Bear Family Letter Series |
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| Sender: | Henry Bear [See
Henry Bear in Guide to
Individuals]
|
| Recipient: | John Bear [See
John Bear in Guide to
Individuals]
|
| Date Written: | August 04, 1822 |
| Location: | Rockingham County, VA |
| Surnames mentioned: | Bear, Clark, Conrad, Deck, Kibler, Mays, Miller, Morgan, Peirce, Stevens, Tuck |
| Locations mentioned: | Cross Keys, Mausy, Mount Pleasant |
"Rockingham County, Va.
August the 4th, 1822.
Dear Brother:
I intended writing to you last mail, but it happened that I was not at home. I haul'd a load of ware to Mausy, and from there I went after the woodworks of a new wagon for myself. And I was gone longer than I expected, but let that be as it may, I will now endeavor to answer your letter and give such information as I can think of.
I suppose you have received sister Elizabeth's letter that she wrote about the time you wrote to me. Father has all his harvest and all his hay, flax, etc. within doors and they are now breaking up fallow ground although it is very dry and hard. Crops of wheat and rye were very bad this year. It did not stand well neither did the grains good. It got the rust before harvest and that swiveled the grains up, but if we get rain shortly we have flattering prospects of corn. Corn looks very well. We have burned two kilns of stone ware and we shall burn another next week if nothing happens. Our second kiln furnished us with some as good ware as I have ever seen and some of it was not very good. The bad I will not sell until it is, with the bad of the first kiln, burned over, for it is bad policy to sell ware that is not good. It certainly is more profitable than the other business ( I mean making earthen ware,) because it is not more expense and we can sell it higher. We have sold all that was good so far. The people begin to find it better than earthen and of course we shall find less difficulty for the future. I sold one load to E. Stevens, one up at Mount Pleasant on North River, one to John Peirce at the Cross Keys, the other to Joseph Mays, Sr. You know where he lives.
I have my big horse yet and desire to keep him if I cannot get the worth of him. I am about fattening him and when I get him fat I intend taking him over the mountain to try to sell him and if I can't I will have him altered and put him to business.
Henry Deck is in jail for forging a receipt for ten dollars. He has been tried before a Court of Magistrates ( where it cost him something like two hundred and fifty dollars) and he can't be cleared. He is to stay in jail until October when he will be tried by a jury and the Judge, but it is the prevailing opinion that he will be elected to the work house at Richmond, where he will have the opportunity to work for the cheats and crimes that he has been guilty of. Nobody pitys him, but wishes he may have justice done. Old Deck and George tried to swear him clear but it would not do. Uncle Bear's John is lying at the point of death ever since before harvest from the falling from the top of a load of hay. The moment he struck the ground his legs and all from his naval down was benum'ed so that he has never had any feeling nor strength in them. They are beginning to rot off it is thought. Uncle has invited Mr. Kibler to come to hold meeting over him. Who knows but John's afflictions and death may cause Uncle to repent yet. He has altered since.
Mr. Conrad has been lingering away for sometime past. He has changed his former sentiments and lets Kibler hold meetings there. He says he thanks God that he ever heard you preach, for he says you opened his eyes at last. Perhaps the old man may be a star in your crown yet. The people in the general are wishing for you to come to our camp meeting this year which is appointed the 26th of Sept. I wish you to come up if possible. You have never been to one since you have been a preacher in this Co. Several people have requested me to write to you to come I think you might loose that much time there. I expect there is a plenty of local preachers there and you are getting old enough to take some liberties, if that is any sign for Bro. Morgan was only here last Tuesday for the first time. We have very lively meetings now. Bro. Clark hallows them through whether he can reason…………. Through or not. We have had five or six converts since you left here. Malinda Miller was one of them. She shouted the whole way home to her father, which was in bed. The boys and girls are not doing mighty works here now. They appear to be neutral, but I expect necessity, if desire won't ,will make J. H. marry soon for he has nobody to cook for him. H. H. has the negro woman that has cooked for him since his mother died. He has been at our house a week or so ago and sometimes he goes to the widow's. Now I don't know which way the scale will turn yet, but I think one way or the other before long. The Tucks have kept a little back for some time. Nothing but denyals will keep them back and that, they have got. If you want to get married don't let unbelief keep you from marrying a good rich and handsome wife, for if we believe we can't get such, according to our fathers so it shall be. Not having the necessary faith in ourselves has kept many from marrying well when they might.
We are all well, with the friends generally, I hope this will find you well. Write to me soon as you get this and let me know whether you are coming home or not C. M.
Jon Bear……….. Henry Bear, Jr.
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