| From father Richard Stewart
Kinsale P.O., Westmoreland County February 9, 1900 Dear Nelson, I now take this present time to write you these few lines to let you hear from me. We are all well and hope when these few lines come to hand, they may find you all well and getting along nicely. I have been intending to write before now but have neglected in doing so. I received your letter and was glad to hear from you. I intend to write to you regular. I received the money $(13) dollars from you, and twelve $(12) from Walter which made $(25) dollars. It leaves the balance on the place, interest and all $(56) fifty six dollars. I wish it all was wound up now and my mind would be better satisfied. I wish you and Walter was here now on the place. We all now is very much stirred up. Brother Robert Lee died Wednesday morning, eight minutes after five o'clock. And he will be buried tomorrow. And his family is very much stirred up. And I feel sometimes like I soon will be with your mother. I would be glad if I could see you all settled before I did go. Please tell Osmond and Nellie about the death of brother Robert if they have not heard of it. The season of death commenced around here last February and it seems to commence around here again this February. Them that ain't dying Natural is killing one and another. William Newman shot Walter Maith last Saturday night at a festival and the doctor's had to take his leg off, he didn't live no time before he died. And please, you and Walter, don't go to these public entertainments. I have been talking to these boys here to keep away from these festivals and Harry was at this festival, and as the lord would have it, he had left before the fur come up and now they is got William Newman in jail and expecting when his trial comes off he will be dying. Times around here is more gloomy it looks like, then ever. This evening they expect to have an entertainment at Potomac Church of singing, and speeches to be made by different ones. I would to went myself and on account of the death of brother Robert I don't expect to go. I am trying to get a few cords of wood cut this winter. I have not done a great deal of work myself because I have been troubled ever since Xmas. I suppose the death of Brother Lee would have been the sign of it. I would be glad if you or Walter would come down in the spring so I could talk to you some. Write soon, all sends their love to you and family. |
NOTE:
The above letter was written by a 64 year old man who was a former slave and received no formal education. He no doubt also communicated with his daughters who moved to Baltimore, MD. In the summer of 1903, Richard Stewart entered University Hospital in Baltimore Maryland after suffering from Uremia. Shortly thereafter, he passed on. He is buried in the cemetery at Potomac Baptist Church in Hague, Virginia.
