1862 Lessie Park Robertson Letter

The following letter from Lessie Park Robertson to her brother Willie Robertson was found in the papers of Mary Kerr Motz (1917-2005):

June 25th 1862

Dear Wiley,

It's with the greatest pleasure imaginable that I seat myself this beautiful morning, to write you a few lines. Rose Belvins hand is very sore. Dr. Roan thinks it will rise, she has not been out in the last day or two. Sallie Belvins keeps well; I believe still goes to see Ben & enjoys herself very well, Rose expecting Miss Fress? Ma is tolerably well, sends
love & c. How do you all get on without Captain Withers? Sorry to hear he was sick.
Went to church yesterday,

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great many people there. Geo Graves was there, he looked very badly indeed, intensely
pale Loss Bosco was present also, had his hand bandaged up. Send you some cherries
the pears are not fully ripe; Want to see you all very much Wish you could come home
To stay all the time All the girls send their Love to you Mrs. Mason Mrs. Reinhart? & Mrs Johnston send love too. Maj. J.A. Graves & Martin? Lenick Norfleet in town got home Saturday.

Enclosed this miserably written scrawl & write
soon to your affectionate

Sister Lessie Park

Sam West Letter 1861

The following letter was found in the papers of Mary Kerr Motz (1917-2005):

Clinton Hinds County, Miss.
January 12th 1861

Miss E. A. Robertson
Yanceyville

I am again in possession of another one of your kind favors. Though it made my heart glad to hear from you, still, It pained me to think that you, my own & only female Correspondent, believed me “buried” in love with Miss McLeuse. I have seen her once, never shall see her again. This is cirtain for I am almost bound to spend the residue of my days in the army. This is the shortest way to spend an unhappy and unprofitable life. I have the honor to command a company, whose destination is South Carolina, the -----? civil war is proclaimed. I hope such news will reach us soon. And yet I am a–co-opperationist. One who loves the Union of his fathers. But I am no submissionist; And, I thank God, that I have more stability than to love best the girl I see last. I cannot make love a matter of such frivolous speculation. I would have you think better of your old friend & correspondent. I shall accept your advice; and, on the event I do “try again”, I will send Cupid, armed with many a arrow to fall harmless at your feet, or find a home within your heart. If you intend to hold out long you had better strengthen the walls that surround your heart.

I love you. I do esteem you highly & may long love you with constancy that amounts
to idolatry. I believe you fear this too much, to trust me your ambrotype. If you don’t send it, I shall see you soon in some sweet dream, or on my way to “West Point”.

If you don’t send it I will have you up in church for non-compliance of duty. You know the Methodist are baston for struting. My dad is Methodist So are you, or am I much mistaken in your notions of faith. I am Methodist in all but Baptism I think persons who are baptized ought to be drowned Such is Ovids translation of “emergo.”

I am a Mason, this must do me; till I get married. I will then go the way she tells me, except up the chimney. In regard to Cousin writing to you, I have to say, She is too happily gazing upon Vesses face to look at ------? Or think of writing.

I don’t like to be whipped for doing the best I can do, I‘ll go and get the whipping if you say so, but you shall get the scolding, if we are out of the old glorious Union. Missippssi is out Louisiana is out. Hurah! for the new Union! Money matters are still hard up. No credit. These are indeed hard times. Well I see no use In crying over the present or prophesying what will be. Still I can not help being sad if I am out of love.

I recon this is the cause of it, if it is I shant grieve much longer, if you will send me your type. Please send. ”Why tease me so”? If you are ugly, why you may know its just like me & most of the world. Beauty & intelligence don’t travel the same road far. That’s why I’m such a “sallet”. Cousin said you was ugly as herself. Vess thinks she’s the woman. I may think the same of you. I know you think I’m ugly & a sallet too, or would not tease me so about falling in love.

Your Friend, Sam West

Vess is Veston A. Carraway of Madison County, Mississippi.
Cousin is Eliza Baldwin Skidmore Carraway wife of Veston A. Carraway.
They were married September of 1860.

1860 Letter to Eliza A. Robertson

The following letter was found in the papers of Mary Kerr Motz (1917-2005):

Clinton Hinds Co.
Mississipi
April 17th 1860

Miss E. A. Robertson
Yanceyville N. C.

Miss Eliza

Notwithstanding I have been in possession of your kind & very interesting letter for several days past, I have been unable from sickness & impartation duties to reply to it, until I fear you think I am one of those whose delight is not in the law of the heart but whose evil intentions severeth good to the heart, that forgets its only earthly idol, so soon as the king of day sinks to his rest.

(continues)

(near bottom of page)

I visited the “crescent city- New Orleans”, I did enjoy myself finely while there. Save when I was in the hospital, gazing upon the afflicted & dying. I saw sights there that will haunt me to my grave. Still I am theoretically familiar with such scenes.

(page 2)

I met with one of my childhood friends there, who who had visited South America, Mexico & all the Teritories. Many an interesting story could he tell of fairy Zinzinas, who inhaled at every breath the sick perfumes of the sigareta, that adorned their lips.”like chimneys of paradise”. I spent every night while in the city in his room.

I must say a few things in regard to Miss House. I am grieved to dispute her word and will do so with that courtesy due a lady from a gentleman.

(continues)

Such, too, is the opinion exemplified by my amable cousin, (Eliza) (Sam refers to his cousin Eliza Baldwin Skidmore future wife of Veston Carraway)

Having sent you my ambrotype, I can but hope you have rec’d it and fear your expectations have been sadly disappointed. It will be depending upon circumstances whether I visit Salem or not. Should my health not impose I shall visit Carolina; and will certainly make Yanceyville my first destination in the State.

(page 3)

My Cousin Eliza is again at home, imparting something of her happiness to all around.

(continues)

I will close with a little poem I wrote for you one starry night in March. Receive it and treat it as a gift of the heart.

Your friend, Sam West (poem not with letter)

Sallie Robertson Bible

Mary Kerr Motz of Yanceyville, North Carolina, died 11 November 2005. Included in her books was the Bible of Sarah A. (Sallie) Robertson (1833-1923). This Bible apparently was an 1860 present to Sallie Robertson by her friend Harriet Graves. Over the next several decades, Sallie Robertson used this Bible as a diary or journal, recording wherever there was space the happenings of the day and her feelings about them.

This fascinating journal was sold at auction in 2006. The auction house was kind enough to allow Karen Avants of the Caswell County Historical Association to capture the information Sallie Robertson so carefully preserved. Set forth below are excerpts from this journal. A chronological order is attempted, which often differs from the page numbers cited.

Sarah A. (Sallie) Robertson the daughter of Dr. George Robertson (c.1807-1855) and Sarah Allen Robertson (1803-1871) of Yanceyville, Caswell County, North Carolina. Sallie was born June 1833 and died 27 November1923. She was the third child in a family of eight children.

Sallie Robertson never married and lived with her sisters in the family home until her death in 1923 at 90 years of age. When Sallie was 27 years old her friend Harriet Graves gave her a small Bible June 1, 1860. Sallie recorded Civil War events as they touched her family, friends, and community. She wrote brief notes about births, deaths, and events for over 50 years. Sallie writes; “I wonder when this awful war will cease!! The blood, the blood that has been spent for our confederacy. I wish I could stop mourning for the dead, for I feel that I sin in so doing, I try to be resigned to thy will O Lord.”

Obituary of Kayla Leighann Montana Lipscomb (2007-2007)

Kayla Leighann Montana Lipscomb

May 23, 2007 - 01:44:59 am CDT

Providence, NC - Kayla Leighann Montana Lipscomb, 17 days old, died Saturday, May 12, 2007 at 2:15 a.m. at University of Virginia Hospital. Survivors are her father, Kelvin Lipscomb, Sr; mother, Crystal Pleasant; sisters, Jenna and Kora; brothers, Courtney, Isaiah, Kelvin, Jr. and Elijah; grandparents, Freeman Bigelow, Carolyn Lipscomb, Gwendolyn Pleasant and Martin and Kimberly Pleasant. The funeral service was held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Hamer Missionary Baptist Church in Blanch with internment following at the church cemetery. Arrangements were entrusted to Blackwell Funeral Home in Yanceyville.

Obituary of Kayla Leighann Montana Lipscomb (2007-2007) (The Caswell Messenger, 23 May 2007)

Obituary of David Russell Turner (1939-2007)

David Russell Turner

May 23, 2007 - 01:44:58 am CDT

Danville, Va - David Russell Turner, age 68, 292 Glenlyn Street Danville died Saturday, May 19, 2007 at his residence. He was born January 7, 1939 in Danville, VA to Charlie Richard Turner and Zona Ozella Meeks Turner, both deceased. Mr. Turner worked as an electrician for the US Government at Fort Jackson, NC. He had served two years in the US Navy. He is survived by daughters, Leslie Turner of Rural Hall and Kelly Turner of California; brothers, Richard Alvin Turner of Raleigh, NC, Henry Charles Turner of Leasburg, NC, and Billy Ray Turner of Leasburg, NC; Sisters, Bonnie Joy Ferrell of Vernon Hill, Patsy Ann Turner of Pffaftown, NC, Donna M. T of Pffaftown, Rene Davis of Roxboro, NC and Tracie Horner of Roxboro, NC. He was predeceased by a sister, Nellie Glancey. Barker Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Obituary of David Russell Turner (1939-2007) (The Caswell Messenger, 23 May 2007)

Obituary of Alice Ware Miller (1925-2007)

Alice Ware Miller

May 23, 2007 - 01:45:00 am CDT

Providence, NC - Alice Ware Miller, age 81, of 527 Ware Road, Providence, NC died Thursday, 5/17/07 at Brian Center in Yanceyville, NC after a decline in health. Mrs. Miller was born in Caswell County, NC on December 13, 1925. She was a daughter of the late James Emmett Ware and Bertha Gillespie Ware.

She was a member of the Providence Baptist Church and was educated in the Caswell County public school system. Mrs. Miller was retired from Dan River Mills in the spinning department of the Schoolfield Division. She was married to the late Hardy Arnold Miller. She was also predeceased by a son, A. Leroy Miller; two sisters, Viola W. Bryson, and Nettie W. Bray; two brothers, William Adrian Ware and James Ralph Ware. Surviving are one daughter, Luretta M. Rich of Danville, one son, Robert A. Miller of Providence, NC, one sister, Sarah W. Guthrie of Danville and one brother, Raymond V. Ware of Providence, NC. Also surviving are three grandchildren and two great grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, May 19, 2007 at 11:00 am from the graveside at Highland Burial Park by the Reverend Matthew Eades, Pastor at Providence Baptist Church. The family will receive friends at Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street on Friday, May 18, 2007 from 7 to 8:30 pm and at other times will be at the residence of her grandson, Mr. Kevin Pegg, 94 Bill Smith Road in Providence, NC. Townes Funeral Home, 215 West Main Street is in charge of the arrangements for the Miller Family.

Obituary of Alice Ware Miller (1925-2007) (The Caswell Messenger, 23 May 2007)