Chalcraft & Smith - England, IN, IL
Part one of two parts. No research offered, but feel it important to share information. sk
Letter.
Utica Miss March 29/80
Mrs. Harriett Chalcraft, Albion, Ill.
Dear Aunt Harriett
Yours and Cousins Bells came safe to hand. In reply allow me to thank you for the blessing I so richly deserve for not complying with my promise to write that long, long letter you have been so diligently waiting for. I havent much news to tell youthe best is we all keep well. I am still at Utica in the same old business we have a good prospect of having a new railroad built through our country which will help us out considerablyin fact they are working on it at Jackson, Missit runs from Natches to Jackson and is called the Natchez [sic], Jackson & Columbus Railroad.
If the railroad succeeds soon then I'll think of talking business to that dark eyed girl you seem desposed to tease about. The girls down here all accuse me of being fickle. I do not know why. I have never fooled any of them yet. I have always thought myself too young to marry until now and now I think I am too poor. That is, unless she would be easily contented on the finance question. We have had a great deal of wet weather this spring -- people are backward about planting corn, etc. Pa will finish planting this week. Everyboddy is going in to raise a heap of cotton as it commands such a nice price and is always equal to money at any time.
Brother George is still going to school in Clinton, Miss. He speaks of going to New York to take a commercial course after the first of next January. Jno. Smith is at Martin Station about 40 miles from Natchez in business. I must beg you to excuse this short letter Aunt as I have to go out in the country at once. So goodby, with much love, your affectionate nephew, S.A. Smith.
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Letter.
Rutland, LaSalle, E IllDec 30th 1880
Dear Mother,
I now write you a few lines in answer to yours wich I received Christmas eve. I was glad to hear from you and to hear that you was all well and hope this may find you all enjoying good health. This leaves us all well except for the girlsthey have got the hooping cough and I have got a bad cole. I was sorry to hear the bad news of cousin Lavina death. We heard of it on Wensday evning. Aunt Mary received a letter from Uncle John Smith. Little did I think she was in trouble when she went to the Harmony fair for she seemed to be so lively then. I sent word by in Hattie letter and Mary B. told Vina cousins Mary Gill in the letter she wrote to her to tell Vina to write to me but she did not write to me. it has bin very cold the last two or three days the thermometer was 17 degrees below zero in Rutland night before lat but it is not quite so cold to dayI recived those handkerchief yesterday want sent for the mail the day before by a man that was passing bu the post-master would not let him have it because it was regestered so Uncle Will went to town yesterday and got themI have the two to the girls and the others to Mary B. they seemed to be pleased with them and thought they were very pretty. I spent Christmas at Uncle Will'sRuth was talking having a dinner but one of Will Call brothers children died and they heard of Livina death and they thought they would not have a Christmas dinner. Then I received those nice presents a pair of vases and a box of paper and envelopes from Aunt Mary and a nice glass mug from Mary [Brining or Burning]I gave Aunt Mary the print dress I brought with me and gave Annie and Florence a handkerchief a piece and made them a little work box apiece and gave them some little vases and gave Uncle Will a linen handkerchief and match box and I gave Mary B. a silver thimble and made her a pin coushen and gave herWe went to church sunday Ruth and family were there and was well. Uncle James folks are geting better of the hooping cough
Uncle and and Will have just gone byMary French was here the day before Christmassshe is coming over to get me to go and stay a week with her next week or before longI have not bin to see eny of them since I was sick. the ground is covered with snow but not quite enough to sley ride goodone of hr Lichfield sons was married last night to one of Will balls cousins. her name was Katie [Feltor or Fettor or Festor]. I have not learnt any of the girls wax flowers yet but I guess I will larn.
Sally Stratton and Annie and Florence when aunt Mary get to go to my ____________ to get some wax. Uncle Will is going to take us to my ______ when it moderates so it wont be to coald to go. Uncle Will finished husking corn mondayyore said will received my lettertell him I am looking for a letter from him any dayUncle got one of Ed Chalcraft paper yesterday they are talking of taking it insted of the Jarnal. Uncle Will have rented his other house fore this winterthe man that lives in it he is going to build him a new house and he is going to live their for it is not far from were he is going to build it is about a mile from ________ place north on the corner as we go to church.
Well, I cant think of much more to write this time. tell Frank I am looking for a letter from himhe sent word in [?Anna] letter fore me to send him a Christmas giftI will send him a small one a little book mark. I hope you all had a Merry christmas and hope you will have a happy New year. we all send our love to you all
I will send [?Anna] a letter with yours Annie and Florence said to tell you they would write to you next time and that I was to tell you they wasmuch obliged to you for the handchiefs and Mary B said to tell you was much oblige to you for hers so I must close fore this time hoping to here from you soon
my love to Father and brothers
from your Affectionate Daughter
Bell Chalcraft
How are your flowers getting along this winter
have any of them froze or have had any in bloom
please excuse this scribbling for I have made so many blunders, write soon
does Mary Ann baby grow enycan she set alone yet
give my love for Alfred and Mary Ann.
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From a typed manuscript with the letters, no name for the compiler:
NAMESBIRTHMARRIAGEDEATH
James Chalcraft Jan 14 1820Dec 11 1845April 14, 1892
Harriet SmithMarch 20, 1827Feb 27 1895
Alfred BradfordMay 7, 1851July 3 1924
IsabelleNov 28, 1853
Hanna MaryDec 8 1855Sept 10, 1865
RosettaMay 6 1858Oct 16 1862
William JamesDec 21 1860
Logan CharlesJune 2 1863
Henry GeorgeJuly 28 1865
Frank JohnDec 3 1867Sept 6 1887.
Alfred Bradford ChalcraftJuly 3, 1924
Mary Ann GarnerMarch 19 1855Nov 5 1910
Emma HarrietFeb 20 1874
Lottie MaryMar 7 1876
Louis J.Apr 11 1878
Herbertdied 1880
Coradied 1884
LuluSept 26 1884died 1886
ClaraSept 6 1886
AlvaMay 8 1888
Lyman GeorgeDec 9 1890
NellieOct 25 1895died 1897
Amy E.Sept 20 1898died 1916
Emma Harriet Chalcraft married Maurice Shepherd Mar 29 1893
2 infant sons 1894, 1895
Harry Bradford Shepherd 1897
Ethel May Shepherd 1902
Edith Alice Shepherd 1907
Frank Morris Shepherd 1911
Harry Bradford Shepherd married Lucy McCollum Aug 29 1925 and they had:
Maurice D. 1933-1957, married Nadine Cowling
and
Ethel May Shepherd 1902-1922 who m Clayton Clark 1900.
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I believe James Chalcraft was born in [spelling? Guilford], County Surry, England in 1800, married Mary Eads about 1819-1820 in England, came to America to look for a new home between 1825 and 1835, returned for his family and settled in New Harmony, IN about 1838. They settled in Edwards County, IL about 1844-1845 on land later owned [1952] by Maurice Chalcraft. James died near Albion, IL 1855. Mary was born 1800 in Tillford, England, died 1873 near Albion. Buried Old Cemetery. Daughter of Robert Eads of Abbots Pond, Tilford, Surrey [sic], England.
About the Chalcraft children I know but little ---
--- Richard born ca 1829 England, married Lucy Gill; the Thomas Gill family lived next to Richard Chalfcraft and had a daughter Lucy: 1850 census.
---William born 1832 England, married Mary Colyer.
---George born ca 1835 England, married Elizabeth Baker.
---Mariah born 1838 New Harmony, IN, m John C. Smith, d 1909 near Bone Gap, IL.
---Emily Ann b ca 1840 IN, d 1929 Browns, IL, m Edwin Gill, had daughter Jennie Gill Colyer [Emily A. Chalcraft born Posey County, IN married Edwin Gill of Edwards County, IL].
---Elizabeth born ca 1824 England, d 1906 Albion, IL, m Charles Smith.
---James born 1820 England, d 1892 near Albion, IL m Harriet Smith [1827-1895] and their children included: Alfred, Isabelle, Hanna, Rosetta, William, Logan, Henry and Frank.
---Mary born 1822 England, d 1880 Evansville, IN, m William Green.
---Marsha born 1826 England, d 1902 Toluca, IL, m James Stratton.
Utica is in Hinds County, MS.
1850 Edwards County, IL US Census:
#120-121
James Chalcraft 50 farmer England
Mary Chalcraft 50 England
Richard Chalcraft 20 England
William Chalcraft 17 England
George Chalcraft 15 England
Maria Chalcraft 12 IN
Emily Chalcraft 10 IN.
#121-122
Isaac Smith 49 farmer England
Sarah Smith [Stone] 41 England
George Smith 18 IL
Captain Smith 15 IL
Hannah Smith 13 IL
Harriet Smith 11 IL
Isaac Smith 9 IL
Mary Smith 7 IL
Ann Smith 4 IL.
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1883 Edwards County IL Patrons List [a type of directory]:
James Chalcraft Albion section 17 farmer born Surrey county England 1855
Harriet Smith section 17 wife of James born Surrey County, England ----
Edwin GillAlbion section 9 farmer born Edwards County IL 1837
Emily A. Chalcraft section 9 born Posey County, IN 1847, his wife
Frank Smith Albion section 20 farmer born Edwards County, IL 1843
Mary A Pote Albion section 20 born Posey County, IN 1870, his wife
Isaac Smith Jr Albion section 24 farmer born Edwards County IL 1841
Mary A. Reid Albion section 24 born Brook County WVA 1847 his wife
Isaac Smith Sr Albion section 13 farmer born England 1830
Sarah Stone Albion born England date?his wife
William Smith Albion section 25, farmer born Surrey County England 1834
Harriet Nash Albion born Surrey Co England 1837 his wife.
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Original Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Edwards CO IL
Florence wife of John Chalcraft 1890-1909.
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The Edwards County IL Clerk has a will/probate for a James Chalcraft and wife Mary, and Richard Chalcraft died 1909 and wife Lucy.
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John Smith born 1790 in England
died Albion, Edwards County, IL
married 1 Hannah born England 1793, died 1843 Albion, Albion Cemetery
married 2 Mary Butcher
Children of John Smith:
James who m Harriet Bennett
Mary Ann who married John Holt
William M. born 1818 m Harriet Nash, died 1920
Charles 1820-1908 m Elizabeth Chalcraft 1843
Henry m Marsha Robinson and he d 1907
John b 1825 m Caroline Gillard 1854
Harriett b 1827 m James Chalcraft 1845
George [older than William] m Diana Flutters, died young, Diana m2 Edmiston
Elizabeth m Henry Ledbetter
stepdaughter Terrell in John's will.
More Replies:
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Re: Chalcraft & Smith - England, IN, IL
Sherry Kaseberg 3/26/01
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Re: Chalcraft & Smith - England, IN, IL
Jean Lewis 8/28/02
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Re: Chalcraft & Smith - England, IN, IL