Rebecca Ann Gray

Rebecca Austin Gray BIRTH 1796 Virginia, USA DEATH 20 Aug 1864 (aged 67–68) Mattoon, Coles County, Illinois, USA BURIAL Non-Cemetery Burial, Specifically: Rebecca Austin was buried with other family members who died in Mattoon, Illinois in 1864 MEMORIAL ID 154627872 · View Source

MEMORIAL PHOTOS 0 FLOWERS 1 Letter from Hannah Horton Gray (married to Alexander Gray b 1817) to her children.

Matoon, Illinois August 19, 1864

Dear Children,

On the 10th of July, we left Little Rock to go on North and arrived at Duvall’s Bluff where on the 14th of the same month Benjamin, your little girl Susan Franklin died and was buried the following day. And Thomas, your dear little sister Rebecca died the 16th and was buried the 17th. And on the same day your uncle’s child Frances C. died, but the boats left and we buried her on the 19th at the south of the White River.

Then after several days ride boats about the 24th of July, we arrived in Matoon, Illinois all sick but Poke. My trouble then began to increase greatly and on the 6th of August in the evening your dear father [Alexander] died leaving us all alone in a strange land.

And Benjamin, the same night at eleven your little boy Samuel died and on the next day (August 7th) both were buried. And Samuel Parks, your little girl Martha died the 17th of August. On the 18th buried beside your father and little Samuel. Your grandmother [Rebecca] is lying now at the point of death. And Sarah and Betsy are very low.

Tomorrow morning we will leave this place and go on a farm about 15 miles from here. I think we have found a good country here. I don’t think it has ever been …..?...., there is plenty of everything here and many kind friends.

I want you as soon as you can to get a furlough and come up here to see us. We haven’t been able to do a bit of work since we got here. I have found the kindest people here I ever met with. I don’t lay our sickness to the country since we came here but to the water on the boats and now when we go to the country we hope all will get well. We have had the diarrhea but your father must have had typhoid also.

Since I wrote this your Grandmother [Rebecca Austin Gray -my great-great-great grandmother] died last night [August 20]. Tell Jacob Shipman that his father and mother have both been sick, and that his daughter is nothing but skin and bones. We are going to a place in one mile so I don’t know the name of it. I will write you again from there. If any of our neighbors come out here tell them to come the direct route from Cairo, Illinois to Matoon and when you write who all have left there, where they have gone and if any of them have been killed by the Jayhawkers. Tell me also if your uncle Warren is still with the rebels and if he does get out, tell Sarah Ann to come here for there’s plenty of everything for there’s no want here, and very good friends.

Tell Wilson Gray, Aaron, and Willie Gray that I have not forgotten them and I want them to write. Tell Mary that I should like to see her. And Samuel little May is very weak yet but they say she is getting better. Write soon if you can and direct to Matoon, Coles County, Illinois.

Our love to all.

Your affectionate mother,

Family Members Spouse Photo James Warren Gray 1796–1851 (m. 1815)

Children Photo John Henry Gray 1818–1892

Photo James Warren Gray 1826–1912

Photo Wilson Grimes Gray 1837–1913

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/154627872/rebecca-gray