[Letter from James Robinson to his daughter, Sallie Hope Robinson, May 3, 1878. James is 70 writing her from Stewards Mill, Freestone County, Texas are and Sally is almost 18 attending Due West Female College in Due West, Abbeville County, South Carolina.] [Address panel on an envelope with a prepaid three-cent stamp:] Miss Sallie Robinson *A* Due West P.O. Abeeville [Abbeville] Co. S. Carolina [Circular postmark stamped in black ink with “Fairfield, Tex” inside the circle. Date of postmark is illegible.] [Endorsed at top center of envelope: “No. 18 / (JYB) / My Grand / Mother / 05-03-78”.] [p. 1] Fairfield, Texas, May 3 / 1878 Sally Hope -- My Daughter *A* As my last letter was addressed to your Brother Tommy I address you *B* with full understanding what I say to one is intended for both. I came in last night from Butler and Mrs Mayes tells me she will *C* leave for that place on or about the 3rd day of June. So in about 30 days from this time you will hear from your Mother or Sister. Your Mother acknow- *D* ledges [she is] indebted to you, Janie & Betty *E, F* each a present for Reading your Bible through, now hope you did that carefully, and studied its precepts particularly; she has not said what that award shall be, and as you are not in haste as you are to be the beneficiary she may consult you as to what & when you would have it. I and your Ma spent a week over Richland, during which time I was over Chambers Creek. Saw all that [p. 2] Prairie Farm, there is 140 acres in cultivation fine prospect of crop, but the renters have not team enough and need help badly and I have so many calls for money, I cannot do all I would desire. I also spent a day on the Ranch on Round Prairie. Walker is in *G* possession of that, has James Pritchett & Ratcliff *H, I* on that, thought he had 80 acres in crop which is in good condition, all worked out and clean. Walker is the best farmer in that Section, has strong teams, but don’t gather in time. While over there at the solicitation of friends I drew up a subscription to raise money to build a church house, at or near the place where the former one was burned down. I had $310 subscribed the first afternoon, most of which I may have to pay as I knew a bold effort must be made to do anything in money matters these difficult times. This morning I received account sales of 4 bales cotton; and will order a few things for family use say sack coffee, &c. I will have a sight check on N.Y. in favor of Revd J. I. *J* with instructions when he sells the same to furnish you with money to buy such things as you need, and if Tommy can find a light wagon and a pair of [p. 3] very gentle horses, or mules, that he can hire for one month when your school closes, I would like all four of you would visit Long Cane friends and take your Aunt Martha a Dress pattern. *K* Brother Fred, Harvy’s children & John’s children *L, M, N* Sister Jane or some of them will go with *O* you & see the Family Burying Ground. My Grandmother, aunts, uncle, Father, Mother, *P, Q, R, S, T* brother & his children all rest there. Sister Mary *U, V, W* was buried at Long Cane Church. If all of you will go you can take 2 trunks and clothing. I will make arrangements to secure the value of any horse that might die, & ware & tare of the wagon. I would write J. H. McCrery *Y* accompany you into the neighbourhood but at that season of the year may be his best practice. I will write to someone. Uncle Sam Boggs left an only daughter, *Z, AA* find her and buy her a dress for me--or any thing she may need. Janie & Bettie I spent some time with your Pa *E, F, BB* & family, his health is much better for some time past altho very bad yet. All other matters move on as usual. I was astonished to see how [p. 4] Nora had grown. I think she is now as *CC* tall as either of you. And my word for it if you don’t keep a good look out she may be the first to marry, however you may postpone that until you get through with Due West. Your pa has fine prospect for *BB* a farm crop, but his mules have not done so well they want his personal attention, he lost 4 young mules this spring & one mother. Mr Pitts *DD* said they had about 100 head in all up -- that included all. Say to Cousin John *EE* Revd Patterson left Presbytery to visit family’s *FF* in Gonzales County 250 miles S.W. from here. Uncle Wm Bonner & Mr Nisbet would go as *GG, HH* far as Williamson & perhaps all the way -- we haven’t heard from him. I have a letter from Hemphill Cooper’s son from that place, he *II* will move back to this Section this winter. Say to Cousin John Revd McAlley *EE, JJ* is here and will preach tonight, he is a very acceptable preacher, would like if he could be induced to remain but he is determined to go to North Carolina to be ordained. I will close for the present, you will remember you are to get a medal. Your father, J. Robinson *KK* *A* = "Sally Hope", "Sallie Robinson" = Sallie Hope Robinson *B* = "Brother Tommy" = Thomas Harvey Robinson *C* = "Mrs Mayes" = *D* = "Mother" = Elizabeth Ann (Bonner) Robinson *E* = "Janie" = (Sally's niece) Jane Eliza Davidson *F* = "Betty" = (Sally's niece) Bettie Fleming Davidson *G* = "Walker" = Walker Young Davidson *H* = "James Pritchett" = *I* = "Ratcliff" = *J* = "Revd J. I." = Reverend John Irwin Bonner (College president of Due West Female College) *K* = "your Aunt Martha" = Martha Boggs (Robinson) Davis (Abbeville, SC resident) *L* = "Brother Fred" = Frederick B. Robinson (brother of James) *M* = "Harvy’s children" = William Harvey Robinson's children (he died 1845) *N* = "John’s children" = John Robinson's children (he died 1857) *O* = "Sister Jane" = [deceased, interred at Campbell cemetery near Long Cane.] *P* = "Grandmother" = I assume Mary (Campbell) Boggs *Q* = "aunts" = I assume his Boggs' aunts. Rebecca Boggs is known to be there. I assume Martha Boggs, Mary (Boggs) McCreary, Nancy (Boggs) Arnold are there. *R* = "uncle" = I assume Samuel Boggs Jr. which implies John Boggs is buried elsewhere. *S* = "Father" = William Robinson *T* = "Mother" = Elizabeth Ann (Boggs) Robinson *U* = "brother" = John Robinson *V* = "his children" = Abigail Robinson, Jabez P. Robinson, and Rachel (Robinson) Harveley are known to be buried there. Possibly John & Alexander Robinson. [deceased, interred at Lower Long Cane Church cemetery near Long Cane.] *W* = "Sister Mary" = Mary Robinson *Y* = "J. H. McCrery" = James Harvey McCreary *Z* = "Uncle Sam Boggs" = Samuel Boggs Jr. *AA* = "only daughter [of Sam Boggs]" = Mary Francis (Boggs) Creswell *BB* = "pa (of Janie and Bettie)" = Robert S. Davidson *CC* = "Nora" = (Sally's niece) Nora Lee Davidson *DD* = "Mr Pitts" = *EE* = "Cousin John" = (a preacher I assume) *FF* = "Revd Patterson" = Reverend William Little Patterson *GG* = "Uncle Wm Bonner" = William Bonner, Sr. *HH* = "Mr Nisbet" = Green W. Nesbitt residing in Bulter, Freestone Co., TX *II* = "Hemphill Cooper’s son" = *JJ* = "Revd McAlley" = Reverend Hugh Roderic McAulay (1875 Erskine grad, 1878 home missionary for a year in Texas) *KK* = "Your father, J. Robinson"