Lybrook/Lybrook Letter, incomplete, 1843 - Giles Co. VA
Lybrook Family Letters
in Special Collections at Alderman Library,
University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia
Incomplete letter from Philip Lybrook of Pembroke, Giles County, Virginia,
to his brother Henley C. Lybrook in Cassapolis, Cass County, Michigan Territory.
31 October 1843.
Pembroke Giles county Va. Oct. 31st 1843
Brother Henley C--
Sir your letter of the 25th sept. last as well as a subsequent one bearing date on the 8th of this instant has been duly
receved by only one week apart -- after the perusal of both I shall attempt to write an answer to them -- the first
seams to be mostly in relation to your business. I am pleased to know that your business as a merchant is like to
prosper with you--it is a business that requires much attention and good calculation to make it profitable at best, in
such times as we have had for a few years past. I have a hope that times will be better owing to [?] the tariff law that
the party who is called Whigs, got throug the house last session since which time there has been several shipments of
cast to the united states from foreign countries the northern cities it is said hold more money at this time then they
have for many years past--and if only the present congress will let it alone as Andrew Jackson did the arrangement
made by his predisessor and did not interfear with said arrangment until the national debt was paid off and
discharged, I will feel myself thankfull for it is better to do nothing then to set aside valuable inactments I beg to be
excused I had like to git into a political strain, which I do intend to avoid--and resume my reply-- I am happy to hear
that all our friends is in good health and doing well, I would rather have heard that Beltzer had been ingaged in some
other business then farming on rented land but it may be that he may after a while have a taste for some other
business--that will not be so laborious, my means of giving him any assistance at this time is not to be looked for, my
health is yet such that I dare not expose myself in the least that together with a large family of upwards of twenty to
support, and then the care of sally into the bargain, gives me as much as I can do. She is here on my hands and I have
to attend to her--there is not much change in her since you left this country I have her yet at Pleasant Webbs, I have
made a bargain with Ralph Lucas wife to keep her this year but she would not got and I would not force her--I have
managed her means so as to make the interest of her money pay about one half of her board exclusive of cloathing--
but as her small means is reducing every year it must ultimately be reduce very small--the note that she holds on J. J.
Lumpkins, J. Atkins will not pay as he says that he holds claims against sd Lumpkins--he has been sued in two or
more cases on J. J. Lumpkins account. Wm. Peck of blacksburgh and I believe John Peterman also has brought suit
these suits will be verry expensive they are brought in the chancery court where the lawyers will have a fee of $20 for
each suit. the suits are also prefered against John Albert as well as Atkins--and I think the plaintiffs from what I have
heard is shure of success--I think that Atkins might have arranged the matter without a suit by agreeing to pay the
money that Lumpkins owed him with its interest when the money was due from Albert, I think in some of my letters
to you I said something in relation to this matter--you have not noticed it or thought it was a matter of such minimum
importance that it was not worth notice in relation to the note of yours in my hands. I when it became due seen John
Albert on the subject and asked him if it was convenient for him to pay. he seemed to be somewhat surprised and
said that his arrangement with Lumpkins was not to pay the money when the note became due but to pay interest on
the same untill the other note became due I told him that was an understanding that I had not been made acquainted
with and believed that you did not know that to have been the arrangement--but ultimately said that he had not the
money I have not had the opportunity of seeing him on the subject since I received your letter of the 25th Sept--but
sent him word that I had received a letter from you partly in relation to your money--and shall do my best to git
him to make payment--should I have to bring suit it maybe some 18 months or two years before the money can be
made for when a man I sueded the most of the cost is put on it at the start and they are apt to put off the payment as
long as possible--last winter was one of the hardest winters I ever noticed it was cold and remained good sugar
weather untill sometime in April since which time we have had a good season for corn with the exception of too
much rain. wheat and rye is indiferent. the crops of that grain for the last four years could be counted on as no
dependence, the fall so far has been good and not much frost untill within a few of the last nights. I must thank you
for inserting in your letter to me the respects that J. J. Lumpkins and wife has thought proper to have tendered
through you, then may be something at the bottom of this not from the wife but from the man we will try to discover
before this letter comes to a close as it [hole in paper] from them that has come to my knowledge--and lastly in that
communication you wish some information in regard to our spurious wealth that have been trying to accumulate a
full history would be too voluminous, suficit to say that I can only give you a scetch of some of the most prominent
features that I am in possession of to report. as my health at the time was such that I have not been at but one trial in
relation to that business that was the trial of one Elijah Summerfield the son in law to old Gasper Link he was indited
for passing two five dollar pieces of gold on the same day in the town of Pearisburg to two separate persons and
received nearly the money back in change this was done at our last fall term of the superior court when it was
assertained that he had passed these two pieces and he being a poor man they went into an examination of the money
& soon assertained it to be counterfit. about this time as I have understood that Gasper Harless old Jacob
Snidows son in law went to see a man by the name of Mullins who lives on sandy (this gasper is said to be thus
mane Artist in the business) for source information in relation to the [?] business as he could not make it complete,
and secure from detection--and in his absence this gold was past and the thing was oblidged to come out and more
then then that it began to be circulated that Wm. H. Snidow was implicated in the matter and I suppose to extricate
himself, when Gasper returned from sandy he understood it would not be safe to remain he put out with his family.
Said Snidow becoming very anxious to begin [?] together with his brother [final page lost]
Submitted by Melissa Smith Kennedy
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~msk5d/genealogy/Lybrook.html
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