Maury County, Tennessee
18 August 1838
To William H. Brown, Robeson County, NC
Dear Cousin William,
With pleasure the foresent opportunity is embraced of
dropping you a few lines. We have been
long separated from each other and it may be we may never have personal
intercourse again. We are many miles
apart and family concerns require our notices.
Nothing of importance and interest have ever transpired in
the connection, but I have made an effort to communicate and I have now the
most sad obligation to write that has ever yet fallen to my lot, viz. The death
of my dear and (I hope) Christian Mother who departed this life on Sunday night
the 8th of last month (July).
For the last f years of her life she was much afflicted. And at this news interesting circumstances
in her last days, I cannot forbear mentioning at least some. Some time we before her departure, she
required Father to collect all his children together, and to get Doctor Hardin
(who is our minister), to preach the funeral, and accordingly, he did so, and a
day much weeping it was.
One day some weeks before her death, she came out of her
room and asked Father if he heard her last night. He answered, no. She said
Death came to the door and she opened both her arms to receive him, and she
could not but rejoice. The day before
her departure, Father went into her room and asked her how she felt. She answered, "My dear, I shall soon
leave you, and be with my Sweet Jesus.
I was with him a little while this morning, but could not stay. But shall soon be with my Sweet Jesus to
return no more." Thus she left the
world in this triumph of faith, retaining her senses to the last, giving
testimony to the truth of the religion of Christ that the righteous have hope
in their death.
Through the blessings of a kind Providence, we are all in
common health. Uncle Duncan and family
were all well a few days ago. Cousin
William Brown from Taledga in Alabama came to see us last winter.
Our crops of corn for the present year will be very short in
this neighborhood. We have had a
severer drought than any I have seen since I have been in Tennessee, through
some neighborhoods have been very seasonable, so that we calculate on plenty
being made in the country. There was an
abundant wheat crop with us the last year, which will make bread more plenty,
and I am of the opinion, there will be a considerable made.
We are all married but brother William. He is yet single. Two weeks ago we heard from Giles County. The McCallum's and connection were all well.
Dear Cousin, I would be glad on the reception of this you
would write me as it has ben a long time since we heard from Carolina. This letter is intended for you and the rest
of our connection.
Give our respects to all.
Your affectionate cousin,
John Brown
Original: Lacy C. Buie
Transcribed from a
copy by Bradley M. Buie March 29, 2000