Letter from Henry Grady to John Jackson - Duplin County, NC Submitted for use in the USGenWeb Project Archives by Francis R. Hodges LETTER FROM HENRY GRADY, DUPLIN COUNTY, NC, TO JOHN JACKSON, JR., LENOIR COUNTY, NC Note: Henry ("Lord Harry") Grady (1772-1834) married in 1799 Elizabeth Outlaw (1775-1828). Between 1800 and 1819, this couple had twelve children, from whom many current residents of Duplin County are descended. The original of the following letter, written by Henry Grady to inform two of his daughters of their mother's death, was kept at "Waterloo," a plantation near Albertson, NC, where this couple's oldest daughter, Eliza Ann Grady Simmons (1801-1858) and her husband, Daniel Hargett Simmons (1803-1888), made their home. It disappeared in 1970 at the death of Malcolm Grady, who was living at "Waterloo" at that time. The following copy was made by Dr. Daniel Fagg in 1958, who in 1975 made minor corrections by comparing it with a copy made by Cecil Foy Outlaw in 1918. A copy was given to me by Dr. Fagg in 1984. Saturday, 18 July, 1828 Dear Daughters, The painful duty evolves on me to inform you your mother is no more. She died on Wednesday last the 16th Instant with the Consumption which was brought on by the Asthma She has labored under so many years. She had it only Eight days in which time it reduced her to a mere Skeleton. The fever never started untill a few hours before her departure. She died perfectly in her senses, and spoke freely till a very few minutes before her breath left her, which was as Easy as tho she only slept. She seemed resigned to her fate. She was interred the next day amidst her Relations and friends in the neighborhood but I deemed it unnecessary to send for you the distance you are to come to the burial as the corpse must have been kept out of the ground several days and the weather being warm it was thought to be imprudent to do so. She requested last Sunday that Letty should be sent for. We were so busy it was neglected. I had it in contemplation to come down the last of the month after Letty and spend a week with you, but my attention is to be wholly employed at home now. I wish you to come as soon as you can make it convenient. Your Aunt Nancy Whitfield died in childbed the 25 June. Yrs truly, H. Grady Eliza Ann Simmons Pussy Jackson P. S. We have not heard a word from you since Alex's return when he went to carry Letty H. G. ************************************************************************ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ************************************************************************