Letter from Rev. Thomas Meredith to James Dixon Roberts, 1885, 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. March 15, 1885 Mr. James D. Roberts, Mi, My Dear old Brother in Christ, your verry gladly recd Letter of 23rd February, has been recd and read with Interest. In which you say you had been due me a Letter for a long time. I thought so my Brother, and had become uneasy, Knowing your condition, was fearful you had pafsed (sic) away. But now, I thank god you are better, and have hopes of getting well, may the Lord be praised for his Extended mercies, you write of the afflictions in your family and the lofs (sic) of a beloved daughter. Oh my Brother count it not a lofs(sic), but a mere seperation (sic) for a Short while, the you Shall meet her agin in the Paradice of God, where you will meet her again in the resurection (sic) of Jesus Christ, our blefsed (sic) Saviour, and you will afshuredly (sic) know her there but I think my Brother not as you knew her here becaus (sic) She was nuturul (sic) here and subject to death, There she is Spiritual and can never die any more. Thank god for a happy Imortality (sic) beyond the grave: oh, death where is thy Sting, Oh grave where is they victory. The Sting of death is Sin, the Strength of Sin is the Law. But thanks be to god which giveth us the victory through our lord Jesus Christ. I am, my Brother, a like sufferer with you, on the 24th of January I lost my son Henry, one of my twins, then on the 7th of this Inst, I lost my youngest Son Dempsy, the Doctor. They both left large families. This was heavy on me in my old age. I mourn their lofs (sic) but not as those which have no hope. They were both profefsors (sic) of the religion of Jesus and died the death of the Righteous. Then my Brother, it remains for us to be recconciled (sic) to the providential dealings of our heavenly father over us, Knowing it is him that giveth, and him that taketh away. Let us submit and say blefsed (sic) be the name of the Lord. You writen (sic) of the death of old Aunt Peggy, and I heartily agree with you, that was a good woman. I knew her in our youthful days, and onley (sic) Knew her to love her. She is now receiving her rich reward; is her Son in laws, Hammoch and Hunt still living? Yes, my Brother, you written to me that your old Mother and Aunt Lovey were drawing Pensions, which truly is a great help to them in their old decling (sic) days. Oh, how I would like to see them, and talk with them about the Love and mercy of god manifested to us in our old days. when we are just ready to bid farewell to this world of sorrow and exchange it all for a home in heaven. There has been more deaths in this country since last summer up to the present time than I have ever known for the length of time since I have lived in the country which is 52 years nearly. Just see my Brother how fast our moments fly, and yet, strange to say there are men living who are as old as we are that have been raised up in the verry (sic) of the gospel, and have all the benefits of Religious training, and to see them yet in the gall of bitternefs (sic) and Bonds of Iniquity without hope or god in the world, is it not strange indeed. Shurley (sic) the blefsed (sic) Saviour alluded to them, when he said you choose darknefs (sic) rather than light because your deeds are Evil, and again, ye will not come to me that you might have life, and have it more abundantly. Poor old Johny Dunn, he is just as he always was cares nothing for these things, he never goes to church, nor has not for years. It is said the old man spends his Sundays in the woods hog hunting. I have nothing religiously speaking to write that would interest you. at our last meeting two weeks ago, there were present quite a large congregation and we had quite a warm meeting, especially among the members which I am always glad to see and think it a good Sign. So far as farming is concerned all is rather late. The land is yet wet and cold, and the corn planted is not inclined to come us well -- It Seems if any one aught to be favored it is the farmers, for they are the very mudsil (sic) of all Enterprise and by whom the government is run, & all comerce (sic) put in motion and carried on: yet if any body is screwed down and their noses held to the grindstone it is the poor farmer, and they themselves are the cause of it all, for the want of coorporation (sic). I have written you previously of my getting crippled from a fall, well I dont undertake to tell you what I suffered, Suffise (sic) it to say it was enough, it is now near on too (sic) years since, and I am still a cripple, though I do try to thank my god that I am better, and can go about a little, the greatest enjoyment I now have, I can go to church by riding in my old buggy, though I am not able to Labour to make support for my family. It is tight pofsofsers (?) with me, but I yet thank god we are able to live, you wanted me to write you a long letter; well I have done it and I ricken (sic) you will not want another long one soon again, without it could be more interesting. my hand trembles so bad that I can't write so as to be read, you must excuse me for I have done the best I could, tell me is E.J. Formans Sons living near you in Mi. what are they doing, is the one that use to work on clocks dead or not, two of Enoch Harrises sons stayed a night with me on their way to Mi, but have not seen them on their return home. I will now close, praying the rich blefsings (sic) of heaven upon you, remember me in your prayers at the throne of grace, and write again soon, while as ever I remain your verry (sic) unworthy Brother untill (sic) Death, give my best respects to your Ma and Aunt Lovey. 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 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