Month: March 2018

Civil War · Genealogy Research

Civil War Treasure – John H. J. Knowles letter

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While working in the Georgia Archives recently, I found copies of three letters written by John Henry James Knowles.  I was lucky enough to view and photograph the original letters written in 1862. The first of the three letters was written from Savannah, Georgia on May 14, 1862.  I have retained the actual spelling and capitalization, but have added some punctuation at the end of sentences to make the letter easier to read.

Camp [page torn] Savannah Ga

May 14 1862

Dear Mag

I embrace the opportunity of drafting you a few lines to inform you that I am Better off than I was when I left. my Cof [cough] is Better But I have got a verry Bad diree [diarrhea] not as Bad as Som. hoping these few lines may find you well and all the rest of the family.  I received your letter and was verry glad to hear from you all – to heare that hap[hole] is Still mending.  I hope he will get [B]etter till he gets well.  I am Better Sadisfid than I was before I went home. we have very Bad water to drink But I do not think we will well Stay rite heare long tha we may. I am verry Sorry that I did not Bring my surrip [syrup] for I do want it very Bad. if you cold get a good chance to get it to the offis I would like for you to Send it. if you would Send it rite off. the potatoes would cost more than they would Be worth & you need not to send them I can Mag. when you rite Direct your letter to Savannah in care of Capt Wm. A McDonald the 26 rigment twenty sixt rigment & I will get it. rite all the nuse rite how the crop is getting along and all the people. I can inform you that I Sent twenty dollars to macon to By thred. I do not Know what it will cost But I want you to [hole]ep [illegible] [blot]ch of __ as you want & Jasper to Sell the rest. I have not got it yet But I look for it to morrow. I Sent by John Cason for it. 5 bunches is going to Wm Smith he Sent By me for that much.  You need not be uneasy. I feel I Shal get well Rite to me often as you can and let me know how you are getting along. So I will close by Saying nothing more at present But remains yours til death.  John H. J. Knowles

 

Genealogy Research

Forensic Files – Genealogy Style!

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I have been doing some work recently for a client who had ancestors in Surry County, Virginia.  Evidently in case of unexpected deaths a jury was formed to determine the cause of death.  Her 8x great grandfather, Mathew Battle, was involved in at least two of these juries.  The jurors would view the bodies, or what remained of them, and then determine what happened.  This makes some fascinating reading!

On September 5, 1662, Mathew was part of a jury impaneled to find the “occasion And Actuall Cause” of the death of Wm. Billingsley.  They found that he “upon the 17th of July Last went out into the woods to keepe his masters cattell & wee having viewed the place where his bones was found as alsoe the said bones and his torne cloathes, we doe conclude resolve and reporte as followeth: that in order to the occasion wee find that the said William Billingsley being a servant who has bene not long before very sick in the distemper vulgarly called seasoninge, and being not well Recovered; was growne weeak and was sent into the woods to keep cattell the day above said and wee finde and reporte that through sickness being ill at ease and Inclyneinge to a carelesse dispare did not soe care fully Indeavour his own preservation as a thoughtfull and contented person would have done but by reason of the aforesaid condition hee Remaininge in the wood night & day Partly by his weak Careless and sloathfull estate & partly by feare of his masters severity hee gave himself over and Continued in a swamp neare unto a tunne of water untell hee was so weake that he could hot helpe himself:  As to the Actuall or Instrumental means of his death that he Continnuinge without food or other suckour in the woods and he remained so untell hee became a dead corps or els soe weake that when wolves or other wilde beasts who hath now devoured all his flesh seized upon him, he was not able to make resistance to save him selfe and so became not only dead but devoured.”[i],[ii]

[i] Davis, Elizabeth T, Surry County Records, Surry County, Virginia, Books I and II, no publication data, p. 59.

[ii] Haun, Weynette Parks, Surry County Virginia Court Records (Deed Book 1), 1652-1663, Book I, Durham, North Carolina, 1986, p. 119.

 

Then, in September 1665 Mathew was on a jury that had been empaneled to ascertain the cause of the death of a servant belonging to Mr. Phillip Limbry.  They found that she “being sick…by the instigation of the divell [devil] Nott having the feare of God before her Eyes did upon the third of this month willfully went into ye river this beinge the effitient cause of her death and that there she was … drowned in the water wch. was the material or actuall cause of her death to whc. we have subscribed upon oath.”[i],[ii]

[i] Davis, Elizabeth T, Surry County Records, Surry County, Virginia, Books I and II, no publication data, p. 75.

[ii] Haun, Weynette Parks, Surry County Virginia Court Records (Deed Book 1), 1664-1671, Book II, Durham, North Carolina, 1987, p. 19.