(Letter address to Mr. James Moore Tallapoosa County Alabama
Fort Gibson Sept. 14 - 13)
Creek Nation Arkansaw Dear father Sir
I have the opportunity of inform you all that I am in a state of bad health sence we been here. The Indians are very sickly at this place but the most of the Indians live in the fork of two rivers, that is Verdigree and Arkansaw, for it is very sickly in Cowater twon. Sum of the Creeks are over on the Cannada River, Seminole Indians, but the Creeks are to be moved back over the line between the rivers, but we are under the Agentcy. All the wild Indians are very friendly with the Creeks, for they come among us and we set down in one shade, eat and drink out of one Vessel.
Sum of us are got sume first trate crops of corn and sume very sorrow crops. As for myself I have got good crops and all of Elizabeth Grierson negroes are got the best crops of corn, and corn is worth fifty cents per bushel.
I heard that you all have war in the old Creek Nation, but I hope that the hostile Indians did not brake you up, your stock or anything in land or anything else. I hope that these few unworthy lines may find you all in a good state of health. I have write to you before I got hear to this country and have not received no answer & I have write yo you sence I come hear but have not received no answer from you, and I am sorrow to receive no letter from you or nonefrom my brother. I wish to hear from you and wish to hear from you all, how you all coming on in the old Creek Nation, Ala., what is going on in that country. I hear that you have had a town just by Peter Dudly's store. It is by report that I heard about the town.
I Have had bad luck sence I arrive at this country, for we lost all our horses but one mair and I bought a horse to work but I have nice corn.
I am sorrow to inform you of one thing, the account of Mr. Elexander Hill is not collected yet, for he was not at home when I come on hear. Hill has receiced the money from the U. States for his services of bringing the Indians to this country. Hill laid in your account and received the money in full. I see James Woodruff in town of Tuscaloosa in Ala. and I ask about it, and Mr. Woodruff tould me that Elexander Hill had received the money for James Moore, that hill tould him that he has pay you off, and he had received your receit againce the account in full. So I enclose the account of said Hills to send back to you, if he has paid up, to let me know or you ought to sue him for the money, for you can proof it by Mr. James Woodruff. If I'm not mistaken Mr. McHenty was present he tould me hill received the money.
And the account of Sandy Grierson or order that you give me the money was sent back by Col. Hunter to pay you up, for he promise Sandy Grierson that he was going write back to your house and pay you off and take your receit and send it back to Sandy, but Sandy has not received no answer yet. So Sandy won't pay me untill he guit letter form you stating you had not received your money. So you write to Sandy Grierson and me then I can make him pay me, for Sandy has three or four hundred bushel of corn to sell.
If you will write to me soon as you will receive this letter from me, state in your letter how you coming on in that part of the world, and tell my Brother Jackson to write to me and give my best love to my mother and the rest of the family.
This is the country for them to make corn, but corn has no price only when Indians come on the this country. But come in the first of the fall is the best time, for we are trying to enlarge the bounds of our country, and we exspect to get Santify the present dent of the U. States for us. We are not allow to go in Texes yet for they are at war at this time. Large body of solders, horsemen have gone on th Red River and station there. We did expect war in the Creek Nation but it dide away & so we have pece in the country.
Dear father sir, if you please to send me sume money by sume person that you can trust to bring it safe to me, but do not put it in any of the Agents unless you can trust him with it, for sum of the Agent that brings the Indians on to this country run away with the Indians money, and the Indians did not get nothing for it.
So I remain your humble servant untill death. Direct your letters Fort Gipson Creek Nation Arkansaw Territory.
I am
Your son
John P. Moore
To James Moore Tallapoosa County Ala. Sept. 6 1836
Transcribed as written by Ronnie Moore for Jill Florence Lackey Oct. 2, 2002NOTE: &o,&c were editors marks and omited & was replaced by andNOTE: Cannada (Canadian)