William Audley Couper papers

[top right, in pencil] [4] blood & human hair. This is a very quiet place & this awful accident seems to have struck them all with awe. This morning I spent with dear Amanda - She was been very unwell since yesterday, & M^r Woolley is very little better. I think she has been walking too much - perhaps the water may not agree with her as it is limestone M^r Woolleys [sic] indisposition is from cold. Brother Henry is better - Mary & the girls are quite well, as are also Floyd & Tip, Rhina & myself are about the same. Floyd fully made up his mind to have his Daguerreotype taken for you you [sic] this morning - he regrets the want of his old straw hat & ragged clothes - thinking you would sooner recognise him in those than in his present garb. G. F. & V. have gone out to spend an hour with cousin A. after tea I am to go over again to see Amanda & the others are to make calls. Lord promises to return here on Wednesday. I rather think he finds this place dull, for my own part I would but for conscience sake be willing to stay here until it is time to go home.

29^th I had just got so far when the girls came in from a walk bringing with them your dear letters to George & myself - I was taken with such a tremor I could scarce open the letter. I then began to glance from page to page until - ["]kill'd by a rattlesnake" struck me. I got so nervous I called Georgia & begged her to read the letter first & tell me the contents. After hearing there had been no deaths - I listened to Georgia with a heart overflowing with gratitude to God, for all the blessings you could tell me of. I then insisted on hearing all you could say to Georgia. You promis-ed me dear Tootee to tell me all that concerns you, & yet you try to keep from me that your "cough was worse & that you were troubled again with that pain" My own beloved you can have but little idea how much this troubles me. I feel convinced one of your bad turns were at hand, & William would not be with you. My blessed child why are you not more careful of your precious health. What would become of me if harm befalls you whilst I am so far away from you & your sweet babes. Oh! my Tootee God! be merciful to us all!! Mary & the girls had some calls to make - Our dear cousin was so un-well the boys & myself went over to sit with her. I took with me both of your letters & read them aloud to Amanda. Then M^r Woolley & the boys went out to walk & I remained with cousin A. - until ten oclock. We talked over all you had written to me. I have been feeling very uneasy about that boy Edinburgh - I have no doubt that sudden attack of his was all owing to his having got hold of some thing to eat which was not good for him. What a wretched race of beings they are. How ungratefully Rose has behaved - I suppose she ran away because Dunham wished her to go to Newfield?

[centered] 5 [top right, in pencil] [26 June 1852] I can only hope the orderly ones will continue to do their duty & the wretched who give trouble may be made to do their duty. Tell those who are doing well that they shall be rewarded - & those who are refractory that I am grieved to think they would wish to add to my troubles & that time will convince them of their folly. You have ere this been informed of my great disappointement relative to your Fathers [sic] visit to us. I can but hope he will be back in November - I have had no letter later than the 3^d of May from him tho' 2 of later date have I received from dear Butler. What a prince of a son that boy is! ---- I received a letter from M^rJ.H.C. a day to two since of which the enclosed is a copy. I wish William to keep this & send me a list of the names - ages &c of these 115 negros [sic]. I was under the impression there were 140 negros [sic], & so informed M^r King. From what passed between M^r Cor-bin & myself I was under the impression the purchase could be made more advantageously to us. If dear [William] would just write to my husband & give him his opinion of the proposition made by M^r J.H.C. I would be much indebted to him I will send M^r J.H. Coupers [sic] proposition of your Father in my next letter. I am very home sick dear Tootee - tho' I am really as kind-ly treated by dear Mary & Henry as I can possibly be - They have a most delightful house, & garden, every comfort around them & these comforts we enjoy to the very extent. I could be almost happy if you were all with me. But when I think of your distant Father & Brother - & of you beloved ones at Hamilton & my poor ne-gros [sic] I cannot be otherwise than anxious & unhappy. God! has been merciful to us - May this mercy be continued - I hope you will get the trunks Georgia sent - & the letter I wrote last week telling you what to send back to me. I will remain here until the 10^th of July - then go to New Haven from thence I can write you how long to direct your letters there. Cousin Amanda is so much better as to have spent this day with us & will go to Bethlehem tomorrow. We will miss them very much & regret their depar-ture. She is now lying on my bed talking to Florence. Georgia & Appy

[centered] 6 are entertaining M^r Woolley in the passage. This is where we sit in the forenoon & until tea - a very delightfully cool shaded spot one drawing room opens into this Hall, two beautiful drawing rooms a dining room & his office down stairs. But I will tell you all about this when we meet. I thought when I again wrote I would have had leisure & given you a guiet letter - but over dear cousin being here all day, & the children all talking so much I am confused. I often think of you & your precious children. My darlings how I long to see you, you my precious Tootee & those sweet babes & my noble son William. Last Friday when the wind blew so hard here - how my heart trembled for dear William - God! grant he may long ere this reaches you be safe with you & those little darlings. What would I not give to have a peep at you all - you my beloved children - poor Mrs Gale, my good negros [sic] - my pretty birds - my garden, even the old house & dirt. I know my child you will do all in your power for me I only hope you will not overtax your strength. If the negros [sic] can only be restored to health, if they behave well & if the seasons are favorable - I hope I may be able to meet the expenses of this to me terrible & eventful year. God! knows what is best for us. My mind is still disturbed - but I sleep better, this is some comfort. Kiss over & over again my precious babes. Kiss William too for me. May God! reward us him for his kindness to me. My love to Mrs Gale - Shake by the hand my good Pussy - Clementine, Marise, Mom Jane, Toney, Quam &c &c &c Tell them all the kind messages your own kind heart may think of suggest --- Cousin A., M^r W., Mary, Henry, G. F. V. F. Tip each & every one send their love kisses &c - Rhina is terribly indignant at Rose's conduct. She sends lots of love to all her family & friends. Georgia began a letter to you & but I rather think she will be too late for this evenings [sic] mail. She has to entertain M^r Woolley. Remember me to M^r Dunham - When you go to Retreat again pray enquire particularly after the little negros [sic]. I fear in all this sickness poor Affers [sic] children are sadly neglected. How could Rose be so ungrateful to me? It is probable she will spite me by neglecting her children I think Pussy? deserves the highest praise, & she shall be rewarded if I live to return. I must now really stop my own baby. Oh! my Tootee how I do long to see you all again. It seems years since we parted. I hope to hear again from you ere I leave this Praying the choicest blessings of God! on you I am your devoted Mother - A M King

Expecting Father I ran down to New York one evening & returned to New Haven the next day. Our few last weeks were particularly jolly, the jolliest part of the college course. I met Mother, your gude man & the rest of them as you well know the day after they reached Philad. He has told you of the little that occurred in that big, dull city. We reached this place safely tho' tired. On Saturday the 26th inst. I rose early and by dint of hard travelling reached New Haven at 9 that night. I intended leaving in a day or two, but a little business and the great fascinations which I met with there detained me over a week. I had great pleasure in riding with & visiting the young ladies &c. &c. & with my College friends — There was one very agreeable part, and on July 5th we had our usual picnic, which was this year pleasanter then all before, or any I ever attended. There was scarcely an [allay??] only the old (of whom there were two) and some of the young scolded me for flirting too desperately with one of the prettiest young girls I ever saw, she has such eyes tho' that I pardoned myself

give me. I find that some bills contracted by your sisters have been sent home. They cannot tell me the exact amount. I should like to have them settled as soon as possible. I am thinking the best way will be just to enclose you a few lines to Messrs. Andersons & Co. requesting them to forward to these people the amount due them. Had I known of this whilst I was in Philadelphia I may have settled them whilst there. But as I have so little money with me perhaps the above plan will be best. If I could but have remained at home - how much the money I am now spending may have contributed to our comfort. I must leave the repairs of the house altogether to your good husband's better judgement. I know if his health continues good he will do everything that is necessary on as economical a plan as possible. Do you not think a door would be best to shut out the little entry from view - it would not cost a great deal and would add much to the comfort of the parlour in the winter. If McIntosh is not able to do the work William will have to find some one else tho' where he is to be found is the question. I begin to love my little birds again & feel quite in love with some nonpareils I saw on board ship. If they are not expensive I would be glad if dear Ira could get me two pair. Henry has expressed a great desire for a good mocking bird. I wonder if Mrs Wilson would sell me one - feel her pulse on the subject. I tried by hints you recollect to get a male nonpareil & she would not understand me. Be sure to send me your dress or sizes - it will be such a gratification to employ some of our confessed leisure in doing something for your loved ones. My own precious child how dear you are to me and those sweet children. They are never absent from my thoughts. What would I not give to have them now around me. God's in mercy grant we may all meet again. It seems to me if I had just such a house as this the garden & other comforts - if I had all my family with me, I could live for years without going outside the front door. Mary King is as she or anyone else can possibly be to us Brother Henry is in bad health - he is some thing in the state I was

{ Mrs. William A. Couper Frederica St. Simon Island Georgia}

San Francisco 14th July 1852

My Dearest Tootee

In my distress about your dear mother your letter of the 5th ulto gave me much consolation. I feel quite sure that under the protection of your good husband she will be as well taken care of as circumstances will permit and that she will be comfortably lodged in some quiet place where she may enjoy the society of your brothers and sisters and be cheered by pleasant scenes and the company of agreeable people. You cannot imagine my dear Tootee what a shock the intelligence of your dear mothers indisposition has given me. I am in a constant whirl of business which gives little time for reflection and requires all my energies to manage. This is a sad relief to me - yet it is a relief - else I know not what I should or could do. I am struck almost dum by the idea that your dear mother who has ever enjoyed such strong health has at last been prostrated by a derangement of her nervous system. It will now avail nothing to enquire how it has been done. Her exposure has been I am sure, mostly unnecessary, but I would not now say so to her. She has taken the best means to recover and may God in his mercy

bless and restore her to health. I shall await the arrival of the next mail in fear and trembling. If she can but escape fever until her arrival in the healthful atmosphere of New Jersey, all will be well. What I dread is fever at sea - but the voyage is now so quickly performed by Steam that there is much less danger than formerly in a sea voyage. I hope for the best. Dear Brother has been quite sick with mumps, but is now quite well. He will write to you. I am greatly indebted to your good husband for taking charge of your dear mother. I pray tender my best thanks to him. I hope you had some one to remain with you in his absence. I feel much anxiety on that point yet I suppose of course you would not remain alone. I console myself with this idea. Pray write to me frequently. The intelligence of your dear mothers indisposition has made me almost as nervious as she is represented to be. I hope Mr Couper will take care of the plantation. Your mother mentions that Mr Denham is in bad health and that Mr Couper has promised to attend to the plantation. He has, therefore, enough on his hands. I cannot say how soon I shall return. If God in his mercy grants our prayers for the recovery of your dear mother I may remain here until November or perhaps longer In fact I could not get away sooner, were I to resign tomorrow. Such is the extent and nature of the business of which I have charge. This separation

painful and distressing in the last degree. My motives in coming here were good - may Providence being good acct of it! !

Kiss your dear children for me a thousand times. My kindest regards to your good husband.

Your ever affectionate and devoted father T. Butler King

P.S. I write in the midst of business and as you will see, in great haste.

22nd August 1852

My beloved Anna

I dare say you feel quite neglected that neither your Mother - Aunty or uncle have written to you. The fact is my precious little Anna - I have not much time. I have to darn stock ing just as I used to do when at Retreat. I will not tire you my pet by telling you all I have to do.

I do not like to sew - & have no eye sight either.

Your Aunt Georgia went to Saratoga 13 days ago I did expect her back before this. I hope she

San Francisco, California|San Francisco Cal: Aug 31st 1852

My own dearest Sister

Though I have not received one line from you since our dear Mother left home. I am sure you have written to me for the Southern mail (always irregular) has been left on the Isthmus by the last two mail Steamers. I got letters from Mother two days ago that assured me of your good health _ the same return of Mr Wm Couper &c So I do not feel uneasy though very much annoyed. I have written to you by every mail since I knew of Mothers in=