Mercer Letters, St. Helena Parish, Louisiana Submitted by Martha Clark, jerrypclark@earthlink.net ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm ************************************************ Mercer Letters: =========== 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 ******************************************************************* http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/sthelena/history/family/mercer.txt