Mis101-TNX

TENNESSEE, MISC                                                    

July 31, 1842                                                                         Louisiana

Written to

PERLEAMON PATE

 Dear Bro.

I once more embrace the opportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that we are all

well at this time, hoping these few lines will find you all enjoying the same blessing.  I recieved

your kind letter tenth of July which filled my eyes with tears of joy and I read it again and again. 

It was dated June the 5th, 1842.  This means the first time that I heard from you and it is hard

for me to describe my feelings on this occasion.  I am sorry that I charged you with neglect but

that was my feelings when I was writing.  We was 50 days on the way and had a desperate bad

time of it.  We left the river at Memphis and went through Arkansas to Little Rock and I don't

think there is a worse road anywhere.  It was a very wet time and there was many places for

half a mile at a time wast deep in water and I had to wade thru before the wagon to see whether

it was to deep or not.  We mired down three times and had to unload, we broke the wagon tung

out twice.  We was two days going thru on swamp which was but 70 miles wide and it was a

hard matter to find a dry place big enough to camp on.  I don't think if I had been by myself that

I could a got along.  We traveled thru several  pararies on 35 miles thru it.  Cost me $3.00 per

day on an average.  While we was trabeling on land and if you will believe me the like of that

looks bad to any green horn.  JAMES P DAVIS was with me but he is worse than any old woman. 

I settled in the wild woods there is a stiff cane brake in one hundred yards of the house.  I set

it afire this Spring and I never had such a popping and snappin in my life.  I have cleared and

planted 8 acres of corn which is very likely and I have the likelyist sweet potatoes patch I ever saw.

I am well pleased with the country as I Have seen you have heard me.  I don't want to live in a

country where the land is all good.  There is plenty of bottom land here that is first rate and the

hills is entirely pine and the range is first rate grass in summer and cane in the winter. I have one

4th section of land paid for and there is one small creek running thru it near the middle and one

branch that winds in the creek that splits 1/2 near the middle.  I want you to write me soon. 

Nothing more at present but remain your unworthy brother until death.

                                                                             ANTHONY PATE

ALFRED say tell SABE that he wants to see him very much and play with him and catch more

mud cats but father has denied us that privelege but I hope we will not forget the days of our

youth so howdy SABE and farewell.

                                                                             ALFRED PATE

To P M PATE  (PHILLIP PATE)

Dear Cousin.  I have not forgot the happy days we have spent together.  I talk about you

and the flat rock and how SABE used to whip you for runing away and coming to see me

but that is all I can do.  Fortune has placed us many miles apart so howdy and farewell. 

                                                                             BLAKE T PATE

NOTE BY JINKS PATE LEE; 2 Jan 2002

Alfred (1831-1847) and Blake (1837-1862) are sons of Anthony

Sabe (1833-1872) and Phillip (1837-1863) are sons of Perleamon

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