Porch Swings, Fireflies, and Jelly Jars: Rebecah W Duncan

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Rebecah W Duncan - Letter, 1848

© Kathy Duncan, 2018

This letter seems to be from "Chister" in Gibson County, Tennessee, but I cannot find a place of that name in any nineteenth century gazeteers. Again, Rebecah W. (Pettus) Duncan is writing to John Springs in York County, South Carolina in the hope of receiving a settlement from her father William Pettus's estate. In this letter, she mentions her brother Samuel Knox Pettus, her sister Mariah (Pettus) Campbell Sutton, and her mother Mary (Knox) Pettus.

Chister Gibson County Ten Febuary the 7 1848
Mr. John Springs
Dear Father & Friend
I embrace another oppertunity of a few lines to you hoping these lines will find you all as they leave us in reasonable health at presant I have nothing verry particular. Brother Sam and all landed about the Middle of January Moses A House told me that you said you had nothing to do with the estate I said that you had something to do with my interest in the estate he said not that you was done with it and did not expect to have any thing more to do with it at all it is my wish and desire for you to proceed in the business if you could feel so disposed to act that no more of the property should be wasted I live a long way from them and heare nothing of consequence from those that are here they tell me but verry little about the concerns. you gave me more Sattisfaction in your letters than ever I received from any of them as for Mariah or Mother they have not sent me the scrape of a pen in seven years my relations seem to care verry little for me the reason they do not I have not the propperty as the rest has I care nothing for that if justice would have place with us all I never expect to have the enjoyment of my part from Mother if ever I get anything perhaps it will do my Children some little I am verry wakly and unhealthy at present I feel myself that I cannot last many years I have nothing more at present Remain your

Sincere Friend until Death

Rebecah W Duncan

I wish you to answer this leter as soon as you can convenienly

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About Me:

My favorite memories from childhood include visits to my grandparents in East Texas. At dusk we'd run around my grandparent's yard, catching fireflies and putting them in jelly jars. When darkness descended, we'd return to the porch. It was a special treat to sit in the porch swing. Inevitably, the adults would launch into family stories of Pink Kelley's brush with Sherman's troops, of Great Uncle Hood Brown's tragic death, and of the Kelley family's wagon trip to Texas, among many others. The stars on those nights were magical.

I began my genealogy research in the summer of 1975, less than a month after my high school graduation. When I married in 1983, I started researching my husband's family as well. I was fortunate to start this hobby as a youngster because it gave me an opportunity to correspond with researchers who are long gone; to ask questions of family members -although not enough, never enough; and travel a bit. The result is a lot of information. I've come to the realization that I will probably never be able to afford to publish, so this is my publication.

This blog contains a mixture of information on my husband's family and mine. I've expanded into a second blog called Flimsies and Frippery with the intention of focusing on quilts and dolls, but I have several historical research entries there with more planned, which is why I don't get more quilting done.

Ultimately, genealogy is my passion. This is where I plan to record family stories, research adventures and misadventures, and those serendipitous moments that happen out of the blue. You should be warned that I have a bad habit of going back and adding information and links to individual entries, so it is beneficial to check back often if there is a family of particular interest to you. If you wander in and discover that you are a cousin, please contact me.

Since many younger family members who are new to genealogy are starting to contact me about their ancestors, I've started adding family trees to help them see how everyone is connected. The trees are divided between my family and my husband's. You will find them below under the label's Family Trees - My Husband's Side and Family Trees - My Family's Side.

For better or worse, this blog reflects the research, thinking, and writing of a human.