Letter 56 John Mason Moody, Jr to Martha Alice Moody Leigh

Date: 25 Jan 1870 [unknown]
Location: Lowndes County, Mississippi
Surnames/tags: Leigh Moody Wright Artesia Miss Jany 25th 1870

Dear Sister:

I am after recovering from my attack of cold, with which you left me. I got a scratch on my hand, which, owing to the bad state of my blood inflamed so much, that I've been unable to write until the present. The inflamation has not yet ceased, but is subsiding & I hope it will soon be well, as I have all the dressing it to do with my left hand, beside the annoyance of being deprived of the use of my right, in perfecting my toilet. I cannot act upon your suggestion of making myself more comfortable. Aside from the actual expense that would accrue, my comforts are commensurate with my wants, for they are but few. Since you left the Tabb family have departed, as well as, my valet, who I must say was equally as worthless, and until to day I've been all alone. I have succeeded in hiring a little boy about 10 years who is now sitting by the fire looking quite comfortable, & to a casual observer it would be hard to tell which was boss. I rejoice to hear you found all well & only wish you could have been here at a different season, when you would have had more propitious weather.

I received Gib's letter to day and will answer all his inquiries. I have, strange to say, been more successful in getting labor than any one in my neighborhood. I cannot account for it--only know it is a fact. A portion of the hands am paying a cent[?] of 500# lint cotton for every 10 acres & the rest are working for 3/8. I have more negroes than I had last year & have no fear of having to turn out a foot of land next year.

I seem to have obtained their confidence, but how, I can't tell unless it is that I am very positive with them always doing what I promise even to thrashing them. My hand is hurting & my arm is tired so I'll conclude. Let me hear from you soon & often, for I'm very much alone, sad and weary, & but seldom hear from home. Love to all.

God bless you.

Your affectionate brother

Jno.

VLR (Virginia Leigh Refo)

John Mason Moody, Jr. is writing from Lowndes Co, MS to his sister, Martha "Alice" (Moody) Leigh in Petersburg, VA. The Tabb family are his in-laws, he having married Laura Tabb, now deceased. I didn't think she had much family, only her sister, Virginia Gordon Tabb, “Sippie”, (see the letter #65 and letter #54) who married William Scott Moody in 1869 and a one brother, John F. Ross Tabb. Perhaps this letter refers to the brother’s family. He was married and had several children. "Gib" is Alice's husband, Dr. H.G. Leigh.

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.