Letter 57 John Mason Moody, Jr to Martha Alice Moody Leigh

Date: [unknown] [unknown]
Location: Garysburg, North Carolina
Surnames/tags: Moody Leigh

Dear Sister

I think you unjust in attributing my not stopping in Petersburg to a want of affection for you. You surely had forgotten that I had not seen Willie for twelve months. I am not however writing to prove my affection, for that I love you very much you already know; but to ask you if don't intend remaining out here longer than a few days--to post-pone your coming to Friday evening, as I wrote Nat, last week, to meet me in Henderson on Wednesday and will not return before Saturday morning. My programme before leaving the South was to come by Nat's & spend several days where I expected to meet you & Ma, and on my return to go by Petersburg & spend several days with you.

The children are well & fat & seem very fond of me. I pat Willie for you. Try & give me as much of your company as possible for it is precious little I get that is congenial during the year. Ma is anxious for you & Aunt Mary to come out.

Your fond brother

Jno

VLR (Virginia Leigh Refo)

This is a brief letter from John Mason Moody, Jr, writing from the family plantation, Woodlawn near Garysburg, N.C. to his sister, Martha Alice (Moody) Leigh in Petersburg. He is up for a visit from his home in Lowndes Co. MS. Willie is his son, William Robert Moody, who is being raised by John's mother, Martha William (Wright) Moody after the death of John's first wife, Laura (Tabb) Moody in 1868. Nat is Nathaniel Gregory, his brother-in-law, who married Laura Estelle Moody, the youngest of the Moody children. The Gregory's lived in Oxford, N.C. hence the statement that Nat was going to meet him in Henderson (halfway). This time "Aunt Mary" is Mary Charlton, the author of many of these letters who was declared insane 1872.

Date: 1869-1872. Probably 1871-72.

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.