The countryman. (Turnwold, Putnam County, Ga.) 1862-1866, January 31, 1865, Image 2

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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