Battle Family Papers

[postmark:] MURFREESBORO NC FEB 25

Mr Turner P [Westray ?]

Nashville

N. Carolina

[in pencil:] Recd 5th March

[?] Augs. 1st 38

Dear Uncle Turner.

I waited with much patience, & great anxiety to hear from you-- but to no avail. Uncle Turner, do I deserve such treatment? >If I'm guilty of any crime whatever, I am unconscious of it, unless its for my not writing oftener last year--but thought I had atoned for that I wrote you a long letter about [5th?] April which I endeavored to make as interesting as possible. I fear it was not from your not answering it. I think I have not been negligent in writing to my relations. But have not exactly, come up to my promise. I reccollect perfectly well that I promised to write you every two months. But learning that I could not write an intersting letter every two mos (when I had so many to write) I defered writing many times which I shoyuld not have done had it have been otherwise. I onlly have to say that crops generally very good. both corn and Cotton. I saw Nathaniel Drake last week heard from all of my old No. Ca. acquaintances. James Hunter, is getting on pretty

well; Thom, has been confined with the rheumatism, consequetly, not doing so well. Mr Jordan is getting on about the same old say. William is going to School -- learns fast but is very michievous.

Uncle Jordan has just returned from Texas much pleased & will move there, this fall. Uncle Wm. [Still's?] wife came over with him " william is expected some time this mo. this is what I have heard -- I have not seen any of them, since the last of February. I intend going as soon as I hear of Uncle William's arrival. Isaace Dortch has located himself in Gaston, a small vilage in the lower part of this county. Thos. Cooper is living with Burwell Bunn, IU can't find out what he is going to do--he says he don't himself. We have a great many idle young men here. Some take to dissipation for want of better employment; others naturally love it. Business very dull, but few speculations going on. Little or no money in circulation -- except [Shin-pattens?] & Miss--the latter is from 25 to 40 pr cent discount. You never saw no currency in such a predicament in your life, as

Official Postal Stamp

Mrs. Lucy M. Battle Louisburg N. Carolina

Raleigh Jan'y 17th 1839

My Dear Wife/

Your letter of Saturday last has been received, and has afforded me much satisfaction, mingled however as most earthly pleasures are, with some feelings of regret. - I am sorry to hear that you still continue to be afflicted with the tooth ache and other pains to which your present situation exposes you - I hope however as you have made up your mind to look for nothing but [crosses?] in this life that you will bear it all with becoming fortitude - Patience is a capital virtue to be possessed in a world whose shifting scenes present so many opportunities for its exerciseUnless though you have more firmness of purpose than falls to the lot of most people you will find it easier to resolve than to practice that or any other virtue which requires us to struggle against the weakness of the depravity of our nature. I trust tho that your efforts may be crowned with complete success, and that others, and particularly [underscore] one other [/underscore], seeing the effects of your exertions may go and do likewise - I am much gratified at hearing that the chil-

They had not returned a few days ago. Great many from [Harrington?] went. [Mrs?] Allen among the number. [Mrs?] Lucas furnished the dinner. There were between 800 and 1000 strangers there. You do not know how much I was relieved when I received your letter, that you had reached St. Louis. I was so much afraid some accident would happen to you and that dear little Shep was [illegible] I expect he can walk very well by this time. Mr F. laughed yesterday and told me when I wrote to ask you if there was any prospect of the [zephyr?] being any use to you. he says there is no prospect here he thinks. You know what he means, I expect you [illegible] his telling us about it. [?] [Burnt out] Children are all well and have [?] [gotten?] you Sal sometimes says she [goes?] to see Shep. You think Isaac about afortnight went off toward Warrenton [we?] did not know he had gone and fortunately one of our neighbours [?] saw him about a mile and a half from here and carried him home and in the afternoon his master came over to know if we had lost a child here and described his [dress?] and told what he said his mother's name was. I felt grateful that we found him so soon.

You remember the vine I had taken up and set near the garden gate it has grown rapidly and is now in bloom and looks very pretty.,

Give my love to Mr. [Caburn?]. Tell him as he was so attentive to the geese I must let him know how they come [?] I have but two goslings and they grow very fast.

start another subject. Brother Henry came to Raleigh on Thursday evening last just from Philadelphia. he stayed two days with us and was quite unwell all the time. I hope however that it was the effects of travelling and that he is now as well as ever. He could not give me much information respecting our kindred for he had been some time from home. Bro Wm. met him at the Warren depot who told him they were all well except Alfreds wife who is diseased, I am told both in body and mind pretty much as she was after the birth of her second child she was then at M. Alstons. I am very sorry for it for I do not believe there are many more amiable women in this world than Frances. Brothers Kemp and Tom were here week before last at the great celebration. how I have forgot ten that you are more than a thousand miles from here and probably never heard any thing of it at all. Well I will in form you that the good folks of Raleigh gave a great festi val in honour of the completion of the Rail road and State Capitol to which there were 3000 persons invited. There was a great dinner given at the depot at which 700 gentle man sat at table at one time. I am told that it was a splendid dinner. that night the State house square was illuminated in an elegant manner. the next night there was a ball held in the Senate chamber and a concert in the Commons hall for all who do not like to attend Balls, and on the next night there was another ball. I can assure you that I never witnessed so large an assembly of people nor did I ever see people seem to enjoy themselves more. we all had our houses filled. there were numbers here

Plymouth Sept. 14th 1840

My Dear Wife I arrived here today from Tyrrell County, and I have just discharged all the usual business of the first day of Court by charging the grand jury, I will devote the reminder of the evening, or so much of it as may be necessary in giving you a history of my travels since I left you- In order however that you may read what I have to relate without any (illegible) with regard to my health, i will state at once that I am as well as I have been at any time during the summer and I hope and believe that with a little prudence I shall escape sickening all together on the circuit. Indeed I now feel more (illegible) on your account than my own and I shall hear with the most heartfelt satisfaction that you have suffered no inconveniece from the conditions you were in when I left home.

The day I parted from you was to me a most disagreeable one. It commenced raining as I (..........) and after travelling all day in the rain, i found myself only nineteen miles from Raleigh at night. When I got to

Heartache day 7. 1841

Dear Sister I was happy to receive even the short note you sent me, and am compelled by dearth of intellect to send you a short a one in return. What can a man say when his whole soul is absorbed in the computation of the time which must necessarily elapse between breakfast and dinner - supper and bedtime? I bade adieu two months since, to my two best friends, coffee and tobacco From that time forward I have not been able to hold up my head in the world. I have languished for want of the accustomed stimulus. My brain has become deadened in it sensibilites. I live in a state of half dreaming unconsciousness - my brightest idea would do discredit to a man in a doze. I am half asleep now, tho I have not a dollar in my pocket and the sight of a constable would stop the circulation of my blood You are the wife of a Judge. I have a curiosity to know why you were not made a Judgess on the first ballot. but I shall learn it when I see you which I shall do as soon as circumstances will permit - Your boarder, Columbus, has not yet reached here send him on. I have seen several people from your village lately, but did not feel sufficient interest to to enquire about the affairs of your little corporation. I want to get all the news from you and sitser and mother - it comes better from your lips. my love to mother sincerely yours R H B we are all well but old Sam he is no better

Raleigh NC

My dear Father

It was my sisters day to write but as she didnt feel like it I thought I would try. I [steped?] down to Doctor [illegible] this evening with [Ivy?] and [Exam?] and Dick Lewis and Gaston had caught a little mouse aunt Susan is [insertion] very [/insertion] unwell. Little [Junius?] is getting so fat that I reckon if you were to see him you wouldnt know him. Uncle Amos has come back from the Convention and he says that he had very good preeching. Mary is geting very fat too. Mr Biglow has got three of Mr Grays schollars that he had last session he is getting very tight and I hope that if he stays here any longer he will get a very good shcool. My chicken is growing very fast. Sister received a letter from cousin Susan Plummer yesterday and she says that her mother was going down the country last friday. I believe thatis all the news I can think of. I remain your affectionate son Kemp

Oct 17th 1841

My Dear Husband,

In my last letter I informed you of the many disappointments I had received in not [strikethrough]receiving [/strikethrough] getting a letter from you since that time my heart has been made [underscore] glad [/underscore\ at the sight of two - not until Wednesday did I get your letter, written from