Frizzle Letters
Two Frizzle Letters found in Wayne County Library. Letters written to Sarah
Ann Frizzle, while she was attending school in New Bern. Letters written by
her brother William and her mother Rutha Rogers Frizzle.
First letter written by William to Sarah
Scuffleton 11th of April 1849
Dear Sister,
I write to you for the first time. Mother and family is well. Brother Jonathan
and his family are well. Jarusha and Zilphia Rountre was up to Joseph Murphey
on the 7th of April they were all wel. Sister Apsley and family is wel.
Charles Rogers and family is wel. Brother Warren is gorn South he started the
last of March. I was at Greenville and saw that Negro hung on the 6th of April.
I was in ten steps of him he never spoke so that I could hear him he talk Some
to the preacher and got down on nees and the preacher praid for him and the
preacher bid him farewel by shakeing hands with him then he walk up on the
galos. I heard from sister Zilphia they was all wel. I wil send thoes things
down which you spoke of by first opitunity. I expect to com down after I get
my crops planted if they come water enough. Nothing more of at present but
that I am your affectionate Brother.
William R. Frizzle
Second letter written by Rutha to Sarah
Pitt County April 28,1849
Dear Daughter,
I recently received your communication and am sorry that an opportunity
has not presented itself of my gratifying your request relative to the sending
of your things to you; they are ready and will be transmitted the first
opportunity. You will see some of your aquaintances from Green at the
Convention and if not before I will try to send your things to you then. If
you stand in need of anything and the curcumstances are such that immediately
require it, I want Miss Verina to procure it for you and she can be renumerated
for the same. I would be very glas and opportunity would permit of my having the
pleasure of seeing you and Frances but I do not anticipate anything of the kind
for the distance is too far for me; and since you have left for the purpose of
the improvement of your minds, I want you to disengage your minds and your
thoughts about home or things thereunto appertaining and prosecute with unabated
diligence the object you had in view prior to your leaving. Knowing your studious
habits I can take pleasure in advising and upon due reflection I have no doubt
but what your views will coinside with mine for without application time may be
wasted and money squandered. Literature not only elevated and expands the mind
but makes it more scientific and leads to developements which the well calculated
to eradicate and absolve the confused state the mind is often in through ignorance.
The aquistion of knowledge is one of the noblest and sublime undertakings and
serves as a shied to virtue and a strong bulwark against the machinations of the
seducer for its presence will dissipate his delusion.
There has been no very strange or commercal occurrence since you left.
There has been some few marriages, Calvin Ruff and Cornelious Kinsalls were
married lately to a couple of Isaaih Joyner's daughters. Jethrew Murphrey married
Miss Mushgrave, I believe her name was Elizabeth. Nancy Warren (Rich'd Warren's
wife) died the 21 inst and left a young child a son he wanted day of being a
month old. So it is health and pleasure formed associations and matrimonial ties,
yet the unwelcome messenger death disoppoints and severs them. The health of the
neighborhood so far as my knowledge extends is as good as usual. Absley P.
Rountree's Caleb Spivey's brothers Jonathan and Charles Roger's family were
enjoying as good health as usual when heard from last. Jerusha sewed your flower
seed and the cold weather destroyed them and said if you could get any in newbern
time enough to sow send them up and she would try her luck again. You must give
my respects to Miss Verina and in your next I want her to write to me how you
are getting along with your studies. Warren has written since he left, he was
in Montgomery, Ala, he was well at the time he wrote. There was a man killed in
Pitt the lower close to Beaufort County line. I understand he has been committed
to Beaufort Gaol. I want you to direct your letters Scuffleton instead of
Hookerton.
My family are in tolerable good health at present and hope when this you
receive you will be enjoying a reasonable portion of the same blessing. Jerusha
and Frances send their love to you both.
Your affectionate mother,
Rutha Frizzle
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