Greene County, NC - HOUSE LETTERS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ HOUSE LETTERS Letters found in North Carolina Supreme Court Case #2959, North Carolina Archives, Raleigh, NC – House & Harper vs House & Hooker – 1841 – Greene County, NC. Letter from Jas. W. Hooker to James House North Carolina, Greene County, January 13th 1839 Dear Brother, I send you these lines to inform you that I and family are all enjoying tolerable good heath (with the exception of bad colds which are very frequent in this section of county at this time) for which we feel very thankful to God hoping that this may find you and yours enjoying the same blessing. I have to tell you that your sister Sarah Croom Died the 5th of October last and I told Joseph Brown to take one of the children and I would take the other, he would not do so. So I took them and kept them nearly two months. At November Court, he, Joseph Brown pushed in and was appointed Guardian to the children and I cannot tell what the result will be. Joseph Croom settles the estate and he says he wants you to come and bring or send the money to take up the note he found against you among your sister’s papers. As for the Williams suit, it is not decided yet. It was sent to the Supreme Court last April twelve months, and was sent back to our Court last October and entered on the docket again for taking further teste ?? money and if you know anything or have found out anything since you left here that would be of any service to me write to me as quick as possible for I shall want to know by April Court for I have done all that I can do. I have proved that Williams said he did not claim the money; that it belonged to House heirs and sent word to Rasberry not to claim it. But to use a vulgar expression the old fellow could ride about of nights on a black mule to keep honest people from suing him to get it. I want you to write to me what was done with the amount of the sale of your father’s estate. As you know that I had no share in it. Yourself, Sarah, Thomas and Francis House were the heirs after the debts were settled. I have a receipt that William Hooker gave me for some small notes amounting to $108.22 of that same the rise ??? of $30 I never got and I want you to let me know by April court if possible and state what was done with the proceeds of the sale of your father’s estate as I shall be put to considerable trouble about it. Nothing more at the present time. I remain yours Jas. W. Hooker State of South Carolina, Darlington Dist. Mr. James W. Hooker – Dear Sir as I could not get a magistrate to attend to that Business I concluded to come out at Court my Self But Being unwell I have to Defur coming and I Write these lines to Inform you that the Will is Evidence enough for you for it States that all the Propperty that he had not disposed of heretofore Should be sold by his Executors and Equally Divided between his two youngest Children and it was Done agreeable to the will and I don’t See why James Harper or any one Else Should troble themselves a bout it. Dear Sir My Self and Family are unwell at this time but I Should like to See you all once more and I intend to If life lasts So. I can tell you that crops is Sorry and cotton wourth 80 cents and corn 62 cents per bushell. Sonamore only I trust you will git your Suit Prolonged. I remain your affectionate Brother till Death Thos. House Jamestown (Alabama) March 18th 1839 Dear Sir I take the oppertuntly to Inform you that I am well at this time and hope these may find you the same. As to the amount of my fathers sale after paying debts, there was nothing left for I paid money (the amt I don't recollect at this time) out of my own pocket that I never got value recd for. I wish you to rite to me after Cort and let me know what they do about that Suit. Tell Joseph Croom that I have not the money now for I bought a piece of land twelve months ago and it took all the money I have and he must wait till I make a crop, money is scarcer here than ever I saw it in any country, it is impossible to borrow it at this time. Brother Thomas House owes me some the amt I will write you One not dated 20th feby 1833 $5.74 Interest to 20th Feby 1839 $1.94 Nov 15th 1834 to hire of Elijah – 9 months $8 per month $72.00 Int to 15th March 1839 $17.72 Total of $97.40 due 15th March Brother Thomas House Please to pay this amount over to Joseph Croom and let him credit my note and this will be a recut ?? for you James House (Not clear if below is part of the same letter) I don’t know any thing to write to you about that suit for I have forgot all about it. Tell Sister Susan I am well at this time and I hope she is also. My negroes are well and well Satisfied. I had my negroes hired out till last year. I made a crop, but it was a bad crop year with us and I had only about half land enough to tend and a goodsel of that new land at that, but my Cotton brought me twelve hundred dollars. I have settled again and am getting in tolerable fix again, I put me up a gin last fall and gave my own cotton but I don’t expect to stay here only this year if I live I expect to go to Texas next fall with Some of my neighbours. Nothing more at present but remain your Brother and friend at a distance. I am not married yet but am notion of it this year. James House Copy of a letter written to Jas House April 17th 1839 Attested by Nathan A. Hooker N.Y. City April 17th 1839 Dear Brother, I take this opportunity to inform you that I and family are enjoying tolerable good health at this time & I hope this may reach you & yours enjoying the same blessing. I want you to write to me what was done with the amount of the Sale of your father’s estate for the amount of sale shows that yourself, Sarah, Thomas & Francis, bid of nearly all the property that was sold. Inform me whether you collected the money from Sarah, Thos & Francis House for the property they bid of at your father’s sale or whether they kept it in their own hands. Your fathers will Shows that after paying off the several legacies therein mentioned; and settling all the debts, the residue was to go to Thos & Francis House. Francis House died some two or three years after your father. I want you to State whether or not your brother Francis’ property was divided between yourself, Sarah & Thos. House. State to me if you please what you can recollect about it, write to me as soon as this come to you. Your Sister Susannah Brown & family are as well as common ???. Sarah’s children are at Joseph Brown’s. Nothing more at present. Yours truly, J W. Hooker Jamestown, Ala May 16th 1839 Dear Sir I take the opportunity to inform you that I am in tolerable health at this time and hope this will reach you the same. I received your letter yesterday in which wish to know Some thing my fathers sale and Brother Franks, but I am unable to give you any information at all about them for I have not got any of the papers with me and I have forgot all about it only I do not think there was any balance of the act of sale of my father, left after paying the debts for I paid some money out of my own pocket which I never recd anything for. I mailed a letter for you about the middle of March. We have cotton here half leg high and as I walked in my fields today the corn blades come over my sholders. You may think this is not so but its truth. We have had a fine warm spring. Come out and see our Country, It won’t cost you much James House __________________________________________________________________ Copyright. 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