The Mary Davis Letters
1816-1817

Submitted by Dr. Donald Gradeless

Mary Davis was the sister of Jesse and Rueben Davis and Robert and Edith Holaday. She resided in Randolph County, North Carolina. These letters are reprinted from The GENEALOGICAL JOURNAL by the Randolph County Genealogical Society, Volume SVI No. 2, Spring 1992 Pages 25-27 by permission. These early Orange County pioneers were among the many Quaker migrants from North Carolina. 


Addressed to: Mary DAVIS North Carolina Randolph County

Indianah Territory Orange County April the 5th 1816

respected sister I take this oportunity of writing the(e) a few lines to inform thee whare and how I am I am living at Warner DAVISES and am reasonable well at present hoping that when these few lines __ __ they may find thee and the rest of my brothers and sisters father friends and relations in that country injoying the blessings of helth the indians killed seven men last seven day on the west side of the wabash near fourt(Fort) harrison and is expected will be somewhat troublesome this summer I am midling well satisfied with the country and should be better if I had land for I am tyerd(tired) of being a tenant or hireling but I sea no way to keep myself at preasant for I am not able to b(u)y land her(e) and the soldiers are to have the new purchase I shoul(d) beg lad to ___ you all once more but the aistance is segreate that it is very unsurtain for ____ ____ ____ ____ ___ tis likely I will be this fall. I want thee to send me some account about my corn what is done with it and I want thee to collect what little money is coming to me ther(e) against august I have nothing particular to write at preasant I expect the barer will call on ____respectable yo(u) man remember my respects to father and my brothers and sisters so nothing more at preasant but conclude and remane well wishing

brother Jesse DAVIS
to Mary DAVIS I wrote in a hurry


Indeany Teritory the 15th of the first month 1816

respected sister I take this opertunity to right to you to let you know that we are all well and has been ginnerly so since I got home my Mother and all my brothers and Sisters is well Ann is married to Daniel DARAUGH Warnor still remanes poorely milley has got about againe Warnor and Jesse has rented a plase of Adam and has moved to it I should be glad to read a letter from thee for I hante (haven't) seen the scrape of a pen from eny of yuou since I left you and if you would send letters to Jobe WORTHS John CROW will be back by their in two or three weaks after he leaves this thear Our children is a gowen(going) to school Jesse(,)Aron(,)Jane and Eliza went to their letters Jesse is in three Sillabels and the rest in foure letters I work in the Shop and Silis DIXON is a worken a month with me and we can't do half the work that comes tell MILLER that horse I got of him worse(was) the triflingest horse that ever I owned I would be glad the(e) would remember us to all our brothers and siter and tell them we would be glad they would right to us to let us know how they are So nothing more at present

This from Robert and Edith HOLADAY for Mary DAVIS
it is know(now) late in the night for it is all the time I have to right we had a very pleasant fawl(fall) but it is very Coald(cold) know(now) and the deapest Snow on the ground that ever I seen in this Countery


Indiana State O(ran)ge County July the 1 1817

Respected Sister Mary DAVIS I may inform thee that I am well at present I have not bin lade(laid) up one hour since I saw thee with sickness I hope when these lines com(e)s to hand the(y) may find thee and all of the rest of my sisters brothers and relations well I am living with Warner and in sight of Jesse the(y) ware well last week I am now at Adams and shall start home tomorrow with a waggon load of meal and corn I may let thee no that I go sum cloas(clothes) by Charles HILL and sum by thomas RUBOTTOM which I was glad to get I want thee to send the rest of my cloas if thee can for i expect to reside in this country for i think it better than Carolina I want thee to wright every oportunity for i think long of the time to hear from you though this is the first time I have written(n) to any of you for I have not had an oportunity for when we moved to whare we now live thare was not a neighbour within fifteen miles that we new of tho thare is sevrels settled round us now pleas(e) to remember my respects to Thomas HODDSON and tell him that I want him to pick up courage and leav(e) old north and come to this cuntry though it is a long road and a tiresome won we was fifteen days a coming and it cos(t) about fifteen dollars a piece every one of the nags giv(e) out but mine and she sto(d) it remarkably well Jesse swopt(swapped) on the road, the rest maid out to get her(e) in a week after we did so having not time nor room to w)ri)te more I conclude with much love to you all and remain your well wishing brother

Reuben DAVIS to Mary DAVIS

To Mary DAVIS in North carolina Randolph County near Senter meeting house


Indiana State Orange County the 15 of August 1817

respected sister I take this opportunity to inform thee that we are resonab(l)e well at present Esther has a daughhter and calls it Mary I have not had any account from any of you since last spring Ralph LOWDER moved out here day before yesterday Thomas CLARK is coming in about three weeks we have had a wet summer have the best new ground corn I ever saw to the age of it I have fifteen sows had pigs within six weeks and the wools(wolves) have kil(le)d all the pigs but one I have kil(le)d one woolf the bares(bears) have kild several larg(e) fat hogs for me this summer I am well sattisfied that I am here when we moov(moved) here the next neighbor was fifteen mile I should be glad to see you all once mor but that is more than expect so I conclude with much love to you all and remane thy well wishing brother

Jesse DAVIS

Addressed: to Mary DAVIS North Carolina Randolph County