March 31, 1894            

Marshall E. Berg

Mt Erie, ILL

Dear Nephew,

     I was very agreeably surprised to receive a letter from you. I remember your mother as I last saw her nearly grown, and am pleased that one of her children has written to me. Your grandfather, Nathaniel Travers, was borned in Kentucky. Your great grandfather was an Englishman and was borned in North Carolina, his father (my grandfather) fought under Washington and spent the winter at Valley Forge with Washington. I remember him tell of the privations they suffered and their heroic endurance of it all to gain their freedom. They were among the Pilgrims or rather their ancestors were. My grandmother was a Harris before she married my grandfather Travers. During the Rebellion two of my great uncles were Governors, I think one of Tennessee and the other one of South Carolina. It has been a long time since I have thot over this old history of our family and I nearly forget some facts. My grandfather on my mother's side of the house was a Jew. He came from the Waldee Valley where so many Jews was put to death by the Catholics. I think there were three brothers of them, one went to England, one to France, and my grandfather to America with Lafayette under whom he fought nobly for the freedom of his home to be. He married a Pruette - my grandmother was a Pruette. She married grandfather in South Carolina. My father, Thomas Travers, and my mother, Nancy Benson,  was married in Bowling Green, Kentucky and lived there I think until four children were borned. Then they moved to Indiana  close to where your great grandfather Lawes lived. This all I can remember just now, but if there is any more questions you would like to ask I will gladly answer them.

      Your cousins Haris Traverses brother Milton visited the relation in the south , and Harris ought to know more about them than I. Very likely he will tell you , if you ask him. I suppose he is still living near Mt Erie.

        It has been a long time since I heard any thing from your aunt Susan Finnell or her family - where are they and what are they doing? Can you tell me where is your Uncle George Travers - how is he getting along - and your Aunt Nan Kuykendalls child, what has become of it? And your half Aunt Mary. Where is she? Have you seen your cousin, Amory Travers lately and his mother and brother, John - ask Amory why he has quit writing to me. do you know where Minnie Finnell is? We have not heard a word from her for a long time. Is Charlie still working on the R&R? He was talking of coming out here. We are looking for them this week. How many brothers and sisters have you? Tell me their names. Are any of them married? I will be so pleased to have their pictures. Will you please send me your picture. When you have time visit the relation and tell me how they are all getting along. Give my regards to all. Write again please. I like to hear from you so much. With best regards, Your Aunt Celina McCreary

NOTES on the letter from This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it :

 At her age I believe Celina Travers McCreary was confused about several facts. The stories she heard about the Revolutionary must have come from her grandfather Benson as he is found in the Indiana census where her father Thomas Travers had settled. Her grandfather Charles Travers from all that can be found in census died in Kentucky before the family moved to Indiana. The Charles Travis/Travers found in Indiana and Illinois 1830 and 1840 census were to young to have been her father.

Also included in a copy of the letter were deductions made by George F. Berg, son of Sarah Ellen Travers, and grandson of Nathaniel Travers.

“ The above letter was written by a great aunt, a sister of grandfather Travers, who was born about the year 1812. My great grandfather was Thomas Travers , an Englishman born in North Carolina about the year 1788. ***He was married to a Miss. Nana Benson at Bowling Green, Kentucky about the year 1810.

My great great grandfather fought in the Revolutionary War. He is a descendant of the Pilgrims, he was born about the year 1752 and was married to a Miss Harris in about 1783.

It seems that a great great grandfather Benson, came to America from France with an Expedition under Lafayette in the year 1777. He fought in the Revolutionary War and was married to a Miss Pruette in South Carolina about 1785. “

My thoughts on George Berg’s thoughts.

George was off by several years on his dates. Charles according to census was born about 1747 and married before about 1770. ***Thomas according to census was born about 1776. His grandfather Benson would have been a little boy when Lafayette came to the America’s in 1777. Maybe he came with his father who might have fought with Lafayette.

If any of George Berg”s descendants are doing family research I would like for them to contact me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .