Bear Family Letter Series

Bear Family Letter Series

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Information about this letter:

Sender: Henry Bear [See Henry Bear in Guide to Individuals]
  • born 1798
  • married 09/28/1820
  • spouse Jane Kennerly
  • died 02/01/1850
Recipient: John Bear [See John Bear in Guide to Individuals]
  • born 1794
  • died 1878
  • Bishop of the Methodist Church
Please note: This recipient is based purely on a hunch, as there is no evidence to clearly suggest which brother was the intended recipient.
Date Written: January 05, 1824
Location: Rockingham County, VA
Surnames mentioned: Barry, Hansberger, Kennerly, Yanc(e)y
Locations mentioned: None (other than Rockingham County)

Text of the letter:

"Rockingham County, Va.
Jan 5th, 1824

Dear Brother:

I recd. Yours dated Dec. 2nd a few days since which gave me much satisfaction to hear that you were well and doing well for I was fearful sometimes that you were dead for from your letter to Jacob ( which informed him of your affliction), and from your not writing to any of us and especially to me in answer to mine and on addition to that we heard that it was a fact that we supposed to be a mistake between Barry and Bear and consoled ourselves on that foundation.

We have great reason to be thankful to the almighty for the general good health that our county has enjoyed this year. We have been as healthy this year as common, while many county neighborhoods and families have been deprived of the inestimable blessing. And while many have bid adieu to this hostile region, some for the better and some for the worse ( I fear ) we are the monuments of God's amazing mercy but I fear a great many of us are not as grateful as we ought to be for the same. We have been so long favored with general good health that we have almost forgotten the source from which it comes and on whom we are dependent for everything that we receive to make us comfortable. Oh, that the Lord of Hosts would stir us up to double our……. So that we might become more holy in life and manner of conversation. There has not been mighty work done this year on this circuit but yet we cannot complain. We have some good meetings on our preaching days but more especially in that little consecrated old school house ( where you have cut some shine ) we make it ring with shouts sometimes and times with cries of mourners and shouts of heaven burn souls but after all we must confess that we have not lived up to our privileges etc.

Our crops of small grain was not very good this year, but crops of corn was very good. I did not pretend to farm any last year. I bought corn at 2/3 in the way of trade which was far better for me to lose my time out of the shop to attend to farming I trade my ware for tobacco ( by the cag ) saddles, bridles, shoes etc. I have made out very well so far by trading in that way. We can't make it quick enough, I have sold near 3 loads that we have to make yet and we work day and night. We have done good business since Marshall left us. K. is still with me, Marshall has set up a factory at Layton Yancy's but does no great miracle. He burnt a kiln a few days since which was his first and spoiled nearly the whole kiln. He said he had five kiln to burn a month ago and spoiled that. I find him to be a very trifling fellow, he says that there is no gentlemen in our class therefor he won't join it. He has taken up with the pilgrim preachers, that is the society he loves for he can be anything or nothing and still be a Christian. He has misrepresented things very much since he left me all of which I could prove to be false but think it not worth while to trouble myself about it, for he is a well known to injure my character. There is nothing important going on in the neighborhood. No person has got married. We are going along much after the old sort. I expect Thomas Kennerly to be with us in 2 or 3 weeks. It almost appears to us that the dead is alive, for it was reported to a certainty that he was dead. I expect to see all the preachers at conference ( with yourself if you do not get home before ) for nothing but sickness or death or something very extraordinary shall stop me from going and if you don't get home before I can bring you a horse there. I expect Betsy will be there likewise and perhaps Jacob. I would write something concerning him but believe he wrote to you himself. Eliz. Has had several offers since she came home but none would she take. John Hansberger was there last week Saturday night and all day Sunday. I don't know whether the spirit has moved him or not. Uncle Jacob is well with all the friends generally. Mother has had a very bad felon on her finger but it is getting well. We are well and our dear little son can run about every where. And I hope you still enjoy good health and likewise hope to see you enjoy the comforts of a good wife before long ( before it is too late ) Let this suffice for the present and suffer me to subscribe myself your affectionate brother.

H. Bear, Jr.


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