NC, Lenoir, Letters, Brothers/Pearce ========================================================= USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed by Dora Pearce , August 2000. ========================================================== BROTHERS/PEARCE LETTERS - LENOIR, WAYNE, CAMDEN, PASQUOTANK AND CRAVEN CO Dora Pearce transcribed these letters a number of years ago and has made them available for the Lenoir County Archives site at the suggestion of Dr. Allen Barwick. We greatly appreciate her generosity as they are most interesting reading and tell us about the time period as well as the families. Punctuation added for easier reading. Dora and her sister, Martha Ann, supplied the following information by way of an introduction to the people the letters were written by and to. We appreciate this information as it helps to put the letters in context. Charlotte (Lottie) Temple Whitehurst was born Nov 2, 1821 in Camden County, NC where the Whitehurst family originated. She married Francis Asbury (Frank) Brothers Feb 28, 1839. Their children were Emma Brothers, Addie Florence Brothers, Dr. Jim Brothers, Warren Brothers, and Bettie Brothers. Charlotte died on May 30, 1891. Her sister Catherine L. Whitehurst was born April 6, 1822. Catherine married a widower named Ira E. Pearce who had lost all of his children as well as his wife. Catherine and Ira lost their first child and then had two sons to live. James Preston Pearce, the older of the two was just 10 when Catherine died. The younger son was named Frank Brothers Pearce. Catherine and Charlotte had at least two sisters. Sarah who married Thomas Overman and Lizzie who may have married a Ried. It appears that they also had a brother, Frederick Whitehurst who moved to Texas. The father of Catherine and Charlotte was Elliot Whitehurst and their mother was Nancy Wood. Their father's parents were Frederick Whitehurst and Sarah Burnham. Sarah was the widow of John Richardson. Frederick and Sarah lived in Camden Co, NC until about 1807 and then moved to Pasquotank Co. Catherine and Charlotte were raised in Pasquotank Co. Charlotte's daughter Addie Florence Brothers married a cousin of Charlotte and Catherine, Elliot Whitehurst. Addie and Elliot had 5 children. They kept in touch with their cousins. Martha Ann remembers the two youngest coming to see our grandparents. Their oldest daughter married a Jacobs. Charlotte's daughter Bettie married David McKinnie. Some of the information above is verified in the Whitehurst Bible copied by Dora and Martha Ann's aunt a number of years ago. The Whitehurst Bible will be posted on the appropriate GenWeb Archives Counties. Typed for the NC GenWeb Archives by Martha Mewborn Marble ***** Envelope addressed to Mrs. C. L. Pearce South Mills, Camden Co., NC March 1, 1859 Lenoir Institute, NC Dear Aunt, I take the present opportunity this eving of writing to you a few lines to inform you of my health. I am well at the present time and hope that when you received these lines they may find you well and enjoying good health. The rest of the family are all well at this time escapt bad cold you rote me word to tell you how I liked the place. I like the place very well exceptings it is rather swampy. It is very healthy up here. We have not had much siony ?? we have had one death up here. I am now going to school I. like it verry well only it is too confining we have at very good schools two the male and female besides two other free schools nothing more about schools. Cousin Bettie wrote you that I have a sweetheart and now I will tell you about hers. She has a sweetheart his name is Mr. William Gavis. He has to see her twiced he has been to church with her once. He is a very pretty young gentleman and he is nice and he is very good. She told on me and now I will tell on her. I escpect for her to have two or three more before long they all think she so pretty up here nothing more about that now. Cousin Wilson is coming down he escpects to start the third of this month and I would like to come with him but it is so I can't but I am coming down some time in June. Mother expectes to come down sometimes this spring but I don't know excity when. Bother says that he is going to write to you before long months Mother and cousin Bettie and brothers, Cousin Wilson and pa sends their love to you. Give my love to Frank and Preston and Uncle Ira and have the greatest portion for yourself excuse my bad writing for my pin is bad and I am in a hury. Nothing of much important so I will bring my letter to a close Yours very respectly Mollie F. Brothers ***** Lenoir Institute N.C. May 7th 1859 Brother Ira, Dear sir finding a few hours to spare I have seated myself for the purpose of writing you a few lines to inform you that we are all well at this time & I hope when this come to hand it will find you & your family all well together with all of my friends & acquaintes. I am trying to find out how to raise cotten for that is the ony thing that we can make money on up here if our lands were good for corn & wheat. It should not pay to raise them for shipping purpose as we live so far from the railroad say 7 miles it would be a heavy tax to git them to market but if we can rais cotten a two horse wagon can take 3 five hundred lb bages at a lode which at the present price would be from fifty to sixty dollars a bag. I am done planting corn escept a peace of new ground I want to plant that the last of this month & I am all ready to plant my cotten but I am waiting for it to rain for we are very dry up here as soon as I plant my cotten I shall be ready to dirt ?? my corn so I can be ready to attend to my cotton for I am told it requires a good deal of attention at first after I rais this crop I shall be able to give you a better discription of this part of the country. Brother Baily has paid me the money for his note you sent belonging to J. of L. C. Pearce esstate he paid me the first of April the amount ws $17.65 its princaple & interest & if I do not come down the first of June I can send you a order on Brother Seth Moran as he has got some claimes in hand belonging to me & he can pay you out of the first money he received for me. You must rite soon and let me here from my old native home. Charlotte & the children sends their love to you all. So I must bid you good morning for awhile Yours truly F. A. Brothers ****** Envelope addressed to I. E. Pierce, Esq Southmilles Camden Co. N. C. Lenoir Institute Lenoir Co Feb. 4th 1860 Brother Ira Dear Sir I take the oportunity of writing you a few lines to let you know that we are all yet living: though I have had the worst spell of sickness I ever had since I bin called a man. I was taken with new meaniah last Monday was a week ago. I have not bin able to leave here since But I am beginning to have my wright feeling again. I hope these few lines will find you & family al well. I exspect to be at your house the first Saturday in March if nothing happens. Your truly F. A. Brothers ****** Envelope addressed Mrs. Catharine Pearce (town not readable on copy) Lenoir Institute, N C. May the 14th 1860 Dear Sister With love and kindness I seat myself to write you a few lines to inform you that we are all well at present and I do hope these few lines may find you all enjoying the same good blisings. We have a very good preacher on the circuit this year. We have a glorious revival during the week of the revival the children held a little prayer meeting at the school house and nearly every one was convicted and the largest portion was happly converted to God that was said to be greatest time thast has ever been escperanced at this place among children. They left the school house and went to Bro. Dowziers and from thee to Doctor Smiths and nearly all the people in the Institute gathered there and sang and prayed with them. They said that you could heard them to our house and live nearly a mile from the town. Mollie and Warren have joined the church. We are all very busy preparing for the examination the school will be up to day two weeks. I would send you a ticket to the escaminnation celebration if I thought you would come. I escpect there will be a great many people here at that time. We escpect to have great times then. We have had some sickness and deaths for the past two weeks. We had a marrige last Thursday Mr. Pittman and Miss Perry. There is not much more news worth your notice so I will bring my letter to a close. Give my love to all the family and do not forget to deduct a large portion for yourself. Write soon and give me all the news. Nothing more of present only remain your affectionate sister untill death. Charlotte Brothers ***** Letter addressed to Ira Pearce Institute, Lenoir County 14th July 1860 Dear Brother Ira, I take this opportunity of writeing you few lines to let you know that we are all well at this time & hope when this comes to hand it will find you & yours enjoying the same good blessing. I have nothing new to write you: Politics is raging very high. This country has bin caried heretofore by the Democrats by a large majority. But it is thought by some that John Pool will git a majority at this Election. Our cropes ar very light owing to wet and cold wether but cotton is improveing very fast. If we had a good stand & good seasons by first Nov. in the low lands we would like very much for you & wife to pay us a visit this fall & see our part of the country. Wilson & Bettie is gone down Beaufort takeing their pleasure while young & no babys to bother them. Charlott sends her love to all the family. So nothing more at this time onley I remain yours truly F. A. Brothers **** Lenoir Institute Lenoir County 29 June 1861 Bro Ira, Dear it is with the blessing of God I take my pen in hand this Morning to write you a few lines to inform that we are still in the land of the living and are enjoying deplorable circumstances in which we are involved. We are all well at this time except Charlotte. She has bin very sick. She had bin lingering for some weeks & on the night of the 13anth She was taken with colic which lasted with severe pains & cramping about 48 hours. I done every thing for her releaf I could think of but could not give her care. I then called in Dr. Davis & he examen her and said it was caused by the spine of back being deseased. He put a blister on it which gave her great releaf & he think that has bin the cause of her feable health for years & says by blistering seven times & moving a strengthening plaster for same she may be cured of that desease. She is improving very fast from his treatment though he made but two visits. The Dr. says he has known persons to be lingering for years and was treated for the liver desease and consumption & at last when found out to be the spine deasease & cured. I know of no news to write you of interest. Our crops has bin very backward but they improving very fast. We are now beginning to lay by our corn & potatoes. We would like very much to have you & family to pay us a visit this summer or fall & take a look at our country. You must write me soon as you get this & give me all the newse of importance as I am very desirous to hear from my native land. I hope when this comes to hand it will find you all well: Wilson family are all well the baby has bin a little sick with the bowels desease. Some two or three children has died with that desease within the last few weeks. Give my best respects to all my friends & send a large portion yourself. Yours Truly F. A. Brothers ***** Letter addressed to I. E. Pearce, Esq South Mills Camden County, NC April 10, 1862 Lenoir Institute Lenoir County N. Carolina Dear Uncle Ira; You must excuse me for not writing to you before now. When I first came home I hadd company every day and night untill I left for Craven County, and after I got to Bay River. Newbern was taken on the next Friday; and so I had to remain at Bay River untill 6 of April and now is my first this time. Mother has been very sick for some weeks past, but she is in good health at this time. I hope that these few lines will find you all enjoying good health. It was getting to be very hard times when I left Bay River The people are all turn traitors nearly on B. River. They were cursing every body that were good southerners and said that they inteded to live and die under the stars and strips. The Nigrows are all running away in Craven Co and every where else whenever they can git the chance of doing so. None of ours are not runaway yet a while back I do not know how soon the will. We expect another fight some time soon near Newbern between our people and the Yankees. The Yankees have about 100,000 soldiers round about Newbern; and the Southerners have about 30 or 40,000 soldiers about 20 miles this side of Newbern. Our pickets reaches within 4 miles of Newbern. I expect that it will be a pretty hard fight; but I hope that our people will whip. I suppose that our people have had several hard fights right lately. I have not heard the particulars of the fights, but the news of the papers that we were victorious. Mother and Father and all the rest of the family sends thirs love to you all. Betty and Wilson sends thirs love to you all. We all want you all to come up to see us as soon as you can. Give my love to all the family and my respets to all enquiring friends. Nothing more of this time so good by. Write to me soon and let us know all the news. Let me know how far the mail goes below South Mills so that I can write to my relations in Pasquotank Co. Very Respectly Joseph W. Brothers **** Letter addressed to I. E Pierce Lenoir Institute Lenoir County, NC Jan. 31th 1865 Dear Brother, I take the present oppertuity of writing you a few lines which will inform you we are all still in land of the living and are getting on through life as well as we could expect to the present troubles of our country. I hope when this comes to hand it will find you & the children well & doing well. I received a letter from uncle Luten son Caleb some 12 or 18 months ago informing us of the death of sister Catharine which we regreted very much but I trust your los is her eternal gain. I would like very much to hear from you and the children and how you re getting along. I thought these troubles and whether you have lost much by the hands of the enemy through that country (page torn) learned they had a stand at the canal. They have never as yet been near anuff to this place to do us any damage only by causing some of the nabors negros to go to them and I hope they will not be permited to get here as I learn they are very destructive where ever they go. Warren was taken by them again the 16th last June some 16 miles below here in one of their raids from Newbern. He writes me though that they are very kind to him. He was at Fort Pulaski Ga. the 13th of last month. I would like to see you all very much but I cannot think of home for while these troubles last. Write me the first chance you have and give me all the news of interest from below. Wilson family are all well. They have two children. He has been called out twice in the home guard but did not stay over a week each time. Give our love to all our friends & retain a large portion for yourself & children. Yours in Christ F. A. Brothers ****** Not clear who this letter was addressed to Lenoir Institute, NC January 28th 1867 Dear Uncle, Though this letter has been delayed for at least our writing it, beyond a reasonable length of time, yet we have often talked while sitting around the quiet fireside about you, and promised ourselves soon to write you. We often think how pleasant it would be to step over the sound and spend a quiet evening with you and picture to ourselves the happeniness it would afford us if it was possible for us to do so and be again at home in the morning. While we know such contemplations are mere air castles and the only way in which we can hold converse at a distance is through the medium of a lettter, yet we neglect from time to time to avail ourselves of that privilege of having a chat with our friends and relatives. We have been blessed with excellent health since I saw you, and in fact, we have had it very healthy all through this section. Crops last year was unusually sorry especially on thin lands. Cotton in some sections of the county was almost a failure while the corn crop was very light. The people in this section are making pretty extensive arrangements for cotton planting this year and judging from the severity of the winter it is thought this will be an excellent crop year. We have had a very hard winter so far have been able to do but little except get wood set by the fire. I am making nothing farming and am desirous of changing it for some other business if I could get into something that would pay better. How is S. F. Pearce & Co. getting on merchandizing. Is it a sure way of making money in your section. I would like very much to get a situation in Norfolk or Portsmouth Va. as salesman in a good business house. I would there be near enough my friends in Pasquotank and Camden to pay them an occasional visit. If you hear of a situation let me know, as you are pretty well acquainted there. We have three children, Lela, John Pool, and a little boy six months old without a name. The two oldest often speak of their Cousins down the country and wish to see them. Lela was five years old last April and can spell very well. Warren Brothers has moved up to the Institute. Dr. Samuel Pearce married.? Write me all the news how the people are getting along generally and our acquaintances in particular, Write soon. Our very best love to all the family. Lela and Jonny send their love to Uncle Ira, cousin Sallie and all their cousins. Nothing more at present. Hoping to hear from you soon, I am with the highest regards your Nephew. W. B. Ried There is a note on the front - Answered March 17 1867 ***** Letter addressed to James P. Pearce Goldsboro, NC Mar. 4th 1871 My dear cousin, Your kind letter has been received and I cannot find words to express to you my delight and happiness upon receiving it; but mere words of thanks fall harsh upon the ear unaccompanied with acts, so I hasten to reply. I had concluded that you had quite forgotten me or did not care to correspond with your far off cousin; but all such ideas were banished when I received your most welcome letter. Well, I guess you would like to know what we are all doing up here, so I will inform you. Pa is staying in a Grocery Store. Brother Jimmie is studying medecine, Emma is going to school at the College in this place. I am through school and am staying at home teaching Addie, so we have a very pleasant time but our happiness is somewhat mared by Ma's having the rheuamatism in her feet and hands. Goldsboro is rather dull at present but suppose it will be quite alive with------ and excursions in a short while. There is a cornet band in this place which give us an occasional serenade and we have a party once in awhile; besides this we have no amusements to dispel the montony by which we are surrounded. We have just finished carpeting our Church (that is the Methodist Church you know) and our Presiding Elder will preach for us tomorrow. O, we have a splended minister this year. He preaches such powerful sermons. I certainly hope you and Frank will come to see us next fall. We would all be delighted to see you once more. I shall expect your and Franks photographs soon. Cousin Charlie Brothers from E. City sent us his family's sometime ago. I correspond with his son little Charlie as I call him and I think he is a very interesting child. Cousin Wilson Reid and family are living in Goldsboro. He has three children. Cousin Bettie break very fast I think especially since the death of her child. I am certainly anxious to see you and Frank. I have imagined a dozen times who you favor and how you look, but am not satisfied with any of my imaginations. I guess you are equaly anxious to know who we favor, so I will tell you what Ma says about us. Nearly every one thinks Addie and myself the very picture of cousin Bettie Reid. Ma says Emma is very much like your Mother was and Brother Jimmie favors uncle C. L. Whitehurst, so you may form some idea how we look. I guess I have written enough for the presents. All join me in love to you and the family. Write soon and a long letter to Your affectionate cousin Bettie Brothers ***** Letter to James P. Pearce Goldsboro, NC July the 8th 1871 My dear cousin, Perhaps you have concluded that I do not intend to answer your kind letter and ere this have censured me for negligence; but do not let such thought cross your mind for I assure you it is a great pleasure to me to correspond with my friends and relatives when it is my power to do so. We have had great deal of sickness in our family this season. There has not one of our family escaped. Ma was confined to her bed two months and her health is still feeble. Addie was very low with the typhoid Fever for some time but is better. I hope that your family have escaped sickness and are well. Times are very dull at present. There are no amusements whatever to break through the dull monotony by which we are surrounded. Good many of the citizens have taken their families to Beaufort to spend the summer, and others have gone to the mountains leaving Goldsboro rather lonely. Preston I hope you will send me your and Franks photographs when you write for I am anxious fo to see them, and you must be sure to visit us next fall. We will try to make your visit pleasant. Give my love to Frank and tell him I would be pleased to hear from him. I am not feeling well today and the Doctor has just sent me some medicine to take so I must close. All the family join me in love to you and your Farthers family. Write soon and a long letter to Your devoted cousin Bettie Brothers **** Letter addressed to Mr. Ira E. Pearce, Esq South Mills Camden Co, N. C. Goldsboro, NC Dec. 10th 72 Ira E. Pearce Dear Uncle, I received yours of the 4th in due time. Was glad to learn you were all in tolerable health and hope with this that you have entirely recovered from the disease with which you were suffering. We were surprised as well as mortified to hear of the death of Aunt Patsey Cartwright not even having heard that she was sick. We are all well except Bettie her health is very bad. She has been confined to her bed for near two weeks her simptons are better. Instead of being dead Uncle Frank & Aunt Charlotte's health is now better than it has been for ten years. Also their family are all well. Lizzie Brothers who married David McKinnie has a fine boy named Frank Brothers about 3 weeks old. Our children's names are Lela Elizabeth aged 11 years, John Pool aged 9 years, William Thomas aged 6, all living and well. The youngest Pollie died in August 1870 aged 14 months. Uncle Frank's youngest is Adline Florence or Florence Adline I have forgot which. The horse disease is abating here. Trade is very dull for the season. I am selling Groceries in this place and am making a living nothing more. There I no news of interest. Our kindest regards to all our relatives and friends. I would like to send you the likeness of our children but have not got them. Excuse this as I am in a great hurry as the mail is nearly due here. Write to me again soon and I will give you an answer more lengthy. Truly yours W. B. Reid Turned over two sheet but have not time to rectify the mistake you can get the whole of it anyway if it is detached. W. B. Reid ***** Letter addressed to Mr. Ira E. Pearce South Mills Camden Co, NC Goldsboro, NC Jan 5th 1873 My Dear Bro Ira Your favor of Dec. 26th reached me on the 2nd day of this year informing that all were well and doing well in the way of having bread at least for this year if nothing should happen beyond your control. I am glad to learn that you and the rest of mankind are blest with such good crops of corn which is called the staff of life. The crops are not so good in this naborhood as they were last year oweing to extream wet spring and these dry summer but we have no right to complain for while some did not raise as much corn as the nead to serve them they have raised very good cotton crops and are getting very good prices for it and some don't try to raise anything but cotton thinking to make more money by so doing. I am very glad to inform you that tonight through the goodness and mercy of God to upon all prais and thanksgiving belongeth that myself and family are all in good health and have been for months. Also the rest of my children that are not living with us and their family is. I got a letter from Warren yesterday stating all was well. Bettie lives within a few hundred yards of us and we see some of the family every day. I got a letter from Jimmie the first of last week stating that he was enjoying the best of health weigh 157 lbs. He is in New York at the Bellview Hospital Medical colledge and will stay until October unless something should turn up to bring him home sooner which I trust will not be the case but I am very sorry to have to inform you that Bettie Reid in my opinion can't live very long unless a great change takes in her favor. I think she haves the same deseas her fathe and mother died with and it is not turning on the bowells and I fear will soon end her days on earth. The rest of the family are all well. My wife is in better health than she has been in twenty or I might say thirty years. I am still clerking with the same house I commenced with over two years ago. How much longer I shall stay with them time can only tell. I have some notion of going in business myself in the spring; if I can see my way clear and do not get disapoints in money matters. Our town is building up fast and rents quite high and also taxes on property and it is rather a bad time to start business with but little capital. I am getting seventy five dollars per month and I might not make that after paying all expences. I would like to come down an see my only sister in her deep afflictions, but I do not see how I can leave at this time of the year. We have been very busy up to Christmust and will be so again I think in a few days more. We have had some very bad weather in the last few weeks and the hardest rain before day this morning we have had in a long time and I hope it was the ending of the bad weather if it is the will of our heavenly father. I have written Miles Cartiwright some weeks ago concerning his mother but have not heard nothing from him. He might not have got my letter so I will write to him again tomorrow if I can git the time. Write to me at least once in three months and give me all the news of interest for I am always so glad to hear from any of my friends and relations. Give our love to all our friends that you may see and retain a large amount for yourself and family. Yours truly in Christ F. A. Brothers ------------------------------------------------------------------------