Collection Search

to Sarah W. Hale

This appears to be the first letter to her sister in many months. She speaks at length about matrimony and says that she has spent eighteen months deliberating on it. She says that she has been reflecting on whether to "marry a respectable, pious and...

GLC08934.025

to Sarah W. Hale

She expresses that she is deeply unhappy with their move to Mount Meigs following her husband buying land in the area, saying that although being a planter in the area can be very lucrative (which she measures in money and in number of slaves), it is...

GLC08934.026

to Sarah W. Hale

She is sad that she is separated from her friends and family, and urges her sister to come visit if her physcians will permit it, and asks if their brother James can loan them the money for travel or if she will have to borrow it. She also suggests...

GLC08934.027

to Sarah W. Hale

She addresses the logistics of her sister Sarah's planned visit and promises to pay the full cost. She enclosed $50 with the letter and promises to send another $50 soon. She expresses concern for Sarah's health, writing that she hopes it will...

GLC08934.028

to Sarah W. Hale

She encloses another $50 in this letter as promised, and continues to plan for her sister's arrival. She also speaks at length about the comforts of their home, including a "very valuable negro woman" who keeps the house "well attended to." She hopes...

GLC08934.029

to Sarah W. Hale

She continues to plan for her sister's arrival. She is very excited that they can "meet on this side of the grave again." A drought has made the river low, so Aurelia suggests her sister remain in Mobile until the steamboats start to run again. She...

GLC08934.030

to Sarah W. Hale

This letter was written shortly after Sarah departed from Alabama. In it, Aurelia says that she hopes Sarah was able to avoid the storm that came about a week after she left, which appears to have destroyed much of her property. She describes several...

GLC08934.031

to Sarah W. Hale

Aurelia is very glad to hear that Sarah managed to avoid the storm. It was followed by a drought, and they were afraid the crops would fail, but there has been rain this week. Her husband, Jefferson, has been trying to find work for Horatio, who has...

GLC08934.032

to James W. Hale, to Sarah W. Hale

There are two letters within a single folio. The first letter is to James W. Hale, and expresses regret that Sarah's time with them was not as pleasant or beneficial to her health as they had hoped. He goes on to discuss his attempts to find work for...

GLC08934.033

to Sarah W. Hale

The letter is dated August 26, but there is a notation halfway down the first page that much of it was written August 30. In the first part, she writes that there has been a good deal of rain and wind. In the second part, she writes that the cotton...

GLC08934.034

to Sarah W. Hale

This letter is dated September 2, but on the third page a notation indicates that several paragraphs were added on September 16. In the part of the letter dated September 2, Aurelia says that the Sabbath is often the only day she has time to write...

GLC08934.035

to Sarah W. Hale

This letter is dated November 18, but on the third page a notation indicates that a paragraph was added on November 24. In the part dated November 18, she apologizes for not answering Sarah's letters, and says that the reason for her silence was...

GLC08934.036

to Sarah W. Hale

He apologizes for not writing more often. He speaks briefly about Mary, the infant daughter he and Aurelia lost to cholera in October, and says that their daughter Sarah now refuses to speak at all. There have been no new storms and that both he and...

GLC08934.037

to Sarah W. Hale

She begins by apologizing for not writing sooner, but says that shortly after she started a letter, she was called away to see her cousin Frank, who appeared to be on his deathbed. He became delirious and spoke about God and the Devil, but appears to...

GLC08934.038

to Sarah W. Hale

She is sending the letter along with one she has written to Horatio. She is planning to visit the North, and will be bringing as little as possible because the fashions might be different. She says that she is not dreading the "fatigues of the...

GLC08934.039

to Sarah W. Nichols

She apologizes for not writing, but says that she lacked the energy to do so over the hot summer months. She continues to talk about going North, and believes that her husband will send both her and their daughter Sarah next year. She responds to...

GLC08934.040

to Sarah W. Nichols

This letter is about his daughter Sarah, who became ill in late January. They discovered that she was vomiting and had a high fever, and by the time the doctor arrived, it was too late. He was not sure what to call the disease, though Thomas...

GLC08934.041

to Sarah W. Nichols

This letter is dated June 23, and there is a post-script dated July 7. They are both still suffering from Sarah's death, and Aurelia is saving locks of their daughter Sarah's hair and intends to give the largest lock to her sister Sarah. Aurelia's...

GLC08934.042

to Sarah W. Nichols

She and Thomas are still trying to save money for the trip up North, which she hopes he will join her on. In the meantime, he is often away in Mobile, where he has bought two building lots, while she oversees the plantation. Their son Thomas is...

GLC08934.043

to Sarah W. Nichols

They will not be going North this spring after all, because Thomas has to go to New Orleans to buy property and pursue business, and rather than go alone, Aurelia wants to accompany him. They also hope to visit his brother while they are traveling.

GLC08934.044

to Sarah W. Nichols

Letter regarding Thomas's travels and business, as well as news about some friends of Aurelia's. He also writes that he hopes to see Sarah again before he dies.

GLC08934.045

to Sarah W. Nichols

Aurelia is having trouble with her "domestic affairs," including two slaves running away. She also speaks about her husband's business and their brother James.

GLC08934.046

to Sarah W. Nichols

This letter inquires after Sarah's health and monetary situation, including her marriage and the state of the inheritance her siblings received after their mother's death. This was written by someone named Mary, but it is not clear whether it is...

GLC08934.047

to Sarah W. Nichols

This is apparently the first time Aurelia has written to Sarah in about eighteen months, though she thinks her husband has written more recently. She reports that she and her husband lost two more babies: John Joseph and Aurelia Ada, and that he was...

GLC08934.048

to unknown

He speaks extensively about his business and finances, including the support he has provided to his family, possibly in preparation for his death, because he describes himself as quite ill. He also asks the recipient to pass his good wishes onto...

GLC08934.049