Sarah Lauretta (Murphy) Gaston to her sister Eliza Margaret (Murphy) Walton, 7 March 1847

[From Sarah Lauretta (Murphy) Gaston to her sister Eliza Margaret (Murphy) Walton in Morganton, North Carolina. She talks about some financial dealings with Mr. McKesson concerning his attempt to collect money he claimed was owed him, and also concerning his purchase of slaves from Sarah's husband, and says they're completely out of sugar and coffee, have plenty of potatoes, cabbage, and hay, but only one horse.

This is one of three letters by Sarah Lauretta (Murphy) Gaston to her sisters Harriet and Eliza. It's not known how or why they came into the possession of Georgiana Bowditch, although they all lived in or near Morganton, North Carolina, where Georgiana also lived.

This letter is dated 7 March, but without the year. From information in the letter, it must have been written in 1847. It says "You dont mention the baby. Have you named her yet?," and refers to her husband "Mr. Gaston," who died between 1846 and 1850. Eliza (Murphy) Walton had just one daughter born before 1850, Margaret Tilghman Walton, born 26 October 1846.

Addressed to "Mrs. Eliza M. Walton, Morganton, Burke County, N. Carolina," with a handwritten postmark of "Burnsville, N. C., March 13."]

Eagles Cliff March 7th

Dear Sister,1

I received your letter last night and hasten to answer it, as it is the second I have received from you since I wrote to you. I have delaid answering your first with the hope that I would have some thing to write that would amuse and interest you, but, time has not proven a remedy for the first; though I have a great deal to write to you concerning myself which I know you will take a deep interest in.

With regard to any negroes which Mr. McKesson Should have bought from Husband,2 so far as I know it is false. Having heard that Mr. G. expected to borrow 1500 dollars from Judge Manly3 (to secure the payment of which I am to give him a mortgage on this land) he came up in great hast to have a setlement with Mr. Gaston,2 intending as I now know to bring him in his debt a thousand dollars or upwards; and get this money as he is very much presed at present, but finding out from Husband that I was determined to see the money applied to such debts as had a lien on my property, he tried then to impress me with the belief that my property would be liable at any time for his debt and that I had better pay him first if I left all other debts unsettled. He could not see attal why I should wish to pay your Pa4 as he did not stand in need of it and said it would not make much difference if he lost it altogether, but the reply I made led him to believe that I understod his conduct a little beter than he expected, and he then said that I had misunderstod him, that it was not from any interested motive he had mentioned it but a duty he owed himself, knowing as I did that he had bought all of Mr. G.2 negroes I might think he was in our debt, and that he had receits to show what he had paid Mr. Gaston, but that if we did not choose to pay it he could afford to loose it.

Notwithstanding when he returned to Burke he sent on those Harshaw executions which had been assigned over to him directing the Sheriff to levy on my property. It might have put us to some trouble had not Mr. Jones have been here and told the Sheriff he had no right to levy on any property here as it all belonged to me. But as I thought, the household furniture is not mentioned in the deed and is liable to be sold at any time within the next three months for all that I know. Husband has directed Mr. Jones and Cousin W. Avery5 to force him into a settlement, if he will not agree to it, to file a bill in equity against him for the whole amount due on the Sale of the negroes.

If I have not explained it properly I have done the best I could. I hope you will understand it.

Mr. McKesson also applied to Husband for a lean on Albert and was very much surprised to hear that he belonged to William W.6 All this he did in the most friendly manner. He even went so far as to tell E.7 he had a most beautiful dress for her which ___ bought and had made up in Philadelphia and intended to send that and some sugar and coffee by the waggon which he intended to send after the negroes he bought of Mr. McDowell. He also bought Dundee from Husband and promised to send up the money by Mr. Jones, but failed to do so, or even to mention it to him.

I do not know what we are to do for sugar and coffee as we are entirely out, and though we have potatoes cabage and hay more than we can make use of, we cannot get sale for them here and we have but one horse. I requested sister Harriet8 to enquire for the dishes Callico and dress, but she does not mention them in her letter. I stand very much in need of the callico as I have worn out all of my dresses.

I have not written to Brother John9 yet but I intend to do so soon. You dont mention the baby.10 Have you named her yet? I will write to Sister H.8 soon. Eliza7 sais a lesson occationally. Give my love to Thomas11 and kiss the children for Eliza and myself.

Yours affectionately

Lauretta12

Tell Papa4 he is indebted to me a letter.

  1. Eliza Margaret Murphy (1820-1886), Sarah Lauretta's sister
  2. Alexander Francis Gaston (1804-abt 1848), Sarah Lauretta's husband
  3. Matthias Evans Manly (1801-1881)
  4. John Collett (1803-1884), Sarah Lauretta and Eliza's step-father
  5. William Waightstill Avery (1816-1864). His father and Sarah Lauretta's mother Margaret Stringer (Avery) Murphy were cousins.
  6. William McEntire Walton (1819-1900), husband of Sarah Lauretta and Eliza's sister Harriet
  7. Eliza Mary Gaston (1841-1877), Sarah Lauretta's daughter
  8. Harriet Louisa Murphy (1825-1897), Sarah Lauretta and Eliza's sister
  9. John Hugh Murphy (1827-1924), Sarah Lauretta and Eliza's brother
  10. Margaret Tilghman Walton (1846-1928), Eliza's daughter
  11. Thomas George Walton (1815-1905), Eliza's husband
  12. Sarah Lauretta Murphy (1822-1864)