Kentucky, Nov. 1784 Samuel & Jean to son, Thomas Dear son: This comes to let you know we are all in health at present, thanks be to God for his mercies to us, hoping these few lines will reach you enjoying health and happi- ness. We arrived here at English's Station in three weeks and six days. We had a very hard journey, for we had an abundace of wet weather, and the road has been very bad, which has reduced our creatures very much, so that we cannot proceed on our journey for about ten days, till our creatures get in better heart. Four of our mares lost their colts. Indians have been bad on the road this fall, they have killed six people on Skegges Creek, about sixteen miles from English's Station, and ten more on a branch of Laurel river, so that those who travel now, have to travel in large companies. We came to Powell's river by ourselves, and there was a company lying there of about five hundred, and we passed them about four miles, intending to stay for them, but heard that evening that there had been two indians seen hard by the place, so we lay the day, and then drove up or creatures and loaded and drove that night till we came to another company of about four hundred people, and we traveled with them two days, but they traveled not more than eight or nine miles a day, and we thought if we could not travel faster, we must suffer,for a number of them had not more than four days provisions, and were 130 miles from the first station. Then we left that company by ourselves and traveled about twenty miles, and crossed Cumberland Mountain that day, and that night came to another company of 130 people, and there was about thirty guns, and the next day we came to Cumberland River and there was a large party there that could not cross the river, for the river was high. We lay there all night and crossed the river the next day about the middle of the day, and then we got a company of about 120 in which there was upward of thirty guns, and we kept by that company till we came to English's Station. There were several of our company in a suffering condition before they came in, for want of provisions, but we were very well off for provisions and spared to several that were in want. we saw no indians on our journey, but a company that was a day or two before us, saw several about Cumberland Mountain and Yellow Creek, and I am sure that a number of people that are on the road will suffer for want of provisions before they come to the settlement. Corn here is very ready to be had at two shillings per bushel, and we hear that about fifteen miles from here, corn is to be had at a French crown a barrel. Pork here is twenty shillings a hundred. I want you to get from Mr. McCorkle a copy of a judgement that I had against William Beasly and Robt. Stewart, and give it to Brown the lawyer, or some other lawyer that practices at Washington Court, for I cannot get my money from them till they are troubled. I went to see Beasly as I came out, but could do nothing with him; he makes apology that Stewart has it in his hand, and the other denies it. Beasly lives hard by Capt Colson, about sixteen miles below Washington courthouse, hard by the Kentucky road that goes to the blockhouse, and is able enough to pay if he was willing. Stewart lives over the line in North Carolina state, but he may be had at Washington court house any court. I had a copy of the judgement, but it was not drawn correctly, and likewise wanted the county seal, so it would not do. We intend to start for Cumberland as sooon as we can travel, but the weather is exceedingly wet. We have been ten days in Kentucky, and it has rained the most of the time and is not like to quit. The cow I bought from Jeremiah Barnett I understand that I would not get them, and as the times were dangerous and the water high, I did not go after them, We got all our creatures we started here, we had rough bad weather, for we have never been in a house a night since we left home, and at this present it is raining very hard. All from your loving father and mother, Saml. and Jean Shannon Remember us to brother and sister William and Ann Crow, and John and Hanna Crow, and Margaret Crow, and tell; them we are all well, and desire to be remembered to them, and tell them we have not seen Phillip Patton, for he had started to go to Rockfish about seven weeks ago. I would be glad that you not fail in sending us an account from you when opportunity arives. From, Your father & mother, Sam. and Jean Shannon November 24,1784 I have six more of these, and will do them as time is available. Michael Shannon