Letter from Hester Clark, 1825 April 28

New Orleans Nov 10, 1852

Deare Master Through the kindness of Mr Davis, I now address you a few lines, at lest you know I am in the land of the liveing, I have four children liveing in New Orleans with me, I have lost my Husband and I am liveing with a widow lady who purchased me of Mr Williams, and on account of my good conduct she's willing to set my children free if I could raise her four Hudred Dollars to pay for myself, now my Deare Master I do hope you will be so good as to let me have this small sum it will be the the may or july as all free and I can return it to you in two or three years by my work, your Kindness and your situation in life, will I know afford you pleasure in taking us out of Bondage whenit requires so little, I would be glade to hear if my mother is still living, and hope your will give my best respects to Mistrice and all the children, and hope you will write to me, and be so good as to assist me, as it will take a little to put us all free

and do let me know how little right and the little Girl, that I use to nurse, let me know if they are liveing, if you will assist me with this mail soon I will hope to live to see them all, let me Know what has become of Lindy as she was the one that gave me bade advise and had it not been for her I know I would stil have been with you all, and I was so young I was essily advised, I hope mistrice has forgiven me, as I allways looked to her as my friend and protector I wont to se you all, and if I could woud start this day and walk the thousand miles to se you all, as they tell me that is the distance

I hope you nice with to me and let me hear from you all, and hope Dare Master you will extend this small Kindness when it do so much benefit to us poor Servants Hester Clark

Mr Reeves this "hester" on diction now and she forward on me to writ you if you will grattify the poor Servant with your letter to my care and she will get it

Yours

Thomas h Davis