Misc: Letter from Mary R. Evans to Ann Eliza Evans, Aug 1849, Morehouse
Parish, La
Submitted by: Larrie Spier Curry
lscurry@kih.net


*************************************************
Submitted to the LAGenWeb Archives
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm

http:/www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************


Transcription of letter from Mary R Evans (1830-13 Aug 1849), a few 
months after she and her family moved to Morehouse Parish from Wilcox 
Co., Alabama. She is writing to her sister, Ann Eliza Evans who is 
engaged to marry Isaac Newton Pipes. Ann Eliza is staying in Claiborne 
Co, Mississippi with her sister and brother-in-law, Susannah Evans and 
Baynard Turpin. All will eventually move to Morehouse Parish. Mary R. 
Evans dies 12 days after writing this letter in which she describes 
their new home Morehouse Parish, and some of her new acquaintances. Her 
parents are Abel Edward and Martha Mandeville Evans, and other siblings 
are David M. Evans, Cornelius M. Evans, Celestia O Evans, George Rives 
Evans, and Thomas J. Evans.
Family Names: EVANS, PIPES, TURPIN, GRAVES, PEGUES, CROOKSON, PHELTON, 
SHELTON, STEPHENS, McCOIN, DAVIS, SHARP, ST. JOHN, MATTHEWS, SHIVERS

                 At Home  August 1st 1849

  Dear Eliza
            Your long looked for leter has at length been received, and
it is with feelings of the most profound pleasure that I hasten to reply. How 
far I shall succeed let "chance & time determine"  I cannot conceive 
what has become of the leters I have written since I arrived here. 
Surely you must have forgotten when you say you have never received any 
from me. But if that is the case I suppose I must commence as if this 
was my first. In answer to your various querries concerning how we are 
pleased, situated &c I must say that we are not only pleased, but 
delighted with the country. We are as well situated as we can expect to 
be, the first year in a new country. The place of  (?) on which we live 
at present is situated on an elevated spot about a mile & a half from 
Bastrop & within ten steps of the public road leading to that place. Our 
dwelling is rudely though comfortably constructed of logs & is divided 
into three spacious apartments with a gallery on two sides. It is true 
it appears quite shabby to eyes that have been accustomed to beter, but 
we are consoled by the fact that our neighbours have no beter. That may 
appear a little selfish but I know there is no one who would like to be 
in a condition inferior to that of their neighbours. I must here beg (?) 
you to excuse my very bad pen

(p. 2) mine has refused to perform its office & I had to resort to 
fathers which is made out of quill; but it has been so long since I have 
written with one of that description that I fin (sic) it very difficult. 
 Fathers corn crop is very good. He is now pulling fodder. But the wet 
weather has all but ruined his cotton. I never saw so much rain fall in 
the same length of time in my life. I do not think I would vary far from 
the truth were I to say that we have had five weeks of incessant rain; 
tis a solemn truth that we have not had exceeding five fair days in that 
length of time. The farmers have dispaired of making any cotton. I know 
of no other home affairs that will interest you unless it be the 
chickens. I beg their pardon for the omission of my memory. Mother has 
about one hundred and twenty which by-the-by she sits & watches all the 
time.
       I had the exquisite pleasure of hearing the Rev. Peyton L Graves,
formerly of Ala, preach not very long ago. He spent one night with us 
and in the very short time betrayed his inclination to enter again into 
the matrimonial state. He is waiting with much impatience for the 
arrival of Aunt Eliza; but do not upon any consideration whatever reveal 
it to her. When he left us he extorted from me a promise to write him a 
few lines when she arrived & he would come down immediately. But woe be 
unto me if I were to do such a thing and it became known to her.
  You desired me to give you an account of 

(p. 3) the young ladies of this section, which I can truly & happily say will
be very favourable. In the neighbourhood where we reside, we have Miss
Clementine Croxton [probably Crookson], Miss Maria Phelton & Miss Louisa
Shelton, who are all very aimable (sic), sociable & agreeable young ladies. In
Bastrop we have Miss Lizzy & Anna Stephens, both handsome, intelligent &
fasionable (sic); also Miss Lovee (Lanee ?) McCoin, Sarah & Eliza Davis,
Martha Sharp & Catharine St. John, besides several other school girls who are 
boarding there. The limits of a leter will not permit me to enter into a 
detailed account of the opposite sex; suffice it to say, that they are 
numerous, handsome, intelligent & gallant. But I suppose an account of 
them would prove very uninteresting since your vows of love & constancy 
to another are registered in Heaven. You in all probability recolect 
(sic) a Mr Mathews who taught school in Camden, Ala, some three or four 
years ago. He is now practicing law in Bastrop. Capt Shivers & his 
friend have not reached these "diggins" yet.  I think you will be 
pleased with the society here. They live for enjoyment principally. 
Danceing is the principal amusement. We have parties very frequently & 
sometimes too often. During the week of the fourth of July we had three. 
But unfortunately several of the young ladies are members of the church 
& they have no other alternative but to invite the married ladies in 
order to procure dancers enough. Tell Sister [Susannah Evans Turpin] 
Mother says bring her some Lettuce seed.

(p. 4) good beans & button Onion, also some good fall turnip seed. You 
must bring flowers of every variety that you can procure & also bring me 
nice boquets (sic), for I have not seen one in so long that it will be 
quite a treat. Flowers are very scarce.  All the family are well at 
present. We have had some little fever which every newcomer is certain to
have. The country generally speaking is very healthy.  As regards the rout
(sic), I hardly know what reply to make.  From what I can learn I do not think
you can get here now by either rout; but you can very easily by the first of
September that is if the rains cease.  I received a leter from Coussin Charles 
Pegues [in Alabama] a short time ago  (which is the 2d I have received 
from him) filled with the strains of a "love sick youth" worshiping with 
blind adoration at the shrine of some fair goddess, who from his 
descriptions is so perfect that I conclude he is worshiping like other 
idolaters, his own creation.  I have a strong desire to get a glimpse of 
your betrothed [Isaac Newton Pipes], him upon whom you have lavished all 
the wealth of your trusting heart & into whose hands you contemplate 
resigning your destiny "for beter or for worse,,  Let me entreat you not 
to yield to any solicitations whatever to unite yourself with him under 
any other than the parental roof. Give my love to Sister and Mr. Turpin 
& tell them I look forward with pleasure undefinable to their expected 
visit and trust that they will not disappoint us. Mother sends her best 
love & sayes do come.  Wishing you health, happiness & every other 
blessing I bid you adieu.   Your &c
                      Mary E