Letter from Rev. Thomas E. Meredith to James Dixon Roberts, 1884, Caldwell Parish Submitted by Pat Ezell January 14, 2000 ********************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ********************************************** Columbia, La, Mar. 14th 1884 Mr. James D. Roberts, Liberty, Mi, My dear old friend and Brother in the Lord Jesus Christ who died for us that we might live. It is only through the goodnefs (sic) of our god and his mercies extended that I desire at this time to write you a letter. In answer to yours receive some time back, and although it was short, yet was gladly received and read with interest. I deem it as a great privilege that though the many miles that intervene between us so that we cannot converse together verbially (sic) as what we used to do in the days that are part by and gone, But I thank god with the use of the pen, we can yet communicate to each of our feelings, of our sufferings, our afflictions, and our prospects, not only of the things of this life but of that which is far above. We know my Brother this world is not our home, and I think you will join me in saying I thank god for it. We seek a home in heaven, in the paradice (sic) of god, where sorry and sighing will never come, but all will be peace, love, and joy through vast eternity, where we will meet our Fathers and our Mothers, our Brothers and Sisters, and our Children, and all the heavenly host who have gone and pafsed (sic) over before us. Yes, my Brother, there are many dear to our hearts over there, who are watching and waiting for us, oh what a glorious and happy meeting that will be, Then my Brother, let us live for it, Let us pray for it, Let us ever strive to enter in through the Strait gate. I have no local news to write of importance. The waters are coming rapidly upon our River, farmers, and there is great fears that there will be another big overflow. The water is now in some of the streets in Columbia, and rising rapidly. Farmers as a general thing are a backward as I ever have seen them, but few have planted any corn yet, and realy (sic) there are but few that have plowed any yet, gardens are later than usual. The cold freezes, with much rain, has kept up a dismal winter appearance. No vegitation (sic) putting forth as yet, a hard winter on stock, a good many cattle dying, and these that yet live are verry (sic) poore (sic) and look verry (sic) bad. There was quite a terrible murder enacted above here, five or six days back in lower edge of Ouachita Parish. A couple of men called in at the house of quite an old gentleman and Lady and wished to stay all night. There were permitted to do so. In the night they killed both the old people, robed (sic) the house, taken two horses, and left leaving the old man and woman lying on the floor dead. There is quite a number of men in search for them, but as yet have not found them. Oh, what a hellish deed, and when will such cease to be. Religiously speaking I have no verry (sic) encouraging news to write. The cold rainey (sic) weather has caused a good many disappointments and the churches are cold, though seem to be at peace. We lost one of our preachers this winter from pneumonia who is greatly mifsed (sic) in our country. He was a brother Ford of the Ouachita Baptist afsociation (sic). Our old friend Johney Dun is living yet. Don't seem to have any interest in religion at all, never goes to church when he is able he spends his Sabbaths in the woods hog hunting. He has five daughters all member of our church, he has three sons living, one of them, the youngest is a member of our church. The other two are a good deal like the old man, dont care much for Religion. Now, where is Ephraim and his family. How is he gitting (sic) along. Is he satisfied with old Amite, and is he preaching much, give him my best Christian regards. And old Aunt Lovey, ask her for me, if she feels like going home. And your own dear old Selfe, dont you sometimes feel like you wanted to go there too. I am quite feeble, have had to (sic) many falls and bruises, and joints put of place. That with my old age 81, I have but little use of myselfe (sic). Oh, your cancer, how is it getting. My only living sister, who was first wife to Stephen Butler, is now lying verry (sic) low with one that came in her left breast. She can't survive much longer. Oh, that god would blefs (sic) you and her and if his will be so, to send the healing balm, that would bring a complete restoration. Please look over this long uninteresting letter and write again soon, as I do love to git (sic) a leeter from. My love to all enquiring (sic) friends if any. I will now close hoping you all well. May the grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be with you all forever more world without end, Amen. Thomas Meredith NOTES: This original letter was provided to Pat Ezell on 14 April 1998 by Lena "Bobbie" Roberts Bullock, of Jena, La Salle Parish, LA., dgt. of Henry Dixon Roberts. It was among the papers of Thomas Jefferson Roberts (b.13 April 1846, Amite County, MS - d.21 August 1916, Jena, La Salle Parish, LA). At one time the letter had been in the possession of Ettie Lena Roberts Ford (b.8.Dec.1893, Gloster, Amite Co. MS - d.26 July 1987, Jena, La Salle Parish, LA),daughter of Thomas Jefferson Roberts, and, who, along with Ed Roberts (1919-1995) of Monroe, LA., is credited with much of the original research of this Roberts family. Tom Roberts was the son of James Dixon Roberts to whom the letter was written. As much as possible, the original spellings, capitalization and punctuation has been included. It was customary in this period of time to make a symbol immediately prior to a double consonant in a word. This symbol appears similar to an "f" of sometimes a "p". For the purposes of these letters the letter "f" has been used rather than entering the consonant which was usually an "s". In addition, (sic), has been inserted. Rev. Thomas Meredith, born: 7 June 1803, Fairfield District, SC - died: 1887, Caldwell Parish, LA. Buried: Old Mount Pleasant Cemetery, (about 7 miles west of Columbia, State Route 4) Columbia, Caldwell Parish, LA. Son of John & Catherine Meredith; grandson of Thomas R. Meredith, Sr. and Abigail Naley. Thomas Meredith, Sr. died in Amite County, MS in 1812. (Probate record in Amite County, MS). Apparently Thomas Meredith and his family moved from Amite County, MS around 1828-9 to a part of Catahoula Parish, LA that later became Caldwell Parish, LA. While in Amite County, MS, he married Lucinda "Lucy"Adeline Faust (born: 26 May 1807, SC - died: 14 Nov. 1864, buried: Old Mount Pleasant Cemetery, Columbia, Caldwell Parish, LA) on 6 Nov. 1823. She was the dgt. of W. James Faust, Sr. After her death, he married Mary Humble (1812-1891) on 12 June 1867, Caldwell Parish, LA. According to H.Ted Woods in his book, Caldwell Parish in Slices: Biographies, Continuing a Brief History of Caldwell Parish, La 1838-1971, c1983, Claitor's Pub. Div, Baton Rouge, LA., Thomas Meredith and Lucy Faust had the following children: John James Meredith (b.21 Nov. 1825 - d.12 Feb 1889) married: Celina Cole (Hardscrabble Plantation) Asa M. Meredith (b.10 Apr. 1827 - d. 18 Oct 1902) married: Elizabeth Peters Henry M. Meredith (b.27 Sep. 1828 - 24 Jan. 1883) married m1) Elizabeth W.Kirkland m2) Sarah Anne Jones Jeptha Meredith (b.1829 - ) Ansley A. Meredith (b.28 March 1830) married Sarah Frances Kirkland Harmon Meredith (b.1832 - died 1863, siege of Vicksburg) - married Palmyra Caffrey Dempsey Meredith (b.1835 - ) Loretta Catherine Meredith (b.1837 - ) married W.M. Guice Mary Meredith (b. 1839 - ) Cynthia Meredith (b. 1847 - ) Woods reported that Thomas Meredith was a Baptist minister and helped organize many early Baptist churches in the hill section of Caldwell Parish, La., one of which was the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church (organized 1844) and still active as of 1983. He also helped organize the Hebron Baptist Church, Old Union, Harmony Grove Baptist, Palestine (Ward 5) and Old Bethel, (4 miles west of Clarks). He was the first postmaster at Mt. Pleasant when the post office was established on September 19,1847. He was involved in the organization of the Knights of the White Camellias in Caldwell Parish, a short time after the end of the Civil War and was one of the lieutenants. A portrait of Thomas Meredith is reported to hang on the wall behind the pulpit of the Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church in Caldwell Parish, LA. Although these letters refer to James Dixon Roberts as "Brother," no biological relationship between Thomas Meredith and James Dixon Roberts is known. There are also references to "Aunt Lovey." Again, no biological relationship between Thomas Meredith and Lovey Taylor are known, but this is not an impossibility as the Taylor relationships and various family members have not been as well defined in this transcriber's research. James Dixon Roberts (born 16 Dec. 1815, probably Franklin or Amite County, MS - died 12 Nov. 1887, Bewelcome, Amite County, MS) was the son of Abraham Roberts III and Sarah Taylor (1796-1883). Sarah Taylor and Lovey Taylor (1800-1894) were sisters. In 1840, James Dixon Roberts married Elizabeth Foreman, (b. 2 Sep. 1824- d.Nov. 1890, MS) who was a daughter of Edward Foreman and Phoebe Stampley of Amite County, MS. There is reference in one letter to his having two sons who were "engaged in the work of the ministry." This writer only knows of one son who officially became a Minister, and that was Rev. Nathan James Roberts (1853-1917) who married Emma M. Van Norman, daughter of William Lester Van Norman and Rhoda Wilkinson of Amite County, MS. However, this transcriber's great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Roberts (1846-1916), although not formally educated as a Minister, was known to get up and preach at church services on Sunday until the Circuit Minister arrived. Reference is made in a letter to the loss of a daughter by James Dixon Roberts. This refers to the 1883 death of Margaret Mary Jane Roberts (1849-1883) who, in 1869, had married Zachariah Jefferson Wilkinson, son of John Cain Wilkinson and Philadelphia Van Norman. Reference is made in the letters to Ephraim J. Forman. There are two known Ephraim J. Foreman's. The one to whom Thomas Meredith is likely referring is Rev. Ephraim James Foreman (1820-1895), son of Edward James Foreman and Phoebe Stampley, and brother, to Elizabeth Foreman, wife of James Dixon Roberts. Rev. Ephraim James Foreman married Amanda Fitzal Roberts (1818-1905) on 13 Jan 1842. She was the daughter of Robert Middleton Roberts (1786-1843) and Lovey Taylor(1800-1894). The other Ephraim J. Foreman was born about 1840 also in Amite County, MS. He was the son of Abraham Foreman and Mary Melvina Roberts. He married Amanda S. Anders in 1864 and then after her death, married Frances L. Anders in 1875. Mention is made in one letter to the sons of Enoch Harris. Although this writer has limited information on the Harris family, it is known he had a son named Elijah Harris. Enoch Harris was born about 1827 in MS, and was the son of Elijah Harris and Mary Dunn. He married Rachel Roberts who had previously been married to a Collins. Rachel Roberts was the daughter of Robert Middleton Roberts (1787-1843) and Lovey Taylor (1800-1894, Amite County, MS). The reference to Stephen Butler is Stephen Heard Butler (b.3 Feb 1811-d.4 May 1858), son of John Butler (b.1784, Hancock County, GA - d. 1852, Caldwell Parish, LA) and Elizabeth "Gincy" Heard (1789-1864, Caldwell Parish, LA). Stephen Heard Butler was married to Sallie Meredith (b. 27 Sep. 1829 - d. 18 Apr. 1884), sister to Thomas Meredith. Thomas Meredith made reference in his letter to his sister's illness and the fact that she couldn't survive much longer. She died approximately one month after he wrote the letter to James Dixon Roberts. This writer has been unable to determine the identify of "old Peggy" and her "sons-in-law, Hammoch and Hunt." The identity of "Johny Dun" has also been undetermined as there were a number of John or Jonathan Dunn's. Transcribed and submitted for posting to Rootsweb, Caldwell Parish Archives by Pat Ezell, a descendant of James Dixon Roberts. PatEzell@worldnet.att.net