Part of the LAGenWeb
Mercer Letters, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Martha
Clark,
jerrypclark@earthlink.net
This is a series of letters between William Mercer, in Kentucky, and his brother, Raney Mercer and Raney's, wife Mary E. (Grinage) Mercer. Raney and Mary Mercer married in Amite Co., Miss. and moved on to St. Helena Parish, La. where they were instrumental in founding the Montepelier Academy. Raney served in the war of 1812. After his death Mary moved to Houma, La. and tho I've never found a record of her death, it is assumed that she died there. I've also never found what happened to their only child, Mosby, who was studying law in New Orleans. William and Raney were the children of John and Lucretia (Johnston) Mercer who went to Caldwell, Co. Ky. from So. Carolina in the late 1790's. I would like to share information with anyone who's interested.
St. Helena, La. Jan. 3, 1833
Dear Brother,
Agreeable to
my promise, I have set down to write. I received your kind letter in
which you complained that Raney had not writen to you. I am a little
surprised that you should incist so much upon a letter from one who gives
so little satisfaction in a letter, even to me, who perhaps above all
others he would try to please. Especially when about a few months (?).
His letters frequently gives me satisfaction except I am here. I have
told him when he writes to any of his friends he ought to pay the
postage, for it is grieveous enough to bear the disapointment that one
has to bear on opening one of his letters, without having the postage to
pay. ___?___had a letter from him before this time and perhaps have felt
the truth of what I say but perhaps I shall give offence if I say much
more so I will drop the subject. Some men speak well but cannot write,
some even write well but cannot speak. We are all well and have been. We
had been alarmed some time ago in consequence of cholera but all is calm
again. There is no cholera in the state now that we know of. I hope you
will come down this season and come and see us. I shall be grieved
indeed, if you come down and do not come and see us. Brother Hones and
his wife have been to see us. I was much pleased with them. He was kind
and affectionate in his manners and benevolent in his disposition. He
gave me ten dollars. John Mercer, his part of fathers estate, and though
it is but fifty dollars, it will do some good. I think he has a good
wife. She is good to him, for she is as clay in the hands of the potter
to him and he requires nothing but for her to love him. Concerning our
prospects, we have food and raiment and have long since learned therewith
to be content. We are trying, I mean the people, to get an academy
established at this place. Mr. Mercer is chief agent in the concern. He
will go to New Orleans in Feb. and spend a month there. The legislature
will be in session, and (he will) try to get an appropriation for said
academy. If it succeeds, it will afford us some facilities, as we will
have the preference of boarding the studence. I said something in a
letter to John on the subject of getting you to bring me some dryed
fruit, but if it is not convenient you need not mind. Perhaps I can get
them as cheep in New Orleans as you could there. But I want you to bring
my sifter. I left it in Johns smokehouse. I mentioned it to him. Also I
want some beet and some cabage seeds. This is a poor country for seeds.
We have to get all from town. I also want some corn and field beans. I
want two or three dozen finest factry cotton for quilting thread. All
these you say, are small matters to trouble me with. I acknowledge it.
Neither will I grumble nor think hard if you neglect to send them. I
wrote three sides and thought it was two, so therefore had no room to set
my name. Give my love to all my friends, particularly to Mother. Tell her
to bear her affliction (the death of her husband) with patience and
christian fortitude, for the scripture saith, in this life ye have
tribulation, but blessed is he that indures as good Soldiers of the Cross
for ye shall in the end reap everlasting life. Tell her to trust in a
once crucified, but now risen Saviour and I am bound to meet her in a
better world than this.
Mary Mercer
Monteplier La. Mar. the 26th 1834
Dear Brother,
Without
having anything of importance to communicate, I have set about writing
this letter, knowing that you will be glad to receive it such as it is.
We have not had a days sickness since you were here and though our
family has numbered upwards of forty we have not had a serious case. The
whole country has been very healthy. We are much pleasured to receive an
intimation that you are thinking about our country and I do hope you will
not settle yourself permanently until you come and try to suit yourself
here. You must allow yourself plenty of time when you come down to look
around you. It is not worth my while to say anything about the pleasure
it would afford us to have you and sister Susan (Raney's sister in law)
for neighbours. For indeed I am not master of language that would
describe my feelings in such an event, but when I think of circumstances
with which you are surrounded at home, I almost despair of realizing my
hopes on that subject. But why should a man of you age and enterprise
possessing your facilities, continue to live in a place where he is in
every way hampered and even sometimes compelled to have the most
unpleasant difficulties with such as the Olivers. In this country such
fellows would not dare to look you in the face, while you would be
counted by men of the first standing in society, it is a pleasant thing
to be surrounded with plenty of kin and when that is the case, the fewer
the better. From the nature of this letter we will perceive the propriety
of keeping its contents with ourselves and I should be very sorry to
offend my relations in Kentucky. The Academy is doing well and I think
will afford us a good living and a good opportunity to educate our
children. Mosby is making very rapid progress. Mary is making two or
three months and I think is going to learn fast. On the first of January
we will move to our own house which is tolerably commodious and has cost
me so much that I shall not be able to buy a man this year without
borrowing money which I believe I had better not attempt until I can see
farther into matters. My labours in my ministerial capacity seem to be
blessed to a limited extent. My members are but few in numbers but they
consist entirely of those who are of the best standing in society, some
of whom are as pious and as purely cumberland or any in our church in and
_____this part torn_____. I will close by telling you that I had a fair
shoot at a deer today and that it turned out just as you would have
expected. A clean miss. Your brother
R. Mercer
St. Helena Apr. 23, 1834
Dear Brother,
Tho I expect the
mail to pass in less than fifteen minutes, I have undertaken to write you
a brief epistle. We received Amy in good health and she is still well. We
are much pleased with her tho we have had one falling out of a pretty
serious nature. I made it serious because I thought it best to use
vigourous measures at the start. The offence was clandestinly selling
meat to an Indian. We are all well. The academy is going on well. Mrs.
Dyer has consented to stay. We received six barrels of flour and one
trunk from you.
The trunk contained a box of raisons marked I.
Mercer, Eddyville, A bag of cinnamon, ten yards of cincassian (?) and one
pair of black silk stockings. For the reason above you must excuse this
hasty sketch.
We send all our love to all friends. Mother in
particular.
Your brother,
R. Mercer
Monteplier, La. Oct. 15, 1834
William Mercer Esq.
Dear
Sir,
In August I wrote you respecting the buying of my three negro
boys, to be ten or twelve years of age, having received no answer, I
suppose now that you did not get the letter. I wish you to write to me
immediately on the reception of this whether you think you can buy them
for me or not, and at what price, so that I may know precisely what to
depend upon. If you think you cannot I must make some other arrangements.
Also, if you do buy them for me, state to me at what time you will be
down, and I will make my arrangements for that event. Fail not to advise
me immediately by writing to this place. Nothing important here. The
Academy is flourishing, say fifty servants. Your brothers family are all
well. The cotton market opens fairly, say 14 cents, in New Orleans, tho
not certain how long it will stand at that.
The crops have been
injured here by a wind about the first of September which was followed by
incessant rains til within ten days past. The Piney woods have been
unusually healthy this year, tho much sickness and many deaths in the
thickwoods, particularly the Felicianas. I am with great respectfully
your obt. servant.
John F. Mercer
St. Helena, La.
Dear William,
We got your letter a few
days ago, and so, forgive these tears for they are not hypercritical, I
assure you, but I will forgive you. I know you have other duties stronger
than those of visiting us. Your letter has been detained some, which has
caused us often to wonder what was the matter, as we expected a letter in
case you failed to come. But I am glad to hear you are well and at home
with your family before this time. But it is not so that we often deprive
ourselves of the few comforts that are alloted us in this short space of
time. Mite you not have come and done as well to say nothing of the
pleasure and pleasing relations it would have afforded but for that
restless spirit in the human breast that allways takes trouble upon
interest. But enough of that. We got the barrel of flour in good time. We
sent to Springfield to purchase one and to our surprise there was a
barrel for us. We thanked the donor kindly, but knew not who he was til
your letter came. We are all in good health and have been since we came
to this country. Mercer * still lives with us. He is going to school and
is progressing in the studies of arithmetic and writing. Miss Virginia
Kemp will be married in a few days to a Mr. Lea. He is about her equal in
every respect. Mr. Mercer will marry them. We are preparing for the
wedding. We got your letter that brought us the news of the death of our
beloved brother, but we were well prepared to receive it. I feel that he
is better off in a better world. This is my humble prayer. Give my love
to all the friends.
Your affectionate sister,
Mary E.
Mercer
* Mercer, mentioned in the above letter was the son of
Mary's sister
Dear Brother,
You have disappointed us by not coming, it's
true. But we are ever subject to these things and will therefore I hope,
be able to bear it, especially as you have promised to do so no more. I
spent about half a month of February in New Orleans, trying to get the
Legislature to incorporate the Academy at this place, in which I
succeeded admirably. They gave us an annual appropriation of thirty three
hundred dollars for four years, which you know is thirteen thousand two
hundred dollars in all. I expect procuring a teacher will devolve in me,
so I shall visit Kentucky this summer if I can. I shall have money enough
to buy a negro woman perhaps and plan to look around for the articles.
But say nothing about me. I would like D. Mitchessans Lillen (??) if she
could be got on good terms. For the want of room I stop. Give my love to
mother, your wife and all the kin.
Affectionately, Your Brother
R. Mercer
As I think it pretty certain that I will come up
this summer, I wish you would procure for me one hundred lbs. of good
feathers and if I should not come you can bring them when you come down
and we will arrange it then.
St. Helena La. Aug. 1st 1835
To my dear friends in Kentucky,
greetings. I have not heard from you since you left New Orleans. We are
all well here except Mr. Hasford (?), the principle teacher in the
Academy. He has had a spell of fever, but is getting well. All things are
going on as well as possible among some fuss about Murrel and his clan.
We have had an abundance of rain for a month past and there is no
prospect of dry weather yet.Crops are very much injured. We have thirteen
boarders. Sammy has a fine daughter and calls it's name Sarilda.
It's father is a yellow man. It was born the 11th of June. Brother Hones
and wife have been to see us and have left thier son Edgar to go to
School. I have not seen Brother Buchar since I went to Kentucky. He lives
on Bayou Garbone and is doing well, I hear. You have a fine female
Institution in Princeton. We calculate to send our daughter there when
she get large enough. I hope you will come and see us next spring and
bring Susan with you. I would not ask it from selfish views alone. I
think she would like to see the City and some little of the world, more
than her own family circle and shourly you would not, for the sake of two
hundred, bar her that pleasure. I know you would not, and bring Edwin
too. Give my love to mother and Susan and all the sisters.
I
remain your affectionate sister.
Mary E. Mercer
Brother, I should like to say a great deal to you on the subject of
the Murall men among us, but suppose you must have seen detailed
acccounts in the papers, giving many particulars. We are in a feverish
state of excitement here and yesterday the citizens of this parish had a
publick meeting and drafted many strong resolutions taking the law
entirely into their own hands and this day a committee appointed by that
meeting are trying three fellows with full power to punish, even to
hanging. Such are the powers conferred upon them and every citizen stands
pledged life, honor, and property to sustain them in all their decisions.
Similar movements have taken place in every part of this and the
adjoining state, and a great many Black dogs and negroes have been hung
without law or gospel.
We have had a great deal of rain and it
still continues to pour down every day. My love to Mother, Susan, and
whoever you think worthy.
Your brother,
R. Mercer
Montpelier, La. Sunday 23, 1835
Dear William,
I got your
letter in good time. It was what I wished and expected, but I could say I
expected you in Montpelier this year. It was too much to hope for. I
never suffered myself to do it though you might consider it a duty and
tho you might much desire it, there were other duties and other desires
that far out balance them, so then I will not be vexed with you. It is
hardly worth while to tell you how pleasant it would have been to spend a
few days in social conversation with you, you know all about it. Mr.
Mercer got home last Wednesday. He saw old Feather Ring and his son, Bob
and several other of the old friends. Our Academy is doing very well. We
are living on our own lot and keep brivit boarding for students. We have
eight at this time, including the principle teacher, Mr. Hasford. He is a
man of fine talents and he is a graduate from Vermont University. Mosby
improves, Mary too, is beginning to read. No man may put off the law of
God. She commenced going to school some time last fall. Mercer is still a
benefeciary in the Academy and is learning very well. I know of nothing
more that would interest you. Oh, yes, if nothing happens, we shall have
a young negro in three months. Mosby thinks hard that he does not get a
letter from Edwin. Mr. Mercer is on the Hinite today preaching. He is
very anxious to see that suit of clothes. He will go to Springfield this
week to see if they have come. Brother Jones lives on Donalsonville.
Perhaps you may see him. Oliver Holmes is in the City. If you have not
seen him, you may be calling. I thought I could tell you where, but I
can't find his letter. However, he lives on Levy Street and keeps a hat
shop. If you see him, give our respects to him and make apology for Mr.
Mercer not writing him. Tell him we would be very glad he would pay us a
visit and hope he will write us before he leaves the City. Give my love
to all the friends and those in Kentucky. Especially to Mother and Susan
and don't forget to write before you leave. I hear no talk of Mr. Mercer
going to Kentucky. We are all in good health. Living on bread and meat
and black coffee. Dear brother, except my love and good wishes for you
and yours through life.
Mary E. Mercer
Montpelier Academy May 23, 1836
Dear brother,
I promised
I would write again soon. We have had Court. Our Academy was question
(this part not readable) and we think would have terminated favourable to
the old board, but the Judge took sick and adjourned court until October.
So the matter will live so until then. General Morgan, Martin Pen and
Maon (?) are the candidates for the Senate. It is believed the contest
will be between Morgan and Pen for Maon (?) seems to be on the
background. Nothing new or strange has occured since you left us. Mr.
Mercer told me as soon as I got home when I went to Springfield with you,
he did not think he could let me go to Kentucky. He felt so bad when I
was away, but I will say something more about this matter sometime next
fall. I have not seen Mrs. Watson since I saw you. Mr. Mercer has just
returned from down there and says she is quite sick, but better than she
has been. Mosby sent a letter to Edwin last week. He dictated, wrote,
sealed and directed it himself. It was a poor thing to pay postage for,
but he seemed desirous and I did not object. My love to Mother and Susan
and for yourself.
Your affectionate sister.
Mary E. Mercer
Mary sends her love to her grandmother and Aunt Susan and cousin
Carline. I had forgot to say we are all well and the Academy going on
finely. I wrote you in my last that Mrs. Treplea (?) had a fine school in
springfield and is doing well.
Mary
Magnolia Livingston La.
Jan. 25, 1837
Dear Brother,
I have thought I would write you a few lines to let you know we are
in the land of the living yet. Our own family are well and in good
health, but we have had a severe case of sickness in our house for the
space of four weeks which has put us to a great deal of trouble. Mrs.
Mongomary came to our house on a visit and was taken sick the next day
and has been sick four weeks, at the point of death. She is very low.
Wheather she will live or die we know not. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are here
and have been for three weeks, besides servants and a numberous train of
friends going and coming. We have plenty of hard times. We have had a
drought that has injured corn and crops very much and corn is not to be
had at any price. Many farmers find it impossible to get corn to feed
their plow horse and have no oats, but we have some corn yet and we have
oats but very much injured by the dry weather and we have rosting ears
plenty, which is not a general thing, as we planted some corn very early.
There are a great many people already suffering for bread. Our farm gets
along pretty well, I suppose. The dry weather has helped to keep the
grass under, for we certainly had too large a crop for our hands and
Chance, Nathan, and John are fine boys to work. Ester (Easter) has not
brought forth yet, but she looks like she might soon. The Academy case
was decided last court in favour of the old board and the trustees have
had a meeting and resolved to revive the school again. Have employed a
stuard. We have not heard from you since you got home. Mr. Mercer has
wrote once to you. I have no news worth notice that I can think of. Mr.
Harris liked his wagon very much. Give my love to mother. Is she still
living? And Susan and all our friends and accept for yourself my kindest
feelings.
Mary E. Mercer
Montpelier, La. July 10, 1838
Dear Brother,
From a sense
of July, I wrote to you, for I have but little inclination to write to
any body.Among the few who have claim on me, you have the strongest. We
have had a great deal of bad luck since you heard from us. The worst is,
we have lost our sweet little Mary. She departed this life the 21st of
May 1838 of scarlet fever. We are greatly afflicted on account of her.
Indeed, I find no consolation but in the hope of meeting her in a better
world than this and I sometimes almost wish for the hours to be cut short
when I shall join her happy spirit in the skies. Tell Mother, if she is
still living, that I hope I shall meet her there and all the rest of our
friends, that have gone on before and that we shall be happy while
Eternal Ages shall roll her ample rounds.
We got your letters from
New Orleans and one you wrote from home. Mr. Mercer got his money. He
wrote you to the city but I suppose it did not reach there in time. I
heard him say he would write again soon. He is not at home at this time.
He has his health very well this season. Give my love to Susan. Remember
me to all the friends as you see them and for yourself. I remain your
affectionate sister.
Mary E. Mercer
Montpelier June 1st 1839
Dear Brother,
Yours dated New
Orleans, April 24th, was duly received and I was astonished to find that
you were there at that time, as I had on the Sunday previous visited your
boarding house in company with Aron Shelby and my little boy, Moseby and
left a note for you requesting you to call at Doctor Molts (? could be
Holts) at 74 Magazine Street, but as you did not call and as I
ascertained that the John Randolph started that day, I thought of course
you went on home. I did not however leave the city til Wednesday which
was the day your letter was written. Shelby, I believe left there the day
previous. I expect to go to the city again next week. I expect to go. I
have a law suit there with the fellow that purchased my Plantation. He
has refused to comply with the terms of the sale, which has already given
me a great deal of trouble and if I am unsuccessful in compelling him.
will do me an inalenalbe injury, but like every fool that goes to law, I
am pretty incouraged by my lawyer. I have sued him on his bond of five
thousand dollars but he being himself a lawyer, may give me trouble and
cause me expense and delay enough to make it an unprofitable to any. I
shall, therefore seek a compromise.
We are all well at present.
Our Academy is flourishing under the old patronage, though the new
Trustees have got a new hearing on the Supreme Court, tho I think we have
nothing to fear. I wish you, in your next, to let me know how old C.
Coledge comes. I sent some boys (to) them about two years ago (to wit)
McArthur and Co. They (unreadable) returned and state that the college is
broken up, tho I think it more probable that they were expelled. Please
to let me know concerning this matter and have all our kin come on. Give
my love to mother and Susan and all friends.
Your brother,
R. Mercer
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