Gibbons/Kemper/Yancey Family Letter Series |
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| Envelope: | None could be found |
| Sender: | Mary (Gibbons) Yancey [See
Mary Gibbons in Guide to
Individuals]
Identity of letter writer determined based on similarity in both handwriting and seal |
| Recipient: | Sister of Mary (Gibbons) Yancey, currently unidentified; but, if the 2nd part truly goes with the first part, this would indicate that the recipient is Virginia Montgomery Gibbons |
| Date Written: | June 11th (year is not certain, but I'm guessing 1861) |
| Location: | Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, Rockingham County |
| Surnames mentioned: | Conrad, Hansberger, Miller, Jarman, Pence |
| Locations mentioned: | Elk Run, Georgia (state), Harpers Ferry, McGaheysville, Staunton |
June 11th Tuesday morning
My Dear Sister,
The children and I are alone today, Mr Miller is gone to McGaheysville, took some clothes up to the soldiers that we made yesterday, Sarah is gone to Sim Hansberger's Store, the Ladies meet there to day to make arrangements to do more sewing. There are a great many over Coats to make, I was up home yesterday, Ann Miller, Mary Kittie Jarman, Lou Hansberger, and Jennet Conrad, I went along as a sort of a pilot, we had Turkey and the first [mess ??] of Peas, And the first ice cream I eat this summer, about eleven Oclock Robert came with the Mail, had your letter, I need not say it met with a warm reception, every one runs for the Papers, one Paper states one thing and the next one contradicts it we must always get it two or three times before we get the right end of the story, Bob also brought a coat to make for some one of the Soldiers I dont know who it is for, nobody waits to sho who they are for, Have not heard from the boys I am sorry for them, wish they were down South, Noah Pence came to Fathers yesterday whilst I was there, just from Harpers Ferry says all are anxous for a fight, tis thought by a great many persons that Va will be the battle ground, [hey ??] Old [Abs ?? or Als ??] party is trying to get possesion of all the Rail Roads in Va, We have all been practicing shooting, we were all shooting yesterday morning before we left here, and while we were up home Bob got his Pistol and we all took another round, I fear I shall never have nerve enough to shoot well, the report frightens me, I got a Pistol dont know whether I will keep it or not, price thirty dollars, The boys and I stayed last night with Vic and Mag Mr Conrad is staying with them now since Billy left, Mr Conrad thinks we in a bout as safe a part of Va as we can find, I had a strong notion last week to go down and stay a while with you, but I reckon I must stay and see the end whatever it may be, I cant bring the boys and I could not think of leaving them behind, I cant help but think we will conquer they are acting so badly, I think Providence will fight our Battles, Thursday is set apart for prayer and fasting, dont forget to pray for us I will close for this time, have had no rain yet every thing is drying up, if you should hear from the [boy or boys] wright to us, Mother is so anxious about them, Thursday evening we have been to McGaheysvill to church, had no regular sermon Mr [Lafferty ?? or Tapperty ??] read several passages of scripture, and commented on them sung three or four hymns and had three or four prayers, had a good congregation, Bob, Fan and Jane were there, Jane says they set no breakfast at all this morning even Father would not eat, all hands quit work, I have never seen a fast day so universally observed, Had prayer meeting at Elk Run, Let me know if the day was kept in Georgia, Heard today that we are sending troops to Staunton. Sarah is siting on the porch Mr Miller says he feels like taking his supper, &
Note: Next section may belong to this letter, or may belong instead to gibbons letter dated March 25th, 1962; it will appear with both letters until it can be determined where it really belongs; this unidentified section does identify the recipient of the letter to which it belogs -- the recipient must be none other than Virginia Montgomery Gibbons:
***** Start unidentified section******
Gin; Sarah sends you A shirt she says you can make it and wear it while you are in Georgia when you leave give it to Fan, she says as Fan is a good hand to piece perhaps she could get A piece off of it to make Cora one, The Gingham is for you & Fan to trim your Shakers, If you have trimed your Shakers it will mak Cora a dress, the stockings are for Fannie, Sarah sends twelve dollars, six for you and six for Fannie, Tis some of her war monies, They, made I mean Fan and Sarah, made lots of money Fan made upwards of 200 dollars Sarah upwards of one 100, Fan sold Honey at a dollar a pound, and the man that bought it sold it for 2 ½ a pound, butter 50 cents, chicken 62 ½ cents, [Tomatoes ?? or Tamatoes ??] 1 dollar a bottle, Emily says people down here are hogs,
Now I will let you what I have made 1 pair of pants & a vest for old Uncle Dave, when he pays me that will be my spending money, Yes I forgot I sold 4 pairs of socks at 50 cents a piece I have sold 3 of my hats at a dollar a piece & 4 more to sell dont know if they will sell or not, that is my crop.
***** End unidentified section******
Note: If this unidentified section belongs to the other letter, then the remainder of this letter has been lost.
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Wednesday, 12-Sep-2018 14:28:44 MDT