I love old letters and Mary Lou Prince recently sent me a copy of a letter that I now treasure. She transcribed it (a wonderful job too) and I'd like to share it from you. I will give you a cast of characters as we go along and I'll likely make several posts. The letter is dated 24 Feb 1846 and was posted from Todd Co KY. It was written by Avaline G Martin. Avaline was the youngest daughter of Henry and Sarah Pell Gorin, born 21 Oct 1809 in Warren Co KY; death date unknown. Her name is spelled many ways on Bible records, licenses, etc. She had married Newton Cockerell on 5 May 1831 in Warren Co and it appears they moved to Montgomery Co IL (close to where I used to live) where he died 30 April 1839. Newton was the son of John Cockerell (also spelled various ways) and Susan/Susannah Boone. She was the daughter of Squire Boone and Anna Grubbs. Yes, kin to good ole Daniel. Newton and Avaline had 4 children before his death: Ann Rebecca, John Henry, Rev. Alexander Milton and Thomas N Cockerill. At the time of this letter, Avaline was a widow and writing to Benjamin P. Hinch. Benjamin was the son of John Hinch Jr and Amy Gorin, her sister who is also the ggg grandfather of Mary Lou Prince who provided the letter. He was born abt 1812 in KY; died 19 May 1861 in IL and had married Rebecca S. Barger. Now to the letter: Dear cousin. With gratification and pleasure I seated myself for the purpose of answering your letter which came duly to hand in December last and found us in delicate health which give us greatest of satisfaction to hear you were all well. I have no news of great importance to write more than we [are] all well at present accept ? has the chills. [name in the fold of the original]. We have all been very sick this fall and winter with fever and chills it as for several weeks that one was not able to wait on the other. I have had very hard attacks of the fever and chills I have got about again. I believe it was sickly everywhere more then [than] I ever knew before. It was very sickly in this county for awhile. You stated that Gladen was married and you wanted me to inform you all about her. I was not personally acquainted with her for only character from what I can understand she is a very intelligent lady of a very respectable family he came to see us last spring he spoke very highly of her he said she was very smart with a kneedle [needle] from 8 to 10 dollars a week with her kneedles. I think he has done a good business I believe all connections in general are well and doing very well. [Here she is writing of Gladen/Gladin/Gladden Gorin Hinch, not her brother Gladen who was already deceased. Gladen was the son of John Hinch Jr and Avaline's sister Amy. Gladen married Eliza J Grant 28 Sept 1845 in Montgomery Co TN.] Aunt Jemima has sold out and moved to Barren [Co KY]. She moved in January last, Amys Stewart Horcal (?) bought her out and he give her six dollars an anchor I never heard from her since she left Todd [Co]. {Jemima was the 8th child and older sister of Avaline, born 8 Sept 1799; married Thomas Moss 10 Apr 1817 in Christian Co KY. The Moss family, a large number of them, did move to Barren Co KY early.] I (?) She has give old Todd the final fire. [unknown what she was referring to]. Well Margaret has never been to see us since she was married. Susan came to see us in January and cousin John Pollack also they was all well. [Margaret was the daughter of James P. Martin and Elizabeth Gorin; Avaline's sister. She married George Washington Howle. Susan was also a daughter of James P and Elizabeth Gorin Martin and married Jesse Walker. Cousin John Pollock was John W Pollock, son of George Pollock and Nancy Gorin who was another sister of Avaline. to be continued next post. Sandi Col. Sandi Gorin - Publishing: http://ggpublishing.tripod.com/ GORIN worldconnect website: http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/~sgorin