ALEXANDER M WALLINGFORD



Alexander M Wallingford died in a drowning accident in the Kentucky River, near Frankfort, Kentucky. Following are a series of letters from Alexander prior to his death and from an A L Parker describing the details of Alexander's death.

FRANKFORT, KY DECEMBER 10, 1830. DEAR MOTHER, AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS: I NOW TAKE THIS OPERTUNITY TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM WELL, AND HOPEING THAT THESE FEW MAY FIND YOU THE SAME STATE OF HEALTTH. I AM WELL PLEASED WITH THE BUSINESS AND WITH THE TOWN AND WITH THE PEOPLE, AND WE HAVE AROUND HERE. AT THE STOR HAVE BEEN ONCE. I GO TO THAT EVERY NIGHT AND THAT IS A VERY CURIOUS THING. I CAN SEE A MAN FALL THROUGH THE FLOOR ONCE, AND MAKES NO PLACE WHERE HE GOES THROUGH AND THAT I THINK IS VERY CURIOUS. AND I WANT YOU TO WRITE, BROTHER HIRAM AND DIRECT YOUR LETTERS TO FRANKFORT POST OFFICE. AND TO LET ME KNOW ABOUT BROTHER LEWIS AND IF HE HAS GOT HOME. AND REMEMBER MY LOVE TO PERRY AND WILLIAM AND TO MANFORD. I HAVE NOTHING MORE, BUT REMAIN YOUR AFFECTIONATE SON UNTIL DEATH. ALEXANDER WALLINGFORD

MARY WALLINGFORD HIRAM WALLINGFORD LETTER: FRANKFORT, KY MAR 9 1831 DEAR MOTHER, I NOW TAKE THE OPPERTUNITY TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM WELL, AND HOPEING THAT WILL FIND YOU ENJOYING THE SAME. I AM WELL PLEASED WITH THE TOWN AND THE PEOPLE AND MY BROTHER N.J. AND IT AGREES WITH ME IN EVERY RESPECT. I HAVE A GREAT ANXIETY TO STICK TO IT. MR PARKER AND ME HAS COME TO A CONCLUSION THAT I WILL STAY WITH HIM TILL I AM OF AGE, IF YOU AND THE FAMILY WILL AGREE. I DON'T EXPECT TO COME DOWN TILL MR PARKER COMES FROM PHILADELPHIA AND HE AND I SHALL STAY ABOUT 2 WEKS. I HAVE NOTHING MORE, BUT REMAIN YOUR AFFECTIONATE SON UNTIL DEATH. A.M. WALLINGFORD

MARY WALLINGFORD LETTER FROM ALEXANDER M WALLINGFORD--FRANKFORT, KY JUNE 12 1831 DEAR MOTHER, AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS. I NOW TAKE THE OPERTUNITY TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM WELL AND HOPEING THAT THESE FEW LINES MAY FIND YOU ENJOYING THE LIKE BLESSING. DEAR BROTHER I STARTED HOME ON THE MONDAY AND GOT TO THE BLUE LICKS FOR DINNER AND THAT NIGHT GOT TO PARIS AND NEXT DAY FOR DINNER. I GOT TO FRANKFORT AND I CAME ON THROUGH GEORGETWON AND SAW GEORGE HORD, AND HE APPEARED GLAD TO SEE ME, AND SAID THAT SHOTWELL HAD SOLD OUT TO A MAN THAT HE DID NOT LIKE MUCH. DEAR BROTHER I WANT YOU TO WRITE ME IMMEDIATELY AND LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU THINK YOU CAN COME, TO SEE ME. I WANT TO SEE YOU VERY BAD AND I WANT YOU TO COME TOWARD THE LAST OF THE WEEK AND YOU CAN BE WITH ME ON SUNDAY AND I WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO GO ABOUT WITH YOU., AND YOU CAN COME THROUGH VERSALES AND FETCH MISS HATARNE MOREHEAD AND HENRETTA PARKER DOWN WITH YOU. I TELL SOME OF THE GIRLS THAT THEY WOULD PUT ON ALL THEIR WINGWAYS, ESPECIALLY IF YOU WANTED TO MARY. TELL MRS PARKER THAT ADDISON IS WELL AND IS SELLING A GREAT MANY GOODS. DEAR BROTHER I HAVE NOTHING MORE WORTH WRITEING TO YOU, ONLY TO LET YOU KNOW THAT I HAVE GOT HOOME SAFE AND WELL. YOU MUST EXCUSE ME FOR NOT WRITING A LETTER HOME FOR I HAD TWO ABOUT TO MONTHS TIME TO GO IN. NOTHING MORE. BUT REMAIN YOUR AFFECTIONATE BROTHER UNTIL DEATH. A.M. WALLINGFORD

HIRAM WALLINGFORD LETTER FROM A.M. WALLINGFORD--FRANKFORT, KY JULY 16 1831. DEAR MOTHER, AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS. I NOW TAKE THE OPERTUNITY TO INFORM YOU THAT I AM WELL AND HOPEING THAT THESE LINES MAY FIND YOU ENJOYING THE LIKE BLESSING DAR MOTHER I HAVE NOTHING WORTH SAYING TO YOU MORE THAN TO STATE IN MY LAST LETTER. I HAVE BEEN A LOOKING FOR A LETTER EVERY SINCE HAVE NOT RECEIVED ONE. DEAR BROTHER I WANT YOU TO WRITE TO ME IMMEDIATELY AND LET ME KNOW WHEN YOU THINK YOU CAN COME UP TO SE ME, FOR I WANT TO SEE YOU MIGHTY BAD. TELL MRS PARKER THAT ADDISON IS WELL AND IS A SELLING MANY GOODS. THERE IS A GREAT PROSPECT FOR CROPS THIS YEAR. THE CORN IS BETTER THAN IT HAS BEEN FOR A NUMBER YEARS, HEMP IS WORTH 7 DOLLARS AND 50 CTS AND IS YET ON A RISE. WHEAT IS 75 CTS A BUSHEL. I HAVE NOTHING MORE BUT REMAIN YOUR AFFECTIONATE BROTHER UNTIL DEATH. A.M. WALLINGFORD

HIRAM WALLINGFORD FROM A.M. PARKER--FRANKFORT KENTUCKY, MONDAY MORNING AUG 8 1831 DEAR MADAM: IT IS MY PAINFUL DUTY TO INFORM YOU OF THE DEATH OF YOUR SON, ALEXANDER M WALLINGFORD, WHO WAS DROWNED IN THE KENTUCKY RIVER ON YESTURDAY EVENING ABOUT 3 O'CLOCK P.M. HE HAD GONE WITH SOME OF HIS YOUNG ACQUAINTANCES FOR THE PURPOSE OF BATHING. ALL COULD SWIM WITH THE EXCEPTIONS OF HIMSELF. HE IT SEEMED, CONTRARY TO THEIR ADVICE WOULD VENTURE TO FAR FROM SHORE AND WENT EVENTUALLY INTO A STRONG CURRENT AND DROWNED. EVERY EFFORT WAS MADE ON YESTURDAY EVENING TO REGAIN HIM BUT ALL WAS UNSUCESSFUL. WE WILL AGAIN TO DAY, WE ALL EXCEPTIONS AND IF SUCESSFUL, YOU MAY REST ASURED EVERY RESPECT SHALL BE PAID HIS REMAINS. IT WOULD BE UNNECESSARY FOR ME TO INDEAVOR TO GIVE YOU THE STATE OF MY FEELINGS AT PRESENT AND I KNOW NO ONE MORE DEEPLY REGRETS HIS DEPARTURE THAN I DO. I AM, VERY RESPECTFULLY YOUR FRIEND & OBEDIENT SERVENT A.L. PARKER

LETTER FROM A.L. PARKER FRANKFORT KENTUCKY THURSDAY AUG 11 1831. DEAR MOTHER, ON YESTURDAY MORNING THE BODY ALEXANDER WALLINGFORD WAS FOUND ABOUT 2 MILES BELOW THE TOWN ON THE OPOSITE SIDE OF THE KENTUCKY RIVER. IT WAS MUCH BRUISED AND SO MUCH SWOOLEN THAT I COULD HARDLY RECOGNIZE IT AS THE SAME PERSON. HE WAS BUERIED YESTERDAY EVENING IN THE PRIVATE GRAVEYARD OF W. JOHN HARVIE, OF THIS TOWN AND EVERY RESPECT WAS PAID HIS REMAINS. THERE WAS A RESPECTABLE COMPANY ATTENED THE DECEASED TO THE GRAVE AND A VERY APPROPRIATE PRIVATE PRAYER BY THE REV JOHN T EDGAR. I WOULD BY THE MAIL HAVE WRITEN MRS WALLINGFORD, BUT NOT KNOWING WHETHER SHE WOULD THINKG OF INQUIRING FOR A LETTER FROM ME, I HAVE THOUGHT IT THE MOST SPEEDY MODE OF COMMUNICATION TO HER, THROUGH YOU. PLEASE TELL MRS WALLINGFORD I HAVE RESERVED A LOCK HER SONS HAIR WHICH I WILL SEND HER, THE FIRST OPERTUNITY. PLEASE COMMUNICATE THE CONTENTS OF THIS LETTER TO HER ON ITS RECEIPT OR SEND THIS LETTER TO HER. I WILL WRITE YOU AGAIN IN A FEW DAYS O LEWISBURG. IN THE MEANTIME, I SHOULD BE PLEASED TO HEAR FROM YOU. MY LOVE TO MY FATHER AND SISTERS, AND BELIEVE ME, AFFECTIONATELY YOUR SON, A.L. PARKER

Nicholas Wallingford
Benjamin Wallingford III
Benjamin Wallingford II
Benjamin Wallingford I
Nicholas Wallingford
Main Page

Surname Index

This page hosted by GeoCitiesGet your own Free Home Page
1