Letters from Nancy Tull Heath Jarman
As some of you know by now, my grandfather (Kirby Charles Carmack) left an
old old briefcase with my mother. She was kind enough to let me go through
it and make copies of the items. Lots of 1800 letters in there. There are
several that mention Nancy Tull. I can't scan it, but will gladly send you
a copy. In the meantime, here is the first document that I have.
Letter from Nancy Tull Heath Jarman to her daughter, Sarah Florence Heath
Carmack, dated May 24, 1887. (Sarah was my grandfather's mother and Nancy
was his grandmother.)
Bell Farry Pitt County
May 24, 1887
Dear daughter I recive your letter the first this month and was glad to
hear from you and family and to hear you were all well. I family is up but
not well but I hope that the lord will help us for we don't noe (know) what
will become of us in this world. but I hope that we will be prepared to meat
our good father in a ___ place than this world. Florence I have fine cabbeg
(cabbage) and colard (collards) and beans that are in full blooms. My beats
is nise (nice). I have had sum (some) twice. Every thing is groing (growing)
of nise (nice) corn and cotton is pretty.
Florence I recive (receive) a letter from sister Elisfa or Eliya and I
was glad to hear from her. She has bin (been) sick but she up and gone.
M___ and Pensey is both well. Nead and Florence is coming up after ____ _____
if tha (they) can tell Vick and luler that they must come to see gran ____ for.
I wants to see them daughter. I want to come to see you but I haven't got
nae (any) way to come. It is so fare (far). I can't walk there. Florence
I have ______ so I ___ check wasn't big nuf (enough) to frey (fry) so I must
come to a close. Rite (write) soon to your dear mother.
N. R. Garman
The lines are what I could not read. The words in parenthesis is what she meant
to say and the spelling was bad.
How sad that Nancy couldn't go visit her daughter like we do today!
This letter was written by Nancy Tull Heath Gharman to her daughter, Sarah
Florence Heath Carmack, July 18, 1882. (Note: Nancy spelled her last name
different this time than other times.)
July 18th, 1882
Falling Creak, NC
Dear Daughter. I recive (receive) your letter to day and I was glad
to hear from you and to hear that you are all well. me and my family is
all well at present. Florence I want to see you to but I don't noe (know)
when I shal (shall) see you for I can't walk that diston (distance) mile.
Its so hot for I not able to walk. Forence I got Charley the nex (next)
day in the___ the ___ coat (caught) him at Mous Gharmens. He has him a
good boy even sence (since) Alex give him love to you and ses (sis). She
wants to see you. Sister pleaz (please) tell me how come ____ to ___ it
hurt me bad. When I heard it read nothing more at present. Rite (write)
soon.
Nancy "R" Gharman
(Note: I think the letter in quotes is an R; it is hard to tell. It doesn't
make sense since Nancy's name was Nancy Tull Jones Gharman; maybe it was a
middle name.)
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