James Redus b. 16??, m. Dec 15, 1741, in Cecil County, Maryland, Catherine
Parsons, b. ca. 1715, (daughter of William Parsons and Mary) d. aft 1751.
James died aft 1751.
Children:
i. Phoebe Redus b. 1742, m. in Baltimore, Maryland, Durnell.
ii. James A. Redus b. Aug 1, 1744.
Martinsville, Capiah Cty Miss
April 16, 1902
Mrs. Pearl C. Jenkins
Fayette, Miss.
My Dear Niece,
My great-grandfather Redus came to the United States before the Revolutionary
War with a wife & two children -- a son and a daughter. The son's name was
James A. (he was my grandfather), the daughter's name was Phoebe; which of
the two was the older, I do not know. Great Grandfather fled from England on
account of religious persecution. When my Grandfather was 11 years old his
father and mother returned to England to recover their property which had been
confiscated to the Crown of England because of their religious beliefs and
restoration of property was made to all who had fled because of their religion
(for King Charles was now dead). Great grandpa and his wife left their two
children in care of their servants, and returned to England for said confiscated
property. From what I have often heard from my father and mother, they were
successful and started home but were lost at sea. In the meantime, great-grandpa's
home was burned and every clue to wealth were burned with the home. So Grandpa
and Aunt Phoebe were left penniless. I don't know what became of the servants,
but this I do know according to the laws of Virginia, orphans who had no appointed
guardian had to be apprenticed to learn some trade. Grandpa was apprenticed to
a Blacksmith and learned the trade. After he had served the time of his
apprenticeship he went into business for himself and later married. I cannot
remember to whom he married. By this marriage he had three sons and two daughters.
I will give you the names of these children, except one of the girls; I have
forgotten her given name and also the name of the man she married. The other
daughter's name was Lydia. She married a man by the name of South. They lived
in Baltimore. They were immensely rich, so was the Aunt, whose name I have
forgotten. Uncle James lived to be one hundred and four years old. Uncle Tomas
(always called Tommie) and Uncle William (called Billie) lived to be quite old
also. Grandpa's second marriage was to Miss Sarah Chaffin, a Pennsylvania Dutch
lady. She was my own Grandmother, and your great Grandmother. By this marriage
they had five sons and two daughters. The sons were Aaron, Joel, Benjamin, Samuel
(my Pa), and John. The girls were: Hettie and Mary (called Polly). Aunt Hettie
married a Mr. Glover, and Aunt Polly married a Mr. Rice Scott. Uncle Aaron married
Miss Lucy Oglesby, and I don't know who Joel married. Catherine English I believe.
Uncle Benjamin died when he was 16 or 18 years old. Uncle John married Sarah
Hutton, and Samuel married Martha W. Hutton; you see, two brothers married two
sisters. All of them were prosperous people, some of them very wealthy. Wherever
a Redus may be found whether he or she may be good or bad, the same blood that
flows in their veins is in ours also. And I can assure you that no one can
consciously say that the Redus are of low origin. They have always held their
heads with the best, this is no boast. The gentleman who told me of the Huttons
also knows some Redus people in North Alabama, one he says, is worth several
hundred thousand dollars. He says he is one of the best men he has ever known.
I have done the best that I can do; I know that you can rely on what I have written.
I may have forgotten some points of interest. One thing more, all that I have ever
known are strictly honorable and if a stain has ever rested on any of the name,
I have never heard of it. I am also of the belief that if we knew how to go about
it that we are justly entitled to considerable wealth in England. Write real soon,
Your devoted Aunt,
Mary L. Ellington
P.S. I am going on 78 years old. Aunt Phoebe married a Mr. Durnell. Grandpa and
Grandma were Quakers. I had a genealogy of the Hutton and Berry families commencing
in 1600 but unfortunately it is lost. Information concerning Aaron Redus' marriage
was given me by P. M. Crawford, a grandson of Aaron Redus. Information about Joel
Redus' marriage to Catherine English was given to me by Mrs. E. Douglas Hood, a
great Granddaughter.
This is just the beginning.