Gantt Letter

This letter written 14 Feb 1894 by Stephen H. Gantt to his

sister, Rachel.

Dear Sister:

Samuel Gantt, our father, was born in Stafford Co, VA in the

year of 1778.  His father's name was John Gaunt, his mother's

name was Corbin.  They were both of english descent. His mother

died when he was quite young.  His father married a second wife

& raised a large family.  He owned property in land and slaves.

He had brothers; one, Edmund Gaunt, uncle to our father, lived in

Frederick Co, VA.  With him, our father made his home for some

years; he went from there to Loudoun Co. & married Mary Anders,

our mother.  Her father was German by birth and came to this

country when he (her father) was 14 years of age.  His mother

was Mary Reed of English descent.  Our father had another uncle

in Culpepper Co, VA.  These uncles both migrated south, but to

where I do not know.  They both owned slaves and so could not go

north.  Our father was in the War of 1812 and was stationed in

Norfolk, VA, when discharged...stopped by his boyhood home the

only time after he first left. Our father left VA. in 1835 and

came to OH, and settled in Knox Co.  He lived there until he

died in 1863 at age 85.  Our father and oldest brother never

spelled their name any way but GAUNT.  It must be charged to us

younger ones, but why we changed it I cannot tell.