[Maria Hamilton Campbell at Abingdon, Virginia, to David Campbell at Fort Niagara, New York, September 26, 1812, part 2 (post-marked October 1, 1812), Box 2, Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. This is my rough transcription. Extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]
After all my hurry I did not finish writing before the mail was closed. I do not kow [know] that I ought to say any thing to you about my domestic affairs unless I was confident your mind was as calm to all trivial things of that kind as my own, but as it is the character of a soldier to triumph over ever[y] difficulty, I will venture to tell my soldier a few of the evils that the object of his Dearest care triumphs over without apparent effort, such is our situation when we have greater things to occupy our minds.
For five or six weeks [M]illy has been thaking merkery [taking mercury] of Doctor Clap. I sent her out last week to his house to stay a month longer.
[O]n serch [search] being made for stolen goods after the fire some were found in our kitchen for which [S]am was put in jail. [M]illy was supposed to be too sick. I was for tow [two] weeks without my servent [servant] but little [S]arah accept [except] when Mrs. Jonston [Johnston] would send hers which she [indecipherable word] did when I was sick.
Cousin David and [J]efferson my tree [three] Brothers in heart made every exertion to precure [procure] me servents [servants] either by hire or purchis [purchase]. [A]fter fore [four] or five aplications [applications] the[y] have hired Mrs. [T]amberly's [W]inny, how long the cros[s] old thing will let her stay I don't know.
I had allmost [almost] bought Captain Craig's [J]acob, but from the undue influence of [H]enderson and Captain Smith over the boy, I was prevented from completing any longer, and the purchesed [purchased] hire. [S]am ran off a few days after he was let out of jail and has not yet returned, Captain Smith has the conscience to say he will give three hundred dollars for him, the[y] gave five hundred and fifty for [J]acob, I will hire servents [servants] untill [until] I can perches [purchase] good ones.
Uncle Campbell's family are exceedingly friendly to me, if it was not for the girls of the family, I should be lonesome indeed uncle acts quite like a feather [father] to me, I shall complain of none but I cannot forbade mentioning my real friends as I have now learnt who the[y] are.
It is jennerally [generally] thought here that Edward and Rhody will be married, it is very prabable [probable] he is quite devoted to the family. I suspect very strongly that [A]rthur and [S]ally Greenway will make a match, as for the rest the[y] are in status [quo?]
Do my Dear Husband have your likeness taken and the ring with your [?], and have you a breast pin made with mine so you can look on it and think of me. My heart and prayers are ever with you.
Do my Husband write me what to do with myself this winter if you don't send for me. Write particularly your situation and health don't disseve [deceive] me in any thing, is the country around [N]iagara inhabited with sivilised [civilized] people or saviges [savages]. I fear very much you will have to sivilize [civilize] [I]ndians or be stationed in their country. I dead [dread] th[e] horred [horrid] retches [wretches], but not on my own account. I should fear nothing with yo[u].
Write to uncle Campbell and [J]efferson and tell me what you have done with my gray horse, did you give [S]am any mony [money] when he left [W]inchester he has had some then he could come home honestly by since he has this won't come home.
You never saw so miserable a look[ing] place as this in your life every thing appears to be going to decay, the people have lost all spirits the[y] ever had, even the[ir] actively groveling dispositions gave them has diminished in a grate [great] measure, I fear if the[y] deginurate [degenerate] much more the[y] all [will] turn to rock goats. Col. Preston's dubble [double] head [N]ed is suspected for burning the town, he is caut [caught] and some evidence discovered against him I expect he will be convicted.
I have some idea of going down to my father's and staying a few weeks, I believe I will not lay in winter provisions till I hear from you.
We expect [J]ames home in a few days he expresses great interest for you in all his letters.
Ben Clark's daughter Mrs. Crawford has died with the jandice [jaundice] and several others in the neighborhood, most of judge jonston's [Johhnston's] family had it and recovered.
Mr. Clarke and Mr. Jankry[?] boath [both] show their attachment to you in their friendly conduct to me, my Dear Husband write every mail and lesson [lessen] my anxiety as mutch [much] as posable [possible], I will write but I fear you will not receiv[e] my letters, I must again force myself to bid you farewell.
Maria H. Campbell
[End part two. She had intended to mail part 1 on September 26, but the letter, with new part 2 added, was not postmarked until October 1, 1812. For part 1, see previous post.]
[Edward Campbell (1781-1833)
David Campbell (1779-1859). Serving as Major, Twelfth U.S. Infantry.
Maria Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859)
Col. Preston = William Smith Preston (1765-1835)
Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831), had recently moved with his family from Prince Edward County to Abingdon.
Rather than attempting to identify the entire cast of fascinating characters mentioned in this letter, I will leave that task for a future date. Court records would be very instructive.]
For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the Campbell Family Papers (1731-1969), here's a link to the guide.
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
After all my hurry I did not finish writing before the mail was closed. I do not kow [know] that I ought to say any thing to you about my domestic affairs unless I was confident your mind was as calm to all trivial things of that kind as my own, but as it is the character of a soldier to triumph over ever[y] difficulty, I will venture to tell my soldier a few of the evils that the object of his Dearest care triumphs over without apparent effort, such is our situation when we have greater things to occupy our minds.
For five or six weeks [M]illy has been thaking merkery [taking mercury] of Doctor Clap. I sent her out last week to his house to stay a month longer.
[O]n serch [search] being made for stolen goods after the fire some were found in our kitchen for which [S]am was put in jail. [M]illy was supposed to be too sick. I was for tow [two] weeks without my servent [servant] but little [S]arah accept [except] when Mrs. Jonston [Johnston] would send hers which she [indecipherable word] did when I was sick.
Cousin David and [J]efferson my tree [three] Brothers in heart made every exertion to precure [procure] me servents [servants] either by hire or purchis [purchase]. [A]fter fore [four] or five aplications [applications] the[y] have hired Mrs. [T]amberly's [W]inny, how long the cros[s] old thing will let her stay I don't know.
I had allmost [almost] bought Captain Craig's [J]acob, but from the undue influence of [H]enderson and Captain Smith over the boy, I was prevented from completing any longer, and the purchesed [purchased] hire. [S]am ran off a few days after he was let out of jail and has not yet returned, Captain Smith has the conscience to say he will give three hundred dollars for him, the[y] gave five hundred and fifty for [J]acob, I will hire servents [servants] untill [until] I can perches [purchase] good ones.
Uncle Campbell's family are exceedingly friendly to me, if it was not for the girls of the family, I should be lonesome indeed uncle acts quite like a feather [father] to me, I shall complain of none but I cannot forbade mentioning my real friends as I have now learnt who the[y] are.
It is jennerally [generally] thought here that Edward and Rhody will be married, it is very prabable [probable] he is quite devoted to the family. I suspect very strongly that [A]rthur and [S]ally Greenway will make a match, as for the rest the[y] are in status [quo?]
Do my Dear Husband have your likeness taken and the ring with your [?], and have you a breast pin made with mine so you can look on it and think of me. My heart and prayers are ever with you.
Do my Husband write me what to do with myself this winter if you don't send for me. Write particularly your situation and health don't disseve [deceive] me in any thing, is the country around [N]iagara inhabited with sivilised [civilized] people or saviges [savages]. I fear very much you will have to sivilize [civilize] [I]ndians or be stationed in their country. I dead [dread] th[e] horred [horrid] retches [wretches], but not on my own account. I should fear nothing with yo[u].
Write to uncle Campbell and [J]efferson and tell me what you have done with my gray horse, did you give [S]am any mony [money] when he left [W]inchester he has had some then he could come home honestly by since he has this won't come home.
You never saw so miserable a look[ing] place as this in your life every thing appears to be going to decay, the people have lost all spirits the[y] ever had, even the[ir] actively groveling dispositions gave them has diminished in a grate [great] measure, I fear if the[y] deginurate [degenerate] much more the[y] all [will] turn to rock goats. Col. Preston's dubble [double] head [N]ed is suspected for burning the town, he is caut [caught] and some evidence discovered against him I expect he will be convicted.
I have some idea of going down to my father's and staying a few weeks, I believe I will not lay in winter provisions till I hear from you.
We expect [J]ames home in a few days he expresses great interest for you in all his letters.
Ben Clark's daughter Mrs. Crawford has died with the jandice [jaundice] and several others in the neighborhood, most of judge jonston's [Johhnston's] family had it and recovered.
Mr. Clarke and Mr. Jankry[?] boath [both] show their attachment to you in their friendly conduct to me, my Dear Husband write every mail and lesson [lessen] my anxiety as mutch [much] as posable [possible], I will write but I fear you will not receiv[e] my letters, I must again force myself to bid you farewell.
Maria H. Campbell
[End part two. She had intended to mail part 1 on September 26, but the letter, with new part 2 added, was not postmarked until October 1, 1812. For part 1, see previous post.]
[Edward Campbell (1781-1833)
David Campbell (1779-1859). Serving as Major, Twelfth U.S. Infantry.
Maria Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859)
Col. Preston = William Smith Preston (1765-1835)
Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831), had recently moved with his family from Prince Edward County to Abingdon.
Rather than attempting to identify the entire cast of fascinating characters mentioned in this letter, I will leave that task for a future date. Court records would be very instructive.]
For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the Campbell Family Papers (1731-1969), here's a link to the guide.
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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