Quote History Quoted:
^^^
Whew, that was close, almost got jammed in a garbage truck.
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Here is a photo of the note written by Robert Potter Feb. 28, 1842. He was killed March 2, 1842 by the Rose party. What this note does NOT tell us, is that a few day earlier, Potter had attempted to kill Rose. This historical event is tied to the Moderator-Regulator war in east Texas, circa 1840’s. This occurred in an area of Texas which was NOT governed by either the French in the Louisiana territory nor the Spanish in the Tejas territory. Lawlessness was rampant, folks claiming cattle that they THOUGHT was theirs, but others who THOUGHT the cattle was theirs. Probably neither side was to blame, but both sides thought their side was justified. As far as our connection, Joseph M. Taylor was the lawyer who defended Capt. William Pinckney Rose at his murder trial.
The letter is hard to read so it is transcribed below:
Marshall – Panola County
"Feb. 28, 1842
To,
Capt. Henry Stout
My good friend –
I am assembling a party to arrest the arch fiend and murderer Rose, who has so long disturbed the peace of this community – in addition to the general obligation which rests on me as a citizen of the country to bring him to justice, my own safety demands it. He waylays and ambushes my path, and has employed his negroes to carry out his schemes of murder – he of course calculates on reinforcement from the Hughes’s. I wish you therefore, as soon as you get this, to assemble as many of our friends as you can and come with dispatch to the scene of action, if you do not find me sooner, you’ll certainly hear of me at Smithland. This will be handed to you by my particular friend Major DeMorse – he goes to our country to establish a paper there - he is a man of genius and a gentleman – his taste and abilities as a writer are of the first order, and such as, when known, must command the support of the country –
Your friend truly
Rob.Potter
Over"
[The word “Over” is written in pencil at the bottom center of the note. After seeing the word “Over” at the bottom of Robert Potter’s note to Capt. Henry Stout the paper was unfolded and it was discovered that Charles DeMorse (Demorse) had actually written on the back side of Robert Potter’s letter in pencil the following:]
"Col Potter has been basely murdered by Rose, and a gang of ten accomplices who surrounded his house and shot a man near it – Potter run out – fired twice – jumped in the lake and was shot there – His friends should never rest until they have justice an vengeance.
Respectfully yours
Charles Demorse"
Joseph M. Taylor (1798-1872) is the father of Julia A Taylor-Preuit (1829-1912). She is the mother of James Alexander Preuit (Jr.)(1857-1926) who is the adopted father of Minnie Myrtle Colwell-Preuit Alexander (1888-1972), my great grandmother.