Subject: Lavender Letters From: Steven J. Coker Date: August 24, 1998 Old Letters by Dr. Abraham Donald Lavender Published in "The Lavender Line" Volume 1, No. 2 Winter 1982 Editor: Doris Lavender Vilda (Note: First letter written by John Littleton Lavender, son of Robert Winter Lavender who was a son of Benjamin Lavender of Sumter District, S.C. to William Ellison Lavender, son of John Lavender, a son of Benjamin Lavender.) Transcribed: Postmarked Tallahassee, Fla. Sept. 21, 1877. To William E. Lavender, Esq. Manning (crossed out) and "Try Bethelm, South Carolina." Also, "P.M. Please forward by someone if not called for. The P.O. may not be as address." Dear Cousin, I have seated my self to write you a few lines to let you no how we are at this present time. We all are well at present hoping to find you the same. Dear Cousin, I have not heard from you in a great while. I have written to you but I have not got any answer. You must write soon as you can. I want to hear from you all, Cousin. I have no news of much importance to write you. Crops are sorry generally. I am going to school now. We have a very good teacher Mr. Rhames as our teacher. Cousin, you must write soon and let me hear from all my kin near you, Cousin write me and answer soon and let me hear all the news. Times are bad generally. Money is scarce but we hope for better times. Cotton is at a low price. Papa is enjoying very good health. Mr. Potts got killed on the R.R. some time since. I must close my short letter Cousin, you must write. Your affectionate Cousin, John L. Lavender On March 9, 1887, seven years after Robert Winter Lavender died another letter was written to William Ellison Lavender of New Zion, Clarendon County, South Carolina. The writer was Ida Matilda Lavender, daughter of Robert Winter Lavender, Wakulla Co., Fla. Postmarked Ben Haden, Fla., March 9, 1887. To Mr. W.E. Lavender, New Zion, S.C. Cousin William Doubtless you will be surprised to hear from me but you used to write to sister Mattie but it has been a long time. I can't remember it but I have heard her speak of it. I wrote two letters to you and both of them came back to me. I directed them wrong but I have found where your post office is now. Mr. Rodgers came down here Christmas from South Carolina he said be thought New Zion was your post office he said that he didn't know any of you all he merely knew there was some people living there by that name. Mr. Rogers has relatives in Wakulla and he came down on visit so I wrote to the postmaster at New Zion inquiring of the Lavenders and received her letter yesterday and she gave me your name Robert Lavender and said there was three sisters but she didn't give me their names and said you all were uncle Johnie Lavenders children so I know it is the same family and Robert is named after Papa I recon because he was named Robert and I feel very anxious to hear from you all I want to know how many there is and what their names an hear generally how is getting along we are first cousins and would not know each other if we were to meet I would be so glad to see you all. I wish some of you would come out here on a visit to see us we are the only family of Lavenders living here and there is but few of us living. Martha and four children three daughters and one son, Mattie, Johnie, Josephine and Ida that is names. All married except me and all live in Wakulla and all in the County except Sister Mattie she lives in a little village 10 miles from us and every one is farmers all getting along very well but there has been sorry crops made here for the past three years but I hope this year will be a better one. Mama has got seven grandchildren. Mattie has got four, three sons and one girl. Johnie has got two a little boy and girl. Josephine has one little Boy. I want you all to send (one?) your pictures and write the names on them so I will no them and I will send mine as soon as I have some taken. Well I believe I have wrote all I know until I find out more about you all. you must write soon and write a long letter as ever your cousin Ida Lavender ==== SCROOTS Mailing List ==== Go To: #, A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z, Main |