Chapter 1. William H Barrett & C M Barrett

1. Introduction

William H Barrett was born 31 Aug 1820 in Tazewell County Virginia. He died 26 Dec 1879 in

Tazewell County, Virginia. William was next to the youngest of nine (9) children born to Thomas

E Barrett Sr. and Mary “Polly” McIntosh Barrett. Not a lot is known about William prior to his

migration to Fannin County Texas in 1854. He is shown in the 1850 Russell Co, Va. census, 54th

Dist, household #1271 as living with his brother John C Barrett’s widow, Cynthia Hurt Barrett.

At the time, the following individuals were in the household. Name Age Year of

Birth

Value Status

Cynthia Barrett 34 1816 Widow

James H 14 1836 $313 Son

Thomas G 12 1838 $313 Son

Mary Martishia 10 1840 $313 Daughter

Robert Moses 7 1843 $313 Son

Martin Pierce “Pud” 3 1843 $313 Son

Rebecca Catherine “Cat” 4 1846 $313 Daughter

John Crisman "Ned" 1 1849 $313 Son

William Barrett 27 1823 Brother-in-law

Catherine Lewis 21 1829 Unknown - Born in KY.

What is her relationship to Cosby

Lewis in James Warrenburg

household 1850 census?

Nothing is known about Catherine Lewis except she may have been there to help Cynthia with

the young children. Why William was living in the household is not known unless he didn’t want

to stay in Tazewell County. It is surprising that in all of the letters that he wrote from Texas he

never once mentions his father, mother or siblings.

William went to Texas in 1854 and while there he worked as a cabinetmaker. He wrote several

letters to his niece Mary Martishia Barrett in Russell County, Virginia. In 1978 Marjorie Barrett

Reed wrote that one of her grandfather’s, Thomas E Barrett Jr., brothers went to Texas and after

a time walked back to Southwest Virginia. She didn’t know which brother it was or why he went

to Texas. Apparently the boots that he wore out walking back to Virginia were kept in an old

smokehouse. She also relates that John Patton Barrett remembers William’s funeral. John

Patton was about five years old and remembers that he wanted to become a Mason because he

was really impressed by the Masonic funeral service. William had become a member of the Honey

Grove, Texas Masonic Lodge No. 164 in 1866 where he served as Tyler (Doorkeeper) in the years

1866 and 1867. He was a member until 1878 when he was “Demitted”, meaning that he resigned.

At that time membership was not transferable. When a member moved, he submitted a

resignation from the lodge where he was a member and then had to apply for membership at the

new location. When one links all of these events and people together it is very apparent that

William is the person that Marjorie Barrett Reed was referring to who walked from Texas to

Southwest Virginia. Of course William died 26 Dec 1879 and may have had a desire to return to

his home to die. This would be hard to believe considering that he had two children that he

seemed to be very proud of. Therefore some tragedy may have overcome his family before he left

Texas. We may never know why William left Texas or what happened to his wife and children.

2. Migration to Texas

In 1854 he left Virginia for Texas. In his first letter dated 5 May 1855 from Mount Plesant,

Fannin County, Texas (North Sulpher P O) he wrote that he arrived in Texas on the 25 of

November 1854 after a two-month tedious journey. He describes the trip, how he liked Lebanon,

Tennessee and how Arkansas was filled with marshes. In other letters William describes Texas;

how he likes it and implies that others in Russell County, VA should take the trip.

3. Family

In a letter dated 3-17-1872 he listed his children names and ages as Frederick (Willy) William

Bruce Barrett born 8 Sep 1865 and John Thomas Alfred Barrett born May 1867. The two

children are shown in his household in the 1870 census. There is no mention of his wife; however,

there is an individual with the initials C M who is 25 years old and was born in Tennessee in

1845(in the 1870 Lamar County census she is listed as C M Barrett). William is listed as a

carpenter and that goes with his comment in the first letter that he is building a house for the

James Warrenburg and is staying with them.

4. Census

a. 1860 Census

William was also listed as a 40-year-old white male in the household of James Gaines in the 1860 census of

Fannin County. His trade was cabinetmaker and he had real estate worth $320. This was probably a

boarding house as there are several men living in the same dwelling. His trade as a cabinetmaker goes along

with a statement that he made that he was building a house for James Warrenburg. See line # 15.

b. 1870 Census

William is listed in the 1870 Lamar County, Texas Census, Beat No 5 dist, household #173. Census pg. 375,

376, enumerated Sep 26, 1870 by Uriah Trulock, Ass't Marshal. Household #173, lines 39, 40, 41, 42

Name Age Year of Birth Place of Birth

William Barrett 49 1821 Tenn. – Wrong born Tazewell VA.

C. M 25 1845 Tenn.

F W B – (Fredric William Bruce) 4 1866 Texas

John T A – (John Thomas Alfred) 3 1867 Texas

5. Honey Grove Texas

Information related to Honey Grove in Fannin County Texas is shown below. At some point

Fannin County was sub-divided to form several other counties. Lamar County was one of the

counties that were formed from Fannin County. Honey Grove apparently received its name

because of the number of honeybees that were found in a grove of trees when the first travelers

and settlers arrived in the area.

a. Map of Fannin County area

.

Dated 1892

Honey Grove is located on the T& P and G C. & SFe. Rys. In Fannin County

, 16 miles east of Bonham, the judicial seat. 60 east of Whitesboro, 112 from

Texarcana and 328 from Austin. Dating its settlement from 1849, it

contains Baptist, Christian, Cumberland Presbyterian, Episcopal, Lutheran,

Methodist, and Presbyterian Churches, good schools, 2 Banks, a roller

flourmill, an elevator, a cotton compress, and gristmills and cotton gins. Two

newspapers, the Fannin Guard and the Citizen are published. An excellent

quality of building stone is quarried in the vicinity. The shipments comprise

cotton, wool, livestock, hides and grain. Telephone connection with Paris,

Bonham and Sherman. Tel., W U. Exp., Pacific and W , F & co.

Population 3, 500

6. William the Person

William wrote several letters to Mary Martishia Barrett Fletcher a niece back in Russell County

Virginia. Apparently Martishia wrote to everyone that left the area and kept all of the letters

that she received. I am sure that some were destroyed however many were saved. I have

scanned in the images and will add the transcriptions at the bottom of each letter.

He seems to be well educated, has a unique sense of humor, apparently had a very close

relationship with his nieces and nephews (John C and Cynthia Barrett’s children) and gives a lot

of insight into his thinking and personality. He appears to be quite religious as he talks about

being a “Hard-shell” Baptist and attends meetings which I take to be church related. He also

appears to like flowers and was pleased that they sent him some (seeds) from Virginia. He talks

about all the good-looking girls and how they approach the men of their fancy. Corn was so scare

at one time when a man went courting he had to take his own corn for his horse. William seems

to remain young at heart as, at about age 36, he relates how they steal watermelons and says that

it is honorable. He also says that if the owners get upset they go back the next night and eat all

they can then pull up the vines.

William is very pleased with the area where he lives. He indicates that Texas is where he wants

to stay and asks others to come out for a visit and says that once there they to will like it and

stay.

Additionally in his letters he mentioned several individuals.

a. Nancy A Hurt

She had to be one of Cynthia Barrett’s relatives as William referred to her as cousin. She may have been the

daughter of Jack Hurt. He said that she married a Mr. Higgenbottom.

b. Fanney C Hurt

She had to be one of Cynthia Barrett’s relatives as William referred to her as cousin. She may have been the

daughter of Jack Hurt.

c. James Warrenburg

Lula Hunter found a James Warrenburg in Wythe Co, Va., in Kegley, "The Lost Children of Wythe County,

Virginia 1790-1878" - Poor school children, orphans and apprentices from county records.

July 9, 1822, JAMES WARRENBURG, poor boy, is bound to John Rader to learn the tailor trade, and William

Warrenburg, a poor child, is bound to John Davis to learn the trade of blacksmith.

One of the duties of the overseers of the poor was to pay teachers who taught the poor children. Each teacher

filed a report (some quarterly, some semi-annually) with one of the school commissioners or overseers of the

poor. The reports list the names of the books used for reading, spelling, and arithmetic, and the level of

learning for each student. The reports name each of the poor children, the date they began to attend, the

number of days they attended, their ages, and the names of their parents or guardians. The reports were

summarized by the Reverend John Stanger, Treasurer of the overseers of the poor for many years.

This is the same book in which found my great grandfather, Sanford Benjamin Settle who later settled in

Russell Co, Va., in same area as Taylors, Barretts, etc.

"Wythe Co Marriages 1790-1850", John Vogt & T William Kethley, Jr

Nov 12, 1840 - Sanford Settle m. Sara Ann Caldwell . Minister Casper Yost (Meth Espis). Sara Ann was

daughter of Elizabeth Pearson (Pearman), formerly Elizabeth Caldwell, widow of Thomas Caldwell. Bond

James Fullen.

1850 Russell Co, Va, household #1243

Name Age YOB Birth Place

James Warrenburg 40 1810 Wythe Co, Va.

Lavenia 38 1812 Russell Co, Va.

Henry 12 1838 Russell Co, Va.

William 10 1840 Russell Co, Va.

Elisabeth 7 1843 Russell Co, Va.

Garland 5 1845 Russell Co, Va.

COSBY LEWIS 12 1838 KY. What is his/her relationship

to Catherine Lewis in Cynthia

Barrett household

1850 Russell Co, Va census, household #1271 Name Age YOB Birth Place

Cynthia A Barrett 34 1816 Widow

Catherine Lewis 21 1829 KY Is there a relationship with Cosby Lewis in the

household of James Warrenburg?

1860 Hunt Co, Tx census, household #280 Image 17 of 35 on Ancestry

Census printed pg. 310, written pg. No. 43

Hunt Co, TX, census yr 1860, line 280

Division, Beat No. 4, Greenville P O.

Enumerated July 19, 1860 by Jim McFarr

Name Age YOB Birth place

James Warrenburg 44 1816 Wythe Co, VA.

Levina 40 1820 Russell Co, Va.

Henry 21 1839 Russell Co, Va.

William 18 1842 Russell Co, Va.

Garland H 13 1852 Russell Co, Va.

Margaret 5 1855 Russell Co, Va.

Louisa 2 1858 Texas Proves approx date moved to Texas

d. Moses Herley

He wants to marry Polly Tucker but the older people frown on it but they say they will marry anyway.

e. Susan A Hurt

William referred to Susan as “Cousin” and that she lived on Gall Creek. He also said that she married a

Biard.

f. Betty ?

I am not sure whether Betty is real are part of his joking.

g. Polly Tucker

Wants to marry Moses Herley. Is this one related to Patricia Tucker’s husband from OK?

h. Charley Ridge

Wants to marry Elizabeth Wodson

i. Elizabeth Wodson

Daughter of James P Wodson who wants to marry Charley Ridge; however, her parents disapprove.

j. James P Wodson -

k. Mr Coltens –

l. Jett Hurt

Jett again must have been a relative of Cynthia Hurt, William’s sister-in-law.

7. Children

The table shows all of the information that we have for William’s children. No Name Birth Death Spouse Notes

1 Frederick William

Bruce

8 Sep 1865 Texas

2 John Thomas

Alfred

May 1867 Texas

8. Masonic Membership

While in Texas, William belonged to the Masons. This is the information that I received from the

Grand Lodge of Virginia. Subject: William H Barrett

Date: July 12, 2002

To: brucepbarrett@alltel.net

From: grandlodge@rcn.com

Dear Mr. Barrett:

Your e-mail request for information on William H Barrett, born 8.31/1820 and died 12/26/1879 in Tazewell County, Virginia

was referred to the Grand Lodge of Virginia’s Allen E Roberts Masonic Library and Museum of Virginia, Inc. Your inquiry is

appreciated.

You can contact the Grand Lodge of Texas at the following address:

James D Ward, Grand Secretary

Grand Lodge of Texas AF&AM

P.O. Box 446

Waco, Texas 76703

Research did not find William H Barrett list as a member in a Tazewell County Lodge in 1852-1879. The rosters of three

Lodges were searched. There was only one active Lodge in the County before 1866 and he does not appear on its rosters prior

to 1855 when he left for Texas. However this Lodge did not send a report including roster for 1852, 1854 and 1855. His

name does not appear on the deceased list found in the 1879 Grand Lodge of Virginia Proceedings.

A search of the three Lodges in Fannin County, Texas yielded an interesting find. William Barrett (no middle initial) was

found on the rosters of Honey Grove Lodge No. 164 in years 1866-1878 when he demitted. Used the Grand Lodge of Texas

Proceedings. Lodge rosters were not listed in some years. He served as Tyler in the Lodge in 1866 and 1867.

Our library is happy to assist should you have further inquiries.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Marie M Barnett

Librarian

9. Ballads

William was apparently a religious person even though he seemed to really like the girls. Guess a

person can do both. He wrote a couple of religious ballads.

a. Wild Man Ballad

I will announce the gospal word

The truth the scriptures do record

And trace the walls of Zion do round

And make the jubal trumpet sound

Throughout the earth I must declare

The great approaching jubal year

And sound aloud the jubilee

The sons Zion shall be free

V 2

When I am gone remember me

Sattains avowed enemey

And after death I hope to tell

Through Christ alone I've conqured hell

Though earth and hell against me rage

In Jesus name I will in gague

To continue all I will persist

To be the wild man Methodist

V 3

No name but Christ shall me controle

I feel his glory in my soul

His name I'll own while exist

And die the wild man methodist

My name appears in great dispute

And many dose me persecute

But truth will shine tho they resist

As will the wild man methodist

V 4

Silver and gold is not my hire

To save poor souls is my desire

And to obtain eternal rest

I live the wild man methodist

I hope the many rejoice

That ear they heard the wild mans voice

At gods great bar the truth atest

Preached by the wild man methodist

V 5

All you that hate the wild man here

You must before his god appear Your persecution now desist

Christ loves the wild man methodist

If in your sins you should expire

You sink beneath gods dreadfull ire

Then turn to Christ your great high priest

And join the wild man methodist

V 6

The wild mans army doth increase

He mounts the flag of rightiousness

He presses some and some inlist

And join the shouting methodist

He heads the royal shouting band

All armed and bound for canaans land

The power of hell can ner molest

A valient shouting methodist

V 7

Old satan ????? and torn pain

May hate the methodist in vain

They dare not enter in the list

To fight a. shouting Methodist

Their doctrin shall be down ward hurled

The christians soon will take the world

On perfect love they will insist

This makes a shouting methodist

V8

The time is swiftly drawing near

When gabriels trumpet we shall hear

I will sound aloud for jesus guests

Come on you shouting methodist

Poor sinners two must then appear

Their ever lasting doom to hear

They'll cry and howl and smite their breast

Fare well ye shouting methodist

T H E WILD MAN'S SONG by Wm. Barrett

July the 28th. 1844

b. Ballad Number 2 16 Feb 1845

10. Letters We have several letters that William wrote to Mary Martishia Barrett Fletcher, his niece. A transcript follows each

copy of an original handwritten letter. The transcripts are created to be as close to the original as possible. Original

grammar and spelling are retained to provide insight into the writer.

a. 5 May 1855, Mount Pleasant, Fannin County, Texas.

Mis Marry M Barrett

Russell County Va

Elkgarden P O.

May the 5th - 1855 North Sulpher P O

Mount Plesant

Fannen County, Texas

Dear and Loving Neice

It is with pleasure that I take this opportunity of dropping a few lines to inform you that I am well at present,

hoping these few lines may find you enjoying good health, with that of your mother and brothers and sister. I landed in

Texas the twenty fifth of November after a tegeous journey of two months over some finnane portions of country through

middle and west Tennessee. Lebanon is one of the most beautiful towns I ever saw. It is thirty miles east of Nashville.

Nashville is about three miles through. From there we went to a little place called Clifton and crossed the Tennessee

River in a tough boat. From thare we went to Memphis and crossed the great Mississipi River in a young steamboat. We

had a merry ride for three miles and landed in Brancas, and you had better believe that we began to see hard times in

mud up to the axel trees. It is little else than a swamp from Memphis to Little Rock, a distance of one hundred and sixty

miles. Enough about Arcances, for I hate it so bad that I can’t give it justice. Texas is one of the most beautiful countries

that the world ever saw. The large and extensive pararies look so flurishing green. The grass is a bout half leg high. It

affords pasterage for thousands of cattle and horses, summer and winter, without feeding. The pararie is covered with

strawberrys that is now beginning to ripen. There is the most flowers of all descriptions that I ever saw, some of the most

beautiful that the last or fancy could desire. It beats all the gardens and flower beds that you ever saw. Now Martitia if

you and Catta could just see this beautiful country, you never would want to live on Little River any longer. I think that

if any of you could be brought to Texas on a dark night and sat down in this country, that he would be so intranced in the

morning when they awoke that they would be compelded to think it a dream or a vision of the faryland. Times are hard

here at this time, money is scarce and hard to get. Wages is not very good at this time, I can get from four to six bits per

day. grain is very scarce and high wheat crops looks very promising. It will be ready to harvest in three or four weeks.

Corn crops look fine. Corn in general is half leg high and some knee high and people are plowing it the second time.

Texas is the place for me, though I would not advise any one to come because I am here and well satisfied to stay. There

are advantages and disadvantages. That the states have not water is and as plenty. Weather is as good as in Virginia. It

costs a pretty round sum to bring a family to Texas. Such a Fall as last Fall, corn was from six bits to one dollar fifty

cents. It is the place to raise cattle. Now James, as you love calves right well here is the place, if a man can get a few

cows and calves he can go ahead. A good cow or calf is worth from fifteen to twenty dollars. Enough about such trash.

Now Catharine you can’t gues how bad I want to see you I wish I had you here to milk my cow and feed my little turkeys

and then we could churn and cut a chease every few days and kill a turkey and have flower doings and cook the dishrag

and make supper and have a heap of nice things when our friends come to see us. Tell little Ned that I would like to see

him once more, but as I can’t see him tell him to be a good boy and mind what his mother tells him and to be kind to his

brothers and sisters and learn his book that he may make a smart and useful man. I am now living at James Warrenburgs

building him a house. He has bought a first rate farm and has a good prosspect fur a good crop of corn and oats. They are

all well and I think if he had a well dug and plenty of good water in it they would be very well satisfied. Cousin Susan A

Hurt and her fa_?__ was all well a week ago. She lives fifteen miles below Warrenburgs and was to have been up

yesterday to buy out a Mr. Dilenham, but did not come. I had liked to have furgotten to tell you that I never saw snow a

enough last winter to cover the ground, though there was some very cold weather for a few days at a time. There would

come a real northern and it would all most pierrce you through. There are three things that belongs to Texas that I don’t

like. There is the north winds, the ticks, and the water. But there are other advatages that will over balance them and

make Texas the finest country in the world. As I wish to gout to mee ling to day, I must bring my letter to a close. Writet

as soon as you receive thse lines. Write as soon as you can about all the friends. How is Dad and who is married. Direct

your letter to North Sulpher Postoffice, Fannen County, Texas. sonomare at present but remains your affectionate friend

untill death

William Barrett

b. 9 Sep 1855, Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas.

c. 2 Jan 1856, Honey Grove, Fannen County, Texas

Jan. the 2nd 1856 Honey Grove Fannen County, Texas

Dear Neace

It is with pleas ure that i seat my self to dropa few lines in answer to your verry kind letter of October the 27th

received Dec the 18th which gave me grate satisfaction to her that you and the rest was all well and doing well

and i hope these few lines will find you well my helth is good i think the climate of texas will suit mee verry

well my helth has ben better since I left va than it has ben far severl years before Cosin Nancy A Hurt & Cosin

Fanney C Hurt sends their best respects & wish to be rememberd by you they have in joyd them selvs verry well

during Christmas wee have had a week of plasure it is now over the friends her is genely well i believe thare has

ben but verry little sicness some few cills this fall i havent child any my self the emigration to texas has ben

verry strong this faall I have saw some fore hundred famleys pas throw the Grove gowing westward from the

best actoounts thare has ben some fifteen hundred famleys emigrated to texas this fall. I understand from your

letter that you & Martha and Bill has be come to bee old iron gackets babtest or hard shells i am truley glad to

her it some people dont like the hard shells but far my part i would raher have a hard shell than no shell at all

and he playd on a harp of a thousand strings spirits of just men made perfect as our hard shell babtist said

Marticia you & Martha & Bill come over to Texas some of these Saturday evenings for you I have a good many

brethern & sisters her and I will in terduce you to some of the gentle men & Ladies thare is some very good

looking gentlemen & some of the prettiest galzes you ever saw (i now they ar) i fell in love with one last

saturday night well now i did my self and you had better believe it but I dident tell her so nor i aint agoing to far

i love the tudder one the best i came down to cosin Susans last Saturday was a week a gow to spend the

Christmas Cousin Susan livs down on gall creek and i have ben down that way ever since i went back to the

Grove on ce thare is more girls down thare than you ever red of (i now thare is) wee have had a merry christmas

some partyes and candy stews the way the girls loves a beaugh aint slow and the way they caught beaughs was

some well now i was with them (you now i was) you said you had snow the 23 of October i have not seen any

snow this winter oh how glad i would be to see a snow a bout a foot deep i feel a little lonsome some times way

her a mong strangers oh i would be so glad to see you all once more wee are a long ways a part but my love for

you all is the same give my love to your maw & all the Boys tell Ned that

I want to see him mity bad give my best respects to cosin Patten Keen cosin Polley & little Randa no more at

presant oneley as ever your dear Uncle fare well dear Neace wright at the reception of these lines direct to

Honey Grove

William Barrett

to M M Barrett

d. 2 Jan 1856, Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas.

January the 3rd 1856

Honey Grove

right before her dad & mam and her dad sorter kinder

looked like he dident care & i looked back just like i dident

Fannen County

Texas

Dear Neace

It is with pleasure that i seat my self this butiful morning to

drop a few lines in answer to your lines received. dec. the

18th which gave me grate pleasure i was glad to her that

you was well my helth is good i aint had ary Chill as yet i

have had verry good helth ever sinc i have ben her far

which i feel very thankful to my god. i dont know hard ley

what to wright that will interest you i am sory to her that

you and your little friend Julia had to part but the best of

friends must part as i never should have left you and come

to texas i am glad to her that you went to the show and was

pleased with wh you seen and had. Oh dear Catta if you

was her i could tell a grate many funey things that i have

seen and herd i have ben down on gall Creek far some time

to see the galzes thare is more pretty girls down thare than

you ever red of thare is so menny at one house

that thare dad had to prop the house to keep it from falling

down (you know he did) wee have had the merriest

Christmas that i ever saw in my life wee spent the hole

week going to parties though thar was a nother and a verry

cold on mee and Cosin Faney went to one of those partys

last Saturday wee got verry cold gowing one mile to Mr

Coltens but the fun wee had paid us verry hansomley thare

was fifteen girls thare and the way they love a beaugh aint

slow and the way they caught beaughs was some you had

better believe it I got holt of one

care if he dident like it (you know i dident) far her mam

said i mite the way the girls love kissing aint slow i beats

all sleepy hollow a stonishes the natives & the dutch aint

no wher i got so many kisses that my mouth is sorter kind

of swet yet just like the girls lookt thare was one a little

larger than you that is the prittiest and the sweetest little

girl you ever saw (you know she is) and her mam said that

if i would wate tell next Christmas she would give her to

mee now Catta come over then thare will be some rit pritty

boys and wee will have fun lots and to spare (you know

wee will) i cant wright the half that i want to tell you but

when you come to Texas i will tell you all a bout it i wish i

had some of your good aples Oh you dont know how bad i

want to see you wee are a long ways a part but i love you

just as well as ever & if wee never meet agane just let me

say be a good girl. Wright as soon as you receave these

lines dont delay i wish i could her from you evry week

direct to Honey Grove from your dear kind Uncle to his

loving little Neace so fare well.

William Barrett to Rebecca C Barrett

[Written in center of page]

Prairie Mount Tx

7 Jan

Miss Marry M Barrett

Belfast Mills P O

Russell County Va

e. 12 Aug 1856, Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas.

August the 12th 1856

Honey Grove

Fannen County

Texas

Dear

Neace

It is with pleasure that i seat my & in

form you that i am well at presant hoping thes few lines may

find you in joying all the kind blessings this pore world can

aford with that of your friends and acquaints i received your

very kind letter a few days a gow of July the 6th and was

truly glad to her that you & your mother & the rest of the

Childern & friends in general was well & that you had not for

goten me the helth of the cuntry is tollerable good at this time

thare is some caces of feever

& chills down on sulpher & on some of the creeks & some

caces of the billious feever a round throw the cuntry. we have

had verry dry season her thare has not ben any rain to wet the

ground since

the first of April watter is verry scearc some have plenty of

useing watter others have none only as they haul stock watter

is generally dry up a round Honey grove off a few miles thare

is some you may think that texas is a dry cuntry so it is at this

time

people can have plenty of well watter of a common season

[several words not legible] thare is some splended wells

[several words not legible] has ben uncommon thare may not

be a nother as dry in twenty years as dry as it is wee have

raised fine crops of wheat aveage a bout twenty bushels to

ried wee aint had many weddings her lately thare was a run a

way match not long a gow Moses Herley and Polley Tucker

the old folks oposed them & they declard they would marry

and how so off they went.

(1) Old Jim threttend to kill him

Iff he came thare a corting any more

Pop swore by her life

That she would be his wife

Mose swore by the point of his knife

That he would marry her or dy

(2) So old jim being out of town

Pop slept out a neighber far to see

So Mose borrod a horse

And led him out of town

A midst the threts of her angry brother

And bore away his lovley prize

He bore the stare of Honey Grove a way

The diadem of Texas beauty

To his home in hunt count

To a little town namd blackjack grove

He outted all her other suitters

Moses (word not legible) beat the old folk so easy

(words not legible) that it (words not legible) our

(not legible)

[Written in margin]

I thank you for the flowers you was kind a nough to send

mee, they bring old times and pleasures fresh to my memry

Charley Bridge & Elizabeth Wodson wants to marry but

the acre corn crops verry short sweet potatoes faild entirlerly

wee have more water melons mush melons & grass melons

than you ever saw or red of it is in dead a fine place to raise

such things i wish you & Catha & the rest of my good friends

was her to help mee eat them wee have fine times eatting

them some times our friends give them tou us some times we

buy them some times wee huck them it is conciderd highley

onerably to steal water melons & if the oner says any thing a

bout it wee gether up some night gow eat all we can and then

pull up the vines thare fore they hold on to save the vines i

wish you would send mee a cherry & a raspberry pie over

next Saturday eavning if you plese and i will send you a

watter melon a mush melon & two grass melons fruit is

scearce her thare is but few apples in the sun try as yet thar is

a good many peaches though they are small the trees are

verry full & the season so dry thay are gitting ripe i have had

two or thre pies thar is a few cherrys and a few blackberrys &

graps & thare is not a ras berry in the state of texas thare is

lots of fun to be seen some times i was at church last night &

saw betty thare & when she went home i gess i went with her

i gess you want to know who betty is well now she is good

looking & and you had better be lieve if you know you had

you said you had been at (word not legible) (words not

legible) wish had ben thar to went (__?__) uncle Ikes with

you and i would not have scucht the flax neather i would

haave told them to put it up tell a dry day if you know i

would you stated in your lette thare had ben severl wed dings

you dident say whether you was at are one or not well i am

glad to her that all the Hesses is mar-

James P Wadson her father says they shal not i exspext they

will run a way some of those nights i exspect to run away

with one to night (well i will & you had better believe it) but

a nough of that

tell your maw that i am truly sorry to her that her luck is still

bad with horces tell her not to fret nor greve a bout the loss of

propperty for the lord giveth & the lord taketh away tell

Cozin Patten & Polly Keen that i thank them both far there

kind in vitation to their flaxscutching but it is out of my

power to come please excuse me Dear M M Barrett i would

be glad to come and gow to new garden to meetting with you

if you know i would but a lass one falce step sepperated us

perhaps for ever w w o w-d s d so you stated in your letter

that you had herd that mee and some of the rest of the folks

was coming back this fall as to my self i aint coming if i lived

think i will come over time on a visit if my life and helth

spard Harvy helton has ben sick but is a bout well a gane Jett

Hurt has the white swelling the res of the famley is generly

well tell Bob that feare? that he never will bee any a count

among the galzes tell Pud & ned that I am glad that thay can

stand up to the galzes give my love to your Uncl James

Thomas & little Randa & the Baby Bob - Pud & Ned & P

G & Polly Ken ^ accept askear to thy self wright soon and

often i am glad to resave a letter at any time from any of you

pleas excuse my bad writting you dont know how lonesome i

fel at time.

(__?__) well dear __?__ farewell.

Wm Barrett

M. M Barrett

f. 7 Sep 1859, Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas.

September the 7th 1859

Honey Grove

Fannin Co

Texas

Dear Nease

It is with plesure that i seat my self to answer your verry kind

& wellcom letter of August the 15th i reseaved it last night &

was truly glad to hear from you once more & that you and

your famley was all well my helth has not ben so good this

season

then as common i had the feever last winter then another

spell about a month a go i am up a gane able to work a little

though weeak & feeble yet the friends her is generly well as

fare as i know thare is but little sicness in the country at this

time.

Cousin Susan maried an old man by the name of Biard Nancy

Hurt maried a Mr Highembottom wheat was verry good her

Oats fine corn crops verry good evry thing plenty onely

money it is verry scarce propperty bars a very liberl price i

have no knews of im portance to wright wee have had lots of

watter &

musmellons & but few apples & peaches I was over at

your house a few days to eat apples & peaches &

Goler pies i am sorry

that James tuck Mr Kendricks gal for he has had a

hard time of hit tell Ivin to come to texas & he can

mary hare is the plase wher the glzes will marry give

my love & respect to all enquiring friend tell cat that i

would be glad to see her give my respects to Mr

Fletcher i would be glad to se you all once more kiss

the

baby for mee i have written some three letters to you

& reseaved no answer you say you have written

frequently to to me i can say that i never have reseaved

a line well the devel or somebody elce has got her

letter wright soon and often for be assured that it

afords me the gratest of to her from you i promis to

answer

your letters promptly so fare well for this time you

affectionate

Uncle to his dar neace &c

William Barrett

to Loranzer & Mary M Fletcher

g. 17 Mar 1872, Honey Grove, Fannin County, Texas.

March 17, 1872 March 17th 1872

Honey Grove

Fannin Co Texis

To My Dear Nease & Nephew

I once more take up my pen to in form you that my self &

familey are all in tolerable helth at the presan time hoping

these lines may find you & yours all well & douing well I

received your verry kind letter of Feb 5th & was over joid

to find that you had nt forgotten your old Uncle & to hear

that you & famley & friends wer all well I hard ly know

what to wright onely time is hard her money scearce &

hard to git hole of & harder to kep we raised toleable fair

crops last year Corn is worth six bits per bushel now wheat

in the country hardly Flower worth 6 to 7 cents per pound

12 to 14 dollars per barrel Bacon from 12 to 15 cts per

pound Taxes verry high free Negrows is about one hundred

per cent a bove white people as es te mated by the radical

government & those who love the smell of them our little

town affords one white school & one black school out of

nine congrational destrict wee elected all Democrats they

swindle us out of one I have no love for a Galvanised

negro I am Suthern to the core I hope in making this the

declaration it will offend any of my friends if it does I

must take the responsibility. you wish

to know some thing a bout my little famley all so

express a dezair to see them & form an acquaint with

them I wish you could do it I wish you would come to

texas the land of flewers milk & honey as to my

viseting Va that is im posable i would love to see you

all one more & to se those little neices that I never saw

your dear childers I was sorry to hear of the deth of

your sisters deth my Dear Cat that love one but peace

to her memry wee all meet gin I had herd of James

unfortunate deth in defence of Suthern righs he left

not a blot on his career let peace & love give us

You wish to know some thing of my Childern ther

names & ages Fredric William Bruce Barrett was born

September 8th 1865 John Thomas Alfred Barrett was

born May (not legible) 1867 I have two of the finest

looking Boys in the state or any wher else our willy is

small of his age but helthy & stout as smart as a cucket

black clay eyes John is nearly as larg

Willy he is my little curly heded rowdy both pretty &

smart I wish you could See the I know you would love

them you couldint help it I think I will send them to

school this sumer or Willy any how he says he will

learn & be smart boy