The letters listed below we purchased at public auction (eBay). All but five letters seem to have been sent to Gallatin, Sumner County Tennessee. The other letters (1888-1890) were sent to Fresno California from Gallatin. The seller of all the letters, Keith Finley, claimed his source was in Fresno. There are two seemingly separate origins of the letters. First is the Thomas Hunt letters (1825-1844). Second is the William King letters (1837-1841). Charles B. King marries Mary T. Hunt, 3 Nov 1846, Sumner County Tennessee. It is probably because of this marriage that the Hunt and King letters were combined.
Table of Contents
To: Thomas Hunt, Sumner County Tennessee
“Six miles from Gallatin Court House”
From: John Arnold, Lancaster, Garrard County Kentucky
(Bad debt, theft, missing horse, abandoned family letter.)
To: (Uncle) Thomas Hunt, Sumner County Tennessee
From: (Nephew) Harry P. Taylor, Franklin (County), North Carolina
(Mentions death of Harry Taylor’s mother, and the North Carolina gold rush.)
To: (Uncle) Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Tennessee
From: James M. Hunt, Oak Grove Kentucky
(Mostly a business letter about cotton.)
To: (Uncle) Thomas Hunt
Gallatin, Sumner County Tennessee
From: Harry P. Taylor and Nat__ M. Taylor
Madison County Mississippi
(Here Harry Taylor - see letter 2 - has moved to Mississippi. “Aunt Sarah Hunt [in North Carolina?] calls Harbert Harris’s her home . . .”)
To: Thomas Hunt, Gallatin, Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: Harry P. Taylor, Madison Cty Mississippi
(Mentions family illness, a failed trip to Arkansas, death of Negro slave girl, and Negro/white troubles.)
To: Thomas Hunt, Sumner County Tennessee
From: Levi Fawks, Randolph Cty Missouri
(Letter mentions Mormons)
To: (Father) William King, Gallatin, Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: (Unsigned incomplete letter) Washington County, Republic of Texas
To: Wm. King, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From G. W. King, Canton Mississippi
To: Sister Ann (no envelope)
From: (Unsigned-incomplete letter) Canton Mississippi
To: (Brother) Thomas Hunt, Sumner County
From: (Unsigned letter) Pleasant Forest
To: (Uncle) Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: Nath. M. Taylor, Bassville Mississippi
(Letter mentions “Woolf” hunt in Mississippi)
To: Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Tennessee
From: N. M. Taylor, Bassville Mississippi
To: Miss Margaret W. Hunt, Gallatin Ten
From: E Mitchell, W. N. Mitchell, Fancy Farm Illinois
(Letter mentions loss of Margaret’s mother)
First page image, second page image, front of lettersheet image.
To: (Father) Wm. King, Gallatin, Sumner County Tennessee
From: G. W. King, Savannah, Hardin Co. Tennessee
(Posted during trip to Mississippi)
To: C. B. King
From: (unsigned)
(Mississippi Springs Rail Road Co. accounting)
To: (Father) William King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: G. W. King, Canton Mississippi
To: Wm. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: G. W. King, Canton Mississippi
Note: Above is the last letter addressed to Wm. King.
To: C. B. King
From: Dr. John Ford
(Accounting of money paid “at the Mississippi Springs”)
To: (Uncle) Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: N. M. Taylor, Madison Mississippi
Flux and Lice
Mary J. Lancaster, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: N. M. Taylor, Madison Mississippi
To: Miss Ann Maria Lancaster, Gallatin, Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: (Father) Sam H. Lancaster, Madison Cty Mississippi
To: Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: N. M. Taylor, Madison Mississippi
(Mentions Steamboat Cumberland and “mumps”)
To: Miss Margaret W. Hunt, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: (Cousin) Maria Lancaster, Madison Cty Mississippi
To: Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Tennessee
From N. M. Taylor, Madison Mississippi
(Mentions a future marriage to Catherine McGehee)
Note: Above is the last letter addressed to Thomas Hunt
To: (Uncle) Charles B. King, Gallatin, Sumner County Tennessee
From: Ellen C. King
To: Miss Ann Lancaster, Gallatin, Sumner Co. Tennessee
From: “Sister Mary,” Midway Mississippi
To: C. B. King
From: I. H. King
(Introduction letter for M. Meador - hand carried)
To: Mary T. King, Gallatin
(“Leave at Loves Shop with a request to send it to Charles B. King”)
From: Sion A. Hunt
(Sion extends an invitation to Mary and family to stay with him since “the Cholera is bad in town.”)
Two Estate inventories - County unknown (from a photocopy)
I. Estate of Thomas Hunt (Shows eight slave names: Mariah, Albert, Bob, Peter, Turner, Booker, June, and Merry.)
II. Sion A. Hunt
To: C. B. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: Wiley M. Newman (as guardian), Oregon (Wilson Cty) Tennessee (Request to C. B. King for funds belonging to the “heirs of Wm. King, late of this County.”)
To: Mrs. Mary J. T. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: W. H.“Hamilton” King, Columbus Texas
(To “Ma” discusses “Pa’s misfortunes . . . heavy pecuniary losses”)
To: C. B. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: I. H. K., Natchez
To: “Dear Cousin” (May be “Peggy,” daughter of Thomas Hunt)
From: Maria (Lancaster) (Mississippi)
To: “My dear Aunts”
From: (Unsigned, probably missing a sheet. In the hand writing of Jodie Guthrie. See next letter. ) Nashville
To: “My dear Aunts” Sumner County
From: Jodie Guthrie, Wilson County Tennessee
1884
To: Mary T. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: “Fount,” Rockwall Texas
To: “Carry” (Carrie Burton Harris?), (Fresno California?)
From: Maggie John
1888-1890
To: Mrs. A. G. Harris, Fresno California
From: “Mother,” Gallatin Tennessee
To: Mag
From: Keetie
Modern docket, with ball-point pen: “From Mama’s sister Marion (Keetie) to Mama in Fresno, Calif. after death of Grandma King.” /s/ Mary E. Harris
To: Miss Frank King
From: Inez V. Tighe, Memphis Tennessee
Contains questions on the King family ancestors -- but scant answers. Sorry.
To: Maggie K. Harris
Gallatin Tennessee
From Bridges & Ellis - Gen Agts, Shelbyville Tennessee
(Letter about a life insurance settlement on Maggie’s late husband.)
To: (Sister) Mrs. Mag Harris. Gallatin Tennessee
From: Gin (Virginia ?), Nashville Tennessee
To: (Mother) Mrs. M. K. Harris, Gallatin Tennessee
From: (Son) Bright Harris, Tennessee Industrial School, Nashville Tennessee
John Taylor of Nansemond Co., Virginia and Chowan, Granville, Bute (Warren), and Franklin Counties, North Carolina.
By the late Bill Royce Linder
Return to Top of Page Return to Main Page
Sumner County, TNGenWeb
Page © Copyright 2000 Fred Smoot
All Rights Reserved