- Collection:
- Catharine Elbert Letter to Martha Doolittle, 1849 February 2
- Title:
- Letter
- Creator:
- Elbert, Catharine
- Date of Original:
- 1849-02-02
- Subject:
- Enslaved persons--Georgia
Slavery--Georgia--History - People:
- Dunaway, Martha Doolittle, 1836-1906
- Location:
- United States, Georgia, Camden County, 30.92249, -81.63639
- Medium:
- correspondence
- Type:
- Text
- Format:
- image/jp2
- Description:
- A letter to "Matty", Martha Doolittle Dunaway, from a (likely) enslaved woman, Catharine Elbert, or "old Moma". Letter seems to be dictated by Elbert and transcribed by Uramie Delorme [or DeCoome], who adds her own message at conclusion. It is likely that Uramie is also enslaved. Elbert discusses how she is doing and talks about some local residents including "Dr. Mitchell", "Dr. Curtis", "Dr. Henry Bacon", "Major Clark", and "Rev. Williams." Signed St. Mary's, [Camden County] Georgia. File also includes biographical and historical notes related to contexts of letter
- External Identifiers:
- Metadata URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/guan_4479_001-001
- Digital Object URL:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/guan_4479_001-001#item
- IIIF manifest:
- https://dlg.usg.edu/record/guan_4479_001-001/presentation/manifest.json
- Language:
- eng
- Bibliographic Citation (Cite As):
- Cite as: [Item, box, folder], Catharine Elbert letter to Martha Doolittle, ms4479, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.
- Extent:
- 3 pages
- Holding Institution:
- Hargrett Library
- Rights:
-
[001]
St. Marys, [Camden County] Georgia
February 2 1849
My dear Matty.
Your old Moma was delighted & very grateful to get such a nice kind letter from the family she had
received so much kindness from & gratified that you should remember her with so much affection as
to write to me. I should be very much pleased to be with you for a little while & see how comfortably
fixed you are but that country is too cold for me. I had rather be here where we do not need so much
wood & warm clothing & shelter from the cold. It would be bad for my old painful limbs. I am just
about what you left me. I have all I want but I miss the many little acts of kindness you children were
always doing for me.
We are all going on much after the old sort - some things a little worse than usual. Dr. Mitchell &
his family are here & Dr. [Francis] Curtis doing as bad as ever. He drove his whole family out the
other night & beat his wife. Dr. [Henry] Bacon still very mad with poor Kate & Mr. Parsons (they
have gone to Jacksonville). It is no use to keep mad for it only makes things worse.
I heard from Fanny last week. She is well & I hope to have her home shortly now. Mistress has wrote
for her to come the first of March.
[002]
[beginning left side page]
Major Clark is dead & the family all broke up. Mrs. Clark & her daughter have taken another house
& Henry & Louisa keep the old one. Henry expects to get his Fathers office. The school is broke up.
Mr. Barratte quit & Mr. Delian could get no scholars hardly so Mr. [William] Williams + is trying to
get a pious man to come and take a school. Hellen Gun & Nancy Flood have each pretty good
schools. The church is so, so. The people do not seem to like Mr. Williams though I think he is a good
man & I hope God will bless his labors among us.
Tell Jesse I have got short & he is fat & contented with me & I love him for his
Masters sake. The cat I have not got. Your help as you call her must look very smart in your
nice kitchen with her nice apron & silk shawl, but do not think your victuals are any better cooked
that I could do with my crippled foot & crackers apron. Anyhow, they do not love you better than I
do & shall ever remember the kindness of you all to me. Please give my love to all your family
father, mother, sisters & brothers. All here send love.
From your old Moma
[signed] Catharine Elbert
[right page]
I hate to look towards the old house you left. I have not been there since you went away. Mr. Clark is
fixing up quite smart. Tell Jamy [or Jimy] he has forgot his promise to send me something nice. Give my love
to Mr. Ingersoll & all the family & Abby & everyday I know. My old Mistresses - both of them
send their love to you all. George Long is married & brought his bride home (Uranie Delorme [or DeCoome])