A LETTER FROM BOLIGEE, AUGUST 23, 1847
In the early 1820's several families immigrated from Derry, Northern Ireland to what was known as the "Irish Settlement" in Greene County. More family members came in the 1840's during the famine and resulting political unrest. These families were: Caufields, Johnstons, Dunns, McMillians, Castles, Hayes, and others.
The Thomas Caufield family was among the first group that came to the United States in 1822. Thomas Caufield's sister was my great-great-great-great grandmother, Elizabeth Caufield. She was married to George Johnston who established a mercantile business in Greene. Some members of the family moved to Texas in the 1830's and 1840's and continued their close ties to their Greene County relatives with regular correspondence between Greene Alabama and Robertson and Leon Counties of Texas. Many of these letters have been preserved and provide a unique look at life in the "old days". As I read, and re-read these letters, I'm struck by how precarious life truly was; health, crops and weather are always topics discussed. I'm also struck at how these people kept their senses of humors in tact.
I've transcribed one letter, written by Henry J. Caufield, a son of Thomas Caufield, to his brother in law, William Ewing Young. William married Henry's sister, Mary Jane. This particular letter, describes the fourth of July celebration in Greene County in 1847. I've left the spelling alone, but have modified the punctuation to make the text easier to read.
The Thomas Caufield family is:
Thomas Caufield, born 1788 in County Derry, Ireland, died 1-12-1859 in Boligee, Greene County Alabama, married to:
Mary Ann Watson, born 1795 in County Derry, Ireland, died 7-21-1845 in Boligee, Greene County Alabama. Their children were:
Wat, born 4-9-1821 in County Derry, Ireland, died 11-14-1903 in McGregor, TX
Mary Jane, born 10-18-1825 in Boligee, Greene County AL, died 4-3-1888 in Coryell County TX
Henry J., born 1-1-1827 in Boligee, Greene County AL, died 7-11-1915 in McGregor, TX
David George, born 1-1-1837 in Boligee, Greene County AL, died in Robertson Co, TX
Elizabeth, born 10-18-1836 in Boligee, Greene AL, died 10-25-1854 in Boligee, Greene AL
Submitted by Elizabeth Graham Chatterjee
Boligee, August 23, 1847
To: Mr. William C. Young Robertson County Texas
Dear Friend………Yours of the 10th July came to hand on Tuesday the _____ of August
which gave me great satisfaction. I also read one from you several days before which I will answer bye
and bye. I was very glad to hear that, inTexas as well as Boligee, they kept up the great day of freedom.
Since you have given a description of your celebration, I will attempt to describe ours.
It came off on Saturday, the third. The place where it was was at Sam Johnston's mill. It was a very
pretty place there - about eight hundred people there and about three hundred ladies. At ten o'clock,
the Boligee Troops were paraded at the store and marched over to the Barbacue Ground, where, after a
little training, twisting, and marching, they were dismissed. After that, the Declaration of Independence
was very ably read by John Y. Johnston. Then a splendid address was delivered by Williard M. Judge.
Then the order of the day was read aloud by Mr. Friend, one of the committee of arrangements. But
before I proceed farther, I must describe the speaker stand, which was as usual erected some feet above the ground. It was hung over with garlands of flowers and a wreath swung over he speakers' heads so large that it was as much as you could lift.
When dinner came on, the ladies were handed to the tables, three in number, which were loaded with the good things of Boligee. After the ladies had refreshed themselves, the gentlemen took possession and I tell you that there was some eating done about that time! I believe we had a lot of as choice meats as ever you clopped your eyes on! It was given up to be the best Barbacue that had ever been in Greene County or any of the adjoining counties. There was not a drop of Liquor on the place that day. After dinner, men rode Tournament for about two hours. The ladies, and others not riding, looking on.
As soon as the Tournament was over, we repaired to the arbor where a couple of loads of saw dust had been scattered. The youngsters of both sexes had then a chance of shaking their feet to their hearts content, and I reckon there was some of it done there.
Now I have given you the particulars of our celebration as near as I can remember.
William, we had two other neighborhood barbacues and a squirrel hunt along with them…..they were decent affairs. There was about eight hundred and fifty squirrels killed. We have four more such to come off. Means proposes giving one. Squire Gound, Tom Bleakly, and David Watson all wish to give one. They will all come off this fall.
We had a splendid party at James Watson's the other day. There was about seventy people, or perhaps more……it was a quilting party. After we had dinner, we tied up the quilts and danced until dark and had supper and danced a few more sets, then out for home.
I had the pleasure of being at a weding, not long since, down in Sumter.. The Bride was a sister of Mat Phillips. I reckon there was some frolicking! We kept it up all night and then went home in the morning. There was ten young men from Boligee. Some of us had lost our horses, some saddles. And some lost their blankets. We all got home without any broken bones, anyhow.
William, have told you enough nonsense now. For sense - our crops out here have been doing very well. Our corn crops are as good as any, need but for cotton (alas). The boll worm has made his appearance in a great many places. They are doing our cotton a great deal of injury. It has been damp weather for several days, which is very much in favor of them. We all made very good wheat crops this year. William, I think if the worms eat the cotton this year as bad as they did last year, you will find a boy about my size leaving this part of the country towards where they have some other mode of making a living than by growing cotton.
The health of Boligee is a good as usual, only a few cases of chill and fever. I suppose you did not hear of the death of Mrs. Nat Friend. She died of the consumptions after and long and hard illneww. William Castles lost his youngest child a few days ago. It died of fits. Tom Bleakly's wife presented him with a fin son the other day, and Kate is down at Mr. Stewart's, now in the expectation of something in that line.
William, I made known your request to Randall S. and he says that he will attend to it. Tell your brother John that I hear that he is going to run his head in the matrimony; tell him from me to go ahead, tha's all right.
Tell Cousin Mary Robertson (Mary Dunn) that I beg a thousand pardons and made as many more excuses and that I will write to her next week.
Dr. Hunter met with an accident day before yesterday. He was stopping down behind his horse, when the vicious animal kicked him, breaking his arm up near the shoulder.
Mother is getting a little better than she was when I wrote before. She is very weak yet. I hope you will be able to decipher this excuse for writing - all blotches, mistakes, and bad writing.
My best respects to all my friends in Texas. And receive a portions, yourself. No more at present, but I remain your friend,
Henty J. Caufield