Ross Mooring Hall's Letter to Fay Rudd Chiles 09-20-1941
(C. Avis Catalog entry #273)
<Ross Mooring Hall was the sister of Fay's mother, Margaret
Mooring whom Ross called "Sister". Fay knew Ross as "Auntie".>
The Donegan Insurance Agency
110 Norht Fredonia Street
Nacogdoches, Texas
Sept. 20th, 1941
Dear Fay:
All of us were so pleased to have your nice letter written last
Saturday, and of course I intended to write at once. Hope this
delay has not caused you any inconvenience.
Filled in Affidavit A, and made an erasure as to the place where
Sister was born, and this may spoil the whole works, if so send me
another blank and I won't erase anything. Sister was born at
Grandfather Ross's Plantation, possibly in the Home - but Daddy
and Mother lived in another house about where Uncle Brown's place
now is, and she may have been born in their own house. I was born
at Grandmother Mooring's place. Daddy was running the place for
Grandfather when I came. Bert was born in their own home at Red
Top (Prairie Plans) where they had a General Store. So none of us
were introduced to the world at Bedias (you had it spelled OK), but
Grandfather, Uncle Bob and Daddy had another store at Bedias and
Daddy went there to manage that store when Bert was very small -
so were Sister and I, for that matter, but Bert was a Baby about
one year, I think. The place at Red Top was left to Uncle John
Stewart (no kin - just a War Buddy) but a real uncle to Sister and
me.
It just occurred to me that the DAR records could be referred to in
case of question as to Citizenship - no other record being
available, and the DAR are recognized as Authentic, I think, at
least they are by themselves. And I do think their records would
be accepted as well as Church regisiters - which were the records
until the Civil Authorities decided to make County Records of
births and deaths, long after Martel and you were born. But during
the last War, when Martel needed proof of being born, Dr. Lee was
as alert as could be desired, and he filled in the blank with no
delay. Of course Mrs. Booker or Mrs. Black or some of Sister's
friends in Temple, Dr. Scott - though not the attending physician,
but I recall Dr. Scott is dead, too, but one of the Old Guard surely
are there yet. Dr. Smith, I know, saw you safely landed, and he
has been dead sometime - died early.
Dear, I meant to write more - but Mr. Hall has just come for me,
not driving some one always sees me off and then some one sees
me home. Want to write you again soon - I just want to "tell you a
few" the horse show, and school and Martel about whom there is
nothing to tell - and everything. But must close. Love from all of
us.
Auntie