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| Letters (originals in possession of Charles Miller) from Felix Hughes to Ebenezer Miller describe his trip from Abbeville to the Natchez area in 1797-1798: Felix Hughes to Ebenezer Miller, Long Cane Knoxville Octr. 17th 1797 Dear Ebenr. This Day we all arrived safe with out any accident whatever, and all well except Mary ann who has a most violent whooping Cough. Joseph will inform you of all the particulars along the Road. Éwe have got a rom for Nothing to stay in, but do not expect to set off from this place until a swell comes in the River. I expect to move to some more private and cheap place, than to stay in Town I send Back Brandy and have taken Joseph's Note for 60 Dollars, the price I was offered for him, I do not think we will meet with any interruption going down the River. É. Felix Hughes Felix Hughes to Ebenezer Miller, Abbeville, SC Natchez, Cole's Creek, March 27th, 1798 Dear Eben: Tho' I arrived at the Natchez on Feb. the 2nd, yet I had no opportunity of writing sooner, and am very happy to have one now. After a Voyage of four Months exactly, I and my Family arrived safe and in good health. Peggy had some little illness on the Way, and the Children had ye Whooping Cough, but they got partly well before we arrived, and look as well if not better than when we started. Brother Robt. soon learned of our arrival, and immediately brought a cart and horses and took us out to his own house where Peggy and the Children now are and will not hear of me taking them to Mr. Thom. Green's, with whom I have engaged the 13th Inst. to teach a School for 250 Dol. for one year. ÉWe also desire to assure you and Brother Andrew that he will use his utmost endeavours to secure some Lands for you all, but as there is no move as yet ____ of Spaniards being still in possession of the Country, tho' daily expected to move off. Only by occupying and improving, he will endeavor to get what Right he can. If Joseph was in this Country now he would be the means of assuredly getting some land. There is a great quantity of vacant Land here of an excellent quality. Robt. and I went out to look for some & we saw a good quantity. The report has already spread that he has a Claim in such and such a place which has prevented others from laying a Claim in the same Place. He also hoped Andy will be in readiness to take a Trip with him back to this Country. I have no news worth relating, except that this Country is yet between Hawk and Buzzard. The Parties that were formed here last summer prevented Robt. from going to see you. ÉThere is scarcely any thing now in the Spanish Fort. They are also moving off from the Wallnut Hills where there is a beautiful FortÉ.. The People's Minds, who are living on Lands formerly granted to British Noblemen are much agitated lest these British Claims may be made good to the original Grantees, and all are disturbed on acct. of Georgia's Claim. Cash is a scarce article here. ÉBaptists have almost overrun the Headwaters of Cole's Creek, and S. Rasharine, a Presbyterian Minister is much wanted here. É If you know of any Families coming to this Country, tell them by no means to venture down the Tennessee unless there be a very high Fresh. Let them go to Cumberland, and by all Means to take their Horses with them down the River, or send them by land thro' the Nations, for there is no Danger. We saw I believe 500 Indians of different Nations and they were all very civil. Horses are very dear here now, owing to the Appalusia Trade being stopt and also to the great number of horses taken away by the Kentuckians returning home by Land. É Tell Geo. Reid, if he be ordained, to come, and take my excuse for not writing, which is totally owing to the unsettled police of the Country. Tell Andy not to cut his Colt. I think he will sell here for twice as much as there. A Horse like Brandy sells here for 90 or 100 Dollars. Most affectionate Brother Felix Hughes Another much later letter includes the following: Felix Hughes to Ebenezer Miller Near Greenville, M.T. May 6th, 1817 Dear Eben'r. .... Cousin Rob't. Miller left my house this morning, on a visit to his Uncle Rob't. He lives with a Mr. Rutherford in Natchez, and is doing well. Will'm. Simmons is croping with me this year. His father's family is well. My Wife paid them a visit last Jan'y. Peggy Ann Johnston lives with them. Shane Johnston's oldest Son and Daughter are married, as for Shane himself. I hear he makes out but so, so. Shane Wells and George are getting rich fast, particularly the former. Brother Rob't. continues to reside on the West Bank of the Mississippi, and I fear will not make much this Year, as the river is very high, and continues rising, both his crop and stock will again be in jeopardy. As for myself and family, we generally enjoy good health. I still continue Secretary to the Legislative Council but expect to hold the Office no longer than this year, as we are about entering into a State Government. The people are much divided on the Subject, and altho' the measure be against my own private Interest, I am an advocate for it.... From J. F. Claiborne, "Mississippi, as a Province, Territory and State" p. 225--Felix Hughes named master in Chancery of Justices for Jefferson County. p. 210--serving on Territorial Committee, Natchez, Oct. 2, 1799 p. 209--led fight against code (under Pres. Adams) and fees Goodspeeds "Biographical & Historical Memoirs of Mississippi" (1891) p. 291 says Felix Hughes born about 1770 in County Armagh Ireland. m. Margaret Miller. Emigrated to N.S. latter part of 18th cent, married in S.C. and soon afterwards settled near Fayette MS. children listed at pages 291 and 292 Sharpe gives information recorded herein for birth and death. Also states: "Felix Hughes was a teacher at Franklin Academy founded 1806 in Jefferson Co. Miss. Trained for Episcopal priesthood in Ireland, became Presbyterian in America. Lived at Cedar Hill Plantation, Fayette Co. Miss. Established a church on their own plantation called "Old Harmony" Felix and Margaret Hughes built "Cedar Hill" on land granted by the Spanish Government. Located 3 and one half miles south of Fayette, MS and a quarter of a mile from Highway 61. McBee Natchez court Records, states at p. 355 (National Archives, Washington, D.C., Private Grants, Written Evidences of Claims West of Pearl River, Book A, p. 8) James Cole of Natchez District for $100 and six months schooling of five children, sold 6 Sep 1798 tract where Cole now lives to Felix Hughes. In August 1798 Hughes was listed as witness to a deed (McBee p. 379). On 7 Jan. 1806 Hughes witnessed deed from Robert Simmons (perhaps husband of Ann Miller) to William Kennedy (McBee p. 568). Note: James Cole was father-in-law of Robert Miller. Mary Glowers Hendrix, "Mississippi Court Records from the files of the High Court of Errors and Appeals" contains (p. 278) will dated 11 April 1821 of Thomas Calvit of Jefferson County in which he states his desire that his daughter "shall live with the family of Felix Hughes until she be old enough to be sent to boarding school..." Betty Couch Wiltshire, "Mississippi Index of Wills 1800-1900," p. 100 states that Felix Hughes Will is recorded in Jefferson County Book A-81 (1824) and the Margaret Hughes will is recorded in Jefferson County Book P.E-523 (1853). Felix's will Page A-81(http://www.rootsweb.com/~msjeffe2/wills2.htm) has the following references : Wife - dearly beloved wife, Margaret Hughes Sons - Philip Oscar Hughes, Son - Jefferson J. Hughes, Lot #1 in Square #34 in Natchez Daughter - received land from John Elldenfill Executors - Margaret Hughes, and Philip O. Hughes Witnesses - James Folkes, _______, John ________. [Can't read the rest] Note letter to HRM from Hibernia Margeret Hughes (daughter of Felix) dated May 1833 lists writers address as "Irishman's Retreat" [name of earlier home?] Miss. Cemetery and Bible Records, vol. 3, p. 63, lists Felix Hughes as buried at Old Hominy Ridge Presbyterian Church Cemetery, 2 miles southwest of Fayette, Jefferson County, Mississippi. His birth year is listed as 1752. His death date is listed as 23 Jan. 1824. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Last Modified 6 Dec 2002 | Created 10 Apr 2004 by Reunion for Macintosh |