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64
T H E C O U, N T R Y MAN .
TUKNWOLP, 6A., JANUARY 81, 1865.
THE LIFE OF AN AMERICAN CITIZEN:
BEING THE
BIOGRAPHY OF WILUAM TURNER,
LATE Of PUTNAM COUNTT, GA.
BY HIS SON, ). A, TURNER,
CHAPTER XIII.
Anno Domini 1812—25th year—Tilman
Turner Assistant Marshal for Hancock
Go.—Population of Hancock in 1810—
Letter from Daniel Nolley to his sister
Polly—.Letter from Hines Holt, Sr.—
Letter from Richmond Nolley—Thomas
Rivers, of Jasper Co.—Tilman Turner,
John Turner, and their father, Joseph
Turner, Sr.
In chapter 11th, I gave a copy of a let
ter written to William Turner, assistant
U. S. marshal for the county of Putnam,
showing what was his due far services
performed. That amount was $201.58.
The services were rendered in 1810, and
the letter was written April 11th, 1811.
1 have one before me directed to Tilman
Turner, assistant U. S. marshal for the
county of Hancock, dated 5th April, 1811,
which is the same letter,mutatis mutandis,
with that addressed to William Turner.
Tilman Turner’s account is thus stated ;
“Hancock county, 13,830 inhabit
tants, at $1.75 per 100, $233 27
Posting up oopies of schedule, 4 00”
This much for the population of Han
cock, in 1810. Let us turn now to ano
ther letter of those primitive times, im
portant only as giving a view of the man
ners, and customs of our frontier ances
tors. This letter is from Daniel Nolley, to
his sister Polly :
“Sparta, March 17th, 1812.
Dear Sister:—I have now the oppor
tunity of writing you a few lines, by Mr.
Turner, to inform you and aunt Susan
Turner, as well as all the rest of the fami
ly, that I enjoy a tolerable share of health,
and hope that these few lines will tind
you, and all the family, in the same en
joyment. Brother Nathan is well; and I
received a letter from brother Richmond,
the other day, in which he informed me
that he was well, and had safely got to his
appointment. The preachers that were
there are now in Sparta, and one of them
is to preach in town, 'tonight. I will come
to see you, as soon as possible. Remem
ber my love t» all the family, and be sure
to write to me, when you have an oppor
tunity, I add nothing more at present,
but remain your loving brother,
Daniel Nolley.”
The name of the sister of Daniel Nolley,
to whom the above letter was addressed,
was Mary, or Polly Rivers Nolley. I find
a letter from Hines Holt, Sr., addressed to
Miss Susanna Turner, and endorsed, in my
father’s handwriting, “From II. Holt, rel
ative to Mary R. Nolley.” This is the
Hines Holt of whom I have already spo
ken, several tiroes, in these memoirs, as
being clerk of the Georgia House of Rep
resentatives, under whom my father served
as under-clerk. The following is the let
ter concerning Mary R. Nolley, then
usually called Polly Nolley :
“1st April, 1812.
Dear Cousin :—The only chance that I
have to raise the money for the board of
Polly, &c., is from brother Isaac More
land, and Harry Dixon. Singleton Holt
owes me ten dollars, for money paid for
the schooling of his children. He will, I
expect, on application, pay you' that sum.
Please apply to brother Moreland, and any
sums he may advance to you, shall be
good against the claim I have against him.
Shew him this letter. Should you be dis
appointed in getting it from him, if you
will come down, and see us, and spend a
few days, I will try some other method to
get the money for you—r-for you must be
paid. Accept the assurances of my es
teem. Remember me to the old people,
Taby, &c., also to Polly.
Yours, Hines Holt.
Miss Susanna Turner.”
The Polly spoken of in the latter part
of the above letter, is Polly Nolley. Har
ing already given a letter from Polly’s
brother Daniel, I here give one from her
brother Richmond, the preacher:
“Bigby Circuit, March 3d, 1812.
Dear Aunt Suckyi—I embrace this
privilege to write to you, and inform you
1 ana well, in body, and feel peace of soul.
We all came safe through the wilderness,
and brothers Griffin and Hobbs are gone
os to their appointments, together with
brother Ford, who traveled here, last
year, with brother Kennon. Brother Pow»
ell, my colleague, is well, and doing well.
The prospect of religion here, is somewhat
encouraging. The people come out to
meeting, and behave well. There are four
societies made up, and a prospect of oth
ers being raised. The people are kind,
and, in general, healthy,
I believe the Lord has a work for me to
do here, and, by his grace, feel like doing
what I can, for his glory, in the salvation
of precious souls. I hope you are as well
as common, as to health, and trying to
get safe out of this world of trouble, and
affliction. Try and give yourself up to.
God, to suffer, as well as.do his will, in all
things. Seek for that full renewal, in the
image of God, of righteousness, and true
holiness—to hare the spirit of God to bear
witness with your spirit that you are a’
child of his. ’ "
1 hope little sister Polly is well, and
will mind what you say. Tell her to be a
good child, to mind her book, to read her
bible, and say her prayers, learn her cat
echism, and not want to follow the vain
fashions of the world, but to dress plain,
and grave, go to meeting, and try to serve
God in the days of her youth.
Remember me to old dada and mama
Turner. Tell them I feel concerned for
them, and want them to consider on the
necessary preparation for death, and judg
ment, as described in the 3d chapter of
St. John’s Gospel, from the 8d down to
the 7th verse; and how this preparation,
or change of heart is to be obtained, de
scribed in the same chapter, from the 14th
to the 17th verse : i. e., by faith in our
Lord Jesus Christ, who was lifted up, and
crucified for us upon the cross.—Remem
ber me, also, to your brothers, John, and
Tilman. Tell them I love their souls, and
do not want them to be lost: therefore,
to read, and try to think upon the 26th
verse of the 16th chapter of Matthew:
also the 1st verse of the 29tb of Proverbs.
Remember my love to your brother Jo
seph, and family—to all your sisters, and
enquiring friends, as if named, and re
ceive this as a token of the same to your
self, and sister Polly.
I am, as ever, yours with respect,
Richmond Nolley.
P. S. Please to write, and direct your
letter to Fort Pt. Stephens, Washington
county, Bigby.”
The above letter is directed to “ Miss
Sncky Turner, New* Purchase, Ga. To
the care of Mr. S. Butts, in Monticello.
By Mr. Gay.”—I do not know where Big
by was, unless it was some scope of coun
try on the Tombigbee river, Ala., fre
quently called Bigby. It is probable the
preachers spoken of in the foregoing letter,
were sent out to Alabama, from the Geor
gia Conference. . t
I find among the papers now before me,
the following note, probably made by Miss
Susanna Turner:
‘‘ Polly Rivers Nolley came here to
board, the 7th April, 1805.”
I also find the following memorandum :
“ Mary R. Nolley was entered to school,
the 26th of Aug., 1812.”
What relation the Nojleys bore to the
Turners, I do not exactly know, but I have