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Note: German Town paid 25 paid July 27th Tenn Mr. Wm L. Henderson Abingdon, Virginia Dear Children I fear that you have almost come to the conclusion, from my long silence. That I have forgotten you yet I assure you that such is not the fact. I do not believe that one hour of My day passes without my mind being away in Virginia or with my beloved sons and other dear relations. Oh how long dear the time appears to me since parted with you at my dear Sisters. I hope providence will spare our lives and permit us to meet again. This side of the grave. We received a letter from Will yesterday and were much gratified to hear that you were not getting along so finely and were also surprised that you did not mention the receipt of a letter written by you Father the 2nd of July in which he enclosed twenty dollars to defray Wills expenses in the excursions though the adjoining counties I hope before this you have received it there is at this time a great deal of sickness in this country. Mrs Quinetchet was buried yesterday she died in a congestion Will Mr Means cook died the day before yesterday. This is the third negro he has lost in the last 12 months Rachel's babe is as fat as a Berkshire pig and as white as skin can be . Let is sick I have just sent for Sackey ? To bring him up here the balance of the family are all well. Rachel and myself expect to go up to Dr. Stouts tomorrow to hear Mr. Williamson preach Margaret McMillins funeral on Sabbath it is twelve miles from here. Mr. Perkins has sold his mills and has commenced building at the Ipray Place they* will move up as soon as they get their house built the Reverend Sam McKinney sent us a letter a short time given which he had received from Con expressing a great desire to go to school to him and requesting him to beg us to let him come, now let me tell you my dear son once and forever that you should go without an education before you should receive it from a McKinney I think him a black hearted unprincipled sort and my reason for saying so are these when Mrs Wilson arrived in this country Sister Dunroe did not pay any marked attention to him she was much insulted and commenced abusing the whole concession at a wonderful rate assented that they were a low family and that they were all made rich by purloinging from Uncle Kings estate and Sister Rachel's children you know that your Father located some land for them and Robt McKinney the Doctor sold his part of the land and Bob gave his to the tanners wife and children. She did not like the land and because Mr. H would not let her take it where she pleased the whole family with the exception of Peggy Jane commenced lying in good earnest They assert it where ever they go that M. H has cheated them that he does not stick to the truth ? And the Dr had the imprudence the other day to tell M. Henderson that Dr. Trigg had long since put him on his guard about him that he had made some statements to him that even prejudicial to his character, and he also stated to Mr. Means that Dr. Trigg one of the first men in Virginia had made him acquainted with some of Mr. H inappropriate conduct and that he had once thought him a gentle man but he now finds he is mistaken he cannot be prevailed* on to tell what Daniel told him. Therefore set it down as a lie. I wish you however to see your Cousin Daniel and ask him for my sake if your Father has done anything to injure him or any of the family that he will let us know it and he shall be payed fourfold I do know that Mr.H never wilfully injured a human being in his life more especially one of my Dear Sister Rachel's family whom he always loved as well as he did his own sisters tell Dan that I wont him to make a statement of the whole matter for I feel appruned if he did say anything against my husband that he has been wrongly informed. I wish you William to inquire into this matter as soon as possible and let me know the results. Tell your Aunt Betty that I find she knew the McKinneys a great deal better then I did the only way to get along with him is to have nothing to do with them Alexander says he can never be an inmate of ours again dear me what shall I do. ? the Reverend Samuel thirteen dollars more for your tuition than he ought to have done according to contract so you perceive that they are all birds of a feather and buzzards at that. Aunt McKinney lives with Raften I visited him the other day and I really believe that he old lady sincerely loves me I told her that let her childrens conduct toward us be what it might that so long as she lived I would visit her, she is in good health and I think a sincere Christian don't come to the conclusion from this letter that we are all in a state anarchy here we have lived long enough to learn with such matters calmly and to receive them as a matter of course knowing that all things shall work together for good to them that love the Lord. I hope you will have a great deal of pleasure during the vacation and be enabled to return to your studies with renewed energy* be careful of yourselves and do not run into danger such as young into deep water climbing ? Tell Ann Trigg that I am disappointed weekly in not hearing from her In my last I gave her such a glowing account of her aristocratic kin in these diggins that I expected an immediate reply is Rach Buchannon living in Abingdon give my love to all relations especially to my brothers and Sister farewell may heaven bless you is the prayer of your affectionate Mother Mary K Henderson Alexander Raften gave your Father a letter to put in the post office for Con Mr. H. paid the postage. I mention this thinking you might pay the postage when you write to him which I do not wish you to do MKH University of Texas at Arlington University Libraries Special Collections Collection: Plummer Papers Location: GA10 Caption: 1843-1849 German Town paid 25 February 13 47 Mr. William L. Henderson Cedarville P.O. Washington County Virginia Retirement February 10th My Beloved Children being entirely alone this morning I embrace it as a favorable opportunity to write to my much loved sons. Mary is at Lockey Anns Paulina and Bennetta at Rachel ? Father is out in the new growthand is busily engaged burning brush. Rachel left us on Tuesday last for her own home. They are living between Mr. Rutherford and Mr. Perkins so that your sisters are within half mile of each other. Poor Lack has been sick a great deal this eventin as we have a prspect of nonsettled weather I am in hopes his health will be better Let grows finely and is a most interesting little fellow every stranger that sees him remarks his fine forehead and lovely black eyes. R Means father has bought Mr. Winfres place and will move to it next week he has a very interesting son a young man about nineteen years old and I know you will be pleased to hear of it as they will be such near neighbours that you will no doubt be intimate friends when you return. Tell Molly Branch that I intend him for her Because he has also a little daughter aged ten years but considerably larger than Paulina. Dr. Stout has rented out his place in Germantown and moved up within two miles of Cederville. Mr. McNutt has also moved up there. Richard Eldridge is living at Fumber place and as Mr. Runford is living in Brookers new house so you perceive that our society is improving. The roads are so bat that we are *under the necessity of keeping close quarters. I have so far been to see Aunt McKinney but once since your Father returned from Virginia And in that time have to been to see Betsy Wilson. Dr. McKinney expects to bring his family to his farm this spring and quit his practice of medicine. Samuel Mc is in Jackson and has a very flourishing school his family are boarding at Mr. Raften his wife is sickly and much dissatisfied she wished to remain in Jackson with him but his mother thought it would be to expensive therefore poor creature she is separated from her husband and her parents for the sake of filthy lucre John Ledbetter is married to Miss Suggs he is nineteen and she fifteen. Squire Ledbetter has found another wife a sister of Mrs Porncliure he remarried a widower about sure months your cousin Edward Sanders and his wife has separated I believe her father has petitioned for a divorce . Furbin has quit teaching and preaching and turned Lawyer the measles has prevailed to some extent in this country we have thus far escaped them Arthur Henderson has spent some week with us this winter he is a smart young man, but on of the most degraded being on earth he is a drunkard and liar and also a Mrothing massen take warning from him my dear sons and avoid wild company and the bottle as you would a rattlesnake for rather would I see you both in your graves then see you such an outcast from society as he is the good and virtuous avoid him whenever they can I have given up all hope of his reformation and think that the sooner he dies the better, we were much gratified to receive a letter for Brother Collen giving a favorable account of both of you. Continue to merit the appreciation of your teachers my sonns Children for nothing reconciles me so much to your absence as to hear of your * well doing. I was sorry my Dear little Con got angry at his Aunt Betty and would not go to see here remember my dear that she is mothers only sister an that I love her dearly ad would be very much hurt for one of my sons to do anything to hurt her feelings. I know your Aunt would do as much to make you happy as anybody in Virginia and her your interest as much at heart go to see her Con an if you have done anything to hurt her feelings ask her pardon and for my sake do not be at bancarace with my dear sister or brothers and do not let little matters incite you so much, remember that you must learn to bear and forbear do not expect to get though this life without many difficulties for if you do you will find yourself mistaken and recollect that I have always taught you to have communion with few be intimate with one, deal justly with all and speak evil of none this counsel and no doubt you will get along peaceably your playmates relations and all as I am not in the habit of writing often I begin to feel weary. Therefore will bring my letter to close, praying Heaven to protect and bless my darling children and permit us to meet agin in this life farewell Your MotherMary K. Henderson Letter is addressed to William L. Henderson Shelby Co. Dear William I send you by Mr. Eldreidge two shirts and a pair of suspenders, your collars are designed to turn over your cravat there are four of them the wristbands are made to turn back over the cuff of your coat. Dear Connally I sent you a pocket handkerchief a pair of mittens also pair of suspenders. I hope you will be very (torn letter) of your clothing and also be very economical (torn letter) a cent foolishly. Take good care of (torn letter) and do not ruin any ? By ? (torn letter) going into the water ? No any thing (torn letter) that you are liable to accidents, Oh how (torn letter) pleasure would it give to see my beloved children. I wish you to learn fast that our separation may be as short as possible we are all well may the blessing of Heaven attend you is the pray of your affectionate Mother. December 4th Mary K. Henderson University of Texas at Arlington University Libraries Special Collections Collection: Plummer Papers Location: GA10 Caption: 1843-1849 Retirement May 31st 1843 My Dear Sons I feel somewhat ashamed of myself when I consider what a length of time has elapsed since I wrote to you I really hoe you will not think for a moment that it was a want of affection no my precious and far distant children my mind is constantly turned towards Emory & Henry and wondering what you are doing and never do I bow my knee to ask a blessing from my Heavenly father on my own such that I do not entreat him to guide and protect my absent sons I do hope that you will be careful not to contract any bad habits and that when you leave that country you may leave a good name and many warm friends behind you. Mother is much in hopes her little Findlay will be regular in reading his Bible and attending to secret prayer that he may kept from backsliding as many of his cousins have ?? done try my child and hold out to the end that you may be saved, and think not my dear Will that the obligation is less binding on you I do pray that you may remember your creator in the days of your youth it would be a great gratification to your Father and myself to see all of our dear children who have arrived at the years of accountability numbered amongst the ? Of salvation and walking in all the commandments of the Lord blameless. Dr. Stout arrived at home ten* days ago I was angry at him that he did not call to see you he says that you have grown so much that he expected your clothes were too small if so do write ad let us know and whither you have got any decent clothing to make your appearance in at the examination your Father was in hopes that he would be enabled to leave home in time to attend the examination. I do not think that he will leave for three weeks yet the spring has been so cold and late that crops have to be pushed forward now with untiming zeal, and as he is making cotton this season he dislikes leaving until he has it in good order would advise you not to look for him until some time in July. I think his health is improving a little Mr. Perking is living at the mill they are well yet I far they will be sickly down there this summer. Rachel is with us she came in expecting her Father would start last week Mr. Means has returned to Mississippi without her, we expect him back in a few days, would you not like to see your new Brother. Many request some to say to you that she is all anxiety to see you and that she wishes you would make hast and come home they have all grown considerably since you left home. Ben reminds one of Con he is going from morning until night. He then throws himself on the floor and takes a nap. Sometimes takes a cry when he is put to bed he is much of a baby. How does my dear little Watt come on do not let him forget me and Your Aunt Betty oh how I long to see her, I wish with all my heart Rachel Goode was here she would be a great deal of company for one during your Fathers absence tell her I shall look for her and Mary Trigg next fall try and prevail on your Aunt Betty and Annie * to come out with Mr. Henderson the family are all well except Ellen who has the measles she is recovering but I will not be surprised if they go through the family there are several to have them. I stay at home as much that I have no strange news to give you I do not know what is going on in our neighborhood. I have enclosed five dollars which you will divide between you. I wish you my dear children to be economical and not spend money foolishly and be careful of your clothes and make them last as long as possible and when Will outgrows his clothes it would be well for Con to wear them and in that way to save a penny or two. I shall expect a letter soon and I want to hear something about the connescion has any of them had additions to their family since we left. Remember me affectionately to all enquiring friends and give my warmest love to my dear Brothers and ? And sister Haskens and believe me to keeping dearly beloved children you affectionate Mother Mary K. Henderson University of Texas at Arlington University Libraries Special Collections Collection: Plummer Papers Location: GA10 Caption: 1843-1849
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