The letter was written by Jesse Cowand of Bay St. Louis, MS on November 28, 1840, and it was to his daughter, Jane Cowand Aken, who was residing in New Orleans, LA at that time. I will add the appropriate punctuation and correct the spelling as best as I can.
John Cowand, Wilmington, North Carolina
Bay St Louis, 28th Nov. 1840
Dear Daughter,
This will inform you that we are all well here except myself, and I am so fat that I have no clothing but what is too small for me. I hope you are enjoying good health. It has been very cold here for the last 4 days. We had snow on the 25, ice on the 26, white frost on the 27 and 28. We send you one sack sweet potatoes and one to Mrs. Henry and 2 (I think) small boxes and one sack of sweet potatoes to Mr. Dickemon (?). Tell Mr. Field that if there should be anything here that he should want, he must write and I will send it. I expect he is almost tired of the city already and that I have not caught any fish since the 20. The weather has been too cold.
My respects to all of you. Your father,
J. Cowand
Mrs. J. Aken
One box for Julia
Obituary for Mrs Jane Aken in both the Daily Picayune and Daily True Delta on 1861-12-31.
Name of deceased: Mrs Jane Aken (Cowand)
Date of Death: 1861-12-29
Age: 39 yrs
Sex: F
Next of Kin: A.K. (or A.R.) Aken (husband)
Above information forwarded by Cynthia Powell, New Orleans Public Library.
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