Polk County GA Genealogy

Polk County

GAGenWeb a proud partner of USGenWeb®

usgenweb

Capt. George Payne's Letter To F. W. Pierce


Edited by Spessard Stone



This letter by George Payne to his cousin, F. W. Pierce, in Cornwall Bridge, Connecticut was published as "Capt. George Payne's Final Letter of 1849" in The Herald-Advocate (Wauchula, Fla.) of June 11, 1992. For easier reading, it has been slightly edited with comments in brackets.



Preface: George Payne, a 32-year-old native of Cornwall, Connecticut, was manager of the Kennedy-Darling trading post, located within the site of today's Paynes Creek State Historic Site on SR 664-A, east of Bowling Green, Fla. On July 17, 1849 Indians killed Payne and Dempsey Whidden, a clerk, and wounded another clerk, William McCullough, and his wife, Nancy, sister of Dempsey. Paynes Creek was posthumously named for Payne.



Hatselotka

June 8, 1849

Dear Cousin:

Your last with money enclosed after a variety of adventures was recd. As it was such a length of time before it reached me &, besides, I have been lately such a wilderness held bird, I have not found it convenient to answer you before, for which neglect I pray you grace.

When I last wrote, I was at the Indian Store at Charlotte's Harbor which, according to directions, I broke up in April, bringing the remaining goods by canoes up Pea River [Peace River] to this place, the enclosed rough map will give you an idea of the situation of the place at which I now am.

We came up the river 80 miles & from the fact that it had never before been travelled by white men the journey, excepting rains, was rather interesting. The rise of the stream is about that of your Housatonic, but if contains more water & in the wet season is (a) sweeping torrent with 20 feet water-lots of game in the live oak hammocks on the banks & plenty of fish in the stream.

About 1/2 way up from the head of C. Harbour [Charlotte Harbor], I found the skeleton of some immense animal, the description of which, particularly the teeth, agree with that of the Fossil Elephant. [A line in the copy is missing here.] Having room in the boats for but few, I took only some of the teeth vertebra & a leg bone, which is nearly 3 feet in length & in the smallest place has a diameter of 4 inches. All these I presented to Maj. Morris who sends them to Washington.

The distance from this to Tampa is about 50 miles. There is but one settler in the first 25 miles. The new Store is a fine large log building & when finished will be very convenient. I am now in charge & have plenty of business.

The proprietors came up to my terms in the matter of wages & would be very glad to retain me but I am getting tired of so much solitude. I think of leaving in the fall, if not before.

My exposure in coming up the river & a week to Tampa gave me a slight attack of the rheumatism from which I am just recovering.

Were it not that I am subject to this disease, I think I would put out for California & go at my old trade again. But then one's living grows almost anywhere. The only difference being in quality as it is after all of but little consequence whether the pile he dies on is great or small.

Florida possesses few inducements for new careers, but I rather like it, though to give the wherefore would be difficult.

I detest slavery & am obliged [line missing in copy] with the country.

When I am in Tampa & can get hold of a Northern bill, I will return you the money sent. I am obliged for the spirit with which you contemplated my very possible necessity. I was not put to any very great inconvenience though it was shocking not to be desired over once in two years.

I noticed an advertisement in which a S [?] Boat, the L. T. Gold, was offered for sale. I had previously heard that Mr. G had scared up something new. Has it failed as usual?

Direct to Tampa. I shall be happy to hear from you as often as possible.

I have lots of letters to write. I hear our people have moved to Plymouth making a sudden start in their old age.

You will please excuse my penmanship as the disease mentioned is just now affecting my right hand.

My respects to all enquirers.

Yours,

Geo. Payne



Acknowledgment: My thanks are extended to Dr. Deane R. Briggs, of 160 E. Lake Howard Drive, Winter Haven, FL 33881, for permission to publish and reproduce this letter.

 

Quick Links

 

Contact Us

If you have questions, contributions, or problems with this site, email:

Coordinator -

AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

State Coordinator: Paula Perkins

Asst. State Coordinator: Rebecca Maloney

Questions or Comments?

If you have questions or problems with this site, email the County Coordinator. Please to not ask for specfic research on your family. I am unable to do your personal research. I do not live in Indiana and do not have access to additional records.

usgenweb

Polk County GA Genealogy