John Leigh

See also Weeks Family.

In the fall of 1862, Leigh went from his home in Avoyelles, Louisiana, on a three week trip to Texas to see about purchasing hogs and beeves, but returned without success. By the time he returned, his wife and “every servant was sick,” making the party “nothing more nor less than a travelling infirmary.” (He mentions Emily, Ned, and Spencer by name.)1 But in October 1863, William Weeks reported to his step-father that Moore’s daughter, “Mrs. Leigh,” was in Texas and had encamped her slaves in Falls County.2 And shortly thereafter, Leigh himself wrote to Moore from Houston about his plans to hire out slaves, who had all been very sick, in the area. In the same letter, Leigh lamented that “Texas is a hard road to travel and we as well as our negroes would gladly retrace our steps to Louisiana if it were prudent to do so.”3

By the end of November 1863, Leigh had apparently made arrangements in Wharton County, Texas, to hire “all the hands,” numbering “one hundred and fourteen negroes,” for a year to a Judge for $4000, with the judge feeding and covering expenses. But no sooner had the deal been struck than John Bankhead Magruder issued a proclamation ordering all planters farther inland. Leigh hoped to have an interview with Magruder, whom he knew personally, in Houston to plead his case, but he was uncertain what to do.4

In March 1864, Leigh reported to Moore that he had rented 140 acres of “the best of Brazos bottom land,” planted with corn, in Sterling, Robinson County, for which he paid one third of his yield. He had also hired out all the hands at $25 per month for men and $20 per month for women, with both men and women to be furnished with two full suits of clothing and some other necessaries, with all other expenses to be paid by the hiring party. “From present appearances things look much like we are to [be] blessed with temporary quietude here.”5 A few months later, Leigh followed this letter with a glowing report about his corn crop.6 He planned to stay where he was for the next year, “having just rented the place, and besides have secured it in writing, which I presume you must know is a very important item in Texas.”7

  1. John F. Leigh to John Moore, November 7, 1862, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations, Series I, Part 6, Reel 17, Frame 769-771.↩

  2. William F. Weeks to John Moore, October 3, 1863, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations, Series I, Part 6, Reel 18, Frame 185.↩

  3. John F. Leigh to John Moore, October 30, 1863, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations, Series I, Part 6, Reel 18, Frames 198-199.↩

  4. John F. Leigh to John C. Moore, November 30, 1863, Weeks Family Papers, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations, Series I, Part 6, Reel 18, Frames 239-242.↩

  5. John F. Leigh to John C. Moore, March 8, 1864, Weeks Family Papers, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations, Series I, Part 6, Reel 18, Frame 361-363.↩

  6. John F. Leigh to John C. Moore, July 15, 1864, Weeks Family Papers, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations, Series I, Part 6, Reel 18, Frames 513-515.↩

  7. John F. Leigh to John C. Moore, November 9, 1864, Weeks Family Papers, Records of Ante-Bellum Southern Plantations, Series I, Part 6, Reel 18, Frames 669-671.↩