LETTER FROM JEFFERSON RICE TO HIS WIFE NANCY W. RICHARDS RICE
DATE JULY 12, 1840

******************************************************************
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free genealogical 
information on the Internet, data may be freely used for personal research 
and by non-commercial entities as long as this message remains on all copied 
material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in any format or 
presentation by other organizations or persons. Persons or organizations 
desiring to use this material for profit or any form of presentation, must 
obtain the written consent of the file submitter, or his legal representative
and then contact the listed USGENWEB archivist with proof of this consent.

Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2003 
Submitted by: Sandra Dawson StarrZahn@aol.com
********************************************************************* 


Petersburg, Vir. 
July 12, 1840 
My Dear Wife, 
It is for the unwithering respect I have for you and our little children 
that causes me to write you this, believing it will be most cordially read 
by you, as I am very certain I shall be thankful to hear from you that you 
all are well and everything going on right. I have enjoyed good health ever 
since I left home. But had a warm tiresome travel and by myself and from 
40-50 miles every day. I came around by Danville Vir and found all that 
drove unsold and from there here and got with Nelson Rice and Alvin 
Mitchell and there but 150 hogs sold out of the drove salted here. We 
have sold 150 hogs more since I came here which leaves 200 to sell out 
of the drove yet. And all that drove at Danville will have to be 
brought here before it is sold. The price is 10 CTS whole-sale. Nelson 
has gone to Danville to bring that drove as soon as possible which will 
take some time as it is150 miles from here to Danville and the bacon 
will have to be brought by boat or wagons. It will be impossible for 
me to get home sooner than the last of August but I will come as soon 
as I can for I am very certain my presence is needed and my desire is 
also great as there is no place like home. I want you to have the bars 
thrown open betwixt the clover field and the woods pasture so that 
the cattle and horses may pass in and out and if you want milling 
done get the corn at Reuben Youngs and you had better get the wheat 
ground at the mouth of Slate Creek and tell the boys or which ever 
one is there to consult Billy Carr about things and try to keep alright 
and if we have any bacon to sell get Jack Burgess and Harvey Richard to 
sell it and get it credited on our store accounts. Recollect all the 
horses and hogs have to go on the oats at Carrs and if they should give 
out before I get home put the horses in the pasture at Carrs. The hogs 
on clover at home until corn get so it will do to feed. I do not recollect 
any thing else at present but desire you to keep a strict observance 
over our children, teach them obedience, economy, and industry, truth 
not forgotten as you know these are the most essential points and can 
not be too soon riveted through the minds of the Youth. The principles 
early contracted are apt to be the most lasting. I know you are fully 
apprised of the responsibility that rests upon a Parent and having 
confidence that you will attend to all these points I shall say no 
more on that subject. If James Daughtery has not taken up school 
again send Eliza, Fleming, and Elza to Mr. House as much as you can as 
I want them to get them schooling certain. It is Sunday and no business 
doing today. Alvin Mitchell has not sold any bacon of consequence yet 
and is waiting for better price which is thought must come. Nelson has 
paid off ½ 500 Dollars of the Andrews debt and if we live to get home 
will pay the balance. Nelson was doing just as much as any man could 
have done but times are hard and the price of bacon low. He was waiting 
for the price to rise. I hope it will not be necessary for me to write 
any more before I come home. Do the best you can and I will do the same 
till we meet which I hope will not be long, yet the time is long to me. 
I am proud to be your husband. 

Jefferson Rice 
To 
Nancy W. Richards Rice