H. Austin to James F. Perry, May 9, 1833

Summary: Austin asked Perry if he could shelter his family on Perry's land. He offered to bring plenty of supplies and slaves. Mainly he was scared for the safety of his family because they were driven off their land and Austin himself had a heart attack. Ended the letter by asking if Perry had escaped a recent flood and that pestilence in the Brasos valley would soon appear.

Bolivar 9th May/33

Mr J F Perry

My dear Sir

Do me the favor to inform me by first convenient oppy[sic] if you intend to occupy your cabbins on Pleasant bayou this season, if not if I may take my fammily there until I can get my own shelter up as you kindly offered when I last saw you--

If your fammily go to Pleasant bayou as they ought to do why cannot my children move in with them for a few weeks or the season if Emily can bear the trouble we can club the expense & make it much less for each an[sic] one lot of Servants will answer for all--I have plenty of bacon to carry us all through, some groceries to--furniture enough, one small negro girl besides my cook whom I must discharge as useless and one negro boy

I see no safety for our fammily [ 1] flight from the Brasos bottom--Mary has been at the point of death since we were driven from our home 2 I have had another heart attack

I hope you have escaped the flood. Some reports say yes Some no--My best remembrances to Emily your daughters fammily We must look to the Safety of our fammily, immediately in prefference to all other things, for pestilence in the Brasos Valley & that soon is certain--

Truly & Cordially

Yours

H Austin

[Endorsed:]

H Austin

Bolivar

9h[sic] May 1833

Source Copy Consulted: H. Austin to James F. Perry, May 9, 1833, in James Franklin Perry and Stephen Samuel Perry Papers, Records of Ante-bellum Southern Plantations, Series G, Part 1, Reel 13, Frames 170-171.