The letter below is part of the Sally G. Quinn collection of transcripts on the Private Voices website (https://altchive.org/node/281). The transcript has been heavily edited to improve readability. The original transcript can be viewed HERE.
Willis J. Holland (b. 1818) was a yeoman farmer in Duplin County. He wrote the following letter to his sister, Mary A. Holland (b. 1825). Mary was employed on Benjamin Oliver’s (founder of Mt. Olive, NC) plantation as a seamstress. In the 1870 census, Mary was living with Willis.
BTW, this letter has no connection with the 51st North Carolina, but I liked it when I read it, so I posted it on 51stNCT.com.
Feb 21st 1864
Sister,
I received your letter yesterday & was glad to learn that your health had improved. We are all well as common. I have no news to write. We have very cold weather but guess you have found it out. I have not plowed any, yet. I am about ready when it turns warm. Tell Bitsy to go on with her farming business & stop the pigs out of the field but not stay all day about it.
The other day at our muster, I had to do that I did not want to do. I had to stand guard round a white man with a loaded gun. It was one of your goshen acquaintances. It was Jons turn over
You wrote something about some Tobacco. I have got a little but it is so bad that it will almost skin the top of your head to use it. You wrote that you would. Mary & Jule is aiming to go some time shortly there. You can come home with them.
Tell Rebeca Rivenbark that H J Johnson is going to have a log rolling at his new place on the creek & speaks of asking me. If he does & I go, I want to go to her house & I want her to have some back bones & collards. Tell Robert to sing & whistle & make traps & learn all there is in all the books. I will close, it is so cold.
Willis J Holland