Letter 33 Francis Marion Wright to Martha William Wright Moody

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Halifax, North Carolina
Surnames/tags: Wright Moody Halifax N.C. March 7th 1845

My Dear Aunt

I was happy on going to the office this morning to find a letter from you, being the first that I have ever received from you. but alas! I was equally sorry to hear of the death of the much beloved Mrs. Johnson. She has left behind her some 5 or 6 little children who will never find another such friend in this bleak cold & hard hearted world, where every one is seeking after their own interest & caring not for that of their fellow men. But they have a farther. (the next best friend to a mother) such a father as will take care of them, and one that will always be worthy of them. I have a most [damaged] opinion of Dr. Johnson, and indeed of the whole family. As I said before the father is the next best [damaged] the Mother; yes, it is the tender kind hearted mother that nourishes it the young plant when young. she [damaged] & causes it to grow, and when it becomes pliable then it is she bends it according to her will in the path of virtue and morality, she rears it until it is an ornament to the place it has to occupy in life, until it is able to stand the tempests of vice & immorality of this wicked world. Aunt Martha I feel today that if my mother had lived I should be much better off this day, but it was the Lord's pleasure and certainly his will must be done. And then he took my father also leaving me almost alone, but his name be praised that it is no worse with me than it is, I thank him for his many blessings. Aunt Martha I suppose your next door and only neighbour has gone to try the unknown realities of another world unto us, who knows but that the monster death may lay hands on one of us for his next victim. Yet how sweet is life. I would that I were a truly devoted and pious christian, one day I live like a christian, and probably the next in my thoughtlessness and waywardness I do things that I ought not to do. But I know that the ways of religion are pliant and all her paths are peace; so that I am determined to hold on to the little that I have and also to try and increase my stock. When I was at your house the last time Mrs. Newsom said that you had spoken something of buying the white house where Mr. Gay lives, and now that you have no company at all in your neighborhood, I hope that you will reflect on and conclude to buy it. We have a very fine neighborhood indeed, the families are generally very sociable and besides that they are generally pious. I should be delighted if you were to move there, for I could see you every week. We have a good church and a fine preacher. And with all I give my vote for your moving.

I am still working for Mr. Cole and he has not offered me a cent, I can assure you I am very tired of this kind of work. and as I am going home tomorrow evening I intend to ask the Old man whether or not he intends giving me anything, if he pays me reasonably I will stay, if not I will try and get in some other bussiness until next christmas when I expect to go to Petersburg if not before, but I am in hopes Mr. Cowles may get me a place sometime shortly. If he concludes not to give me anything I shall consult Uncle John and know what he thinks about it. I hope Aunt Martha you will answer as soon as you receive it, and let me know whether you have employed any one to teach your little children or not. When you see cousin Lizy tell her I did not think she would treat me so, I wrote to her not long ago to send me the words of "They have given thee to another" and she has disregarded my request altogether, but it confirms my belief that she is a little deceitful. I would like to see you all very much. I was very much pleased with my [damaged] I could have stayed much longer with you had it not been for my business. I would like to see Uncle Jack very much. I will come to see you when I can. Major Pearson of Missouri was married a short time scince to Miss Eliza Eelbeck of this county. Tell me all the news in your neighborhood, I mean the [damaged] news, for that will please me as much as anything else. Give my love to all those that think [damaged] after me. Tell P.K. Guarner to write to me. I thank you, for I really feel gratified in reading your friendly sentiments towards me. As I must now close my letter, recieve the deepest esteem and regard of your

Affectionate

Nephew

Francis M. Wright

Addressed to: Mrs. Martha Moody

Pleasant Hill

N.C.

"Single Mail"

Postmarked: HALIFAX N.C. MAR 7

Postage: 10

VLR (Virginia Leigh Refo)

A letter from Francis Marion Wright (1827 - 1877), son of William H. Wright and Peggy Bell, written to his father's half-sister, Martha William (Wright) Moody. Uncle Jack refers to her husband, John Mason Moody. Uncle John may also be a reference to John Moody, but probably refers to John Bell (see letters #16 and # 18). Cousin "Lizy" probably is Elizabeth D. Crump who later marries J. F. Simmons (see letters # 19, # 30, and # 44). Dr. Johnson is referred to in letters # 29 and #34. He apparently was the only physician in this area of Northampton County, N.C. Apparently being the father of 6 motherless children was not what he wanted. On 18 Nov.1845 Dr. James Johnson married Eliza J. Mason. P.K. Guarner is Presley K. Garner, son of William Garner, Jr. JMM was executor of Presley's father's estate and guardian for Presley and his sister, Susan Ann Garner. (Also see letter # 37.) Mrs. Newsom lived with the Moody family. She is mentioned in letters # 16, # 34, # 41, #47, and # 54. I am unfamiliar with any other persons mentioned. Mr. Cole and Mr. Cowles may have be the same person.

What a gloomy and depressing letter! Francis is the child, Frank, referred to in letters from his father, William H. Wright (letters # 2, # 4, #11, #12, # 16). Frank's mother died either at his birth (1827) or shortly thereafter. His father died also when he was young, in 1836. This letter is written by a young man of only 17 years. He went on to marry Roberta Bolling Slaughter and managed a store in Petersburg.

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.