Fairfield  January 13th 1879
Missens Robinson & Davidson

Dear Sister & Niece                              *1* *2*

I have not written to any one in so 
long that I cannot compose my self, for 
being so neglient, but have had so much
sickness till I am broke down. Fannie             *3*
has been in bed for fourteen weeks and
she is purfeckaby[perfectly] helpless now we have to turn
her every time she is turned and I think she
is getting worse all the time.  Moma stays 
with us nearly all the time she can't 
set up of nights much.  Fannie has three
large Risons on he[r] the gives her a great  
deal of pain & trouble one of them was opened
yesterday and it run over a queart[quart] of cur-[cor-]
ruption.  Buddy & May boath[both] have been      *4* *5*
sick this winter but they are well at 
this time.  Uncle Tom Bonner was better          *6*
yesterday but the Doctors dont think he 
will ever get over the disease a toll 

[page 2]
Cousin Jas Robinson spent two week out           *7* 
here but the weather was so bad that
he could not get about any at all as
he was just out of his bed and had 
a long spel[l].  He lost his he[a]ring in one
ear all together.  The weather is very
cold in dead[indeed], the snow has been on the 
ground a week and still on the ground.
I never had any Christmas and have not
heard where there was any at; in fact
I never go down in town only after medison
and rite back again so things occur in
this place and I never here of them till 
a week after.  John is over the Creak          *8*
and I reckon he will live over there this 
year. Our stock is dying [v]ery fast
now.  The Nigro I had hiard[heard] got his     *9*
eyes hacked out with a clip[?] and 
he is stone blind and I have to 
do my one[own] work now.
I am siting up tonight by myself 
my love to all Friends & Hattie                 *10*
  Yours &c,   

   J. P. Robinson                               *11*


*1*, *2* = "Missens Robinson & Davidson" and "Sister" and "Niece"

"Sister Robinson" is Sarah Hope Robinson Bonner age 19 who is unmarried at this
point.  Sarah is attending Due West Womens College probably at this point.

"Niece Davidson" is Eliza Jane Davidson age 19 1/2 (b 11 May 1859) who later
marries Angus Tyson McGilvary.  She just graduated Due West Womens College (in
1878).

*3*  "Fannie" is his wife Mary Fannie McCracken Robinson age 23 (b. 8 Jan
1856).  She lives past this sickness.
*4*  "Buddy" is his son James McCracken Robinson age 1 1/2 (b 8 Jul 1877)
*5*  "May" is his daughter Mary Robinson age 3 (b 3 Dec 1875)
*6*  "Uncle Tom Bonner" is probably Rev. Thomas Joell Bonner age 56 (b. 22 Dec
1822).  
*7*  "Cousin Jas Robinson" could be James William Robinson of Williamson Co.,
TX who is age 20.
*8*  "John is over the Creak" is probably his brother John Lee Robinson age 23
(b. 5 Dec 1855).  The creek is probably Tehuacana Creek.
*9*  "Nigro" is one of his unnamed Negro helpers
*10*  "Hattie" is unknown
*11*  James Pressly Robinson age 27 (b 13 Mar 1851)