Each letter listed below was purchased individually through eBay
public auction, 1998 and 1999. 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
30 Dec 1824
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.)
8 Dec 1832
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.)
29 Feb 1834
To: (Uncle) Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Tennessee
From: James M. Hunt, Oak Grove Kentucky
(Mostly a business letter about cotton.)
14 June 1834
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 . . .”)
9 Aug 1835
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.)
28 Aug 1836
To: Thomas Hunt, Sumner County Tennessee
From: Levi Fawks, Randolph Cty Missouri
(Letter mentions Mormons)
23 Feb 1837
To: (Father) William King, Gallatin, Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: (Unsigned incomplete letter) Washington County, Republic of Texas
2 Aug 1837
To: Wm. King, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From G. W. King, Canton Mississippi
16 Aug 1837
To: Sister Ann (no envelope)
From: (Unsigned-incomplete letter) Canton Mississippi
23 Aug 1838
To: (Brother) Thomas Hunt, Sumner County
From: (Unsigned letter) Pleasant Forest
9 Oct 1838
To: (Uncle) Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: Nath. M. Taylor, Bassville Mississippi
(Letter mentions “Woolf” hunt in Mississippi)
29 Feb 1839
To: Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Tennessee
From: N. M. Taylor, Bassville Mississippi
2 Jun 1839
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.
30 Sep 1839
To: (Father) Wm. King, Gallatin, Sumner County Tennessee
From: G. W. King, Savannah, Hardin Co. Tennessee
(Posted during trip to Mississippi)
--- 1839 (Image)
To: C. B. King
From: (unsigned)
(Mississippi Springs Rail Road Co. accounting)
18 May 1840
To: (Father) William King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: G. W. King, Canton Mississippi
16 Dec 1840
To: Wm. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: G. W. King, Canton Mississippi
Note: Above is the last letter addressed to Wm. King.
--- 1842 (Image)
To: C. B. King
From: Dr. John Ford
(Accounting of money paid “at the Mississippi Springs”)
15 May 1842
To: (Uncle) Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: N. M. Taylor, Madison Mississippi
Flux and Lice
22 May 1842
Mary J. Lancaster, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: N. M. Taylor, Madison Mississippi
12 Sep 1842
To: Miss Ann Maria Lancaster, Gallatin, Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: (Father) Sam H. Lancaster, Madison Cty Mississippi
30 Jan 1843
To: Thomas Hunt, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: N. M. Taylor, Madison Mississippi
(Mentions Steamboat Cumberland and “mumps”)
4 Mar 1843
To: Miss Margaret W. Hunt, Gallatin Sumner Cty Tennessee
From: (Cousin) Maria Lancaster, Madison Cty Mississippi
18 Jun 1844
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
15 Mar 1846
To: (Uncle) Charles B. King, Gallatin, Sumner County Tennessee
From: Ellen C. King
26. 29 Jul 1846
To: Miss Ann Lancaster, Gallatin, Sumner Co. Tennessee
From: “Sister Mary,” Midway Mississippi
20 Nov 1847
To: C. B. King
From: I. H. King
(Introduction letter for M. Meador - hand carried)
21 Jun 1849
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.”)
--- 1850 [?]
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
19 Apr 1850
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.”)
23 Apr 1850
To: Mrs. Mary J. T. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: W. H.“Hamilton” King, Columbus Texas
(To “Ma” discusses “Pa’s misfortunes . . . heavy pecuniary
losses”)
3 Feb 1859
To: C. B. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: I. H. K., Natchez
23 Oct 1859
To: “Dear Cousin” (May be “Peggy,” daughter of Thomas Hunt)
From: Maria (Lancaster) (Mississippi)
12 May 1860
To: “My dear Aunts”
From: (Unsigned, probably missing a sheet. In the hand writing of Jodie Guthrie. See
next letter. ) Nashville
3 August 1862
To: “My dear Aunts” Sumner County
From: Jodie Guthrie, Wilson County Tennessee
1884
To: Mary T. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: “Fount,” Rockwall Texas
1884
To: Mary T. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: “Fount,” Rockwall Texas
1884
To: Mary T. King, Gallatin Tennessee
From: “Fount,” Rockwall Texas
6 May 1888
To: “Carry” (Carrie Burton Harris?), (Fresno California?)
From: Maggie John
1888-1890
To: Mrs. A. G. Harris, Fresno California
From: “Mother,” Gallatin Tennessee
30 Oct 1890
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
31 Aug 1891
To: Miss Frank King
From: Inez V. Tighe, Memphis Tennessee
Contains questions on the King family ancestors -- but scant answers. Sorry.
18 Mar 1892
To: Maggie K. Harris
Gallatin Tennessee
From Bridges & Ellis - Gen Agts, Shelbyville Tennessee
(Letter about a life insurance settlement on Maggie’s late husband.)
13 Jun 1892
To: (Sister) Mrs. Mag Harris. Gallatin Tennessee
From: Gin (Virginia ?), Nashville Tennessee
14 Apr 1901
To: (Mother) Mrs. M. K. Harris, Gallatin Tennessee
From: (Son) Bright Harris, Tennessee Industrial School, Nashville Tennessee
 The Taylor Connection (Genealogy Notes)
John Taylor of Nansemond Co., Virginia and Chowan, Granville, Bute (Warren), and Franklin
Counties, North Carolina.
By the late Bill Royce Linder
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