SIMMONS-VA-Slave owner-1853

SIMMONS, Samuel Jr.
Mecklenburg Co., VA 1853
Inventory of his estate

Slave property
Man Edgecombe   about 25 years old           value: 900 
Man Matthew     about 25 years old           value: 900
Man John        about 23 years old           value: 900
Man Ben         about 21 years old           value: 900
Woman Liza      about 63 years old           value: 150
Woman Esther and child Lucy 36 years old     value: 700 
Woman Amy       about 37 years old           value: 700
Woman Caroline and child Gray about 30 years value: 700
Woman Nancy     about 18 years old           value: 800
Girl Eliza      about 15 years old           value: 800
Girl Martha     about 13 years old           value: 900
Girl Polly      about 11 years old           value: 750
Boy Nathan      about  9 years old           value: 600
Boy William     about  7 years old           value: 400
Girl Ann        about  4 years old           value: 300
Boy John        about  4 years old           value: 250
Girl Lizzy      about  2 years old           value: 250
Girl Parilee    about  2 years old           value: 200

SIMMONS letter, dated 1855
Mecklenburg Co., VA
... written to Julia Glynn Simmons Coleman, daughter of aforementioned, Samuel Simmons. She received two slave girls, apparently Martha and Eliza, in the division of her father's property, who were brought to her in Carroll Co., Mississippi by her husband, Richard Henry Coleman. Her sister Rebecca Simmons Curtis, had received one man (or boy) slave, who had sickened on the way from VA to MS, and been sold. The writer of the letter is not known; however, I think it may be from Julia Glynn' step-mother Mary "Polly" Simmons. Whoever it was received the man slave Edgecomb in the division and several other men, women, and children. 

Mecklenburg Co., VA Feb. 23, 1855
Dear Julia,
... Edgecomb was sick last summer. he was confined to the house six weeks. His being sick threw us back vary much in our crop. The horn worms destroyed a great deal of our tobacco, not withstanding his sickness, I am in hopes we will make a plenty to serve us and some to spare...Edgecomb thinks we will make two hogheads.
... Lizza sends her love to Mr. Coleman and you and the children, also to Martha and Eliza. She says you must make them mind you in everything and do as near right as they can. She says tell them she is very glad to hear they are so well satisfied.
Tell Martha her brothers and sisters grow very fast. They had the hooping cough this winter.
Tell Eliza her brothers and sister grows very fast too. John and Parilee is getting to be right smart size children. Parilee stays the most of her time with Mistress. Tell her her mother and father sends their love and will write soon.
Martha's mother also sends her love to her and will write to her soon as she can. Amy and Nancy sends their love to Martha and Eliza and says they would be vary glad to see them and they must write every opportunity.

Contributed by: jperkins@mindspring.com (Julie O. Perkins)