Nancy Delilah Halso Shell was the first daughter of John William and Damaris Mercer Halso. Her younger sister, Elizabeth Jane Halso, married Samuel Aaron Hickman. They were the parents of Iona Demaris Hickman, who married Edward Marvin Shell. Nancy Delilah Halso married Rufus Shell, Edward Marvin Shell's uncle.

In this letter she is responding to Loula May Pool of Atkins, Louisiana on February 29, 1916. She addresses her father's health and lists the children of William Mercer and Delilah Gandy, her mother's parents, as well as Delilah Gandy's siblings.

This letter was first published in Eleanor Hickman Hughes' Hickman-Halso: The descendants of Samuel Aaron and Elizabeth Jane (Halso) Hickman, 1965. The typeface notation in the bottom right of page 2 is hers. Following is a transcription of the entire text of the letter and enclosure.

Pigeon Creek, Ala Feb 29, 1916
Mrs Loula May Pool
Atkins La

My dear cousin your letter to Mr J.W. Halso who is my father was received several weeks ago but he was so low I never mentioned it to him till yesterday. He was very sick and we didn't think he would ever over it but I am proud to tell you he is able to sit up in a chair again and ask us to answer your letter. Also to say to you that he is still living and will be 93 years old if he lives to June 23 so you may imagine his feeble condition even when he is at his best. But with what help he could give me, we have gotten up some records which I will send to you hoping they may be some satisfaction to you if no real benefit.

You ask if your great uncle Seth Mercer was living. The Seth Mercer that I know has been dead some four or five years but he was not our great uncle he was first cousin to my mother and your father, a son of Noah Mercer, who was our Grandfather's brother.

We found a list of names which my father says were our Grandmothers brothers and sisters and as they are on a slip of paper to themselves I will send just as it is.

I am your cousin

Delilah Halso Shell

William Mercer was born Oct. 4, 1806
Delilah Gandy " " Jan. 27, 1804
no record of their marriage

Mary was born Aug. 2 1824
Damaris " " Dec, 19 1827
Martha " " Oct. 11, 1829
Booka " " June, 23 1832
W Darius " " June, 13 1834
Alexander " " July, 31 1836
Elizabeth C " " April, 20, 1838

Here are our Grandparents children. Am sorry I can't give you any more information about our connection. (Refers to above. See image.)

(Right side of page. See image.)

Jinsey February 5 1798
Aaron May 17 1800
Abel March 22 1802
Max January 27 1806
Nelly December 30 1807
Damaris 17 1810
Darius October 20 1817
Elizabeth February 19 1814
John April 1 1816

(Typeface notation added by Eleanor Hickman Hughes:)

These are the enclosures referred to in Delilah Halso Shell's letter of 29 Feb. 1916. On the one above (column above: Jinsey-John), she wrote: "My father says these were our grandmother's brothers and sisters and were Gandys, but we never knew any of them. I think all except our Grandmother were left in South Carolina."

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