East New Market

Correspondence

5 February 1837

Virginia Waggaman to her brother, John C. Waggaman

(Collection of Marc Bramble, Cambridge, MD)


Envelope -
E N Market, Feb 15, 18 3/4 cents,
Mr. John C. Waggaman, Jefferson College, Cannonsburg, Pennsylvania

Dear Brother,
Sunday Morning, Feb 5 1837

Your letter safe to hand and I should have answered it before, but I have not had the time.  Mother has been very ill ever since Christmas with the Bilious Pleurisy.  The doctor has just left and thinks her better.  She is not able to sit up in bed.  You know she was in bed when you left and has never been out since it seems as if she never will get entirely well again.  Have you had any cold weather?  The creek has been frozen up for six weeks and we have had a great deal of snow.  Mr. Hooper has married.  I went over in the ice to see them.  They are fixed up very nicely.  He is always out a hunting.  I hear nothing but the horn and hounds.

I had a letter from Sister.  They have returned from Tuscaloosa and Mobile.  Don't you think she loves to travel about.  They are to be here in May.  I had one from Aunt Eliza and are all well.  Miss Mary Sulivane, she died after a short illness of a week and only lived two weeks after her Aunt Birckhead.  She is very much regretted by all her friends.  The family are in great distress.  It has been very sickly all the winter. 

Poor Mrs. Streets died last week.  She lived, but a short time after him.  Rebecca Eccleston was married on Tuesday last to Lawyer Stewart.  They had a still wedding and are to live at Lieut. LeCompte's.  Miss Willy Goldsborough and Mr. Laird are to be united as soon as her brother comes home.  The girls are going fast.  Mary is to be married some time soon.  Aunt E had a letter from Aunt Waggaman.  They are coming back in June.  There will be a great time among the old people.

Sally has been sick ever since she got home.  Agnes stayed in Virginia.  George had gone to New York to get recruits.  Miss Betsy and Mr. Richardson were over a few evenings ago.  Elizabeth Harrison is very sick.  Mr. Roach died some weeks ago.  He had a barrel of Brandy and drank until he died.  We got out pork at Christmas and it was frozen so hard that we could not cut it up until last week.  I wish you were here to join us.  We have a plenty of spare ribs and mouse pieces and a nice pot of hominy.  I know you could eat some and a good crackling pone.  We had to give eight and a half a hundred for it.  Our apples you put away for us have never been open.  I am very anxious to get into them.  The earth is frozen so hard that we can't get to open it.

Don't you think that cousin William sold our horse for thirty five dollars and the man said he never wanted a better horse.  Handy Robertson bought him.  Don't you think he must have improved very much.  We have had Stephen at home this year.  He has brought news that Elizabeth Rawlings and Henry Edmondson are married.  The doctor has been here and thinks mother is much better.  Doctor Rosse was sick and I sent for Dr. Houston.  He has been very attentive and kind.  You never saw any one so picked up as little Bud.  His face has become quite full.  He can eat of the meat you set before him.  Since the pork has come I can't say much about the leg...  I must now bid you farewell as dinner is ready.  Bud and mother join in love to you.

farewell very Dear Brother, your affectionate Sister, Virginia