1

April 27, 1856

So, when did William C Clayton come to Ky? I think earlier than most of Solomon Clayton Sr’s bunch. Later William says that his father is there, already has land and has paid for it. Maybe they all came before 1850? A study of names in the Person County, NC and KY censuses for 1840 and 1850 should help.

2

Der unkle and aunt        these few lines that we ar wel hoping these few lines may find yew ingoying the same blessings

Who are “uncle and aunt”? I assume that they are back in North Carolina.

3

father has bought land in 1 mile of mee

he is doing beter than ever

he has paid for his land and has 17 or 18 hundred dolars left makes and to spare

William C Clayton’s father is also in Ky and has purchased and paid for land.

4

I et Super an unlike Eliga Tapp expense last mondy at henderson tavern he is well and doing well he spends heep of his time with mee and father

My attempt at translation:
I ate supper at Uncle Elija Tapp’s expense last Monday at the Henderson Tavern. He is well and doing well. He spends heep of his time with me and my father.

Elija Tapp is a son of Lewis Tapp.

5

I saw Andrew he is well and is doing well

6

I Saw loon crismas She has one boy large nough to plow one girl 6 yers old

7

nisey is grown and large

he keeps them hired out

8

father received a leter from unkle charles Tapp

him and family is well and doing well

The Person County Heritage article reports that Charlie Tapp, son of Lewis Tapp, moved to Texas. Could he be writing to relatives in Ky from Texas?

9

aunt rosanna Tapp is dead

This Aunt Rosanna is Anna (Rosanna) Hobson Tapp who married Vincent Tapp on 18 Oct 1812 in Person County, NC. He died 1846 and is buried at Poole, Ky. She died 1856, thus her death was important family news when the letter was written in 1856. Vincent Tapp was a brother of Lewis Tapp; both were sons of William Tapp.

10

unkle william is living in hopkins he looks very feble

he is one of the wicked old men I ever saw

Obviously William C Clayton has little love for Uncle William!

11

aunt rosana yarbrough was well the last acount

William C Clayton has two Aunt Rosanna’s as he has indicated here since he went to the trouble to add the last name of each in order to distinguish them.

Was Aunt Rosana Yarbrough a TAPP before she married?

12

unkle john Tapp left his 2 youngest children with us to raise a sun an daughter

Uncle John Tapp is living closer since rather than write he actually stopped by and left his two youngest children with William C Clayton and his wife. William C Clayton (or more likely his wife) has a close connection to the Tapps!!

13

they ar both nerley grone yew ar put of mooving untel land is so high and Scace that yew cant by here from 3 to 6 dolars now ar worth from $10 to 25 per achor

14

the best of our land on the river is from 20 to $75

What river? At least Henderson County is a good guess for land on the river!

15

I wil State Something about times corn 11/2 wheat $1 tobahco trash and good from 10 to $15 and rising thare has bin the [ ?Jest Spring her I ever Saw thare has bin Snow here in aweke the ground was cover 3 times the last 3 days looks like Spring

16

thare has bin but litle corn planted here the plants ar Scace and ar few coming up bacon 8 to 10 cts cattle is high cows 20 to $30 oxens 75 to $100 horses 100 to 200 mules or high moneyd maters ar firm and ar plenty negroes ar high

17

I bought a woman 2 children crismas I paid $1380

This purchase of a slave by William C Clayton may be documented by a bill of sale – if so, it should appear in December of 1855.

18

I bought a man sens I paid $1100

And likewise, this purchase should also be documented by a bill of sale – dated between January and April of 1856.

19

tell mary Snipes that She must wright to mee

Apparently a reference to Mary Snipes back in Person County. Marriage bond for William Snips [sic] and Mary Tapp dated 5 June 1822. Mary was a daughter of Lewis Tapp. After her marriage she and her husband moved to Kentucky. They are listed in the 1860 Kentucky census. The reference in the letter would seem to indicate that Mary and William Snipes moved from Person Co to Ky after 1856.

20

I herd from unkil Anderson he is well and doing well

Who is Uncle Anderson?

21

I have 778 achors of fine land

William C Clayton has land!

22

tel aunt Mary She had beter come and work some of it

Is this a reference to Aunt Mary Snipes? See note above; my bet is that this is Aunt Mary Tapp Snipes above.

23

none of the relationes dont wright to mee atall

24

when they do wright they dont wright nothing of any consequence unlike unkil charles says they dont wright to him

25

but yew William Dunagan family is well but his wife is in a low way

There are two connections here. William H Dunnagan married Rebecca Jane Tapp who is the daughter of John Tapp and Mary (Polly) Lunsford. John Tapp is a brother of Lewis Tapp and another son of William Tapp.

In addition, William Dunagan was the son of Timothy Dunagan who married Nancy Tapp. Nancy Tapp was the daughter of Lewis Tapp. (Timothy Dunagan and Nancy Tapp married in Person County, NC. The marriage bond is dated May 4, 1817.)  [From Orange County Cemetery web page a listing from the Little River Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Orange County, NC: Dunnagan, Timothy (b. 11 Aug 1782 - d. 6 Dec 1845)(Old Stone; See Below For New Stone) Dunnagan, Timothy C, Sr. (b. - d. 6 Dec 1845) Aged 63 Yrs., 3 Mos., 24 Ds. ]

26

Joseph Brown and family is well

Another Lewis Tapp family connection! Joseph Brown married Elizabeth Tapp, the first child of Lewis Tapp. (Marriage bond in Person County, NC dated September 14, 1817.)

27

we have 3 children Mary Jane Sara Francis Malisa Ann the 2 oldest gows to scool

So in 1856 William C Clayton has three children, apparently all daughters. Why doesn’t the fellow mention his wife by name? The daughters are:

·         Mary Jane Clayton (in school)

·         Sara Francis Clayton (in school)

·         Malisa Ann Clayton (not yet in school)

Maybe we can find these daughters listed on marriage bonds a few years later. The first or second given names of these three daughters may also give clues to the given names of William’s mother and wife.

28

hopin to remain yours untel deth

29

William C Clayton

[ POSTSCRIPT FOLLOWS ]

30

Cozen Elmira and Cozen juda I wish to be rememberd for it has bin long Sens I saw yew both I wish I could Spend Some of my idle hours with yew both for I think of them that we once ingoyed though we ar fare apart   I think of yew often.  Send me word how yew both ar coming on the wrest of my old friends gave my best respects for I wish to See them

31

how unkil George and aunt Frankey ar coming on

32

gave friend Abram More my best respects tell him if he wil wright me a leter I wil answer it

A reference to Abraham Moore (who should appear in the 1860 Person County census) as a “friend.” Does this imply that he was a neighbor in Person County before William C Clayton moved to Kentucky? I find a reference to a marriage bond for Abram Moore and Eunice Bradsher dated September 1, 1845 in Person County, NC.

33

gave the Same to friend Richard harges and family and share a good portion your selves we can wright cheap if we ware not so neglecful so I wil come to a close untel deth hoping to remain your afection cousin 

This must be a reference to Richard Hargis (who should also appear in the 1860 Person County census).

Reference to a marriage bond for Richard Hargis and Nancy Pearce, April 4, 1819, with Richard Moore as bondsman. Could Richard Moore be the father of Abram Moore above?

34

WC Clayton