University of Virginia Library

March 8, 1857 from William Douglass to Dr. James H. Minor and Frank Nelson

Dear Sirs I take this opportunity of sending my best
regards to you as well as the family and friends we all got
safe from Virginia to Liberia all of us that came to Carysburgh
are well Young Barrett had a Slight Bilious attack but
is now better, the rest of the people that we left at the Cape
have moved to Clay Ashland, so as to be near their farm
I now tell you who is dead, Dick Franklin, and Patrick Mickey
Robinson Scott, Jacob Twine, Francis Barrett, James Scott
Maria Coleman, Frank Coleman, Lucy twines Baby young Jacob
WBilly Douglass, Emily Carr, these have all died with the fever
and the rest have all had the fever but are getting better I
am sorry to inform you of the death of these persons, I always
thought it imprudent for persons raised on high lands to
settle on the Coast, so I came to this mountain where I
am well as ever, All the boys have wrote for themselves
what they want, When you send what they have sent
for be so good as to send all seperate and different
receipts for the same, As I told you when I left we had
great difficulty in selecting our tools, not having a Bill
for them, our Box of Cloth was broke upon and our Cloth
was taken out what was left I divided as far it would go
The Boys all wish you to send them money as follows
The Walkers want all what is left to be sent and all
the rest except Young Barrett wish to have all sent
that is left if there is not enough to get what they sent
for please to get such things as they most need, As I did
not know what was coming to me I thought best to
mention these things that I much stand in need off
by referring to the other Letters you will see what we are
doing if there is any money left for me please send it in
in Tobacco a Small Caske would be worth a great
deal as Tobacco is worth in trade 50 Cts a lb—

Bacon is worth 25 Cts a lb flour 12 1/2 butter 25 & 37
Eggs 37 1/2 a Dozen fowls 12 & 25 Cts a peice we are
able to get 30 Acres of farm land and a town lot
of 1/2 An acre in the new settlement this is certainly
a fine country fine Timber fine soil and on this
mountain a Beautiful Climate I am delighted
with this Country thus far and with industry I
think that any man can get a living, We all
have a good Chance here, we have the worship of
God regularly twice a day, we also have a school
which we attend daily & at night so that these 6
months if we dont improve it will be our own
fault, Mr John Seys is continualy thinking of some
thing to increase our comforts and happiness the
Agent and Superintendent trys to do his part you
will direct all things designed for any of us
to Carysburgh Mount Fauble Interior Settlement
Care of Mr Saunders A Campion Agt A. Cl Sy.
and Governor or Superintendent of the Settlement
by these means we will never, get them this land
is very heavy Timbered the Largest trees I ever
seen the Axes we got are all bro broke but
one, in looking at the Giant trees and our broken
axes we feel bad, but we intend to go on, we
are building a Log Church and School House so that
you must not think that I am idle I now Close
this part Dr Minor my Dear freind please to
rememember my love to dear old Aunt if she is
living tell her I thank God she did not start to come
here as she could never have got here, this is not the
Country for any old People my wife joins in her
kind regards to you I wish very much to hear
from you and let me know how your crops are
I close by saying I am thankful to you for
to you all I send my love to every body
and shall try to again by the steamer God Bless
you prays your truly