Supplemental

Jack at Saint Catherine's Mills Near Charlotte

The Saint Catherine Mine was located just south of the Third Ward of Charlotte. It lay beyond the city limits when John Wilkes arrived in 1854. It corresponds to a location between the football stadium and I-277 today. Jack wrote the following words to accompany his sketch: There is a ground plan for you to study over & though not in a proper relative scale, the positions of the house is about correct the line going from e to b shows the bounds of the lawn towards the pond.

1853 July 8

This page is an example of a crossed letter. To save money on postage, nineteenth-century correspondents would sometimes write over a page they had previously covered with text. The second time the handwriting would go up and down instead of left to right. With a little practice one can read it.

The first seven lines of Jack's letter to Jeanie are shown in the image at the head of this page. A transcription follows:

Washington July 8th 1853

My dear Jeanie,

1853 July 10

Devasego July 10th My dear Jack, Your letter of the 6th which I received yesterday has made me sad & thoughtful all day, & I feel too much the need of a talk with you to postpone the writing till tomorrow. Do not let my saying that it made me sad, induce you to tear up your “blue letters,” or refrain from writing for while the thoughts suggested may be sad it is very pleasant to feel that it all moods & at all times you take pleasure in writing to me & confiding each feeling as it arise to me.

The USS Mississippi

Between March 9 and 29, 1846, Jack Wilkes served aboard the USS Mississippi, a paddle frigate, that was part of the West Indian Squadron. Commodore Matthew Perry was the lead officer. The frigate provided support for General Zachary Taylor’s attack on Vera Cruz.Parts of this Exhibit:The Intertwined Ancestries of John and Jane Wilkes Jack and Jeanie's Early Years Courtship, Wedding, and Relocation to Charlotte BackHome Next

1853 October 8

New York Oct 8th 1853 Again My dear Jeanie I begin a letter knowing that it will be by fits & starts that it will be filled. Since Thursday I have been as busy as a bee & at last papers are signed for the North Carolina affair.

1854 February 26

St. Catherine’s Mills Feby 26th 1854My dearest Jeanie, Sunday has again come round but not a day of rest & quiet is it going to be for me. On waking up this morning at day light heard the wind whistling & rain pattering on the roof. First thought of my old mill house at which the masons have been at work for some days past & not being very permanently propped up feared that it might blow over. Pulling on my undershirt, pantaloons, (illegible) & over coast & started out. The first look told me I had something more to think of than the House.

Winter in New York

New York. Winter Scene in Broadway. 1857Paul Girardet (French, b. Switzerland, 1821–1893)after Hippolyte Victor Valentin Sebron (French, 1801–1879)Color aquatint with additional hand-coloringParts of this Exhibit:The Intertwined Ancestries of John and Jane Wilkes Jack and Jeanie's Early Years Courtship, Wedding, and Relocation to Charlotte BackHome Next

Dear Jack,

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