Letter to John C. Bullitt from Helen Bullitt and Martha Bullitt concerning the health of people enslaved by the Bullitt family, dated October 2nd, 1846.

A letter from Helen Bullitt and Martha Bullitt (Oxmoor) to their brother John C. Bullitt (Clarksville, Tennessee), dated October 2nd, 1846. Helen writes that many of the people enslaved by the Bullitt family are ill, including: Nathan, Samuel, "Uncle Little Bill," Mary, Titus, John Coleman, Milton, Eliza Julia, Henry Shipp, Tom, Jim, and "Mammy" (most likely Beck). Martha describes how Titus, a person enslaved by the Bullitt family, was almost burnt to death, and mentions other enslaved people, including: Lewis, Lucinda, Chavy, and Louisa Taylor (labelled as Teush). Helen also mentions Henry Shipp, an enslaved carriage driver, and his conversation with his wife, Eliza Julia, (who is enslaved by another enslaver): "Cousin Annie was out here Thursday and Wednesday, Julia was out here last Wednesday and Henry was showing her a picture and says, 'Look baby see dat house full wid a heap or little wifes in it, but me and you aint dar; is we baby?"

Manuscript Collection, Bullitt Family Papers, The Filson Historical Society

The Filson Historical Society, Special Collections

Johansen, Emma

Mss_A_B937c-0154_002