Plummer Papers

To Mother (Mary Plummer) From Jos E. Plummer

Addressed to
Mrs. Mary Plummer
Tuscumbia North Ala
unable to read postmark

Dear Mother

I am still in Natchez having unavoidably been detained waiting Saml who has been working on some men he engaged the mill so at New York ne of which has come but others are expected daily when I shall leave for Texas I am in better health than I ve been in for a year but was very unwell for 2 weeks after my arrival here.

I shall if ?? sell my Negroes and if I do not like Texas settle I think in Ala as I am really tined of moving land in excelent health. I have never seen a town grow as this does every place full and over full all ejoy good health and good ???

a company is started to have steam ships from this to New York direct stock all taken and had to reduce the subscription to give all a share. I had hoped to get a letter from you are thus but have been disappointed please write on the rec't of this as I may be detained but if not I will leave word to have it send to me = my respects to friend kiss the little dears for me expect to get another letter when I have this to inform you of my movements the mail will now be regular

We have most delightfull weather since I got here dry and warm till today when ?? in a very moderate warm rain. Dr. Griffin has sold out his plantation & returned to Nathez wife children & all but thinks of buying another farm. Parker is about to sell to Dr. Pollard and talks of going to N O to try another tavern. It to get 80,000$

Dr. Mercer has goine to Europe & had his house sold the other day at auction at 26,000 and since 31,000 has been offered. They are at work on the rail road & I suppose will be completed next year. The upper ??? Mills turned into a cotton press & 3 shipps are now up for ??? Liverpool & New York all loaded here and several more not yet ready there has been 6 or 7 ships here constantly & as many at Grand Gulf & Vicksburg not a week but 3 or 4 comes or passes and the people of New Orleans are very troubled on acount of it as it takes away several hundred thousand ?? from them annually some say Millions but I cannot get in the way of speaking so large I am offered 50,000$ for my negroes and expect to sell

I've been ?? there days occasionally ??? this waiting on Saml to finish James staying passed this moring for home I did not see him his brother John goes?? by water he says James is delighted with Texas and inland going there I have just returned from P.O expecting to get a letter from you but disappointed so I start this I hope to get off last week

Mr. Shipp sends much love & I've seen her in ?? only visited nobyd by Owen

Your afft Son
Jos E. Plummer

Contributed by Sylvi