Addendum III From a letter type-written by Nathan Atkinson Brown, Jr. (the son of Capt. N.A. Brown and his wife Louisa) to his son, Nathan
September 28, 1936
Dear Nathan,
Your letter of the 25th inst. received.
I looked through my papers, and do not find a description of 'White Oak', but my recollection is that one of the boundaries, east or west I do not remember, was White Oak Creek; there was a bridge across the creek about a half mile from the house, across which the road led to Aunt Virginia Harrison's place some three miles or more distant; that the place was not very far from where the Creek runs into the Satilla River. If you will get a Highway map of Georgia, you will see where a stream crosses the R.R. Track at what is now known as White Oak, and follow that down to somewhere near where it flows into the Satilla River, you will be close to the place.
I was pretty young when I visited the place, perhaps a little younger than Betty (Nathan's daughter born 1930, so about 5 or 6 years old when this letter was written, that would place the trip around 1871-72 EBS) is now, but my recollection of the trip there is very vivid. Mother, my two sisters (i.e. Eula and Lillie EBS), and myself, left Brunswick on the R.R. running to Waycross, on a mixed freight and passenger train, wood-burning engine. On the way out my hat blew off my head, and the conductor very kindly stopped his train to recapture the hat. After the hat was retrieved, we went slowly along, and got off at Waynesville for a short visit to some friends, and until someone from the Harrison's home could come for us. This was done, and the family set out for the Harrison home. We travelled thro the country, crossing the Little Satilla River, which appeared to me to be about a mile wide at that time, but fordable all the way, sometimes the water coming up to the hub of the buggy. We passed our ancestral home 'White Oak', and about a half-mile on we crossed White Oak Creek, and then on to the Harrison home. I said above that it was some three miles, perhaps less than that.
We spent quite a while with the Harrisons, and I enjoyed the visit immensely. Some of the things we saw and did was: I saw Uncle Tom (Cousin Mary Atkinson's father) shoot a young beef in the head with a rifle, so that we could have fresh meat to eat. Also, there was a small pond of water near the house where we children could fish, and sometimes catch them with your hand. Also saw them grinding and cooking syrup; and gin and pack cotton in round bags. The gnats were also bad, and they used to make fires in the yard so that the smoke would run them away.
After being there awhile it was arranged for us to go over to Satilla Bluff, (you can see it on the map) to visit some other relatives. In making this trip, we went a short distance from the Harrison home to White Oak Creek, and got in a rowboat, with a negro called "Uncas" to row us over. A short distance down the creek we reached the Satilla River, and turning west we went up that river to Satilla Bluff. We had a good time there also. Could see the steamboats going up and down the river; watch the sawmills, &C. Soon after we reached the place our relative presented me with a present, and before I got out of the store I had nearly cut my finger off, and still bear the scar. The knife was confiscated and returned to the storekeeper at once. On our way home, my recollection is dim, but I think we took a steamer and went to Owens Ferry, and from there across country to the nearest railroad station. The Seaboard Air Line Ry was not built at that time.
The P.O. marked Tarboro was in existence at that time, and still is. Mother told us about one of their acquaintances who lived at this place, who made a fortune buying liquor and diluting it, and selling it to the unfortunates of the vicinity.
Nate's son, Nathan Atkinson Brown, writer of this letter.
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