The Enslaved People of the J. H. Polley Plantation, Whitehall, Sutherland Springs, Texas, 1836-1865--Theresa McCloud Moore

 

Theresa McCloud Moore (1837-1887)

 

Josephine Golson in Bailey’s Light records that Theresa McCloud was one of the slaves that gained their freedom from J. H. Polley. I have not been able to determine when or how J. H. Polley acquired Theresa McCloud. We do know, according to Census Records that she was born in Texas.

 

Possibly she is one of the persons referred to in this excerpt from J. H. Polley’s estate:“Whereas my daughters Mary A. Baylor and Susan R. Henderson having each one negro girl slave in their possession belonging to my Estate, it is my will and desire that each of my said daughters retain the possession of the negro girl now in her custody…Should either of my daughters who are now single marry before the first distribution of my estate…it is my will and I direct that she or they…shall receive three hundred head of stock cattle and ten head  of horses…and further direct..she shall be entitled to receive into her possession one negro girl belonging to the Estate. It is my will and desire that my negro slaves Theresa and Anna shall be allowed to choose a master or mistress as they may elect among my children…providing that they shall not be at liberty to choose the same person for a master or mistress and provided that Theresa shall be entitled to the first choice” (January 10, 1862; Filed March 30, 1869).

 

There is evidence that Theresa was enslaved to Susan Rebecca Polley, and that she did go with her when Susan married Connally Henderson on 3 August 1858. Connally left to fight in the Civil War and was killed  at the Battle of Gaines Mill, 27 June 1862. When he left for the War, I think Susan and Theresa returned to the Polley Plantation.

 

Theresa Moore married on 25 December 1867 in LaGrange, Texas. She wrote a letter to Mary Bailey Polley, 4 February 1869, asking her to keep in touch because she missed the family and their “home by the Springs.” The letter indicates that Theresa had recently married and had a baby, Walter Aaron, four months earlier, She describes Walter as sickly. He does not appear in the 1870 Census. She and her husband had moved to Fayette County, rented for a year, and then bought some land for $400. Her husband's name was Aaron Levi Moore. Census records indicate that in 1870 she was living with her husband and two children in 1870.

The 1880 Census indicates that she and her husband and her children had moved a few miles away to Ledbetter, Texas.

By 1888 Aaron Levi Moore is living at 612 Comal St. in Austin in a nice house. He is a carpenter. An Historical Outline of the Negro in Travis County, August 1940, by the Class of Negro History of Samuel Huston College, edited by J. Mason Brewer list him as a carpenter in 1888, 1889, and 1901. It is possible that he was involved in building projects at the University of Texas.

One of Theresa's sons, John R, Moore, attended Meharry College in Nashville, the first Black college for doctors. He graduated in 1894 and became a physician on the west side of San Antonio, 813 1/2 W. Commerce St.

 

Terisa McCloud Moore (1837-1887), a Colored female, married to Aaron Lewis Moore (1838-1915), is listed on the death certificate of her son, John R. Moore (1880-1937), a doctor. Aaron Lewis Moore’s death certificate does not list his wife’s name, but they are both buried at the Oakwood Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

 

I have just received a copy of the letter written 4 February 1869 from Theresa Moore to "Dear Mistress," Mary Polley from the Briscoe Center for American History at Austin. Here are scans of the letter and a transcription. I was very impressed by Teresa's handwriting, articulation, and grammar, as well as the emotion and personal nature of the content. I wonder if Susan Polley Henderson taught her how to read and write.

 

                                                                                                                  Feb th 4 1869

Dear Mistress

            Why in the world don’t you write to me I have written to you once or twice but have never received an answer I some times think you are mad at me the reason you don’t write to me but I dont know that I have ever done any thing to cause you to be offended at me if I have I am ignorant of it and also sorry if such is the case which I hope is not I have also written to Miss Adel Miss Hattie and Miss Adelia you all owe me a letter I wrote last Mistress I do want to see you so much and as soon as my husband can make it convenient to leave home I intend to try to go and see you we are living on our own place this year and have a good deal of improvements to make Last year my husband rented so this year we move to our own home My husband paid four hundred dollars for it It has

 

[Page 2]

Some improvements on it  a dwelling house with two rooms and a gallery kitchen smoke house and corn-crib He has to repare all the field fence I have a very pretty shade in the yard of china trees We have been here just a month to day I feel so glad to think that we are on our own place and to add to my happiness I have a sweet little babe will be four months old the ^th16 of this month He is not a healthy child and of course has been of great trouble to us We call him Walter Aaron My health has not been very good until here of late have had a rising on my breast and I don’t sukle out of but one and that is my right breast I am just getting so I feel like myself again Is Miss Susan still living with you Has Pollie and [Gollie] grown much I expect they have forgotten all about me that there ever was such a being in excistance How is Miss Augusta and family Are they still living at the Springs yet Lollie and

 

[Page 3]

Belger are almost grown I expect Is Miss Hattie still at home yet How is her little babe Tell her she must answer my letter and tell me all the news as she promised to do Tell her that I have been looking for it a long time Tell Miss Adell she owes me a letter and also Miss Adelia I would also like to get one from Miss Susan In fact I would be pleased to receive one from any of the family Is Aunt Annie and Uncle Cato Celia Lizzie Bill and Elic still living on the place yet If so give them my best respects and tell them they must write to me and Matilda and her family where are they Mistress Where is De. Houston Are they living in San Antonio yet or over at they place I wrote to Callie some time ago but have never got one word from them Don’t know whether she is dead or live It looks like I cant hear a word from that part of the country It appears like every body out that way has stop writing to me

 

[Page 4]

From some cause but I cant tell what unless it is because I am married If that be the case I am just as proud to hear from my friends now as ever I was in my life Say to Miss Adel that I have never had a chance to get them pink seed for her yet Mistress please answer my letter right away for it is almost a year since I have heard a word from home and I do want to hear from you all so bad I think Miss Susan might write to me for she promised to do so In this letter I send [Gollie] some painting to go round her panties I have not anything to send Pollie this time Tell her I will send her some thing next time I write Tell Johney he must write to me and let me see how fast he is learning and tell him that I have one of the prettiest little babies he ever saw Give my love to Walter and tell him that I have not forgotten him I must close give my love to all inquiring friends and accept a share for yourself

                                                                        From Theresa Moore

 

Her quilt square is “Meadowlark.”