Written to:
June 15th, 1841
Philip & Elizabeth Draper
Trenton
Gibson County Tennessee
State of Tennessee
Smith County
Sent from Bagdad
June 13th - 18 cents
Letter sent by Thomas Jefferson Draper, Memphis, Grandson of Philip White Draper
Dear son and daughter
These lines come to inform you that we are all well at this time, your Mother has had a hard spell but has got about again Mr. Pates family and all the Connection is all well as far as know I reed your letter the 30th of May it come to hand the 7th of June I was much gratified to hear that you were all well I will inform you that Mariah Law as was, is Dead she was in family way and come to her time to be delivered She was taken with fits and lost her child and in three days died I will inform that Parleman Pate has been to the Illinois to see if he likes some parts of it very well but dont say whether he will move there or not he has sold his land and has got to move somewhere to Woodfolk he gets $1000 for it Anthony has sold his also he git $1200 he sold to Andrew McClelen he Married Margaret VVilliams and has got all Samson Williams land in the bond. Samson Williams is Dead. Parleman was at all the Childrens in that Country and they were all well then and doing well Except James he is not doing very well Betsey and Tryphena has both got another heir latly Parleman was there in April Corena has only 2 Children girl and boy I reed a letter from John dated 25th of February 1841 they were all well there but had all been sick he started to come to see me the 26 of July and was taken sick first day and had to return and in few days all his family taking sick but all got well again old Mr. Haynes is Dead but dont say when he died Pilate Deen was in the Country last Spring where Coleman lives but did not see Coleman he heard from him he was well then and all his family John went out there some time ago but dont say when he was not in 30 miles of Coleman he did not hear from him he was about to move to that Country but his family being taken sick he has given it out and concluded to stay where he is. I will inform that Susannah MoClen and Mother is bot Dead your Uncle Thomas Draoer folks has got in a bad way they have got to quarling and fighting about the property Milton has beat James Young and threatens Thomas Huddleston Young is Adminstrator now they want to git the place Out of his hands and he wont give it up and this appears to be the quarrel our Crops is but sorry at this time there is very little Corn that is waist high we very Dry at this time I have not got returns for our Tobaco yet I understand it sells very well from five to ten I dont know of anything more at present I would be glad you would write to me and let me know when you could come as I want you and John to be hear together if you Conclude to come at any time that you would write to John and let him know what time you would be here and me also I shall conclude by subscribing myself
Your Loving Father till Death Philip & Sarra Draper
Note by Jinks Pate Lee:
Philip is Father of Philip White Draper md Elizabeth Pate
Perleman Pate md Ravena Draper, sister of Philip White Draper
Perleman & Anthony Pate were brothers