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HOME > SURNAMES > ESTES > BOOK: DESC THOS ESTES > James H. Estes 1815-1864 |
James H. Estes 1815-1864James was born July 5, 1815 and was the first child born to Floyd and Achsa Estes. He was eleven years old when his father died in 1826. The family had recently moved to McMinn County, Tennessee from Granger County. As the oldest male in the family, he must have worked very hard to plant and harvest crops to help feed the family. There is no record of Floyd and Achsa owning slaves, so all the work fell to family members. Achsa Estes deserves much credit for keeping the family together and striving to provided their basic needs through their own industry and handouts from her Lea relations. In a letter dated November 14, 1828, Uncle Luke Lea encouraged Achsa to put James out to a trade, apparently as an apprentice. It was common practice for families to put children under an apprenticeship as it relieved the family from the expense of supporting the child and hopefully provided the child whit training in a trade. Achsa apparently did not go along with her uncle’s suggestion as the letters from James show he was free to follow the river when he was nineteen years old. We surmise he worked as a laborer on the boats and at different occupations in towns along the Tennessee, Ohio, and Mississippi rivers. His letters mention Decater, (Alabama), Paducah, Kentucky, Vicksburg, Mississippi, and Orleans, which may be New Orleans, Louisiana, or Orleans, Illinois, or Orleans, Minnesota. His letters also speak of "The Shoals" which was what Muscle Shoals in Alabama along the Tennessee River was called. The 1835 letter suggests he was occupied in trade with Indians as he writes he is going into the Chickasaw Nation and would continue to be there all summer.The 1834 letter from James to Moses Cates and Achsa provides evidence that Thomas Estes of Lawrence County, Tennessee is the father of Floyd Estes. James visited his uncles and learned of his grandfather’s death the previous year. James continued working along the rivers and resided in Paducah, Kentucky until the Civil War. Private James H. Estes, USA, was killed November 30, 1864 and was buried in Louisville, Kentucky.1 The following letters are from photocopies received from Nel Still.
(Envelope) East Tennessee Jefferson County
To Moses Cate
Newmarket
Post office Bymail
Letter
Paduech Ky 183? [183/4]
12 May
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * State of Kentucky Paducah may 11 Dear father and mother I gladely em brace the grate oper tunity of form ing you that Iam well at present and hoping that these few lines may find you all in joying good health. At present I have never had nary a leter from you sence last may. las one year ago and then I left Cleave land on the 18 of may for alabama and have never return Back yet. I met with Bradford on the first of June and he is well he came from vicksburg in may and has remain on they sholes ever sence. Ishould of come home before now if icould of got him off with mee. I should came write on but Itaken sick at (decater?) And lay Twenty one days and Cusin Jonikin was there at the same time very low and when he left he told mee he would let you kno from mee as soon as he got home. Ihave not maried yet but expect to as soon as I come Back from orleans. I dont no whether ishall come home before all or not. I dont for sertain get marid (this) fall or not. Ihave bin to uncle Johns and all my other uncles sense I saw you and they were all well. Grand father is dead. He (has been) dead about one year. They would like to see you all very much. I want you to rite to mee how you are all doing and how John and Sarah is . Direct your Ter to Lauderdale County alabama water too post ofice. I have nothing more. Ihope you will excuse my long absence. Excuse these few lines as paper is ceacy and ink is bad. So nothing more but Remains you affectionate and loving J H Estes un till death
(Envelope) East Tennessee
Jefferson County
To Moses Cates
Newmarket postoffice
By mail
Marmeon Alabama
Sept. 14th (apparently the same year as above)
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * State of Alabama Lauder dale County Dear father and mother and all. I wish these lines to render to your sadisfaction I am now in comon health with the exception of a very Bad rising and wish these few lines may find you all well and all inquiring friends too my health has Binn very bad for they space of three months. Ihave bin out a right smart for doctors Bills. Iwas bad they next days after I rote to you in June. Cosin Jonikin Lea and mee Both lay in they same Poons (rooms?) To geather. I have got sothat ican work and has work some thirteen or 14 days. Wages a very good. I am getting --------- per month. Old woman I would like you to per swade Susan and david to put off marying un tell I can come home as I think imust let you know that ihave found they Great rambler Bradford Cate and he is well and works mee in they shop. He came from mississippi in may last. He has never had eny sickness Sence he left home. His wages is $1.00 per day. I Believe hee is much about in the same notion that he (has?) Been about coming home. Ihave Binn trying to per swade him to go to (L?)arays with mee But he says he wants to go down they river again Before he returns home and I wish you to rite to him to come for he is made nothing. He carelessly runs throo all that he makes and works hard and very hard. His wages was 30 dollars per month while he was in the low cuntry. If idont get him of idont no when ishall come. Per haps not tel next Spring. Bradford is much larger than tomy and as likely as any man. When you receave this letter iwant you to copy hit an dsend it to (Sary?) And tell Conaway that iwill Bee Back before Cristmus to tell all of my friends ihave had bad health or id have bin Back before now. Ihave nothing more but send Conaway they name of thay County and postofice it is named Marmeon. So remain Sons un tell death J H Estes Bradford Cate
[I do not have a photocopy of this next letter. Transcript provided by Martin and Jamie Wilbanks of Austin, Texas.]
State of Alabama June the 4 day 1835 Leaderdill County
Dear father and mother I embrace this opertunity of informing you that I am well and bradford is in very good health hopint that these few lines may find you all in the same state of health. I received your first leter June 3 I wan you to rite to mea as soo as posible. I expect to continue on --------the first of July and then I expect to go we into the chickasaw nation an continue all summer I dont expect to come home on till next spring if I should have my health Bradford is coming home shortly I want to see you all very bad I want you to gave prig more an- more my best respects to them and all the rest I have nothing particular to rite Rite to mea how wheat crops and corn looks my wheat take caar of hit if you think it will pay you for your troble-----more-----remains young
James H. Estes fat and sasy Larger than I ever was my weight is 158
Bradford Cate
(Envelope) Moses Cate
East Tenn
Jifferson City
Newmarket PO
State of Tennessee Bradley County
March 28 day 1837
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Dear mother and father brothers and sisters. I nform you that I am well at present And Ihope that these fewlines may find you In Joying the same State of health. John mount and sarah is Well. some of the family has binn on well. Nancy is laying Very low at present no life Expected. I am yet living in Cleveland But shall shortly leave hear. I once an a while fight a litle iron for Satis faction. I have Bin very much Astonisht at you not riting to mee. I want you to send me a leter as soon as you can. How your doind as I have never heard and wheather you hears from Bradford Or not as we have never heard as yet and sarah Is very on easy. I went to new town and stade Three weaks and was sick with something like The quinsey there was abought sixty died While I was there. They has Bin some few deaths Round abought hear. Old man Kin canon deceased yeasterday. An numbers that two serious to tell. I dont Expect to come to see you Before next fall. They Rail road is (runs?) Thru this valey and ought by calhoon And still goes on to athens. And It is thought that they will Comense Work to wards the later part of the sumer. I want you to rite how ant vany and all the rest Is. Or whether You went by there or not and there length of time yous was joind and how you got along. And rite whether you Ever expt to move again or not. I my self would Expect you was Fairly satis fide in your on mind. The place wher you left Benton Has take posesion and Charles Cates is with him they have taken Old man bushheads place. Tuesday last Binton and Nancy b head and her mother forght Tremdeou On Monday last. The old lady got Taorley Cripled. It is thought that they will Be put out of the nation and old Kinedy with them. The volunteers has setled hit once for thin. I have not moried yet but I have Great hopes. I want you To tel all the Girls if ishould Chance not to get a witfe That I will be with them After a while And they will have To stand a bought. So nothing more but Remains Your affectionate Loving sone un till death J.H.Estes you will please To escuse my Bad riting as I have a sore finger
Inside the cover of a book "An Introduction to Christianity: Designed to Protect Young People from Irreligion and Vice." by Joseph Sutcliffe, New York 1814 has written "James H. Estes his book July 18th 1826" and "James H. Estes his Book August 18th 1828" and " James H. Estes his Book this 18th August 1828 John Sulling" and T.J. Estes Was born the --", opposit the introduction page is: "Moses Cate his Book", and the back inside cover has " James H. Estes His Book augest 19th 1828", "Janes H Estes", "James", "David L Estes --b Y???" and "James Han(d)von(y) Estes Fl??d Es??", "thomas Jangin Estes Was born the" This is the only lead we have to date of James H. Estes' middle name. It is possible that James H. was given the book as part of the estate settlement of Floyd Estes who died in 1826. It appears that Moses Cate took possession of the book after his marriage to Achsa and made an inscription.
FOOTNOTES
1.
Information found on CD ROM release of "Roll of Honor: Civil War Union Soldiers" : Private James H. Estes, died 11-30-1864, no regiment or company listed. Listed under "miscellaneous". Number 52 on the list of soldiers on page 109, Volume XVII of CD#351. originally buried in Louisville, Kentucky. Now buried at Cave Hill National Cemetery in Louisville, Kentucky. His grave is located at Section C, Range 7, Grave #31.
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