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 Makes distribution of some of his slaves. Expresses concern about sons Nehemiah and Calvin.

  • » Date: 1839-11-15
  • » Subject: Makes distribution of some of his slaves. Expresses concern about sons Nehemiah and Calvin.
  • » Written By: Randolph Rutherford
  • » Addressed To: Rutherford Children
  • » Transcriber: Pen Bogert
  • » File # 413

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Wytheville Va
  Nov 16

18 ¾   

Mr. Phillip Fry
Facility P. O. {McMinn Coy
                       { Tennessee

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Wythe Va. The 15th November 1839

Dear Children
I through the medium of this letter acknowledge the receit of your letter of the 4th of November, the present month) informing me that you had received my letter of the 23d of October last, I am gratified to find that you are all well, your letter found your Old Mother much mended since I wrote to you, her health is tolerably good though she is quite feeble, [ ] part I enjoy as good health as is Common for persons of my very advanced age, for which I feel myself very thankful.

You Say that you would like to know in what way you will have to Come to receive Certain negroes that I wish to distribute amongst such of my Children as live near you, in answer to that I will Say who of you Shall have negroes and on what Terms & you may fix amongst yourselves the most Suitable mode of takeing them I will give to my Daughter Jane my negroe woman (women) Fanny & Anne, by her paying to me Twenty five Dollars for each, which money She Shall have a credit for in my estate at my death without interest and all the other hereinafter named Shall have the negroes named to them on the Same terms

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I will let James have Rufus I will let Nancy Orr have Washington the boy she now has I will give to Delila Ibraham I will give to Polly Orr Betty the girl that Jane Fry has at her house, Mr. Fry will have to take Fannys two youngest Children with their mother and we will Settle about that hereafter I hope that Mr. Fry or Jane one or both of them would Come along, & it is my particular wish that you would give Delila Austin notice of this before you come –

I have not heard from Calvin since last Spring & am not able to account for his not writing I am fearful that he has gone as many has in the Mississippi this Season – you have informed me of Nehemiah’s exit to Texas I hope that you will say to him for me if he should ome to your Country (area) that I would be extremely glad if he would extend his ride to See us once more

Nothing more at present but remain your
affectionate Father & Mother
R. Rutherford
Polly Rutherford

Mr.
Phillip Fry

Transcriber Notes

Randolph Rutherford evidently received an inquiry from his children living in McMinn County, Tennessee, about the possibility of his giving and/or selling them some of his slaves. Randolph responded by dividing some of his slaves among these children. He took special care to keep Fanny’s two children with their mother.

Randolph’s son, Nehemiah, had migrated to Texas and was listed on the Houston County tax rolls for 1839. He moved back to White County, Tennessee, by 1850.

Randolph’s fear that Calvin “has gone as many have in the Mississippi” is a reference to the many steamboat disasters that occurred on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.

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