Letter 47 Mary Charlton to Martha William Wright Moody

Date: Mar 1862 [unknown]
Location: Petersburg, Virginia
Surnames/tags: Moody Wright Thursday M'ing.

I received my dear Sister's kind letter last evening, and it has only increased my ardent desire for a move out South. Texas, Mississippi, Louisiana, any where it matters not so it is within the limits of Gen'l Davis' confederacy.

Mother says I must tell you to come in next week, and she will go out a little later as she has been quite unwell for a week or more, and is afraid to go while the weather is unsettled, besides Jennie is talking of going with her and is fearful to leave home while it is stall changeable. I'd love very much to pay you a visit, some time soon, but even $6.00 is quite an amount to one as poor as I am and I'm trying very hard to learn the important lesson of "Contentment at home".

I've been suffering for the last week with quite a severe attack of Bronchetis, and tho' much better this morning can only speak in a whisper, with my throat still very much ulcerated. I don't lie down for it so don't think I can't go Shopping next week if you come as I hope you will.

The Merchants & Milliners are all returned, and it is very lively on the St. when the March winds allow Ladies to appear in public.

Mr. Carter will be here in a few weeks, and I'll be sure to deliver your message. He is perfectly charmed with Texas, and gives wonderful accounts of the wealth & products of that State. I hope you may come in Monday or Tuesday. write me immediately and say when I shall meet you at The Depot.

Ma says I must tell you she never wanted to see you half as bad in her life as she wishes to try and make some arrangement about going South early in the fall. Father's health is still very feeble, but he seems willing for us to do as we like.

Do come in Monday. I feel very much like seeing you. Tell Aunt Newsom I'm sure I could make myself very agreeable to her and would be delighted to see her I'm so very sorry you've lost that beautiful cape-jasmine tree. I hope it may now come out from the body. I have two or three pretty plants in bloom and if you come next week will give you something to carry home with you. Do come in Monday, and spend the week with us. Give my love to all at home and for yourself accept the sincere love of

Your Sister Mary

[Written in the margin] Gib is here and wishes me to open the letter and say his baby is very sick, had a high fever for four days.

VLR (Virginia Leigh Refo)

Mary Charlton writing from Petersburg to her sister, Martha William (Wright) Moody, who lives at Woodlawn (sometimes called “Woodland”) near Garysburg, N.C.. The letter is written before January 25, 1863 which is when Mary’s father, Rev. George Charlton died. "Mother" is Martha Robinson (Crump) Wright Charlton. "Gib" is Dr. H. Gilbert Leigh, a physician in Petersburg and wife of Martha Moody's daughter, Martha “Alice” (Moody) Leigh. He entered service as a surgeon in the Confederate Army in June 1862. Their two oldest children were born in June 1860 and June 1862. Therefore Gib's sick baby is "Minnie", Mary Eulah Leigh, who later transcribed several of these letters. Nannie Newsom is referred to in several other letters (#16, # 33, # 34, #41, & # 54). She would be about 63 at this time, if the 1850 census is correct. I do not know the relationship, but it seems to be a close one. Newsum and its varient spellings was a common name in Northampton, Greensville and Southampton Counties. It is possible that there is a distant family connection. I do not know who Mr. Carter refers to. There is a Mr. Carter, a Methodist minister refered to in letter #44. As Rev. Charlton was also a Methodist minister it may be the same.

Date: March 1862.

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.