Letter 18 William H Wright to sister, Martha William Moody

Date: 29 Oct 1834 [unknown]
Location: Bolivar, Tennessee
Surnames/tags: Moody Mason Wright

Bolivar, Wednesday

Oct. 29th. 1834

Mrs. Moody,

D Sister.

Yours dated July 15th. I recd. a few days since, and hasten to answer it, I have just returned from Alabama where I spent three or four months, saw nearly all the Sykes’ found them well, and doing well in point of worldly affairs. Alabama is one of the most agreeable, and pleasant countries I have ever seen in all my perigrenations, both in point of health, and society, and would prefer living there to any other place, if the land was not so very high and for the inconvenience of navigation, which will be remedied after a while by railroads and canals, ------

I will return to Bolivar again, and give you a short history of the times. I have understood there has been more sickness in this place, and its vicinity than has been known for a number of years, though but a few have died, one a valuable citizen since my return, who has left a widow, and several little children to deplore their inestimable loss, what is best of all, their loss is his gain, he was a professor of religion and said he was not afeared to die, and went off like a candle, he died so easy that his wife who was sitting by his bed, did not know it. She now lies very ill, and it is thought will not recover - but I am in hopes she will be spared, for the sake of her little children. This reminds me more and more of my dear little boy, who has no mother to take care of him, but has a farther that will provide for him or endeavor so to do, as long as I live in this poor pitiful world. – You say he is with you, and goes to school at the Spring church, that to me, is news indeed, I expected he was at Col. Lockhart’s and going to school in that neighborhood. I am surprised at John Bell for acting as he has concerning Frank, he informed James, that he was at Col. Lockharts, and has not said any thing to the contrary: I am determined that my child shall trouble no person. I am able to take care of him myself, and am determined to do so – and will come or send for him next spring, or sooner if convenient. Oh, do take care of him until that time, and you will much oblige your brother.

You say that you were grieved to hear that I was out of business, as I have a child for which I have to provide &c. As for that you need not give yourself the least uneasiness, for I do assure you he will be well provided for notwithstanding I am out of business, - I admit that I am not engaged in business myself, but my capital is, and making as or more for me than I could if I were at work myself, - My health will not admit of close confinement, therefore I think it is for the best that I should ride about and take as much exercise as possible, and not confine myself in any way whatever. It is true that I spoke of religion as being fashionable, but it was not the religion of Jesus Christ that I meant but the Episcopal, which is quite so here, - but as for my joining them is out of the question, for my motto is true and vital religion, the religion of the heart, which will constitute us happy here and hereafter. I am deprived of enjoying the same. I must conclude for fear of wearying your patience by requesting you to give my respects to Jack and all enquiring friends. Accept them yourself and be/ieve me,

Yours sincerely, W. H. Wright

Mrs. Martha W. Moody

This letter was transcribed by my great-aunt, Mary Eulah (Leigh) Hays, daughter of Martha Alice (Moody) Leigh and granddaughter of Martha William (Wright) Moody, the addressee. There is no original in this collection.

VLR (Virginia Leigh Refo)

A letter from William H. Wright to his half sister, Martha William (Wright) Moody. This letter follows the letter dated May 28, 1834 (#17), to her husband, John Mason Moody. It is interesting to look at the time frames --how long it took a letter to travel from Northampton County, NC to western Tennessee and back. About 6 weeks from TE to NC and about 10 back, although this could have been lengthened by it waiting in the Post Office while he was away. Frank is his son, Francis Marion Wright, whose mother, Peggy (Bell) Wright, died when Frank was an infant. Col. Lockhart is Benjamin Franklin Lockhart, Sr, whose daughter married a Bell ( see letter #16, and #11 for more on the Lockharts). John Bell and James Bell, with whom William was in business, must have been his brothers-in-law. Jack is Martha's husband, John Mason Moody. The Sykes are Martha’s relatives on her paternal grandmother’s side.

Acknowledgement

• Many thanks to cousin Virginia Leigh Refo whose research and transcriptions added to this profile. The originals were donated to the Library of Virginia in 2004 by Liz Edens Vermillion with the help of Virginia Refo Moody Family Papers, 1750-1881. Accession 40535, Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.