#2842 ABCFM Record 18.3.1, V. 5 pt. 2.29 Jan. 28, 1828
(David Green?), Hightower, to Jeremiah Evarts, Boston , Item 320, 8 pp
Page 4 - 10 lines from the top
The school here is small. Mr. Roe, a Cherokee member of our church, boards six in the family. One son, two daughters, two grand daughters (children of Gen. McIntosh. (Who was lately killed in the Creek Nation) and one black girl a slave. Mr. Rowe, if perhaps, Charles Reece, sol (sole) exception, is the noblest Cherokee I have seen. manly in his
appearance, judicious* & discriminating in his conversation. He feels very deeply for his children & his people. He spent the night here, and was present when the children were examined on Sabbath evening in Emerson’s Doctrinal & Historical catechisms.
To hear them go through with probably 200 questions, without really failing to answer in, I presume, five instances, drew tears from the old man. While his only son (8 years old) was afterwards reading in the Bible, which he did fluently and correctly, the old man closed his eyes & moved his lips, no doubt blessing God for what he was permitted to see & hear. When the examination was closed, he took him on his knee, and after appearing to be in prayer over him for a few minutes he remarked that he valued what little his children had learned already more than all the property he was possessed of.
His example in respect to the children of his slaves is worthy of imitation by white people, yet is imitated by few or none. He feels a very parental care for them. One he boards at school, and teaches her as neatly as any of his own children. The others he says he would board here if they were willing to move. He has 7 or 8 of a proper age to be at school. All the children which he supports at the school are dressed as neatly and appear as civil as children at the common schools in New England . Besides these six, sent by Mr. Roe, there is one full Cherokee boy, and the children of Mr. Thompson. A few other scholars who live with their parents attend occasionally. I say, however, only those in the family & Mr. Thompsons. Most of these can write decently, some of them
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At least 2 grand-daughter's of Gen McIntosh were living with their grandfather, Richard Rowe in 1828, the Creek McIntosh families had already went to Indian Territory by then.
And I am not a McIntosh, I decend as a Cherokee through Richard/Dick Rowe lineage. I don't know if Rebecca was one of the grand-daughters or not, but isn't it interesting and revealing when we are able to share stories? I believe when Richard Rowe left the CN East in Nov 1829, he probably brought his McIntosh grand-children with him perhaps to reunite with their Mother, Susannah.
This story is moving to me, as the little 8 yr old boy was David Rowe, born 1820. David went on to become a Judge at the Saline courthouse in Rose, Oklahoma. He was also Assistant Chief of the Cherokee Nation at one time.
Donna
cwy1947@yahoo.com