211 E. Linwood Dr.
Birmingham, Ala.
October 30, 1962

Mary darling:
           After having you and Susan here for your wonderful visit together last week I decided I would finally try to do what you have asked me to do so often--write down some of the family stories I have told you--about Daddy and myself, and our parents and kin. I cannot see how I can do it so it will not be rather a jumble--I will try to make some footnotes and charts in another section. it will not aim at being anythig except a simple account of what I remember (wish I had Susan's memory!) and remember hearing--done for you both because you asked me and I love you.
           I think I should steal my style from my great grandmother Eliza Williams Chotard Gould who wrote a similar account for "My dear Sarah"--her oldest daughter in 1868. However, she had such exciting things to write about as a trip to Mississippi by boat and wagon (from North Carolina), Indian attacks, the War of 1812, presidents to be, and frontier life--so my account will be quite tame.
          My father, William Proctor Gould [Jr], was born at the Hill of Howth, Boligee, Green Co., Ala. His father [John McKee Gould] was the [first son] of the aforementioned writer [Eliza Williams Chotard Gould, who had a second son who was named William Proctor Gould]. He [WPG Jr] was born in 18__, so you see this was really the reconstruction after the Civil War. His father [John McKee Gould] was a Captain in the war, and had a number of daughters but no sons at the start of the war. Capt. Gould was badly wounded in Tennessee and was reported dead. However rumors kept being heard that he was living and in hiding behind the lines, being cared for by a kind white woman and his colored body servant. The Sarah mentioned earlier--his sister Sarah Gowdy of Tuscaloosa--was a wealthy woman and organized a body of men to go hunt for him. This mission was not successful, but at some later date she received word that her borther had evaded the Yankees and was safe in north Alabama. she sent her carriage for him. I sat on the porch at the Hill of Howth once and heard Aunt Dee Means, his oldest daughter describe his return--(she was about twelve). first the negro outrider rushing up on horse back crying "Marsas coming, Marsas coming"--Grandmother rushing out with her small son, James McKee Gould, Jr. (Buddy) that Grandfather hadn't even known about long--Aunts Dee, Sallie, Kate, Annie, Chotard, Teenie and Innes like stair steps all waiting. It seems that he took quite a while to really notice that important first son--He had first to really greet each beloved daughter and I loved him for that.
           Well--I have wandered quite far afield. I never said who my grandmother was--Delia Francis Thornton Gould. Her maiden home Thornhill not many miles from the Hill of Howth--her family from Virginia--Fall Hill in Fredricksburg. I have her obituary written by the Bishop of Alabama for our old church paper--the Southern Churchman I believe--I will include it in the back with my family trees & notes. I do not remember her except vaguely, she died when I was very small. My father was the youngest child--born when her oldest children were old enough to marry--I am sure he was beloved and spoiled. I remember grandmother only on one visit clearly--it stands out in pictures in my mind--Papa decided to go to see Grandmother (Grandfather died before I was born). she lived at the "Hill" with Buddy and Aunt Jeannie. We caught the train quite early and walked through the pullmans with the berths still made up into the diner. there we ate breakfast--I am sure I never before or many times since had steak for breakfast--rare broiled steak (pink steak as I called it) and it was so delicious--We reached Boligee and rode with Buddy by buggie to the Hill--the rest of the trip is vague except for the snowflake crackers and milk I was given before the fire in the parlor before i went to sleep on the skin rug on the floor that evening--probably hours before anyone ate supper. Papa was always willing to undress me and put me to bed when I fell asleep early. i was a notorious sleepy head for years. I was about three when this happened.
           Mama was raised in Boligee too--But did not move there until after her mother's death. Mary Perry, you used to always stop Mama from telling you about her childhood. It sounded so sad. But I think it must have really been a very happy one from at least the time she reached Boligee at eight. She was so beloved by her own father who must have treated her like a very mature person--her only brother Ben, and her sister, Auntie. My father always said he fell head over heels in love with her at first sight (she was very pretty--long black hair and pink cheeks--shining big eyes)--She was visiting at Aunt Sallie Bouchelles whowas a cousin-in-law of her Aunts--Papa saw her (Aunt Sallie was his sister)--and started chasing her round and round the dining room table--She apparently kept him chasing and guessing a good many years while all the eligible young men in the small town, including his own nephews, courted her. Aunt Ria says she was the belle of the whole country round--Don't know why her daughters didn't take after her.
          Mama was born in Forkland--literally a crossroad between Boligee and Demopolis--on her father's plantation. Her father Joseph Whitaker Perry was from North Carolina (I need to look up more about his parents) and when he came to Ala. like Daddy's grandfather Davidson he fought 4 years--going in at age 16--in the War--so he could not have had much formal education. He must have loved reading, good books, horses, people, fun--He was a delightful story teller and from all accounts a delightful person. He died at about 55--before my birth some few years. His youngest child, Annie Perry Patrick was born after his death. I believe if I could have picked the grandparent I most wish I could have known he would be it. Mama's mother was his first wife (he had three) and she was Rosa Lee Glover of Choctaw Co. and Demopolis--She died, at an early age after having mama, Auntie & Uncle, and I think at least 3 other babies who died soon after birth--enought to have killed her. Mama went to Mobile to live with her Uncle Frank Glover--it was the sad story of that year that made you weep, M.P.--How she slipped downstairs to sleep with the white servant girl and how lonely she felt. Auntie went to Washington County with her Grandma Glover to another Uncle's--My "Uncle" Ben Perry and father went to Boligee to start a mercantile busines--Soon Grandfather felt settled enough to send for his two daughters and the family was happily re-united. Except for a few years when Grandfather's widowed sister Eliza Minor and her children--cousins Phillip & elise lived with them Mama was the head of the household--and enjoyed it I think. She was making all Aunties and her clothes by the time she was 13--She said they must have been a mess--Aunt Ria says they were far more dashing and stylish than their better finished off ones ever were. they had an old colored housekeeper & cook named "Aunt Creasy"--so I am sure Mama was no household drudge.
            There is one story I remember her telling of her earlier childhood--she was crossing the river of Demopolis I suppose, and had a tin cup she loved and accidentally dropped it overboard. she let up quite a howl. Her young uncle Edward was with her and much embarrased. He promised her if she would shut up he would give her his silver cup as soon as they reached home--This is the silver cup just like yours Mary, that Hamlin has--with "Edward" on it. Yours with "Mary" belonged to his sister Mary whose portrait Aunt Delia has now and we used to have. The cups were brought back from N.Y. by my great-grandfather Glover in the 1830's.
           Another story Momee used to tell us was of a trip down the river from Demopolis to Mobile with her father & Uncle Ben & Auntie Susie--She was anxious to be on deck to see all that was happening. Her father, a widower, was evidently being attentive to a lady passenger and she was interested if not disturbed. uncle was a very demanding brother and had a very painful stone bruise on his foot--He could not wear his shoe and wanted her to stay in the cabin & rub it for him. She finally had him stick his foot out the porthole so she could rub it and stay on deck and watch at the same time. I have always thought it must have made a funny picture if anyone stopped to look.
           Mama attended the Tuscaloosa Female College--We had her diploma in her scrap book. When she went off to college her father married my father's sister--Chotard Gould. She gave birth to a son--named Chotard Gould Perry for her--and died. [Editor jws: this is fascinating.] My mother cared for this baby as it was in the summer and she was home from college but it only lived a few weeks. This was her first great loss. She finished college and came home to prepare to marry, and Grandfather married again--to Annie Baskins Harkness. I don't know whether this was before or after Mama married. Her new step-mother was much beloved by all of us. She had 3 daughters--one Civille (?) Greene of Lake City you took me to see--Grandfather died before his last daughter Anne Patrick was born. One child died quite young. Ceville and Anne were more like half sisters to us than cousins as we spent much time with them until they moved to Lake City when their mother became ill and died--to live with their Uncle.
           When we were small we visited Nanmama (our step-grandmother) each summer and loved her dearly--Grandmother Gould was dead, so she is really the only grandparent we knew.

April 1983

Dear Mary--It is hard to realize that it was 1962 when I wrote a little of my recollections of family stories, etc. I am sorry we saw Boligee with Will and Sarah under such adverse weather conditions. Mary Thetfords house is usually bright and cheerful--and in the Spring and Summer filled with beautiful flowers. Only a few years ago the Dolls rode down with us. the time was April or March I think. The yard was full of bulbs & bushes in bloom. The room where we were two weeks ago had the table beautifully set. Mary was on her feet and had prepared a lovely lunch for us. The cemetery did not look dismal at all. guess all this season's rain caused all the mildew on the grave stones--and the rain.... I was very proud of Sarah and Will. They were so well mannered at mary's and such good sports on the whole trip. Sarah will just have to look at pictures and imagine what Thornhill was like.
       My happy memories are of the Hill of Howth. I really was a guest at Thornhill only once, as a child. Great Aunt Sallie Blocker Thornton (an in-law--she married, Harry Innes Thornton, who was dead)--invited all the Boligee aunts & a number of children to lunch. Mama was there too. We were visiting at Hill of Howth. We all ate in what is called in the book of mansions--the servants dining room. It was larger than your or mine. I remember being properly impressed by Geo. Washington's spy glass and cup on the hall table. Mary Thetford was a young lady--unmarried at that time, and she took us out beyond the flower garden where the earlier Thorntons are buried, and down the drive to see the school house.
       At Aunt Jeannie's, as the "Hill," we were always welcome and had a great time. Papa's only brother, John McKee Gould was called Buddy by all the family. He loved the Hill so much, and told many stories about the Goulds. On the porch there was a hammock made from barrel staves we loved. It would pinch you if you didn't keep a small rag rug in it--but with 2 or 3 others on or in it someone usually got a pinch. There were rocking chairs, and 2 long deacons benches and the front steps. Some nights all would be filled with family and friends. There was a tennis court, and Mary & Jeannie usually had beaus to play tennis--and other family members and guests.
       Down the steep hill that dropped off from the lane by the front gate there were a large number of springs. They kept this area of deep shade and big trees cleared of weeds etc. We used to wade in the branch from the springs. Some was piped into a little bath house with a shower. As there were no lights or running water at the Hill this was a good way to get both clean and cool. At the side of the dining room there was a long porch called the east porch. Part was screened and the adults sat there and played whist--the forerunner of auction bridge and contract bridge. We children had a swing--homemade like a long narrow bench--5 or 6 could sit in it and swing--and sometimes sing. Aunt Jeannie came from New Jersey. She had a beautiful voice. We thought she could have been a concert singer. She often sang for us. Delia Thornton Gould was her youngest child--she was about 2 years older than me. She is now Mrs. Wynn and lives in Eutaw. She is the one who wants the music book with the Delia Polka in it (we spoke of this).
       You heard me talking to Mary T. about the Fourth of July picnics at the river to celebrate Buddy's birthday. Later they held a barbecue at the Hill--Mary P--someone told me Sarah Minor Banks took movies of it once when you were about 2 years old. Auntie, Uncle Tay & Momee were there. They all thought you were lovely. You didn't know you had been in the movies! [Ed--I sure wish I could see these.]
        Papa's other sisters were Aunt Sallie--Rosa Snooks grandmother, Aunt Ria's mother, Aunt Delia Means, called Aunt Dee or Delia [Dela?] by her nieces & nephews. Aunt Innes-mother of Lucie & Reyena [Regena?] you remember--also a Bouchelle. She & Aunt Sallie married brothers Ezra & Henry. Aunt Innes moved away from Boligee when Uncle Henry died. His sons Henry & Kee stayed there. She went first to Montgomery where Lucie & Regenia attended Hunting [Huntington?] college, and then to Birmingham. Regenia is 83 and lives here still, Aunt Innes had another daughter, Delia Frances, called Dee Frank. She died at her son's birth--Wilmer Pogner [Poyner? Poynes?]. Wilmer is dead but his 4 sons live in Bham.

by Susan Gould Kennedy