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Letters

An interesting and informative letter written December 1907 by Mrs. Emma Davis of Goodwater, Alabama, to her cousin Margaret in Robeson County, NC, inquiring about her Brown ancestors of old Bladen/Robeson:
[Courtesy of the Bradley Buie Collection]

1st [page]
Goodwater Ala Dec 1907
My dear cousin.
More than a year ago at the request of my neices and nephews I comenced to try to get up a sketch of our Brown & Smith kin. I have writen letters of enquiry to Tennessee Mifs La Texas Ark N.C. and have traced them up tolerably well. I was told by Dr A.C. Bethune who was out here in the summer of 1906 to write to Dr B.F. McMillan of Red Springs - and to the Post Master at that place who was a Brown he heard - to get me information of Grand Uncle Neill Browns family. I wrote to them several times have had no reply. I wrote to John Patrick Smith about my perplexity and he gave me the names of Uncle Neill Browns children & who they married. But I wanted to know more than he could tell. He has gave me your address. So I will wirte to you and you must try to bear with me and tell me all you know of Uncle Neills family. I have Uncle Hugh Browns family and Rev Duncan Browns of Tenn Their ages - date of Death - and the year they moved to Tenn - Obituaries of both, and I wanted Uncle Neills as I hated to leave them out of my sketch - for my mother who (was Susan Brown - daughter of Wm Brown and Mary Campbell)

2nd
talked of her uncles Neills folks all her life, more than any others - it seems she was raised close by - and often staid with them and loved them all. and it has been an uphill business to get at them of all the others. I have most of Grand Father (Wm Browns) but not all in yet. I am writing to Dr William D McCallums wife (Mrs Mary McCallum) of Rowland, N.C. and giving her my Brown families - and told her to give them to any Browns that wanted them - had began to think McMillan was not interested in them or he would have paid some attention to me. Cousin Mary McC. has given me some Campbell History all new to me and cousin Patrick said perhaps your Mother could tell me something about them as he believed they lived in S.C. near where she came from. I want to give what aunt Jane Patterson have me of her grand father and his children & I want to know if I have it down right before I close up. that is what I am going by in all my researches. I want you to give me Uncle Neills age - when he died - the inscription on his tombstone and aunt Nancys too - I want to know my granfather William Browns age, what year he died cousin Patrick tell me his grave was never marked. I am sorry about that. I want your fathers age -date of death and all his sisters and brothers - that you know about - I especialy want my grandfathers age what year he & grand mother [abrupt end of sentence and train of thought does not pick up at beginning of next page]

This is what Mrs Jane Patterson gave me
3rd
Hugh Brown came from Kentire Scotland to America
Hugh Brown married - Mary Buie. their children were John _ Neill _ William _ Hugh _ Duncan daughters were - Mary _ Nancy _ & Katie -

John Brown - married - Ala Bennet N.C.
Neill Brown - married - Nancy Smith N.C.
Wm Brown - married - Mary Campbell N.C. [Daughter of Duncan and Christian Smith Campbell; see page 7 of this letter below.]
Hugh Brown - married - Katie Ford [Fort?] moved to Tenn
Rev Duncan Brown - married - Susan Frierson moved to Tenn
Nancy Brown - married - George Iknor N.C. [George T. Iknor was a constable in upper Bladen County in 1771; he may have been a grandson of Philip and Dorothy Iknor who had at least three sons. The Iknors can be found in some of the earliest tax listings of old Bladen County and appear to have lived around the current town of Parkton in Robeson County in the latter half of the 1700s.]
Mary Brown - married - John Ford [Fort?]
Katie Brown - married - a Smith - she could not remember Uncle Smith's given name - she told us her aunt & uncle Died and their boys staid some at her fathers and one of these boys I remember was Daniel Smith who married his cousin - one of Uncle Neills daughters if I remember aright -

William Brown who married Mary Campbell - children were, Mary - called Polly - married Archibald Brown moved to Mifs [Mississippi]
Katie Brown - married Neill Buie - moved to Mifs
Rebecca Brown - married - Matthew Smylie -moved to Mifs
Lovedy Brown - married - John McCallum - N.C.
Rev Joseph Brown - married - 1st Eliza Graham in S.C. 9 children

4th
Rev Joseph Brown 2nd marrying to Amanda Patterson of Ala
Duncan Brown - married Sallie Ann Buie in N.C.
Janne Brown - married - John Smith who died & several children
Jane Browns 2nd marriage - to Malcome Patterson -N.C.
Susan Brown - married - married Daniel Smith N.C.
William Brown - married - Annie Graham - Ala
Annie Brown - died young

I forgot to put Annie down earlier I think seh was among the first children. now I have all but aunt Polly and aunt Rebecca Smylies family down pretty straight and I have the Browns of Tenn - and I want you and Cousin Hughs family to get me up all you know about your own folks. I am particularly anxious to know the age of all the old Browns, and the inscriptions on the tombstones if you can - aunts uncles too you fathers and all his folks. how many grandhildren of uncle Neills their names who they married and great grand children etc - and where they all lived and died - and where the descendatns now live - I want all about uncle Neills family. if you all try you can get from Mrs Mary McCallum what I have given her. I hate to finish my sketch without Uncel Neills family - our mother and aunt Jane Patterson told us a great deal about our Brown kin but we did not get it down and consequently have forgotten a great deal

5th
I have found one thing about the Browns in hunting up these families. that they stand high in their respective communities - are suporters and sustainers of churches and schools - are noted for their honesty - Morality - religious - Progresive - hospitable in their homes and we need not be ashamed of our Brown kin in any community they have ever lived in, though not rich yet their standing has always been high in their social sphere. It has been said that there is as few degenerates among the Browns of any, as any Scotch family that ever crossed the ocean to America. they have their human weaknesses and human faults - but are as a whole an upright - Godfearing Honorable people, and their decendants still inherit some of those traits. - in all their community where ever they are found. I will want to know if you get this letter before sending you any of my manuscripts - so drop me a line as soon as you get this to let me know if you did get it. I have had some of the obituarys typewritten which I will send you. to copy & return to me as I have but those for my own use. and not able to pay for enough for all the kin folk. will not send anything until I hear from you. I have been at too much trouble to loose my sketches through the mails. so let me know if you get this - and go to work to get up all you know about

6th
your fathers family. One of John Byres (or Birs) Browns grandsons. tell me that our grand ancestor Hugh Brown settled first in Virginia - lived there and his decendants came to N.C. is the way he recolects what he heard his father say. now that is not what aunt Jane & our mother told us. I was always taught that the Browns always lived in N. C. and when great grandfather Hugh Brown died they moved great grandmother Brown to my grand fathers Wm Brown home. & built a home in the yard for her - and she died their in her one hunderth year of age. Aunt Jane mother and Uncle Wm remembered her well though they were very young now what year was that?. Where was our first ancestor buried? how old was our great grand father?

There was a Presbyterian preacher by the name of Rev P.C. Alexander. held meetings for us. at old camp meetings - and found out that aunt Jane was a Brown and told her his wife was Mary Brown - a daughter of Archie Browns - and grand daughter of Neill Brown - he was preaching at Prattville Ala then went to Ark. died their this summer - there was an Obituary published in the Christian Observer about him if I can find it I will send to you all. We had cousin Polly and cousin William Browns old Ambrotype and somebody stole coz_ Wm or it is lost - and I sent cozen Pollys to John Patrick Smith for him to convey to some of you -

7th
This is what aunt Jane gave me about the Campbells she said she could not recolect good but this was as near as she could remember. Our great grandfather was
Duncan Campbell - married - Christian Smith

Their children were.

Annie Campbell - married - John McNeill
Peggy Campbell - married - Peter McCartery [Is this a variant spelling of Peter McArthur? The Bladen County tax lists show two Peter McArthurs in early Bladen and the earlier lists always spell their names 'McCarter'. This information further supports the evidence of a second Peter McArthur in upper Robeson in the late 1700s. The elder Peter McArthur married Christian Bride and appears in Bladen in 1774/1775. It is possible the earlier Peter McArthur in the early Bladen tax lists was the one who married Peggy Campbell.]
Jane Campbell - married - a McLauchlin [Archibald McLauchlin? There is a deed in Cumberland County dated 1804 from Duncan Campbell of Robeson County to Archibald McLauchlin of Cumberland for 10 pounds for 150 acres on Juniper Creek of Big Rockfish Creek.]
Mary Campbell [Born about 1760]- married - William Brown our grand father
Christian Campbell - married - Petter Campbell [A Christian Campbell of Cumberland County is shown in a deed dated June 1815 giving her grandson Peter Campbell power of attorney for her in the estate of a Malcolm Campbell of Cumberland County.]
Katie Campbell - married - not known
Hugh Campbell - married - not known
Archie Campbell - married - not known [The widow Catherine McPherson Patterson? From newly discovered deeds in Cumberland County combined with surviving deeds from old Bladen County, it is highly likely that this Archibald Campbell is Catherine McPherson's 2nd husband.]

She could not recolect some of their marriages said while her father lived he kept up a correspondence with all the kin, but after his death she lost sight of them. Now cousin Margaret if you can tell us anything about these Campbells you will do us a great favor. Cousin Daniel Browns widow living here has a picture of one of Archie Browns daughters - we think it is the one preacher Alexander married - we dont know She gave it to cousin Daniel when on a visit to N. C. once. Now I know you are tired of all this and I will try to wind up. for fear you may not get this

8th

Now don't forget to answer my questions as far as you can – Where did our great grandfather Hugh Brown live and die and where was he buried? and where was his wife buried? Where was grand father Wm Brown and his wife buried and their ages? Where was Uncle Neill Brown and his wife buried and their ages. who did all Uncle Neills children marry, grandchildren and great grandchildren and their names, ocupation - and where trhe decendants now live? the Inscription on the tombstones?

Have I got the old Brown family down all right?

have I got the Campbell family down right.

What was the name of the Smith that Uncle Neills sister Katie Brown married? was he a brother of aunt Nancys? Whose son was Rev Daniel Smith? that cousin Patrick Smith says married one of Neill Brown grand daugthers or one of his daughters. Comence with your fathers family and then get all the rest you can. did we have any other Brown kin but Hugh Browns in that county, that you ever heard of. as none of my letters have been answered I will be impatient to know if you get this so drop me a line at once so I will know if you have received this. So I will close for this time hoping to hear from you all after in the future give me the adrefs of one of Hugh Browns decendants who live near you. with love and kind regards your cousin Emma Davis.

Adress Mrs Emma Davis Goodwater Ala

Two Letters from Neill McGeachy in Knochmoran, Kintyre, Scotland, to his brother Alexander McGeachy who lived near St. Pauls in Robeson County, NC:
[Courtesy of Ms. Jean Casper, who kindly sent these two letters to me. See also the letters of Mrs. Kate McGeachy Buie below.]

To Mr. Alexander McGeachy, living about 50 miles above Fayettville [but eventually settled on Great Marsh in Robeson County several miles to the south near the present town of St. Pauls]
Care of Ronald McMillan
Mailed in Wil. Nov. 11. Brought by hand to Wilmington.

Knochmoran - June 22, 1796
Loving Brother:
This comes to let you know that I am well at present, thank God, hoping to find you in a good state of health. Dr. Bror. I am sorry that I did not get word from you these six years past which if you are alive, I wonder that you did not write to me this long time. I thought still when I heard of Mr. James Fleming’s coming that I would have a letter from you, but now I see that you have quite forgot me, there is nothing that troubles me more than to think that you are...there and that you are not writing to me which I hope you will not forget me any longer – it is all the pleasure I have since you have departed from me is my children that are coming on with me. I have three Children the name of the first is Margaret the second is Peter and the third is Jenny it is all the comfort I have since you went away. they have taken the Small-pox just now & are very well after them. John O Drains’ family is very well he has four childer one son and three daughters all well.
Neill Campbell’s family is very well. He lives in Campbellton he has five childer four sons and one daughter good boys. I am sorry to inform you of your Uncle Malcolm’s Death, who died in September 1793 his daughter Nelly is married to Edward Brown’s son and they live in Campbellton likewise. There was no account from Alexander this long time it is expected that he is not alive likewise. Our Master Sandy died in May ‘95 it is not known who will be the Head of the Place because it is sunk in Debt Peter Brolachan has the whole...for Rent...the place that I...but I am...very dear the Common som is three pounds St. The Ball of Barley is 1L 10s likewise the ball of malt is 2L -s I had up at 30 ball of barley this year the old way smugling is going on here now...was very dear here the peck was / -s 5d but now it is / -s 6d which it is very dear yet. My compliments to John my Brother and his family I am very sorry that he did not let me know when he was going away and that he never wrote to me whether he went save of not there but I got some account from his brother Dugald [or Ranald about him I am very sorry that you have all so clearly forgot me my kind compliments to Ranal McMillan and his family you may inform him that his mother-in-law is alive yet and she is with Angus Keargan and he is in Killmanchenachan in Daniel McCalys place he is in health your Friends and Relations far and near are in health at present. I hope you will write to me as soon as you Receive this. Jafery Montgomery joins in love to you he wonders that you never wrote to him concerning his Brother’s Death he thinks...there was none belonging to him...Galbreth from the place that you are in he sent me word how to do and to send the Will and Power to him and that he would look about my affairs there and I did send the Will and Power and got no answer as yet I was talking to Mr. James Fleming and he informs me that Robert had some land there I had no account of it by Mr. Galbreth or any but as he told me by word of mouth and I hope you will let me know if he had any land there and if he was in debt and about his affairs – My compliment to Ranal McPherson and his Brother you may inform him that his mother died two years ago Anabel is married to a Taylor in Paisley Mary is there I have no more to say at present – blessing all to you I am your loving affectionate and sincere Brother till Death.
Neill McGeachy
When you will write you will let me know how to direct to you I did not write to John as I did not know where to direct but I hope you will let me know the directions there A Due.

To Mr. Alexander McGeachy
Little Marsh
Robeson County
North Carolina
Campbelltown 6th Sept. 1820

Dear Brother,
I have come this day to this town and understanding that a number of People are going from different parts of Kintyre by a ship bound for Wilmington I now embrace this opportunity of informing you of my good state of health also the welfare of all your friends and acquaintances in this part of the world.
I had the Pleasure of your letter in spring of 1819 and was happy to hear of your welfare. I have the pleasure of informing you that my son Malcolm and Daughter Janet that were so long ill with the King’s evil as we call it here are in I hope and I have every expection that through time by the blessing of God they may get better of their distemper.
We have now got a new land lord which I wrote you about before. I have no tax but am on the old rent for two years past which is 66 pounds and 10 ounces of which you know the rent once to be 16 pounds and you may judge how hard it is to make it up for at present horned cattle are very low in price and as for the sale of Horses they will hardly pay for rearing. A few days ago I understood that a Mr. Daniel McQuilkan or Wilkinson from London was inquiring after me about some letter he had for me but on my coming to Campbelltown to see him he was off for London again. I could not think what letter he might have for me or any message whatever unless it might be some word from you. You will let me know in your first letter if you wrote anything concerning me to any person in London or else where since I had the last letter from yourself.
Dear Brother I have to say that I enjoy a tolerable share of health not withstanding my age and thank God I have as yet lived very comfortably and I hope you will always on every opportunity write to me with all the news of your family and that you will direct your children to correspond with my children when you and I will be no more in this transitory world that they may keep up that friendly and brotherly love that always subsisted betwixt us and my family will be always happy to hear of your family and I am sure your family will be equally rejoiced at all times to hear of the welfare of mine. My love to Peter my brother’s son and his mother if she is alive, also to my aunt’s family. Your sister Catherine is present at writing of this. She and her husband and family are well and send their love to you and their best wishes for your welfare. Her oldest daughter Janet is left a widow (with six children three years ago) two of your sisters sons are in the low country and two are in this country the youngest is at sea. Tell Ronald McPherson that his sister thinks long to hear from him he may direct to my care. I have nothing else to acquaint you with that may be any way interesting or entertaining. I have my Harvest nearly half cut down and the crop promises well. My best respect to Ronald McMillan’s widow and family and let me know how they are.
Neil McCoig is in Campbelltown he and his family are well his son John if you know anything about him you can let me know. His brother John has now got a wife in his old age a twelve month ago. His brother Donald at Paisley is well. John Hawthorn and family are well. All friends and acquaintances join me in love to you and family and all
friends. I remain Dear Brother in expectation of your answer.
Yours affectionately,
Neill McGeachy

First in a series of lengthy letters from Malcolm Buie in Jefferson County, Mississippi to Buie relatives at Philadelphus in Robeson County, NC. Malcolm Buie was [probably the oldest] son of Daniel Buie and Flora McPherson of Robeson County, NC. He married Ann Clark in 1825. His letters:
[From the collection of Bradley Buie of Raleigh, NC]

Slashes [/] indicate the end of sentences, as best as can be determined. Transcribed from a photocopy. A small margin of the right side of the letter is cut off just enough to make a few words difficult to decipher.

Jefferson Co Mifs State Nov the 24 1833

Well Daniel and Neill [his uncle Col. Neill Buie in Robeson Co., NC] I am about to write you a letter / written so many I hardly know what to write / I wrote one to Mother since I got here and all of us are uneasy that you are not all well / it has been so long since we did hear from you, I got one from Mother in Alabama & and that was all from Robeson, / well in the first place I have the best horses perhaps in the world & I tell you or any of your friends if you move stay with true horses – & have a waggon in prefferance to a cart for this reason [:] it is not as easy turned over & easier driven but we came like a deer in a walk, we have crossed hills and Dales and holes and ___ & ditches I call them, / in the Choctaw Ann & Myself would be 50 or 60 yds before the cart and come within 10 yds before we would see the ditch & it would be 10 ft deep perhaps & Tom would be on the level by the time Prince would at the bottom Tom would be pulling of Prince and the cart right up b___ Prince got so used to them that he would jump to try to get up before the cart would run up on him / they would not be more than 10 feet wide and no water in them when we came on, / we had to look 5 times to the ones the car[t?] _out than the first / we were told we crofsed the foot of the allagany mountains whether or not they were high hills – yes Uncle Neill higher than Camerons hill – we brought the stick you put in Fams stretchers before the __ ____ and one of the Tag pins that Duncan made, the other we lost where our horses got out of the flat – nothing broke not win our home strings more than t___ / I have sum good corn & cotton as good as I was expected to see / I think the best cotton in alabama / I do not see how they could get through it to gather it & the best corn in the Prairies in the Choctaw, the handsomest corn you ever saw long slim horns and as fat as moals, I do not think it is very good for hogs it is gennerally too dry a country – I will tell you the __ of land in this neighborhood about here / there is pine oak of all kinds chesnut ch_lin Popelar ash hickory ellum cucumber it does not grow verry big has a leaf a foot broad & several other kind but that is the principal groth / there is no sand in the soil is a fine damp soil and washes very much the last drount, / Duncan it is dangerous walk about old Engos [Angus?] House / there is ditches deeper than your head and no one nor too but fifty so many that they are going to move to the west end this field to a spring you know where – Smart has droped some water on my scribling and I have a notion to crack him = Neill gone to Smylies Mary asleep Ann washing the dishes & Catharine in the city with the negroes / Mary says I did not sleep as much as you think [end of page]

Aunt Polly [Mary Ann "Polly" Munroe Buie, wife of Col. Neil Buie] I have seen some of your friends Hector McKinzie & family in the Choctaw they moved there last spring & is satisfied, while they lived in Alabama your sister Margaret [Margaret Munroe] came to see them and staid a week with them / She staid 12 months with barlow / A McKenzies [Alexander McKenzie who married Polly Buie's sister Charlotte Munroe in NC] son John came after her & the[n] when back with him – one of barlows sons is a Methodist Preacher / his name is Daniel I think & one of his Daughters maried to a Methodist Preacher living in the Choctaw / I was within 3 miles of his house but had not time to go to see them, her name I do not know – A McKenzies son John is the handsomest of the breed – All Hector McKenzies family is with him that you saw with them except Jane she maried a Brit / a verry industrious man but has not more flesh on him than would cover half a man – Graham is in Alabama driving the stage & there was a camp meeting within 2 miles of us all the people camping there was a great many people as many or more than ever was known to be there before that is at Union Church – We that is NMA Myself and Catharine camped with Uncle Charley McDougald that married Caty McCrany / all appeared verry serious and paid good attention to preaching / 4 joined the church 2 whites 2 Blacks – Daniel if you were here or in Alabama or the Choctaw you might make a fortune in a hurry there is a great call for blacksmiths a high wages and places as healthy as N;C / Neill [Malcolm's younger brother] hurry & get your education get your Cotton English grammer Arithmetic & geograthy well and come on / you can make 100$ per month easly / one of the McArns from N;C told me he was getting 75$ per month and he is but a moderate scholar: if Ben was here he would make you 100$ every year and not have to work as hard as he does there / I know several here that would give that and I am satisfied would not mifs use him / John Buies Jim is talking about buying of his freedom, if it would fit all round I think it would be a good plan to send ben with John Watson as he is going to N;C this spring / the expenses would be nothing as he will have several others along as that is what he is going after / I have not seen him since I came to this country / he lives about thirty miles from here. [end of page]

Friday the 29
I was picking of cotton at Granny Engos when I got Mothers letter / I come home & it was verry dark / I rode long Archd horse it gave us all great satisfaction to here such good news from home – we are now some of us hardened sinners but the one that is there is here and may pour out his blefsings upon us when we least think it – tell John & McPherson [John Buie and McPherson Buie, Malcolm's younger brothers] to be careful of those guns and not to spend too much time with them / Neill I am in hopes you will be relieved of your difficult talk to religious men & they will direct you – Neill Buie {Engos [Angus?] son} gives me the forth for picking of cotton / I got a bale and sent it with Neill to Natchez / he to 63$ 88C for it / it will take Myself Sesar Jack Smart 24 Days to pay for it / we have picked 35 hundred & have 15 hundred to pick yet / the weather is so cold and wet or we would apy for it sooner – there has been as hard frosts and as many as would be in NC but they say it is not common – Neill carried 3 bales and has one to carry yet he would have made 6 or 7 if the frost had kept off 3 weeks longer bought 50 lb __ 100lb coffy a barrel of flour a barrel of apples a barrell of Irish potatoes __ __ salt cups & saucers a pitcher 6 plates 4 bowls a Pitcher Pot 50 lbs Shugar 40 lbs coffy a pair of shoes for Ann a hat for me and we all have blankets coats – we would be glad to see you all – we expect to go to live over at Neills new field as soon as we can / he says I can have it for what he gave for it but he must have what is cleared, it is a beautifull situation a good spring and good land & good range & I am in hopes healthy / Neill is going to clear 25 acres and I want to clear 12 / we are going in cahoot about cotton / I have rented 12 acres from Charley McDougald and we think of getting of 10 from P Wilkinson then we will have 32 acres in cotton and 35 in corn / if we keep well and nothing happens to prevent us that is our calculation – Neill to have 3 shares __ of too big calculations that could be blasted in an hour – we have to split 4000 rails for Charley McDougald out of chesnut, & I do not know how many for Uncle Peter – We are going to Fayette Monday about the road / Neill puts down the fence & Gib puts it up Neills lawyer tells him that he can make Gib pay 3$ for every 24 hours he keeps the fence up, but we will know Monday / every boddy thinks Neill will worst Gib, he has been here once cince I came / he came to tell Neill to put up the fence but Neill was not at homethey speak at church – I have not been at his house but once since I came – in fact I have been hardly any where the neighbors appear friendly but there is more coldnefs in this neighborhood perhaps at this time than ever there was – there has been more entering of land and clash and fufs about land here in 12 months than ever there was – and more land Entered and the people are still entering – D. Buie D McC & N Buie [end of page]

Friday evening
Mamma
I am just from preaching where I saw several N Carolinians A Brown & family M Smyly & family & several others Charley McLean Dugald McMillan & all getting well that was sick / Jennet Curry formely Jennet Ray was buried yesterday evening / she was delivered of a Daughter a few days ago / the child is living / they are talking about getting Sely Ann Kelly to suckle it that married Malcolm Stuart near Bethel, he is dead and left a child – Sally Henderson [Sarah Gilchrist Henderson, daughter of Gilbert Gilchrist and Nancy McPherson and wife of Rev. Daniel C. Henderson] stayed here a week she has a fine son / she had the feaver but is well / John is 33 miles from here he has joined the church – he is going to live with the same man another year / he gives him 400$ / I have got no more room / write to me after and partickular I forgot to pay the preacher that is J Brown / give Duncan 1$ to give to him for me I thought it was paid before I left – Tell Aunt Nancy we got nothing on T. Buie. [Who is this Aunt Nancy? Malcolm had only one aunt named Nancy—Nancy McPherson Gilchrist, first wife of Gilbert Gilchrist. Does this mean that Nancy McPherson Gilchrist was alive in 1833? Nancy's death date is unknown, but it's generally believed she died by 1828. If Malcolm is referring to his Aunt Nancy Gilchrist, this would mean that some of the first children thought to have been Gilbert Gilchrist's by his second wife are those of his first wife, Nancy; however, the names of these children do not fit this picture, so...Who is this Aunt Nancy? A slave, perhaps?]
Your son Mal. Buie

John I was in the byapier [?] yesterday looking for a beef / you ask Duncan what sort of a place it is, I saw trees bigger than your leg that the Bear would break down and eat the berrys & saw where they would climb up gum trees and break at the lims to get the berrys / some right fresh that they broke night before last / you Artemas [Artemas Brown of Robeson Co., NC] & Daniel McPherson [This may be Daniel McPherson Buie, Malcolm's younger brother. It could also be Daniel McPherson, Malcolm's first cousin by his uncle Hugh McPherson and his wife Christian Ferguson of Robeson Co., NC. The latter, Daniel McPherson, eventually did move to the west about the year 1835 or '36. He returned to Robeson in 1841, and disappears from the local record.] make haste and get your education and come & help us kill them / I killed two Deer since I came here – NB there is no mash this year and people have to fatten their hogs

[end of letter]
_______________________________

["Union Church Mifs" is the return address on the envelope]
Jefferson County Mifs State Sept the 18 1854

Mother I have neglected writing to you longer than I should – we are all in good health exept Ann / she has the third rising on her right hand since she came to Mifs / one in the palm of the hand another on the ring finger and now on her fore finger – they are common here for the last few years and but few of them can be put back after two or three days they are very painfull till about the ninth or tenth day when they have to be opened / some lose the use of the finger and some almost the use of the whole hand / none of them have injured Anns hand or fingers yet very much / she says her fingers are a little stiffer than the others the one she has at this time we are in hopes will not be very bad as we comenced it in 24 hours after she felt it but it will have to be opened – There has been a good deal of sicknefs this summer Tiphoid fever and mumps measles hooping cough all prevaling at the same time – it has proven fatal among children where feaver would acompany the cough or measles – our friend John McNeill died a few weeks ago of consumpsion / I recon he weighed about 65 lb when he died and could set up and walk a little till a few days of his death –Uncle Peter is quite frail but rides about a little in the neighborhood / Uncle Charles McDougald is in tollerable health his age considered – aunt Caty was here just now is well / John Ray is also well / Uncle C & Aunt Caty and John Ray are anxious to sell and be off to Ark – I heard from Ark a few days ago all are tollerable well / Neill McCorvey [husband of Mary Buie McCorvey who was daughter of Daniel Buie Flora McPherson; Neill was son of Finlah McCorvey and Annabel "Nepsy" Buie of Robeson Co., NC] & Catharine [dau. of Neill McCorvey; Catherine McCorvey married Daniel Galbraith] are better of the Palsey / Mary has a fine a Daughter and name enough Flora Laura Jane [Is this Laura McCorvey who married Daniel Wilkerson?] / I recon they think it the last / D. Brown has bought land in 9 miles of them and stock / they say he got a great Bargain good dwellings and out houses of all kind / 300 hundred acres under fence for 1200$ [end of page]

He has been to texas since he bought with Newton and Dr. Buie his – nephews – he likes texas very well / they have bought land there / he (Duncan) did not / it is uncertain whether they will move or not if they go he may – Newton has not sold his land here he asks 10$ per acres for his land here and only gave 2$ or 2$50C in texas for land just as rich as any need for & healthy they say – and game plenty / John Rice Henderson Parson Hendersons son [John Rice Henderson was the son of Rev. Daniel C. Henderson and Sarah "Sallie" Gilchrist, daughter of Archibald Gilchrist and Mary McPherson of Robeson Co., NC] is back from texas now he is not pleased with texas – he has come to collect for his father / He sold part in credit and it is due – Rice says if he can get a safe hand to cary the money to his father he will not go back / in a year or too he will go to overseeing or something here – Crops, corn is tollerable good here Cotton like McSwains Beef Barley tollerable bottom land tollerable good up land sorry / I made 24 hundred Peches? last year and have the same under this year and i don't think I will make much over half / and is so prety much every where I can hear on up land we had it too wet and too dry Potatoes are tollerable good peas not so good & I will make enough of corn – I had a thought of going to see you all this winter but I have declined it – when I do go I will stay longer than C F McL did he says you were all to buzzy in old Carolina partickulary / his brothers they could hardly take time to talk to him – he tells me you have a store at the red springs [The post office of Dora in Robeson County, NC incorporated as Red Springs in 1885. Red Springs in its early history advertised itself as a spa with healing, mineral-rich waters.] but does not know who owns it / Mother I think if you would sit down and tell Effy [his sister Effy Buie; died unmarried] what to write it would be satisfactory to me as I hear but little that is done or going on there – I do not care how the writing or diction is so I can hear what you are all doing there do make some of them write when you get this
Your son Mal. Buie

[the following is part of the same letter]

Neill I have looked for a letter from you for some time – I would think you might write often as you have to have your pen and ink always ready and in practice – I should like to know how you are all getting along with your plank roads and how much you can cary on them – Archd I want to get a word or too from you to let me know how your Mill does & Duncan McAlpin is dead he died in August / I do not know what his complaint was [Obituary in Fayetteville Observer dated 24 Aug 1854 states he died "Near Bolton's MS, Duncan McALPIN, with chronic diarrhoea, in the 70th year of his age; native of Robeson Co, NC, but for last 14 years citizen of MS. While in Robeson Co, elected several times to political & civil offices."] / he lived some 60 miles from us / Billy McNeill miller is living near where he died and too of his sons / I have never seen any of them / McAlpin sent word several times to us that he would come to see us but he never came – we have nearly as good a makket for our cotton in Port Gibson as Natchez and Port Gibson is 27 miles and Natchez 45 and as good a road / the reason they give as much at Port Gibson is they have a rail now to the river and it costs but little to get it to the river / we pay a little higher for heavy artickles but I can make a trip to Port Gibson in 2 days and a half and it takes a week to go to Natchez / I am in hopes our state will get a better name as the no Nothings are going to elect no foreigner or dsyonest man to office let him be whig or Democrat – and we have a good many – John I was looking for you to come with C F McLean / it would take you but a few days / he got there in 6 days and a piece – write to me / Flora got the Anul report of the board of publication and a catalogue of books and tracks published by the Board – a few days ago – but got no certificate / John find out if Hendersons children is to get any thing out of Uncle A Gilchrists estate [Archibald Gilchrist's estate was settled since his death in 1839 in Robeson Co., NC] – and if they are they ought to send it to Rice now as he is just comencing in the world – Mal. Buie

Letter from Hugh McPherson of Little River, [In what state? Hugh eventually moved to Texas] to his brother Gilbert McPherson of Robeson County, NC, both sons of Alexander and Nancy Dallas McPherson in Robeson County, NC:
[McKay-Edgerton Collection]

January the 23 1839

Dear brother / I tak the opertunity of writing you a fiew lins to let yoe no that I am well & perhaps these fiew lins will find yoe & yoer family well & Awll of ower relations well / my family keaps well awll Exepting Catharine Shea has Spells with her head / Yeat Gilbert I was glad to heer from you & to heer awll of ower relations was well / yoe menchend in your leter About my coming to NC / that is moar than I now / I doant no that I Ever Shewill get thair fur I am in gaiged with Mr Eccles for this year for foar hundred Dollars A year / I liv on my oan Land & tends to His Business hea tends About __ Acors for mea / E___we of My wagews / I hav A Nice Lot of Hogs / I have 19 youg pigs / I maid A nic Crop of potatoes Last year & Maid my oan Bakin [tobacco?] but I want Abidg to dwo it / Mr Eccles was to find mea & fairley but I Dunit to try How I coed Keap & I maid the purtes baken yoe Ever Sawe / yoe Menchend About Malcom Leach [sometimes known as Malcolm Lytch, who will become their brother-in-law in 1846 by marrying their sister Sarah McPherson] Coming out heer / I wod bea glad to Sea [bottom section of letter is torn off]

A gwod plan for him to come & Sea it / the Land A Round me is not in Markit now but it will bea in this fawll tho popel Setels on it & wen it coms in to Markit yoe wod hav 2 years to pay for it / we think it will come in to markit 125 cts pur Acor / Gilbert Let Mea no if youe hav aney [idea] of coming out Heer / I will Let me Hous Aloan til fawll / I want to get you to bild it for mea / pople is very healthey out Heer / tell fater I Staid one Night with old Jaims McNeill Sun Jaims the black Smith / he wated to no whair Arch McMillion was & his Sisters was / So Let me no in your Next Leter / Dear brother I must cloas writ Soon Let me ___ ___ ___ ower Relations awll is / writ Swon / I Remains Yours til Death

Hugh McPherson Direct to Lital River
to his Brother GG McPherson Po Offis

Let me No if yoe Heers
[bottom section of letter is torn off]

This very interesting letter written by Sarah Brown McLean to her mother Catherine, wife of the Rev. Daniel Brown. The letter has no envelope, but was folded and addressed to Mrs. Catherine Brown, Randalsville, Robeson, N.C.

Source: Sandy Campbell of Nashville, Tennessee.

Philadelphia May 15th, 1839
Dear Mother,
Knowing the anxiety you have in hearing from us, I embrace the present opportunity of writing to you. We arrived at this city the 11th inst. in safety, without the least accident occuring. We are in good health. We are boarding with Miss Jane Lucins, a lady with whom I am much pleased. She spares no pains whatever to render us comfortable. She is indeed an exception amongst ladies. The rest of the family including boarders are also very kind and obliging to us. Our board is five dollars each per week. Washing, fuel and light extra. I stood the fatigue of traveling much better than I anticipated. We spend a day and night in Washington. I went with Mr. McLean to see the Capitol. We first viewed the rotunda or apartment in which the paintings are kept, the surrender of Cornwallis and his men. The resignation of Washington together with many others were very striking. Jefferson is standing on a high block of marble in the center of the room. He is painted black. The hall of representatives and the senate hall are certainly magnificent. After viewing the building we walked to see the fish pond, a circular place with water a few feet deep in which are living fish. Mr. McClain crumbled part of a biscuit into the pond. A great many fish then came near the surface of the water, swimming and eating the crumbs. We then walked around the enclosure, viewing the trees, shrubs and flowers of which there were a great variety and most tastefully arranged. Sabbath morning we attended Mr. Barns' (church and we were) much pleased with the sermon and singing. In the afternoon we attended the Friends meeting which is the Quakers meeting. Heard a women preach, she made a great many good remarks. Monday afternoon, we visited Peals museum in which are exhibited skins of animals from the mammoth down to the smallest animal, fowls of all kinds, fish , reptiles, insects, shells, minerals, and the likenesses of great men, a great many handsome flowers. I spent the evening very pleasantly viewing those objects. Tuesday morning, we went to see the Chinese museum, in which were exhibited wax figures representing ladies and gentlemen of the higher classes in China clad in their native splender and elegance, ornaments of various kinds; caps, shoes, fans, lanterns, Japan and porcelain ware, many things too tedious to mention. I was much pleased with a view of the Chinese museum. From thence we went to see the magnificent scripture picture of the departure of the Israelites out of Egypt. This picture represents the dawn of day. In the gate of his palaces is seen Pharaoh, standing under a superb canopy of peacock feathers, surrounded by his court. Opposite to him are the two leaders, Moses and Aaron, directing the route of the Hebrews. The tops of the palaces are crowded with Egyptians looking on. The representation was striking indeed. From there, we went to the Sabbath School Union, we saw a great number of books. We went then to see the printing presses and operation. There are eight presses belonging to the establishment. The presses are __________ in motion by the power of steam. There were two at work while we were there. Ladies attended to the work altogether. There were four ladies, two engaged at each press, one laying on the paper, and the other removing it after it was printed just as fast as they could lay down and tick up. Rode out in the afternoon to Fairmount. This mount is near Schuylhill River, nearly round and some hundreds of feet wide. The space on top I should suppose to be some three of four acres. The hill or mount itself is a beautiful prospect, but there is something more remarkable about the waterworks below. Through the means of large wheels and syringes, the waters of the river are forced up to the top of the mount, which is dug in large basins to contain the water. The water is there purified by charcoal and carried by aquaducts through all parts of the city. This morning walked to Rondles(?) burying ground. This is an enclosure of two or more acres. A great many are buried in it , tombstones of various sizes and shapes throughout the enclosure, The surface of earth completely covered over with blue grass and red clover, a choice selection of shrubs and flowers neatly arranged throughout the enclosure. Dear mother, I must conclude , give my love to brother and sisters and any inquiring friends.
Affectionately your daughter, S.B. McLean. [Sarah Brown]
[in another hand]
P.S. I can form no idea when we should probably return home. The General Assembly meets on tomorrow at eleven o'clock. The church case has been decided in favor of the old school in the court in Youth[?] The new school here are much dejected. We anticipated an harmonious meeting. My love to all, H. McLean

Two letters written by Hector G. McPherson of Maxville, Florida, to his uncle Gilbert Gilchrist McPherson of Robeson County, NC:
[McKay-Edgerton Collection]

[From Hector G. McPherson, son of John Archibald McPherson [and wife Lovedy Priest McPherson], brother of Gilbert]
Maxville Fla Oct 8, 1905
Mr GD [GG] McPherson
Dear uncle
I take the Pleasure to drop you a fiew lines to inform you that I am well But My famly are not well / I have one Daughter that has Bin Sick nearly 3 years with Lung Trouble & are Still Sick / I had a letter from Willie [Hector's brother] Some time ago Stating that you was very Sick / I have Rote to him & Jeff [Hector's brother] & All So Mr J. E. Purcell Since then asking them to write me how you was / it looks like out of the 3 one could have answerd any letter / I thought of going to See you all the Midle of Sept But on the Acount of Sicknes, I could no get off / Uncle Gilbert Their is one question I want to ask of you in Regards to the Entrest that we two Brothers [He and his brother John A. McPherson Jr.] have as you are the Admistrator on the Estate / it Seems that from the letters that I got from Mr J.E. Purcell that our two Brothers wanted we 2 brothers to wave all our Rite to them / Do you think that is Just / Dont you think that one child is as near & dear as others / I have 10 children & I dont make any difents in non of them / Now I want you to wright me Just all about the matter / I dont want any thing but what is Rite / you know that we 2 have never had the care that the 2 Brothers thear [Jefferson Davis McPherson and William H. McPherson] had / tha had a father & Mother until tha was able to look out for ther Selves & all So had the Benefit of what was thear / Now it Dont look like that tha could have the have to ask us for our Shear now I close for this time hoping to hear from you Soon as Ever your nephew
HG McP

[From Hector G. McPherson, son of John Archibald McPherson, brother of Gilbert G. McPherson]
Maxville Fla Oct 15, 1905
Mr GG McPherson
Dear uncle
I take the Pleasure ot answer your most wecom letter that come Duly to hand & found all well with the Exceptions of my oldest Daughter She don’t Seem to improve any / I was Glad to hear that you had Got Better from your Spell of Sickness / hope you will Soon gain your Strength / I have know News of importance to wright / we have had a cool Spell for the Past fiew days / I guess you had some frost / well uncle Gilbert I Do not know any thing of uncle Daniel McPherson / there are Some McPhersons at Quincy Fla But I Do not Know wether they are any of our kin or not / I cant Say Just when I can go to See you But I will go Just as Soon as I can / I would Be Glad to see you & all the Rest / I will close for this time hoping to hear from you Soon / As ever your nephew
HG McPherson

Letter from R.R. McMillan to Reverend William Black of Robeson County, NC:
[Source: Liz Frano via Mrs. Flora Black Belknap of Arizona]

To the Rev. Wm. Black Dundarrock, N.C. Jan. 18, 1908,

Angus Black, your Grandfather, was not related by consanquinity to Alex Black, Arch Black and James Black mentioned in my former sketch; but your Grandmother, Margaret Black, was related as follows: Her father was Alex Black's Brother, but we are not sure whether her father was Arch Black or Neill Black, probably Neill Black. [Margaret Black, wife of Angus Black, was the daughter of Archibald Black from his 1839, Gadsden Co., Florida Estate papers. –Liz Frano]

Mrs. Sallie McPherson who lived on Stewart's Creek on Camden Road eleven miles west of Fayetteville was twin sister of Margaret Black your grandmother and moved to the State of Mississippi then a territory now you have the connecting link. Your grandmother's father was a whole brother of my great-grandfather Alex Black who was killed by Col. Thomas Wade in revenge for the attack by Mccrainey at Piney Bottom. The Margaret Black mentioned in my first sketch who married a Monroe was a daughter of Alex Black. She did marry Malcolm Monroe and lived and owned Jackson Springs (Inn) in Moore County but left and went west. Your grandmother Margaret and our grandmother Isabel Black (McCrimmon) were first cousins. This information I have from my sister Kate MacMillan, and is correct as she got it from our grandmother Isabel Black who married Roderick McCrimmon as stated before. She (Isabel McCrimmon) lived to see the end of the War Between the States and died February 21, 1866 aged 88. Our grandmother MacMillan died two days before February 19, 1866 aged 88 and both died in the same house. [This reference is to R.R. McMILLAN's grandmother. –Liz Frano]

Hope I have this history correct and am confident the connection is true. The widow of Alex Black (Mary Patterson) always said the man who killed her husband was a Lucas from Anson County. I have often heard our grandmother speak of Lucas and I think he was a mulatto or not white.

P.S. Mrs. Sallie Macpherson was the grandmother of Alex Macpherson late of C.S.A. of Cumberland county. Calvin Black, your father, often told me that Alex Black was his granduncle, There were four brothers instead of three mentioned first. I never heard of Neill Black till my sister corrected me. I would be glad for you to get this information in shape and publish it. These men and women were good people and church people. I have always wished to see it in print and now we have the opportunity.
Remember me in your devotions. R.R. MacMillan

[NOTE: I believe Mr. McMillan was wrong on two statements in this letter. First, Mississippi was no longer a territory when Sarah Black McPherson moved in the early 1830s to Lauderdale County in that state. Secondly, Sallie Black McPherson had no grandchildren named Alexander McPherson. She had a son named Alexander McPherson who married Mary A. Black, but there is no record of his having been in the Confederate army. There was a Captain John Alexander McPherson, CSA of Cumberland County, but he was from the Alexander McPherson of Jura family. I do believe Mr. McMillan was correct about Sallie having lived on Stewart's Creek in Cumberland eleven miles west of Fayetteville, and the location of her and her husband's home was just south of the current community of Rockfish in Cumberland County. –Steve Edgerton]

Red Springs, N.C., Route 2, Nov. 24, 1910

Dear Pat:

Your letter came in due time and we were glad to hear from you. I am afraid you were beginning to think before this that Aunt Kate is going to fail you, but I have waited till you would get home again before I'd write for fear I would not catch you in big old Richmond, and now Katie and I are planning to go to St. Pauls for Thanksgiving and I decided to write and have it ready to take when we go and let Lauch and Sandy McEachern see it and make corrections and suggestions as they think needed.

When I look back I have many things to regret that I did not do that I might have done. One of these is that I did not pay more attention to the old stories that I remember so well to have heard the old folks telling. I can think of a great deal of it but to take it up and give a connected story, I soon find myself floundering.

My idea is to give you all I can and let you compare it with what you have already gathered and make the best you can of it. I always felt a little proud of my Grandpa, and more of him as I grow older. Notice how much of this world's goods he gathered with his own hands, and what he gave to each of his sons. How faithful he was to his church and all those over whom he had authority had to go to church too. He had opinions and was not afraid to express them and was man enough to stand up to those opinions. I remember what a graceful rider he was if any gracefullness can be about an old Scotchman. Other men would ride along wibble de wobble, their arms flapping, their legs dangling, but Grandpa rode upright, steady and staunch, not a muscle moved only in response to the motion of his horse, which was always a big, fat one. You see in his boyhood he was apprenticed to a Lord, who put him in charge of his stables, that is why he rode so well. He did not stay to finish out his apprenticeship. He ran away before he was 21 and came to America. He coaxed and prayed and cried and tried to get his sweetheart, Nepsy McIver, to come with him but she would not leave her widowed mother so they stood over a stream of running water and broke a silver brooch between them in token of their engagement. He took his half, she kept hers, and he always charged Mother to put his half on his breast as he lay in his coffin.

I began this letter Monday and am finishing it today, the 26th, while I wait for Lauch to send this evening for Katie and I to go spend Thanksgiving at St. Pauls [town in northern Robeson County, NC]. We were to go across country driving Katie's charger, Shadrack, but Lauch phoned Katie last night that he would send for us this evening. Katie is off to her school – will be back this afternoon in time to go. Our weather is wintry for the last few days. This is a cold one though bright and sunny. Uncle Dunk and I are sitting nearby a good fire. He is looking rather melancholy. I know he will be lonesome until we get back. His health is not good, can't walk much – not even to the mill. He is bright and cheerful though.

If there is anything more you think I can help you in let me know and I will try my pen another day.

Remember "Aunt Kate" to the boys. I would so delight to see and know them.

Best love to you and Lila,
Lovingly, Aunt Kate

See I have a nice new "self-filler" It writes delightfully when I have good ink.

Letter from Rev. Angus Johnson to Mrs. Harriett McNeill McKay of Philadelphus, Robeson County, NC:
[Source:McKay-Edgerton Collection]

My dear Cousin Harriet McKay

You are the only McNeill relative I know any thing of. I remember when your Father & Mother ["Wild Archie" McNeill and Elizabeth McNeill McNeill] were courting. I entered my 88th year 26 of last August. It is now near 11 years since I came to Texas. I married my 2nd wife a Mifs [Suejette] Thomas. She is in her 58 year. We have no children. My first wife was a Mifs Means of Concord N.C. We were married in 1839. We had 8 children 2 died young one son preached 5 years and is burried in Concord N.C. One grown daughter at the head of Tampa Bay Fla 2 children at Water Valley Mifsifsippi and my oldest daughter & wife are burried at Germantown Tenn. I have a married daughter with 5 children in Oxford Mifsifsippi and one in Grand Junction Tenn with 4 children and an unmarried daughter that lives with them. I have one living half sister Mrs Mary McDuffie at Johnson's Station Ga, but have not heard from her in a year. I first learned the tailor's trade then turned to preaching in 1836 preached 2 years near Wilmington N.C. then 7 years near Charlotte, N.C. then 27 years in Mifsifsippi then 10 years in Tenn 4 Fla 11 in Texas = 61. I am now on the invalid list, though my hearing, my sight, my actions are remarkably good for my age We live in our own home a neat cottage, have a horse and buggy and one acre in our lot, I preach every Sabbath I have organized 3 chruches out of this one so we have 4 in the field, they are small. May God abundantly bless you both temporall & spiritually.

I will write to your son in Weatherford [Judge William David Torrey McKay].

Your loving cousin, I hope to meet you in heaven

Angus Johnson

[Reverend Angus Johnson, born 26 Aug. 1808 and died c.1910, was the son of Daniel Johnson and Catherine McNeill. Daniel Johnson and his brother Peter married McNeill sisters, Catherine and Nancy. The two McNeill sisters were daughters of Godfrey McNeill and Catherine McDougald. Rev. Angus and his wife Suejette visited the Duncan & Harriett McNeill McKay family at Philadelphus, NC, a few years later, around 1900-06. Harriett McNeill McKay was a granddaughter of Godrey McNeill. The photograph of Rev. Angus and Sujette above was taken by Archie McKay, Harriett McKay's grandson by her oldest son John Archibald McKay and his wife Rena Burriss McKay.]

Letter from Hugh A. Priest to Gilbert Gilchrist McPherson of Robeson County, NC:
[Source: McKay-Edgerton Collection]

Hoffman, N.C. June 28, 1884

Mr Gilbert McPherson
Dear Cousin, I take the opportunity of writing you a short letter, which leaves me well, and, I truly hope these few lines will find you all the same. I have no news of interest to write to you / Crops are looking finely in this section We have been having too much rain for a while / I fear if drouth sets in in next month it will cut them short / They were all well at my Father's last Sunday. I have not seen any of them since. I have not been to see them since April, my place got burned out in the time of the big fire the 2nd of April, it has been a busy time with me since / I have a fine prospect of a good corn crop this year / I would be glad we could spend a few days together driving so we could talk and have some fun. I don't know after I get through my crop if I dont go down about the Springs and see you all. I want to ask you your opinion, I suppose the road is completed to Red Springs, will there be much building going on there this fall or not / I would like to get in with some good workmen, where there was plenty of work. I have some ideas about carpentering, and if I could make fair wages I would put myself in for a hand and stay down all the fall. I want to make a little outside of my crop if I can / Probably you may take some buildings, as you are a first class workman. I want you to be sure to let me know the prospect in fall, and say nothing about it to any one / I suppose it is getting live[l]y around the Springs and bids to be a business place. There is some right businefs places on the Raleigh Road but there is not much building going on about here now / I am not married yet, but I have had the galls [gals] to see me several times since leap year commenced. I think though it is getting towards time I was looking round for a gal / I have not been deer driving this year, there is some few deer on the Sand Hills / Give my Respects to Cousin Mary Eliza [Mary Eliza McPherson Brown] and all my Cousins. I dont hardly think you would know me now / I have grown a right smart since I saw you. I am even 6 feet high and last winter I weighed 175 lbs. but I dont weigh that now by a right smart. So I think if I dont get stunned in my growth I will be a man some of these times. I want you to be sure to write to me as soon as you get this and give me all the news.

Yours Very Respectfully

Hugh A. Priest

P.S. Be sure to send me word if you think it would pay me to go down or not. Yours, H.A. Priest

[NOTE: Lovedy Priest married Gilbert Gilchrist's brother, John McPherson; an Owen Priest witnessed their marriage in Cumberland county in 1860. Hugh, the writer of this letter, is probably Lovedy's relative. Did Hoffman, NC, catch fire in 1884? Hoffman is a town in eastern Richmond County, NC, that was settled in the 1870s with the construction of the Raleigh and Augusta Airline Railroad. It was incorporated in 1899, and again in 1913. the post office was established there in 1878. During WWII Camp Mackall was adjacent to Hoffman on the east in Richmond and Scotland counties. –S. Edgerton]

Slaves

List of Slaves of the McKay family found on a scrap of paper in the trunk of Ann Flora McPherson McKay [1850–1929]:
[McKay-Edgerton Collection]

This list of slaves was found and proved the existence of Israel, the slave who is the subject of the narrative below.

Israel and The Thread of Life
[Oral history passed on by Mrs. Ella Pellegrini and her daughter, Mrs. J.S. Edgerton to me, and written by me, S.C. Edgerton]

To this day, we are troubled by that part of our history when men owned the very lives and labors of others. These times are illustrated in our local oral tradition by stories and anecdotes, and none lives so vividly in my recollection as that of a wandering slave named Israel.

I have always had an avid interest in local history, so, as a youngster, my grandmother was far better than television. Listening to the stories of her life and her family’s lives was sometimes all I wanted to hear, and many hours were spent sitting with her while she dusted off old tales just for me. One summer afternoon, she told me a story I would never forget, and taught me something all southern children learned eventually: Never cross the line between oral tradition and respect for neighboring families. She had been telling me about her grandfather who had prospered as a farmer and skillful blacksmith during the Civil War, that he had made ninety-nine wagons for the Confederate army, and how he had built his home from boards, windows and doors he had purchased from the old Philadelphus Presbyterian Church dismantled during that same time.

I then asked her if he had owned slaves. “Yes, a few,” she replied, and told me their names and as much about them as she knew. As she talked, I could see through the wavy glass of her bedroom window her grandfather’s house across the field, a simple North Carolina plantation farmhouse now gray and slumped with age, much like my grandmother. As her narrative painted pictures for me around that old house, the inevitable crossed my young mind. So I blurted: “Did he ever beat his slaves?” I truly hoped she would say he had not. “Oh, no,” she asserted to my relief. Her back straightened slightly as she turned her head toward the window framing her grandfather’s home. “Grandpa McKay wasn’t like that. There was only one man around here who ever did such a thing.” My childish mind leaped at having chanced upon some tantalizing dirt undiscovered among my grandmother’s lore. I begged to know who the man was, but my grandmother was stubborn. It was only after a relentless, badgering siege on my part that she relented, but only after a lecture that he was from a local family of Scottish descent and a cousin of her father’s. Then, barely whispering the rogue’s name, she followed it with: “And don’t you ever tell anybody.”

And, just for her, I won’t tell who he was, not even now.

Then, moments after that secret name was spoken, association breached the years, and she continued to speak, though in a more somber tone. The man who “beat his slaves” owned a man named Israel. He also owned his wife and his children. Old church records I've found describe the “walk” of this master as "unchristian." Not only was he physically brutal, but possessed a moral savagery in selling Israel’s wife and children away from him.

Whatever emotions Israel suffered after such a loss were enough to make him “lose his mind,” my grandmother said, and, for many years after the war that freed him, roamed the local countryside literally in search of his lost family. He never accepted a permanent abode but occasionally stayed overnight in one of a few places: John McIntosh Brown’s, Dr. Luther McMillan’s, James Franklin McKay’s, and Archie D. McCallum’s in the Philadelphus township area. Although he accepted gifts of kindness from others in the community, these families had prepared accommodations for him in which he was always welcome, therein receiving food, shelter, and old clothing. My grandmother remembered Israel well. She said her parents allowed Israel to sleep in the kitchen on a cot by the stove. Any clothing he received he put on directly over whatever he was wearing, accumulating many layers whatever the season. He endeared himself to my grandmother and her siblings, for he would play with them, entertaining them with songs, stories, and games. He married them in playful weddings, the kind children like to imitate, and accompanied the ceremony with a prepared sermon he always began with: “I takes my text from Pete Wheeler and the Thread of Life....” The little couple were requested to “jump the broom,” afterwards concluding the play service with directions to “Buss the bride", and the little groom would give his bride a little kiss.

When word spread old Israel had died, it was said his body was found beside the railroad tracks he sometimes wandered between Red Springs and Shannon, still clad in the many layers of clothing he always wore.

Years later, while looking through my late grandmother’s steamer trunk—a record of her life and memories—I found what I thought was just another scrap of fragile, attic-baked parchment. It was a small piece of stained, yellowed paper penciled with a faded list of a few names and dates. I quickly scanned the list before trashing it. At the top of the page was written, “all on Saturday.” I froze when I recognized some of the names — those who my grandmother had said years before were slaves of her grandfather’s. Then, that old feeling of discovery came over me I had felt as a boy, and as I began to read in earnest, I saw heading the list was: “Israel, died May 16, 1896.” Israel, whose existence I never doubted but who lived for me only as part of someone’s recollection, suddenly came to life. And then I saw the list was written in my grandmother’s own mother’s handwriting, a mature, nineteenth-century script I knew from letters found while digging through other trunks. It became clear to me my ancestress had cared enough about Israel and his sad situation to have recorded his passing. She had been old enough to have known him during the days of slavery when Israel at least had had his family about him; perhaps she knew how sweetly he had played with his own children and valued his tending hers in kind.

Recently, I found a bit of information that may shed some light on the “Thread of Life” in Israel’s sermon. A mail order catalog advertised a brooch, the complex design of which was taken from a Celtic knot the catalog called “Thread of Life.” So closely associated with a community of Scottish origin, Israel may have known an old Celtic parable that is tied to this ancient design.

I have to wonder—Did Israel’s “Thread of Life” speak of a lesson of loss like his own? Whatever his lesson exclaimed of his own life, it is safe to say that Israel’s lost narrative addresses a collective fabric that threads all of us together in a large and intricate pattern. Maybe, like Israel, we are all wandering a lonely, complex path to find something that is lacking, yet akin to our salvation.

Israel, his family stolen from him for want of profit, was forced to walk those roads that end in want of need. If we, today, decide to listen, we will hear Israel’s sermon. Then we will understand.

—S.C. Edgerton

Newspaper articles


"Western Site Steeped in History" by Steve Thompson (Article taken from January 20, 1974 edition of The Fayetteville Observer-Times)
[Clipping from the McKay-Edgerton Collection]

The U.S. 301 tract on which one of the nation's largest publishing companies will build a $10 million distribution center was once owned by one of North Carolina's smallest publishing concerns.

Mary McKinnon Vaughn, who was the last resident owner of the "Ardlussa" site, was editor and publisher of the weekly newspaper "The Peoples Advocate" that was distributed in Cumberland and several surrounding counties through the 1940's. She died in 1947.

The Ardlussa site, named for the McNeill clan's homeplace in Scotland, will soon be occupied by the Western Publishing Co. of Racine, Wisc., which bought the 125-acres tract for $243, 620.

Western, which manufactures juvenile books and games, school books, textbooks, and hobby and craft sets, plans to build a distribution and assembly plant on the site.

Western purchased the property from Dr. William McKinnon Massie, a Lynchburg, Va. general practitioner, who is a grandson of the newspaper publisher. The sale was handled by Fayetteville Realtor Robert E. McNeill, whose grandfather lived at Ardlussa a a child.

The Ardlussa story started in 1746 when Archibald McNeill left Scotland to seek freedom in the new world.

He landed in Wilmington and traveled up the Cape Fear River on a flat boat. He eventuallly settled at a site above Fayetteville.

Nine years later, in 1754, McNeill bought land on Rockfish Creek about five miles south of Fayetteville, the site that became Ardlussa. It is not established whether he ever lived on the land, but a son, Malcolm, later came into possession of the property.

He and his wife, Mary, lived on the property and raised 11 children. At his death in 1803, Malcolm left 1,310 acres between the Robeson County line and Big Rockfish Creek and 510 acres on Li ttle Rockfish Creek. His two eldest sons were administrators of the estate. Mary McNeill died in 1826.

Daniel McNeill, the third son of Malcolm and Mary McNeill, built a new home on the property in 1832 and lived there for some 20-odd years.

Daniel's son-in-law, Hector, was sheriff during the Civil War. A part of Sherman's Army camped near Ardlussa and Hector ws put under temporary arrest for refusing to give certain information to the enemy. He died in 1900.

Ardlussa was destroyed by fire in 1904 but soon replaced by Dr. James McNeill, a son of Hector and Mary McNeill. He lived there until it was sold to Mary McKinnon Vaughn, the newspaper publisher. She and her husband lived there until her death in 1947. Dr. Massie inherited Ardlussa in 1948.

The house built by Dr. McNeill suffered heavy vandalism in 1972 and was eventually destroyed by volunteer fire departments in a training exercise.

Western was so taken by the background of Ardlussa that it plans to publicize a history of the site in its company magazine.

Said Western President Gerald Slade: "It (Ardlussa) is a good site with two of the finest live oak trees I have ever seen. We will save them."

Big Rockfish Presbyterian Church is a landmark on Highway 301, about 10 miles from Fayetteville and just south of Rockfish Creek.

During the pastorate of the Rev. James W. Douglas at First Presbyterian Church, 1834-1837, a great revival took place in the Rockfish neighborhood. The session of the Presbyterian church met repeatedly in homes in the area to receive members. Some 70 members were received by the Presbyterian Church.

Many of the meetings were held at "Ardlussa," the home of Daniel McNeill. Son of Malcolm and Mary McNeill, he built his home in 1832 and lived there for many years. Ardlussa no longer stands, and on the site today is Western Publishing Co. He was a descendant of Archibald McNeill ["Laird Archie" McNeill, also known as "Bluff Archie" McNeill; married Barbara Baker], the ancestor, who left Scotland in 1746 and nine years later purchased land on Rockfish Creek.

A petition to organize a church at Rockfish was presented to Fayetteville Presbytery at the 63rd session held at Galatia Presbyterian Church Nov. 4, 1844. A commission consisting of the Rev. Adam Gilchrist, the Rev. Simeon Colton and the Rev. Hester McNeill was appointed to organize the church.

Elders elected were Neill McArthur, Thomas McMillan, John MacDonald, Archibald Graham, Neill McNeill and Alonza Ketchem. In 1868 Daniel McMillan and Neill McDonald were added as elders.

Early deacons included David Murphy, Daniel J. McLeod, Angus McLean, A.J. McQueen and Hector McNeill; other names are not available.

During the first years, the congregation met in Rockfish Manufacturing Co., then owned by the Mallett family. In 1852, it was decided to erect a building on the Lumberton Road.

The first deed for land for this purpose was transferred by Neill G. McNeill to Neill McArthur, David Murphy and Hector McNeill, Big Rockfish trustees. Witness to the transaction was W. Alderman.

The first service was held May 3, 1856. In 1884, David Murphy deeded eight adjoining acres to the church.

The colonial building has two aisles leading from two double front doors to the pulpit. In the early days, the pulpit was very high but has been lowered. The flooring is of random-width heart pine boards. Many of the window panes are the original hand-blown glass.

The building of the church was under the supervision of John McDonald, native of Scotland, who was a former member and elder of the Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville. He was the grandfather of Mrs. A.D. Cashwell, who was honored as a North Carolina "mother of the year." McDonald was recognized as a fine builder, and the beauty of the church and its endurance have proved his ability. His tombstone is found in the church cemetery.

Some of the ministers of the church have been Neill McDonald, Hector McAllister, George McNeill, John Sherwood, J. Stedman Black, J.M. Forbis, Drury Lacy Jones, John B. Reilly, B.O. Shannon, Leighton McKeithan, Evander McNeill, John Sinclair, P.R. Law, Douglas Black, John L. Fairley, K.A. McLeod, R.C. Lawrence, J. Floyd Menius and Jack M. White. Serving the church today [1985] as stated supply minister is the Rev. Al Drake.

Sons of the church to enter the ministry were Archibald McFayden and Kenneth MacDonald.

In 1954, the church celebrated it 119th anniversary.

Sherwood Presbyterian Church is a daughter of Big Rockfish and named for the Rev. John Sherwood, former pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville and pastor of Big Rockfish at the time of his death in 1872.

Information for this article was taken from a book prepared by Mrs. A.D. Cashwell and Mrs. Irene Rassmusen.

Austin, Tex., Nov. 4, 1908 – From time to time during the past month I have been looking over the Robeson county part of the North Carolina cesus for 1790, lately published by the fereral governemnt. Presuming that others may be alike interested, I ask the prvilege of noticing it in your columns.

Hoke Native Preserves Land Grant Document (undated article, probably from late 1960s) [see original]
[Sent to me by Ruth McArthur of Wilmington, NC, a relative of the Mr. Walter A. McNeill; however it is not known what newspaper it came from. I would guess it was pulished in either The Red Springs Citizen or The Robesonian.]

Vandals who broke into the home of Walter A. McNeill of Duffie's Station a few years ago, stole old swords and guns he valued highly, but left him with an old Gaelic Bible and the 1768 land grant owned by his great grandmother, Mary Petterson McNeill [sic; should be Peterson], the wife of Neill McNeill.

Both are still in his possession and he enjoys showing them to lovers of antiquated things.

McNeill has temporarily preserved the time-worn piece of paper between two pieces of window glass. It [w]as transferred to his relatives by James "Steuart," [James Stewart, according to the publication Bladen County, North Carolina Abstracts of Early Deeds 1738-1804 by Holcomb] from whom the 100 acres were purchased.

With the exception of one word the entire writing, although crease-worn, and with use in spelling of the old German S which resembles the English "f", is easily legible. It reads much like others of the same period:

"George, the Third, by Grace of God of Great Britain, France and Ireland, King, Defender of the Faith, & C. To all to whom these Presents shall come-- Greeting, Know Ye, that we, for and in consideration of the Rents and Duties herein reserved, Have given and granted and by these presents, for use, Our Heirs and successors Do give and Grant unto James Steuart, a tract of land containing 100 acres lying in and being in the county of Bladen in our province of North Carolina on Job's Branch, West of Raft Swamp, beginning at a black pole at the Western Hills of said branch."

The remainder of the writing gave the dimensions and the boundary lines. On the reverse side was the date, April 30, 1768, on which the grant was recorded at the courthouse. The area at the time was in Bladen county. Wilmington was the county seat.

McNeill brought forth an old pistol, now in working condition, which once belonged to his grandfather's brother, Neill McNeill Jr. [Was this Neill T. McNeill?] It was given to him three decades ago by a relative, the late John Watson.

None of the original buildings on the farm now exist, however, relatives have some of the old furniture. McNeill has increased the farm acreage by one-third, but now leases it to another operator.

McNeill recalls that his spinster aunt, Miss Margaret Shaw, who came here from Scotland, and lived with the family, could read the Gaelic Bible. She died at the age of 104 and was buried at Philadelphus. [Her tombstone reads 1803-1903]

Now retired, McNeill enjoys collecting old things, especially antique guns. He spends a great deal of his time repairing old firearms for himself and for others. He owns an "old Kentucky gun" which he says will shoot as well as any modern firearm.

Where Were the Roads of Yesterday? [see original]
[By Dick Brown for his column "Cape Fear Country" in the Fayetteville Observer, dated 20 February 1980.]

Modern highway maps are crisscrossed with a wide variety of raods leading from city to city, town to town and village to village. Few places are inaccessible to today's traveler.

But what about the roads of yesterday — where were they and where did they lead?

The Interstate 95 of the 1830's was the new York-New Orleans Stage Road, more commonly known as a Four Horse Mail Post.

It came down through Virginia, through Warrenton, Louisburg and on to Raleigh. From there it was a straight shot south by Averasboro into Fayetteville, which was the highway hub of the Cape Fear.

Almost all major north-south and east-west roads connected at the Cumberland County seat.

The New York-New Orleans route continued southwest across Rockfish Creek and on to Davis Springs. The next stop was Randalsville and then came Montpelier (now Wagram) and the Lumber River [see another map showing these towns].

At Montpelier, the road branched west and south. The right fork carried travelers to Rockingham and Wadesboro, while the main stage line continued south through Old Laurel Hill and on across the South Carolina line near Brightsville.

A part of this route was remarked several years ago by Scotland County Boy Scouts and modern motorists can trace it by the uniquie stagecoach signs posted at important landmarks.

Another four-horse mail route ran due east and west, crossing Little and Great Cohera Creeks on it way to Clinton. The route west passed through Calvin's Grove to Montrose and also connected with Rockingham in Richmond County.

Lesser roads also branched out of Fayetteville.

One went south by Prospect Hill and Lyons on its way to Elizabethtown and on to the coast. Another passed through St. Pauls en route to Lumberton.

In addition, a variety of two-horse stage and one-horse sulky roads, little better than trails, led in all directions.

The Stewartsville Road, which came from the south out of Bennettsville, was heavily traveled. It crossed Barnes Bridge over Gum Swamp Creek in what is now Scotland County and continued on to Stewartsville Post Office. From there it connected Cowper Hill and Philadelphus. there was also a one-horse road leading to Queensdale.

To the north of Fayetteville, communities connected by one- and two-horse roads included Argyle, Johnsonville, Harrington, Northington, The Pocket, Longstreet, Chalk Level and Martha's Vineyard.

Towns like Laurinburg, Maxton, Pembroke, Raeford, Southern Pines, Dunn and Aberdeen were still years away.

Many of today's highways still follow the routes of the past, but the landmarks and the stage stops that travelers once knew so well have faded into oblivion.

Obituaries

Clippings from the scrapbooks of the McKay sisters, from the McKay-Edgerton Collection

Excerpts from Notable Sources

Explanation of how land claims and entries became land grants in North Carolina, from "The Dixie Frontier," by Everett Dick, 1948, p. 10:

"The North Carolina law, applicable to Tennessee in 1782, had the advantage over that of Kentucky, however, in that an official surveyor marked off the land. The system was: (1) A claimant would go into the woods and mark out roughly the boundaries of the desired tract. (2) This rude survey when submitted to the entry-taker at the land office was called an "entry." He made a record of the entry and issued a warrant for the survey. (3) The official surveyor connected with the land office then made a survey and submitted a plat to the secretary of state, who issued a land grant. (4) The title was complete when the grant was recorded in the office of the register of the county where the land lay."

For an example of this process, take a look at the entry for Lewis and William Munroe in the deed section of this site. I highly recommend The Dixie Frontier by Everett Dick to any researcher interested in the lives of pioneers of the lands between the Appalachian mountains and Mississippi River and beyond.

Miscellaneous Notes & Scraps of Information

From a genealogical note by Mary Kate Carmichael McKay [widow of George McKay of Philadelphus] about her ancestry, written circa 1954-55. Some names with underlining were done so by Mary Kate herself indicating her descent from these people:

Archibald Carmichael b Scotland 1749 d SC 1830-40 m Mary ______ b Scotland 1749 d SC 1820-30 Three children Katherine, Neil, Duncan.

Duncan Carmichael b. N.C. abt 1778 d. S.C. 1836 m Mary Monroe b. N.C. 1790 d. S.C. 1857 7 children Neil M., Duncan A., William, John, Archibald M., Mary, Reddin Owens –

Duncan A b. 1806 d. 1850-1860 m Christian McRae 6 children John R., Alexander, William D., Archibald, Mary, Flora, Duncan McRae b. 1849 d. 1928 m. Mary Alford 7 children 2 died in childhood John C., Mary Kate, Margaret, Duncan, Neill McRae. Mary Kate b 1877 m George McKay [oldest son of James Franklin McKay and Ann Flora McPherson McKay of Philadelphus].

_______________________________

A list of Confederate veterans' graves located in the McNeill cemetery in Red Springs, NC, written in an unknown hand:

MacNeill Cemetery
Confederate Veterans

Daniel E. MacNeill [brothers]
William MacNeill [brothers]
Hector MacNeill [brothers]
James MacNeill [brothers]

Neil B. Watson [brothers]
Charles S. Watson [brothers]

John Hill Coppedge
John A. MacKay [oldest son of Duncan and Harriett McNeill McKay of Philadelphus]
Andrew Brown
Thomas W. Edens
Pickett Gibson
James A. McLeod

_______________________________

From a fraction of a deed found in the Courthouse in Lumberton:

Register of Deeds Office, Book T, Page 427, Lumberton, NC

State of Alabama, Monroe County
Know all men by these presents that Archabald McMillan and Barbara McCorvey (formerly Barbara McMillan both of said State and County aforesaid...) make Neill McMillan and Murdock McCorvey both of said State and County true and lawful attorneys... and for us to receive in money personal and other property whatever the same may be comming to us as heirs and legatees of our late father, John McMillan, of Robeson County, N.C...

8 November 1825