1847 Caufield/Young Letter

The original of following letter was in the possession of Charlotte (Young) Pumphrey of Mercury, Texas. An article was written about this letter in The Brady Standard newspaper published in Brady Texas, Friday, June (the rest of the heading cut off) but, probably in the year 1937 as the article refers to the ninety year old letter. The letter was written by Henry John Caufield in Boligee, Alabama to William E. Young (father of Charlotte Pumphrey) who had moved from Greene County, Alabama to Robertson County, Texas. Henry Caufield was about 19 years old at the time of writing. Henry Caufield, the author of this letter moved to Texas later in the year. The letter was written on large bifold paper folded down to about present day letter size and sealed with wax. In the upper right corner of the address side was written the number 10 (the amount of postage the receipient had to pay). In the upper left corner was written Boligee Ala. Aug. 23. On a back flap of the letter was written: "Kate is looking for her brother George everyday. William Johnston starts to Kentucky tomorrow."

Boligee Aug. 1847

To Mr. William E. Young Robertson Co. Texas

Dear Friend yours of the 19th of July came to hand on Tuesday the ---? day of Aug which gave me great satisfaction I also rec'd one from you several days before which I will answer bye and bye. I was very glad to hear that in Texas as well as Boligee they kept up the great day of freedom. Since you have given a description of your celebration I will attempt to describe ours; it came off on saturday the third the place where it was was at Sam Johnstons old Mill. it was a very pretty place there was about eight hundred people there about three hundred ladies at ten o'clock the Boligee Troops were paraded at the store and marched over to the Barbarcue Ground where after a little turning twisting and marching they were dismissed after that the Declaration of Independence was very ably read by John H. Johnston then a splended address was delivered by Hilliard M. Judge then the order of the day was read aloud by Mr. Friend one of the committee of arrangements. But before I proceed farther I must describe the speakers stand which was as usual erected some feet above the ground it was hung over with garlands of flowers and a wreath swung over the speakers head so large that it was as much as you could lift when dinner came on the ladies were handed to the tables three in number which were loaded with the good things of Boligee after the ladies had refreshed themselves the gentlemen took possession and I tell you that there was some eating done about that time. I believe we had as lot of as choice meats as ever you clapped your eyes on, it was given up to be the best Barbacue that had ever been in Greene County or any of the adjoining counties. there was not a drop of liquor on the place that day after dinner the young men rode tournament for about two hours (NOTE by transcriber: it is not clear where the previous two sentences end and begin because the letter seldom had puncuation at the end of sentences or capitals at the beginning of sentences. So, it is unclear if there was no liquor at the barbeque or no liquor left after dinner at the barbecue!) the ladies and others not riding looking on as soon as tournament was over we repaired to the arbor where a couple of loads of saw-dust had been scattered the youngsters of both sexes had then a chance of shaking their feet to their hearts content and I reckon there was some of it done there now I have given you the particulars our celebration as near as I can remember. William we had two other neighborhood Barbacues and a squirrel hunt along with them they were very decent affairs there was about eight hundred and fifty squirrels killed we have four more such to come off Dr. Means proposes giving one, Squire Gould, Tom Bleakley and David Watson all wish to give one They will all come off this fall we had a splended party at James Watsons the other day there was about seventy people or perhaps more it was a quilting party after we had dinner we tied up the quilts and danced until dark and had supper and danced a few more sets then cut for home I had the pleasure of being at a weding not long since down in Sumpter the Bride was a sister of Mat Phillips I reckon there was some frolicking we kept it all night and then went home in the morning there was ten young men from Boligee some of us had lost our horses some saddles and some blankets we all got home without any broken bones any how.

William have told you of enough nonsense now for sense our crops out here have been very well our corn crops are as good as any need for but the cotton! Alas! the boll worm had made his appearance in a great many places they are doing our cotton a great deal of injury it has been damp weather for several days which is very much in favor of them. We all made very good wheat crops this year in Boligee. William I think if the worms eat the cotton this as bad as they did last year you will find a boy about my size leaving this part of the country towards where they have some other mode of making a living than by growing cotton --- The health of Boligee is as good as usual a few cases of chills and fever I suppose you did not hear of the death of Mrs. Nat Friend she died of the consumption after a long and tedious illness William Castles lost his youngest child a few days ago It died of fits. Tom Bleakleys wife presented him with a fine son the other day, and Kate is down at Wm. Stuarts now in the expectation of something in that line. William I made known your request to Randall S. (NOTE from transcriber: This is Randall Stuart) and he says that he will attend to it. Tell your Brother John that I hear that he is going to run his head in the matrimony tell him from me to go ahead that's all right. tell cousin Mary Robison that I beg a thousand pardons and make as many more excuses and that I will write to her next week. Dr. Hunter met with an accident day before yesterday he was stooping down behind his horse when the vicious animal kicked him breaking his arm, up near the shoulder. Mother is getting along a little better than she was when I wrote before She is very weak yet. I hope you will be able to decipher this excuse all blotches mistakes and bad writing.

My best respects to all my friends in Texas
And recieve a portion yourself
No more at present But remains your friend

Henry J. Caufield