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.
17 February 1843.
Pembroke Giles V.a Feb 17.th 1843
Brother Henley
Sir yours the 7th Augt. 1842 as also yours of the 27th Janry last which I received this day has been received and I
shall indever to partially answer them in this letter after offering you some excuse for my delay in answering the one
of the 7th Augt sometime in the first of Sept. last our little William was taken down with a fever by Dr. Chapman
called the slow tiprus--two of the other boys shortly thereafter took it then my wife as it continued it seemed to grow
worse. finally on the 5th day of November I was taken with the fever in combination with my Rheumatism that put
me to bed from which I have but lately risen. I was confined to my bed near three months and is yet partially
confined to my room about 6 weeks of this time I was expected to die every day by all who seen me which was not a
few, my friends from town was nearly every day or two up to see me and all had given me out but the mercies of God
prevailed and I yet live--but not restored I have a bad swelling in my feet and legs which the doctor says is from
weakness. my white family has all been down with it with the exception of Eliza and Elenor--it is now among my
black family some has recovered there is but two of the little boys that is any ways dangerous and I think they are on
the mend--the disease has been in my house near six months and as yet I have lost none. the fever first made its
apearance in my family it has since spread through the neighbourhood, in its course mortality has been the
consiquence, (I will here give you the number of deaths and whom in my immediate neighbourhood) first James
Williams J. as he was called seconly old Miss Hutchinson, Daniel A. Frys daughter, a young woman, Susanna
Straley, a Mr. Flowers who was boarding with Dr. Chapman old Micajah Bradley, a daughter of James H. [F?]
Williams old Betsey Piles and on Monday morning last Allen Williams, Leland Vass in town also went, principally
with that malignant disease Allen Williams seesm to be a verry hard case just beginning the wourld with a wife &
one child but alas he had to leave them. there is two other cases in James family. I heard from them last evening they
were said to be convalesent old Mr. Lumpkins family has nearly all been down with it and some verry doubtfull
cases but have recovered old Billy Hutchinson has been down with it, and no great attention paid to him by any one
of caracter and he has recovered, we were counting up the cases of sickness that has taken place this winter and ther
has been 63 easy within three miles of where I live the like of which has never occured before sinc ethe country has
been settled -- Chapman has been going nearly day and night all the fall and winter. I have detained you almost too
long with the diseasess in our neighbourhood I will for the present say nothing more on that subject and indeavor to
answer your first letter, that is the 7th of Augt--you request me to sell the note of yours that is in my hands against
John Albert at a discount [?]. I have not been able to go from home but onced or twice since the letter arrived, you
supposed that there might be a chance with Chapman J. Johnston-- I have only seen him when he come to see me in
my sickness at which time I suppose I did not think about money but I think I can say enogh to satisfy you about the
chance with hm this last fall him & Henderson Barie went to the north and purchased goods and now has a verry fine
store at Giles court house which cost a considerable sum of money. as to money matter here they are considered
albut out of the question there is scarcly any in circulation--I have never seen such times, I do believe that one half of
the people will be broke up they can make nothing for market that will pay for the labour it takes to make it. there is
a Mr. Tracy near Peterstown that carries on the shaving business but shaves nothing but a due paper he wont hold a
note one [?] if he can find an officer, he started on about $15000--he shaves in Giles Monroe Mercer and Tazewille--
I think the chance a dull one to git the note off upon such terms as would justify you -- you can rite to me on the
subject again -- and should I live I will do the best for you I can--you say that Baltzer is not likely to possess the
faculty sufficient to make a merchant I am sorry to hear it--I was in hopes he would answer the purpose and make
something by it if it was but little for a while you espressed an inclination that I should help him to some money--
which is out of my power at this time. I have not paid my doctor bills yet neither do I know what they may be but
they must amount to a considerable sum and in the present condition of money matters be hard to make up-- you say
that Lumpkins is doing better there then he done here I am glad to here it, and hope he will do better. Sally remains
nearly in the same condition you seen her in--and it is with some dificulty that I can get money enough from her
resorses to pay for her board and if she continues in that condition money her money will be spent and she will fall
on my hands for support. I must say to you that I have not seen Betsy Atkins but one time since I seen you--and then
I went to their house her nor Atkins has never been to see Sally since you left which I thought was their duty as
relations untill a week or two before I was taken down sick, at which time there was a report reached our
neighbourhood that Joe was a good part of his time bying in the hills with a daughter of Tom Hunters and that he had
taken her to Blacksburgh and drest her from head head to foot and intended to start of with her at which time I
understood that he treated his wife badly--which made me escuse her for her neglect --supposing that she could
not do as she pleased on the subject--Betsey had a babe about the commencement of winter and I understood that Joe
was not half of this time about home neither day nor night, if he intends to go off he has not done so yet--I was told
by a person who was intimate with Atkins and another of our friends that if that one had not moved off last fall was
[?] that there was a probability that there would have been two widdows--left desolate--it may not be true. My
informant may have been mistaken, and as there was a good deal said about Atkins conduct that he would assume to
know something about the other. I sent for J. Atkins to come to my house about 10 days ago on some particular
business which I am afraid my shame will not be sufficient to let you know the substance of. I will see when I git on
that subject. you requested me to let you know something [rest of letter missing]
Submitted by Melissa Smith Kennedy
http://www.people.virginia.edu/~msk5d/genealogy/Lybrook.html
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