Letter to Thomas T. Sloan from Bridget Sloan, September 17, 1844

My happy home, Sep. 17th, 1899 My happy home,

My Dear Son,

I started for home on the thirtieth of July. We stayed in Hannible for two days with our Kentucky friends, such as Mrs. Shackleford, Mrs. Gerwin, daughter of Mrs. S, Mrs. Hawkins, formerly of Georgetown. Mrs. Samuels, Daughter of the late Judge Shannon. Mrs. Van Swaningen and Mr. Fife of this place formaly, who was very polite to Mary Jane. Mr. George Shackleford was extremely polite to us. On the third of Aug. we arrived in St. Louis, and stoped at the Virginea Hotel. We walked ourselves down that day. The next being Sunday we went to Church in the morning at the Cathedral, and in the evening we attended Vespers in the new Church which is spendid. I think we quire finer than in the morning. How delighted I should be to live where my religion has such a respectable standing and the service performed so magnificently. We walked again untill I was broke down. Then I wished I had plenty of money that I might stay as long as I wished. I left the next morning with regret. I wished to see every spot I have seen before, to look and think--The associations are dear and interesting to me, pleasing yet melancholy. We left the boat at Henderson early in the day on Thursday and stoped at Taylors Inn. Mr. Powell who lived with us when a law student, is married and living in that place. He call'd on us in a quarter of an hour after our arrival and insisted on us to go to his house, we went and dinned and suped, then returned to take a short sleepe before The stage should start for Madisonville, but it was imposible being the last day of the State elections. The people you know must make a noise, so at it they went, burning lan barrels in the streets and singing political songs until we left, which was eleven o'clock. We arrived at the same hour the next day at Doct. Rays. How delightful it was to be once more with my relations. Every body call'd on us. Mr. & Mrs. Frost was very polite to me. Their daughter is grown and it just going into company, she is not prity, but interesting. She sings, plays on the pianno, prattles, and tells anidoats with grace. David sayed he was smartly frost bit before we left. I left Mary Jane at Sallys. She is not in good health and in very low spirits. She cannot be happy to live sepperated from Margarettas children. However, she is determined to try it until spring.

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David and myself reached home on the nineteenth of Aug. in good health. I found all well. Theodora has almost forgotten me, she was shy of me for several days. The others hugged and kissed me almost to death. dear children--how delightful I am to be with them and more. Elizabeth has her hands full I do assure younthis summer. Chinn and Family are all living with Robert. I know you say to yourself Where does he put them. I will tell you. Mr. & Mrs. Chinn occupy the room I was in when you was here. Miss Glen, Miss Milisen and Eliza are in your room. The sons Richard and Charles are in one of the new rooms, and David in the other. now you say, where is the new rooms. The room occupied by your grandfather and one joining it built since your poor uncles last marriage is torn down and built up crosswise at the end of my present room, which throws one of the rooms opposite the passage. Bob has imployed an inglish gardener who will live in the Cottage in the garden. I think he will beautify this place very much. If you do not come soon you will scarce know it. I have a fine view now (as I sit at my window writing you) of Limestone streets, but I must say I do not much like the graveyard you know that lays before me. However, I do not often let my eyes wander so far from home. I am now looking at the peach trees you planted around the sistern. They have grown finely but they do not bear fruit this year. Magaretta and all her family spent the afternoon here yesterday. Christy and her have both been at the point of death just a while before I returned home. Mag is well now, and Christy is well enough to attend to his business. He is very much worste you would not know him I think if you was to meet him. I think he is a great penitant I have never seen him or his wife so happy. He sent Mag and the children to see me as soon as they could get here on in a hack after my arrival which was after dark, as I come in the evening car I did not see him for several days. I was advised to go to his house to meet him and I overheard he wished to see me. When we met he was very much affected, shed tears, he has still keep his pledge. I expect you have heard of the death of our friend Mrs. Loughborough. I did not see Mrs. Haggin on my way home. I do not know if she was in Louisville when I passed. I did not wish to see her when her grief was so green. I pitty her from my soul. I think I shall write to her as soon as I learn where she is, dear lovely woman-------------------------------------- Doct. Pinkerd is to be married to Mrs. Eton next week and reports speak

a number more but as rumer is not always true I will not name them. Elizabeth received a letter from you since my return. No7-She sayes she will write positively. She has very little time for doing so She has been ever since my return writing a letter to one of her sisters and has only finished it to day. I am extreamly anxious to see you. Will you not come soon. You sayed nothing of your health in your last to E. Do write soon and tell me every particular give me a long letter and be cheerful, it afflicts me to find you sad. tell me you are happy and I am so . You are yet young enough to retrieve the time you think is lost, yes indeed you are, come up and try, perseverance can bring mountains low, or by looking around us we can compar our situation with others that will make ours appear lovely when compared with others. I cannot see I must lay aside my pen untill-after tea, I must walk with the children. Well I have resumed my seat to finish my sheet. Robert handed me a letter from you to him to read, its date is Sept. 6, you say nothing of your health. But I am glad you do not appear as gloomy as sometimes, I hope your friend Lieut. Reynolds will drive dull care away. Your brother tells me that this gentleman is your friend which you know is a passport to my heart. I love the friends of my sons, if I never see them. How is your friends of Washington Mr Reaves and Miss Hunter I traveled from Madisonville almost to Louisville with a man I will not call him a gentleman. He said he live in Washington City and knew you well. He told me his name but I have forgoten it. You often purched shot and powder from his store. He has a wife and nine or ten children, one of his boys is named Theodore. I think he went to the Convension at Nashville but he would not say. He is a Democrat--One thing remarkable about him is his head being gray in spots. He drew my attention to it himself, stating that a trap doore had falling on his head which caused him a spell of sickness. Afterwards his hair droped off and then grew out white in spots. He left the boat the day before we reached Louisville before light without paying his passage. When David paid ours, the cleark asked him if he was to pay for the man that come on bord with him, and was gone without paying. David told he had nothing to do with him and that he was a stranger to him. Pitiful, pitiful All sends love to you. You will write soon I hope. I will be looking out in a few days for one letter. Do shape your letters that I can read them. Your mother B. Sloan

Lieut. Thomas T. SLoan U. S. Marine Corps Brooklyn New York