Seminole Wars | Spared & Shared 23

This letter was written by 48 year-old John Atherton III (1769-1824), the son of John Atherton II (1747-1825) and Mary Adams (1751-1843)—the 2nd cousin of President John Adams— of Stoughton, Norfolk county, Massachusetts. John Atherton III was married to Sally Bird (1778-1818) and the couple had at least eight children, two of which are mentioned in this letter as having accompanies John to Savannah, Georgia. They include his sons John Atherton IV (1799-1826) and Lemuel Bird Atherton (1804-1860).

John’s letter briefly describes Savannah, Georgia, in 1817 and speaks of the enormous cotton trade already dominating the city business. We gather from John’s letter that he has relocated to Savannah on account of his health, looking for a warmer climate. He also speaks of the militia being called out to fight Indians—probably a reference to the Seminole Wars.

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*Addressed to Mr. John Atherton, Stoughton, Massachusetts*

Savannah [Georgia]
December 29th 1817

Honored Father,

I take this opportunity to inform you that we are well & hope you and yours are so. I left home the first of November—the wind being southerly. Did not start from Newport till the 21st & got to this place on the 1st of December about 2 o’clock in the morning. I hired a room and chamber & moved into it the 3rd of December. I have hired a stall in the market & buy hogs that are brought to market dressed and cut them up & sell & what is unsold at 9 o’clock, I bring home & salt & then go to making cigars. I have five boarders at $4 per week. Lemuel cooks while John and I go to market. Then John cooks & Lemuel & I makes cigars. So we go on.

Savannah is a small place and the buildings in general are very poor. You house & Mr. Osgood’s, were they here, would be quite elegant. But there is a great deal of business done here. You have no idea of the quantity of cotton brought here for sale. I believe I have seen bags enough to cover your farm. The whole business of the State centers here. Consequently labor and provision is very high. Whether I shall earn more than enough to pay my expenses or not is yet uncertain but I hope to come home in better circumstances than I came. But be that as it may, I am here well & hearty & if I was at home, I should probably be sick a great part of the winter.

The weather here is warm and nearly one half of the time is cloudy, misty and rainy. We have had but two frosts since I came—one about Christmas. The ground then was froze nearly an inch thick.

There is a call for soldiers here but we know not where they are to be sent—whether to fight the Indians or to take possession of East Florida. One fourth part of the militia have been drafted and it is expected they will be called for soon but I am too old and John too young so we steer clear. But a great many of the Yankees—as we are called—have left this place on the same account. I can think of nothing more at present, Please to write as soon as convenient. — John Atherton

I can’t be absolutely certain of this author’s identity but believe it to have been written by William Ransom Rathbone (1810-1872), the son of N. Y. militia General Ransom Rathbone (1780-1861) and his wife Catherine (1791-1857) who lived in Elmira, Chemung county, New York. In this May 1838 letter, William announces his intention to go to Washington, D. C. to see the President Martin Van Buren and to request a commission in the U. S. Army, despite being only a civilian with little or no military training (apparently). If he was successful in this endeavor, I can find no military record to confirm it.

In the 1850 US Census, Rathbone was married but still residing in his parents home in Addison, Steuben county, New York, working as a lumberman. During the Civil War, Rathbone managed to get a commission as captain in the US Volunteers Commissary Department from November 1862 to August 1864 when he resigned.

I believe also that Rathbone wrote the letter to Benjamin Tredwell Kissam (1819-1907), the son of Joseph Kissam (1790-1863) and Anne Magdalene Embury (1788-1829) of New York City.

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Portsmouth
May 19th 1838

My Dear Sir,

I this moment received yours of the 16th enclosing $ for which I thank you & your Father at thousand times. you need not send any more according to the request in my other letter. This will answer my present wants. I can hardly find words to express my gratitude for this kind favor which I had no right to expect. I can only say that I hope it may be in my power to return in some degree the many kindnesses you have shown me.

I shall now go on to Washington to ask of the President a commission in the army. It will be a very hard matter for me to procure it but notwithstanding I don’t believe that he will dare to excuse me. [Lt. Gov.] John Tracy has written him on the subject telling him of my many wonderful virtues and of my strong political friendship. I have also two other friends in Washington who are making all the interest for me possible. If with all this influence he excuses me, I will make him rue it. Such a thing scarcely ever happens that a commission is granted to a citizen which makes it doubtful whether I shall be able to succeed.

I have said nothing to my family in relation to the matter nor to anyone else excepting [Lt.] Gov. Tracy & my friends in Congress. I thought that my father and mother would object, particularly as long as the Seminole War continued. Therefore, please say nothing about the matter.

I remain as ever forever, — Wm. R. Rathbone

B. T. Kissam

P. S. Give my love to all. — Wm. R. R.

Please write Henry what you have done for me & that I request that he will forward the money immediately on to you. Upon the whole, I will write him. You need not.