Mr. Willis J. Holland Letter to His Sister

Willis J. Holland was a farmer living in Duplin County. He wrote this letter to his sister, Mary A. Holland. It is part of the Sally G. Quinn Papers, Rubenstein Library, Duke University. Images and transcript by Kirk Ward.

Feb 21st 1864

Sister I receid your letter yesterday &
was glad to lern that your helth had
improved we are all well as common
I have no news to write we have verry
cold wether but guess you have found
it out I have not Plowed anny yet
I am about redy when it turns warm
tell bitsy to go on with her farming
buisness & stop the pigs out of the
field but not stay all day a bout
it the other day at ower muster
I had to do that I did not want to
do I had to stand guard round a white
man with a loded gun it was one
of your goshen acquaintance it was
Kinsy Jons turn over
[page 2]
you wrote some thing a bout some
Tobacco I have got a little but it is
so bad that it will all most 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 roling at his new place on the
creek & speeks of askin me if he
dos & I go I want to go to her house
& I want her to have some Back
bones & collards tell Robart to sing
& whistle & make traps & lern all
there is in all the Books I will
cloes it is so cold
Willis J Holland