William Audley Couper papers

at home. I would be better satisfied - I suppose you received dear Butlers [sic] letter of the 16^th May. It is strange. I have had no letters from your Father. I thank God! they were well when Butler wrote. Give Render Davys [sic] Daguerreotype & keep for me dear Butlers [sic].

It is now time for dressing for tea & I must close this scrawl. God! bless you my precious Child - Kiss the dear babies for me. My love to poor Mrs. Gale. Remember me to all my negros [sic], especially to the house & yard negros [sic] ^ Pussy, Toney & old Cupid. Tell all they are never absent from my thoughts. I shall tremble when ever I get a letter from you - fearing to hear news. Georgia.,Florence, Appy & Rhina send lots of love to all The three former are enjoying the luxury of having a servant once more that they can call one - I fear poor Rhina will enjoy very little idleness _______

It is very unfortunate that William did not see the girls - the guard chains are here - I think you will like them. Lord sends you much love as do also Floyd & Tip - I must now stop - Praying God! to bless you all - I am your devoted Mother

AM King

[centered] Copy. [a subtraction sum, written in pencil] 115 [-] 72 [=] 43

[top right] Saratoga Springs 24 June 1852

My dear Mrs King

Immediately on the receipt of M^r King's letter, through William, on the subject of the purchase of Hamilton, I placed his offer before M^r Corbin, the Trustee of his daughter Miss Isabella H. Corbin. Before his reply to it was obtained I heard of the expected return of M^r King, and immediately after of your intended visit to Philadelphia. Hoping to have met with M^r King in New York, I thought it better to communicate with him personally rather than by letter: but, being disappointed in this, and not having any assurance of the time of M^r King's arrival, I have concluded to address you, as the surest way of placing M^r Corbin's views before you both as early as possible.

M^r Corbin declined selling at $50.000 and at 6 per c. interest; but will, if he concludes to sell at all (which is probable, but as yet dependent on some other arrangements) he will take $12.000 for the lands, buildings &c at Hamiton & Couper's Point, $350 per head for the negroes, being now 115 or 118 less 3 children belonging to the Hopeton gang, - say for 115 $40.250 - and for the Hog-e-rack tract of 100 acres of pine $100. Tools, carts, flats, boats, horses, mules, & cattle $16.50 - together $54.000. The payments to be $10.000 on the 1^st of January 1853______________$10.000 on the 1^st of January 1854_____________________$10.000 on the 1^st of January 1855______________________10.000 on the 1^st of January 1856______________________10.000 on the 1^st of January 1857______________________10.000 on the 1^st of January 1858_______________________4.000 ___________________________________________________ ____________________________________________$54.000

With interest at 7 per cent, payable annually on the 1^st of January each year. The first payment of $10.000 to be forfeited in the event of ultimate failure to pay the $ 44.000, and the debt to be cancelled be that for feiture, provided the interest is annually paid. Possession to be given on the 1^st of January 1853 - but if the cotton crop is not then ready for market the hands are to be employed in it until it is ready, and for which no charge is to be made. The corn & pease [sic] on hand on the 1^st of January to belong to Miss Corbin. If the $10.000 is paid be-fore the 1^st January 1853, interest at 7 per c. will be allowed on it.

I expect to be in New York on the 8^th of July and to sail for Savannah in the Alabama on the 10^th as I wish to give M^r Corbin your decision before leaving the North. I shall be glad to hear from M^r King by the 8^th of July, di-rected to the care of M^r J. Couper Lord, 49 South 8^th N. York

I observe William's name among the arrivals at New Y. yesterday, and whence infer your safe arrival at Philadelphia, where you no doubt met Lord, as he called on us Fri-day evening in New York.

[top right] Allentown 26^th Jun 1852

My own beloved Tootee

I added a few lines to a scratch which Flo-rence sent you on Tuesday last - I do not know that I can make this letter any more clear than was the last - I can only say that I find my health wonderfully improved & if your dear Father your brothers your dear self & family were only here, & I could forget the many I left who are dependent on us for support - I could be perfectly happy - but matters stand I cannot control my thoughts - they will fly to California - New Haven & the South end of S^t Simon's I think in my last-letter from Savannah I requested you to direct your letters to this place until further advised consequently I have been looking every day for another report from you & home since my reaching this spot, it seems scarce-ly credible than only two weeks & not ye not yet two days have past [sic] since I bade you & those sweet children adieu - it seems more like so many years - & yet we have been most kindly dealt with My time in Savannah was made as pleasant as kindness could render it. Our passage a delightful one - Our stay in Philadelphia as agreeable as the noise would admit of - Our ride here not to be complained of. Our reception by your Uncle & Aunt all that could be wished for. The house commodious & dellightful delightful, most agreeably situated, every thing in & out doors kept in beautiful order - The affectionate attentions of Henry & Mary unbounded. Ought I not to be happy? & yet my child I am far from being so. If I could forget the past & only look with hope to the future it would be better. Where could have been my eyes - my senses when I was last here - sho surely the

one most have been devoid of sight - the other of feeling - not to have appre-ciated the beauties & the delightful climate. I then had your blessed Father with me, the only children I had, my dear cousin & two faithful servants. I was then a miserable woman & did not appreciate a simple blessing. The only excuse I can make for myself is that I was then in bad health & the spoilt child of prosperity. Well I can only hope that my present blessings may be continued to me. The scenery is enchanting - the atmosphere so clear so healthful. Every spot under cultivation - the crops of corn, wheat, &c most luxurient [sic]. I break the 10^th commandment look which way I will. The town is 10 times as large as when I was here 24 years ago. Every one is so quiet & civil- every one intent on their own business having their neighbors to look after their own. We have taken several long walks to see the wonders of the place, last evening we all went 1 ^1/2 miles out to see the iron works - Sister Mary, M^r & Mrs Woolley were with us - A M^r Lewis lives near these works whose daughter had called to see your sisters - they went in to return this call- whilst M^r W. Cousen a[nd] Floyd & myself went to see these iron works. Soon Sister Mary & M^r Lewis came out & invited us in. Mrs Lewis is a great-big fat woman has 10 children - one no larger than Bob. They were all very polite - & invited us to go out some day soon & spend the day with them. We met brother Henry & M^r Longnecker coming to meet us - they had been at Easton 18 miles off in law business all day. We got home about 11 oclock. Lord had been too lazy to accompany us. This morning cousin A came over before we had finished breakfast to ask me to go with her to visit a fishpond - where your dear father had taken us in 1827. We got home pretty well tired & found Mary & the girls luxuriating in the cool parlour. It has been very cool ever since we came here - We go this evening

to the table rock. Tomorrow we will of course attend church. Lord left us this morning for New Haven, he will engage us rooms at a private boarding house for a few weeks or as long as it will be convenient & agreeable for us to remain there - Mary has been very urgent for us to remain here all summer but I cannot trespass on her kindness too far. We have promised to return here in October. Your uncle Henry is not in good health & needs a change. I think his wife ought to be with him. They have been as kind as it is possible for any one to be to us all. Mary is a wonderful woman - the best of wives & house keepers. She reminds me much of yourself. She sends much love to you & says she wishes she had you & the babies here - I had a letter from dear Mall yesterday. He is very impatient to see us. We have consented to remain here until the 8^th or 10^th of July - We then go to New Haven. I am so often interrupted I scarce know what I am writing - I can but hope the next letter will be more interesting, & more collectedly written Cousin W. & Amanda are quite well. We see them all times of day. They leave here on Monday next to search after newer scenes. I have no doubt my beloved child that you & dear [William] will do all in your power to keep my affairs in order during my absence. I know it will be an additional trouble & add to your cares When I think of all this I am ready to take the back track & get home as soon as I can. I hope & trust your next letter may give me no bad news. I must say I feel most anxious & uneasy - I hope poor Dunham may be able to attend to his business - William will have to prompt him very often. The ploughs I trust M^r Ander

will not neglect to send to Retreat. The Turnip seed will have to be purchased in Savannah I need only to add that I give William & yourself full power to act for me in every way.

Your sisters & the boys are quite well. Rhina is wonderfully improved in health. I think I would be quite well if I had you all around me - & I knew all was well at home. I must now conclude as all is ready for our excursion to the table mountain - your sisters - brothers Aunt & Uncle all send love - Rhina begs not to be forgotten Give my love to dear William - a thousand kiss's to your precious babes - love to Mrs Gale & remembrances to all the servants & negros - God bless you my own darling child - take care of your precious health for the sake of your devoted Mother

A. M. King

I find I can scarcely spell - do over look all mistakes. be sure & give me the most minute account of yourself & all that concerns you, & me. I fear I shall not be able to accomplish the fine plan of making preserves there is not a peach in this part of the world and there may be none in N Haven.

26th June 1852 to the 29th Allentown - Lehigh County Pennsylvania

After writing a hasty letter to my dear Tootie on Saturday Friday evening Mary, Amanda, Mr Woolley, G., F., V., F. & Tip & myself went out for a long walk - our object to visit a Furnace about 1 ^1/2 miles off - Lord was too lazy to go with us. Henry & M^r Longnecker had gone to Easton, We were delighted with the scenery but the road was dusty - We however were all good walkers & in time we reached the Furnace. M^r Lewis an agent for the company has a beautiful residence opposite the Furnace, the daughters of this gent had called on the girls - & their intention was now to return this call. M^r & Mrs Wool-ley & Floyd & myself past [sic] on whilst the rest of the party past [sic] in - We could see very little to interest us, no one to explain - neither is friend Wool-ley yet up to the art of shipping shillings into other peoples [sic] hands - no one seemed to care whether we understood what was going on or not. The huge engine was terrific & I can was glad to get out of it. Soon M^r Lewis & Sister Mary came to invite us to the house - where we found the rest of the party very comfortably seated. Mrs Lewis is monstrous fat - & like most fat persons very good natured - they were all exceedingly polite - inviting us to take tea - this we declined but accepted their invitation to walk about the garden, &c. Every thing was in most beautiful order. After a stay of some half hour we took leave & bent our way home ward - On our way home we met brother Henry & M^r Longnecker - Lord not yet recover-ed from his fit of laziness. M^r W. & Cousin A. took tea with us - & remain-ed until past ten. On Sunday we went to Church - & listened to a Scotch pr man, very ugly & not eloquent. Church goes in at 10 - we dine at 1 - then to Church again at 6, leaving us breathing time of 6 hours. about 4 in the afternoon a most fearful accident occur'd There is a beautiful spring - one which I was visited with my belov-ed husband in 1827 - & which I was at on Saturday morning (I find my dates are being confused - it was on Friday evening [)]

[written sideways, from bottom to top, on left of page] I commenced this as a journal - I prefer the letter state, this is a poor apology for a letter or journal

[top right, in pencil] [2]

that I wrote to my precious Tootee & went to the Furnace. On Saturday morning dear Lordy went to New Haven to attend to some business of his own & to look for Lodgings for us. On Saturday evening we all went out to "Prospect rock," situated about 3 miles out of Allentown. Mary, Henry, the boys, M^r Woolley & myself were in a Carriage - drawn by a splendid pair of black horses, driven by a white man. Cousin A. G. & V. were in a very nice light carriage driven by M^r Longnecker. Florence would not go. Well the hills here are very steep, & when we were ascending a pretty high hill - we met the stage full in & outside it came thundering down Hill & our beautiful black horses took it into their heads to to back & rear - may be I was not frighten-ed. After this we went on pretty well. We had to walk after ascending half way up this prospect mountain, & glad was I to get out of the carriage. This mountain is shaded by splendid trees of various kinds the earth thickly strewed [sic] with rock of all sizes - (the old folks say "the devils [sic] wife emptied her apron full of rocks down there"). These rocks are piled up one on another beyond the tops of the highest trees. The most of our party climbed up to the very top, but I remained about 10 feet below. Floyd & Tip took of their shoes & stockings - & were nev-er one moment still, this made me perfectly nervous. A fall off of one side would have been a fearful thing. We remained there perhaps a half hour - viewing the beautiful scenery - we could see for miles around - every spot in perfect cultivation or here & there dotted with lovely groves of trees - The scenery is certainly most beautiful - Just as high up as carriages can come is a little farm. Brother Henry tells me this soil is the very best for fruit of every kind - the spot was not well cultivated but the trees were loaded with apples & pears. of course yet very small. after drinking water from the well better than iced water & trying to eat some bad ginger bread - we turned our faces homeward. I walked down to the road, & would have walked further but from a fear of fatiguing brother Henry. We had a more pleasant ride back than going - found Flora just waking from a nap

[top right, in pencil] [3]

Well they do sit up to an abominable hour here, every one taking tea at 6 oclock, & as it is not dark until near eight all the visiting is done after tea. I had taken a long walk in the morning then this ride & walk in the afternoon made me pretty tired. Amanda]& [M^r Woolley again took tea with m us &c. If The accident yesterday was this. There are sever-al omnibus' here & as many forget for what the sabbath is intended it is the fashion to ride to the spring. One of these huge vehicles just as it was using the Hill - being filled inside - & several on the top, the leaders got unhitch-ed - the wheel horses were unable to drag up the load, the hind wheels got off the road, the driver was drunk as was also many of the inside passen-gers, over went the omnibus & it performed a complete summer set, two poor little boys were instantly killed - as incredible as it may seem the head of one of these poor little fellows was driven through the top of the omnibus - One poor boy still lives with both legs shattered & a piece of glass driven through his neck & face he was reported dead yesterday - but he still lives in the utmost misery, he makes the 3^d boy., the 4^th is brother to Sister Marys [sic] cook- a smart little fellow between the size of Floyd & Tip a pretty boy, he was dashed / as the carriage went over across the road one leg & his collar bone broken, but he is doing very well. One of the two boys who were instantly killed was the youngest son of a widow who 3 weeks ago bu-ried her oldest son a most promising youth. All who were inside the omnibus escaped with life - tho' much cut with broken glass one little girl 1^1/2 years old was covered with blood - but not one drop of her own. Had that this accident happened 50 yds or even 25 yds higher up scarcely one or would have escaped with life, the omnibus not only performed this summerset but then seem'd to bound over again - the horses apparently uninjur-ed. We walked down last evening to look at the wreck - it was a fearful sight - quantities of blood stained the ground, & they say the inside of the carriage was covered with