Cessford, 6th July 1864
My dear son,
Yours of June 29th & 30th were received yesterday morning, and I hastened down to Cherrystone with carriage, to bring home Harvey and Nelly. There I spent the whole day in a state of anxious expectation -- straining my eyes across the "shining water" to catch the first glimpse of the little steamer, but all in vain. No boat appeared, and when the sun had almost set, I reluctantly turned homeward, sad & disappointed. A boat came across in the night, but they were not in it, and I feel completely at a loss what to think. To-morrow, I shall go the Landing again.
Before your letter came, I completely expected to see your mother & Mary, as well as the other two, ere the close of the day. What a revolution the contents of those two sheets of paper made in my mind! I am filled with new feelings, in which sorrow and solicitude predominate. This undertaking which seems almost decided on, appears to me very serious. The immense distance, & the long absence render it formidable. And oh! [M]y dear Milton -- how, then, must it be with wife and mother? How are they to bear it? Yet, if it be right, I know you will go, and we must all submit as best we may. My poor child will have a lone and aching heart: but she has that fortitude which a firm reliance on god produces, and she will sustain the trial as a Christian.
You need not the assurance that I will do all that lies in my power to promote the comfort of the dear ones left behind and to make them happy -- Tis true my ability is very limited. I have lost much of my original cheerfulness -- indeed I often feel a mere wreck.
Personal exertion is never troublesome to me, however, and my greatest delight is to work for those I love -- but to proceed to matters of business. your enquiries can be answered, for the most part, only by a statement of reasonable expectations. So many uncertainties attend our little affairs, that I cannot count certainly on any thing which is not made & sold.
To begin with the worst, I will state our indebtedness. The next payment on Pembroke amount[s] to $238. Other debts to about $350. This includes here, food & clothing for Betsey & Ted to the end of the year. For Isaac, up to this time. We shall now simply pay him only by the week when work is required. Wages have risen, with the decline of paper money -- men get a dollar a day.
As to how much we will owe, up to this day year, I can't say -- but I trust we shall be able to wipe out debts now due and have something left for the rest of the year -- how much of course depends on the success of the crops now in progress. And, for next year, no calculations can be made, further than that we will work hard, and do our best. We can make a crop of Spring potatoes, I trust, for funds during the summer.
I subjoin the probable profits of what we are now raising. Potatoes (two acres and a third) ready to dig say $150 -- this may be too little or too much according to the yield & price. The severe drought has cut them short, but, on the other hand, it increases the price. I refused 4.50 per barrel yesterday. We have ten acres of fine corn, two of inferior. The moderate calculation put it at 5 or 6 barrels per acre. Call our share $250.
Rent from Pembroke about $100.
Fall potatoes (just planted over two acres) $80
Kraut $120
Turnips $20
Fodder, sweet & Irish potatoes, beans, cabbage, turnips & dried fruit, we shall have in sufficient quantity for our own use.
On hand 40 dollars worth of supplies for the table.
We want no clothing until winter. Then shall need $15 or thereabouts a apiece.
As to the expenses of the table, it is very hard to say what they might be. We have learned to live on so little that it is not a fair basis for estimate. Harvey & I (apart from the servants) have for several months past, spent less than ten dollars (both) for what we eat. That is, five dollars each per month. But I don't count the milk & butter which form our chief food. Of course, we live as cheaply as it is possible to do. I have paid for most of what we bought by selling things from the garden of late. I don't intend to be quite so scant hereafter. One thing to be considered is, that we are compelled to have little variety of meats on our table as the country now don't afford them -- we have only bacon, beef & "marine productions" -- fish, crabs & clams: & oysters in their season. We have fruit just now.
I think if your folk are willing to live plainly (not as scantily as we have done lately), that $20 a month will be ample for them all. Of course, the sum required will depend on their views of what is necessary. I find we can be satisfied with very little.
There are several farms for rent. We have not intended to remain at Kerr's. It is not pleasant, since he [Dr. George Kerr, 1825-1892, owner of Cessford] has returned; nor would it be profitable, under his arrangements. We shall look out for a place at once as this is the month in which people here rent for the next year. I want to get near the bay, if we can find a suitable place. The Fitchet farm which you visited is vacant, & could be had cheap, but the soldiers camped at Cherrystone have done a vast amount of injury to the place, and are likely to ruin it. Otherwise it would be very desirable. It is rather hard to find a small farm in this quarter.
In mentioning corn, I should have deducted enough for family use -- 36 bushels supply us and two servants for bread. About the same for a horse. I think, as far [as] my experience will make me to judge, that I gave a moderate estimate of our probable gains. Will write again shortly.
Best love to all
Your fondly attached
Jane
[p.s.] Farm expenses will depend on where we rent next year whether large or small place.
Pictured at top: MAIN FACADE (OBLIQUE VIEW) - Cessford, U.S. Route 13, Eastville, Northampton County, VA. Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. Link here.
Original manuscript in the John Milton Binckley Papers, 1816-1943. Library of Congress Manuscript Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA. This is my rough transcription.
Many thanks to William Myers for sending scanned copies of the documents from the Binckley papers, and also to Mary Davy and Sally Young for their assistance.
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