Letter 62 Martha William Moody to Martha Alice Moody Leigh

Date: 31 Oct 1875 [unknown]
Location: Northampton, North Carolina
Surnames/tags: Moody Leigh

Oct 31st 1875.

My Darling Child,

I received your letter yesterday was glad to hear from you was very sorry to hear of your unfortunate smashup hope it did not injure your carpet. Laura left yesterday and Harriet and Clairene will leave tomorrow then I shall feel so badly, so lonely. I shall use every effort to get through as soon as possible. I am still trying to sell Woodland but have only a slight hope of doing so, though one man is very anxious to get it, he wants the buildings, the other land so if I can sell one the buildings and the other the land I may make the trade. Mr. M-- says tell Gib to sign and send that paper so he can get some money from that man he says it is a part of the old place and was sold with it. I waked up last Tuesday night and found Mr M with a hard fit on him the longest and hardest he has ever had, but he was up next day and has seemed to be as well as usual ever since I waked up last night and listened to hear him breathe could not hear him move or breathe lit the candle and stood over him could see or hear a breath so I put my hand on him and asked him if he was cold he said no, so I went to bed much relieved. he frightened me terribly I feared he was dead. What a dreadful state of mind always fearing to find him dead, but I hope he will be better now. He is very sad. Joe is here still. We all went to Weldon Fair all seemed to enjoy it but me. I am glad it is over. There were a great many people there but nearly half were negroes which was exceedingly objectionable. I think such crowds of negroes will finally break up the Fair out here. There were but few premiums given and no better show in Floral Hall than we had in Petersburg; There were not half so many things this Fair as the last one I attended here. Did you hear anything of the Charltons going away? I hope they will go before Mary gets wild; I am sorry for Mary. Much love to all. Excuse haste. Your devoted Mother

M W M

VLR (Virginia Leigh Refo)

Letter from Martha William Moody at Woodland in Northampton Co., NC to daughter, in Petersburg, VA, Martha "Alice" (Moody) Leigh, whose husband, Dr. H.G. Leigh is "Gib". Laura is Martha's youngest daughter married to Nathaniel Gregory. Mr. M of course refers to Martha William's husband John Mason Moody, Sr. Woodland is their home/estate in Northampton, Co. NC which was seized from Col. Moody after Civil War and his bankruptcy and bought back from Federal Marshals at auction by Dr. Leigh. The property was later transferred to Dr. William Scott Moody as trustee for Martha Moody. "Woodland" is sometimes called "Woodlawn. The "old place" is another piece of property that Dr. Leigh bought back at auction for this family and most probably was land originally in the Dancy or Mason family.

The Charltons are Martha William's half sisters, Virginia and Mary Charlton. Georgeanna Charlton, the 3rd sister, died in 1866 and both their parents were also dead by the time of this letter. Mary was declared insane in 1872 and eventually placed in an asylum in Pennsylvania. This letter may refer to that move, Virginia accompanying her. (See letter # 58).

Joe is Joseph G. Lockhart, widower of Mary Elizabeth (Moody) Lockhart. He and his wife live in Lowndes Co. MS before and during the Civil War, looking after Moody and/or possibly Lockhart interests. In 1866 he bought 800 acres of the Woodland home tract from JMM. Mary died in 1871. Records show Joseph Lockhart later went bankrupt, and Dr. Leigh purchased his land which was held in trust for Annie, his daughter, until her marriage. Northampton Business Directory shows Joseph G. Lockhart in 1877-78 as one of three magistrates for the Gaston Township. The 1879 -80 Petersburg City Directory lists him living in Petersburg in the Martha W. Moody household, and gives his occupation as editor. The same directory shows his sister-in-law Seignora Lockhart, widow of his brother Benjamin F. Lockhart, and two of her sons, Joseph D. Lockhart and Junius J. Lockhart, living just down the street. The same directory lists Dr. William S. Moody living with his mother also, but no wife. Virginia (Tabb) Moody, Sippi, with children, Lena and Charlie, were in Mississippi for the 1880 census (See letter # 65). The 1882-83 Petersburg Directory shows William S. Moody still listed as living with his mother. Again no wife. Joseph Lockhart and the other Lockharts are not listed.

The daughter of Seignora and Benjamin Lockhart, Seignora Eaton Lockhart, married as his first wife John Hamilton Patterson Leigh, oldest son of Dr. H.G. Leigh and Martha Alice (Moody) Leigh.

I don't know Clairene. Harriet is close to the family and I believe Harriet Stoddert, granddaughter of Daniel Mason of the Western District. (See letters # 46, #60, and #63.)

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.