land sells for Just what it will Bring at ready money (two words scratched through) is the only Reason that Money Loans so high at this time in this Country I wish to know if you have as hard times In your Country – Do write to me So Soon as you Receve this letter and let us Know how Mr Ramsey has got of his complaint ___ the Palsy as I have wrote so many times and Receive no answers makes me think at times that you are Entirely Forgotten by my So Ca Friends and Acquaintance It may be that my letters are mislaid In some Post Office Between this and where you live or has taken some different Rout If you have never Recd the last letter I wrote it was to William Glenn dated 15 December last the letter contained some Importance to myself If it had went Safe I wanted to know how Polly Craig and her family and for it had been a long time since I had heard from them when you write to me do let me know how Polly comes on and Where she is living at this time our Gills Creek Friends it appears have Entirely quit writing James R Bar recd a letter from James F Barr it being the last letter we have recd from So Ca When you se any of the Gills Creek People do ask them if the are all Decd or not and tell them to write a letter to us and let me know the cause of there not writing to us of We are Still living I am truly uneasay and be untill I hear from them I hope it will not be long until we receive a letter In answer to this one

Now for our domestick concerns We made the best Crop last year that we have made since we came to Georgia Both of Corn and Cotton and Never Recd less money Since we came to this country We Soed our Cotton in the Seed this last Winter we finished Picking our Cotton the 8^th of January and Picked the last of our Corn the __ of the Same month I sold one man Mr H Myrick 5178 Pounds at 2 50 per Hundred and he hauled it himsel I sold Mr Ballard 1400 at 225 per Hundred the Balance we Kept for Home Consuption and I Expect we lost by Storms from one Thousand to 15 hundred Pounds as the Storms was So Severe and the f___ so ____ that the Cotton was as green from one End of the Rows to the other as a B___ Wheat field we have near made a finish of the Husking our Crop of Corn yet James RB the ___ of Co ___ to Husk yet __ Commenced Planting our present Crop of Corn the 20’’ march we have about 20 Acres planted and About 15 or 16 acres to plant yet we don’t Intend planting more than one Acres of Cotton this year we go Entirely for Corn this year It is our Intention at this time to sell our land this Summer and move to some Other Part __ Section of Country where we can raise Cattle to better purpose than where we live as our Cattle do__ no good at all for Want of Range I Took a Small Voyage over Flint River 8 or 10 days ago In looking at some land about 15 miles South of us that I like very well both as relates to land and good range that I think we can ___ a great deal better than we can here The Family Joins in Sending their best respects and (love?) to all their Cane Creek friends There Grandpa and Grandma there uncles John Ramsey and William Glenn and all the__ little Cousins There uncle and aunts and Cousins on Gills Creek Fairwell Since I commenced this letter Polly has taken a Smart Spell of Chollick and is Right Bad off at times Effectionately your son and Daugter Tho D Barr & Mary Barr

(Letter written front and back, two sheets. Back of 2^nd sheet blank except for address:)

(Hammock) Grove Ga (Postage?)