Home.
Lebanon,
Russell Co., Virginia
September
10th
1866
My
Dear “Dark”[1]former female slave of Dale Carter. Dale Carter owned dozens of slaves...
I
wrote to you for Clara[2]Former slave of Dale Carter, gave birth to child Rachel on May 10, 1853. A Clara Carter, age 50, appears in the 1870 Census for Carroll County, KY. Henry L. Giltner (see below) was living in Carroll County. several months
ago
but we have heard nothing from you since. I know
you
are anxious to hear all the news we have in Russell
and
I will not wait longer to write. Charlie & Mary
Fulton[3]Charlie and Mary Fulton - Lizzie Carter's brother, Charles Dale Carter married Mary Taylor Fulton daughter of Creed and Mary (Taylor) Fulton. were married in June. We gave a big Party
here
a few days after the wedding. I wrote to you
to
come out to it and was sorry you were not here.
The
house was full for two nights & a day. We did
not
ask any body about here but Kate Wagoner[4]Kate Wagoner - Rachael Catherine Wagoner, daughter of William D. and Nancy (Munsey) Wagoner. Born ca. 1844. Married Harvey Sawyers on 12/12/1870. See Lizzie Wagoner below.. She
was
here the night of the Party and looked mighty nice.
We
have had a door cut in the little room, over the old
dining
room leading into the passage in the min.[?] stairs.
We
had a carpet made for it and the bride & groom
stayed
in it when they were over. Aunt Nance &
Ib
were here helping in the kitchen. Sallie[5]Sarah Preston Carter, daughter of Dale Carter, sister to Lizzie Carter. Born Jan 21 1843, died Jan 1 1910. Sally Carter, age 26, RC 1870 Census, HH 110 (household of Charles A. Smith, John T. and Margaret Lampkin also living there.) & I went
over
to the wedding and I waited on them. Every
Young
lady & gentleman in Abingdon came home
with
us to the “Infair”. Soon after the Party here
sister
Marge[6]Margaret Crockett Carter Lampkin. Daughter of Dale Carter (see below.) Born 8/27/1839. Sister of Elizabeth C. Carter. Married to John T. Lampkin. went home and had a son. She was dread-
ful
sick and her baby was dead born. It was a fine
large
boy. We thought for a long time Sister Marge
would
die. Sallie, Mother & myself were all there
while
she was sick. Cousin John & Mag[7]John T. Lampkin and Margaret C. Carter. See above. are both very
Page
2 of original letter
much
distressed at the loss of their baby. It would have
been
named “William A Stuart” if it had lived.
Miss
Pug Leece[8]Margaret Leece, (b. ca. 1837), daughter of Samuel and Margaret (Thompson) Leece, married George Sandoe (b. ca. 1838), son of George & Rebecca Sandoe, on August 29, 1866 in Russell County. married Mr Sando[9]George Sandoe, see above.. See above. from Abingdon
she
was married one morning soon at Sam Leece’s[10]b. ca. 1801, RC Census, 1860, HH 296, age 59 with daughter Margaret (Pug), age 23 and son Samuel, age 24. See https://russellvets.org/soldiers/l/Leece_Samuel.html &
went
to Abingdon that day. People think she has done
very
well. She did not have any wedding.
Alice Dotson[11]Martha T. Aston, daughter of Samuel W. and Louisa Aston, married George W. H. Gray, son of Napoleon Bonaparte and Rebecca Gray, 9/5/1866 in Russell County. [Writer apparently confused Alice with her sister Mattie, see below.] married one of
Bone Gray’s sons[12]George W. H. Gray, see above. See also: https://russellvets.org/soldiers/g/Gray_George_William_James.html last
week.
Mattie Aston[13]Mary Alice Aston, daughter of Samuel W. and Louisa Aston, married Thomas McCleary Vermillion, son of Issac and Martha (Boyd) Vermillion. See https://russellvets.org/soldiers/v/Vermillion_Thomas_McCleary.html & Ike Vermillion’s son ran
away
and married about six weeks ago. Hopkins &
his
wife[14]unknown came up to see us not long ago and stayed
all
night. They are living out in Wise. Israel[14]unknown & his
wife
live with them. Israel has a child named Eliza.
Lizzy
Wagoner[15]Mary Elizabeth Wagoner, daughter of William D. and Nancy (Munsey) Wagoner. Born ca. 1842. Married Benjamin Frank Bickley, 9/12/1865. Bickley was the son of Sebastian and Fannie (Haburn) Bickley. & Frank Bickley are living up above
town.
They are doing well, but from all accounts will
have
to look around for a cradle soon.
Holden
Davis'[16]Holden Davis (b. 5/22/1792 in Wilkes Co., NC.) Married Rachel Harmon ca. 1817. Moved to Russell County between 1840 and 1850. Married (#2) Delpha Martin (b. ca. 1842) on 8/3/1864. She is listed as the daughter of Sarah Minick (1850 Tazewell census has Delpha Martin, daughter of Sarah Martin.) Holden died around 1866. wife has a nigro child and old Davis
gave
lb & Dave Leece[17]free African Americans, Dave Leece (b. ca. 1820) and Ibby (b. ca. 1818), 1870 RC Census, HH 54, living with Mary (age 3) and Maggie (age 3). Ibby was formerly a slave of Dale Carter. Gave birth to child Ellen, March 23, 1861 as slave of Dale Carter. a cow & calf to take &
raise
it as their own.
Aunt Margaret Lampkins[18]Margaret B. (Smith) Lampkin, married to John Lampkin 11/6/1839. Mary Elizabeth Lampkin (b. 1853), daughter of John and Margaret.
&
Mary Lizz came out from Lynchburg and
stayed
several weeks. They were here about a week
Aunt
Margaret fell one day while she was at Uncle
Henry’s[19]probably Henry Smith Lampkin. See: https://russellvets.org/soldiers/l/Lampkin_Henry_Smith.html
& broke her arm. It did not get well before
she
went home. Miss Lucy Dennis[20]unknown and a lady from
Richmond
came down and spent a week with us
not
long ago. They are nice ladies. Martha Jessee[21]Jefferson Jessee had three female slaves in 1850, ages 16, 15, and 11. In the 1860 census, he had one female aged 23, and five male slaves.
that
used to belong to Jeff Jessee is our cook. Ive
have
a white girl to do the house work and get
along
very well. I get my clothes done up
tol-
Page
3 of original letter
erably
well, but always wish for some of your
washing
when I get on a big dike.
Mrs.
Giltner[22]Martha Griffith Young Giltner. Married to Henry L. Giltner, see below. writes to us some times. She is at
home.
The baby[23]of above. Emma M. Giltner (b. 1865), died 6/22/1866. Buried in Carroll County, KY. that was born soon after she left
here
died not long ago with whooping cough. They
were
much distressed at its death. In Mrs. Giltner's
last
letter she said Giddy[24]Gideon Giltner (b. 1862), son of Henry L. and Martha Giltner (see elsewhere.) got on the arm of the
rocking
chair every day and took a ride to see
“Dark”
& Grandpa Carter[25]letter recipient, probably a former slave of Dale Carter. Grandpa Carter is Dale Carter.. I know you would
be
as glad to see him. Adjt Freeman[26]Terah Major Freeman -
"Adjutant Terah Major Freeman (HLS, 1860, LLB), was born Apr. 5, 1839 in KY. He studied law at UVA, 1858-59...and giving his home as Frankfort, KY...On July 5, 1861, he enrolled for the war, as pvt. in...2nd KY Mtd. Inf....During fall 1862, he transferred ot the staff of Col. Henry Liter Giltner, 4th KY Cav...He was appt. lt., adj. on Giltner's staff, Jan. 3, 1863..." - Crimson Confederates: Harvard Men who Fought for the South
By Helen P. Trimpi has
married
his cousin. The Giltners are all sin-
gle
and still at home. Major Nounnan[27]James H. Nounnan
"Nounnan was born about 1834 in Virginia. He enlisted as a private in Company H of the 22nd Virginia Infantry on May 8, 1861. In Augusts of 1861 Nounnan was transferred to Capt. James Corns' Cavalry Company, attached to a temporary organization known as the 2nd Kanawha Regiment. This company was known as the Fairview Rifle Guards and eventually became Company K of the 8th Virginia Cavalry. He probably served in this unit until October of 1862, when he left to form his company of cavalry in Ferguson's Battalion. Nounnan rose to the rank of major in the 16th Virginia Cavalry and led part of the regiment at various times. Nounnan was one of the officers who remained with Gen. John McCausland and rode through the Union lines instead of surrendering at Appomattox. In May, 1865, McCausland, Ferguson, Nounnan and 13 others marched to Charleston, West Virginia, and were paroled. Nounnan died at the Lee Camp Soldiers' Home at Richmond on October 1, 1900." - 16th Virginia Cavalry, Jack L. Dickenson is liv-
ing
in Texas. He writes to us right often. Dave
Bowls[28]unknown
married soon after he went home but died
not
very long ago. Poor fellow! I wonder if he will ever
get
forgiveness
for all the big tales he has
told
in his life. Aunt Nance is still living
with
George. She does not look well now, but I
think
the cause of it is, she don’t get as much coffee
as
she wants to drink. She had a letter from Charles
not
long ago. He is well and is still anxious to come
out
to Russell. I am sorry to tell you Georges Fleck[?][29]unknown, possibly "George's Fleck", Fleck, the son of George?
died
with the flux about two months ago. He
suffered
a great deal but talked a great deal about
dying.
He was such a fine sensible little boy.
Hannah
& Jord[30]unknown have a boy. I suppose you have
heard
old Uncle Jordan[31]unknown is dead, and old Uncle Job[31]possibly unknown father of Job Wadron, 1870 RC, age 23. A Samuel Wadron is living with Ibby and Dave Leece (see above.) too.
Old
Jeff Jessee[32]Jefferson Jessee, b. 1802, married Nancy J. Counts, ca. 1824. Died May 6, 1866. is dead, also Antony Puckett[32]b. ca. 1805, Halifax County, VA. Married 1/17/1833 to Hannah Holt in Patrick County, VA. Father of Dosh (below)..
Page
4 of original letter
Dosh
Puckett[33]Theodocia Puckett, b. ca. 1843, daughter of Anthony (above) and Hannah Puckett. Married Joseph Ashby, 3/6/1866. married one of the Ashbys[34]Joseph Ashby, son of John and Valey (Hackney) Ashby, b. 2/5/1847, married Dosh (above). Died 2/8/1936. See: https://russellvets.org/soldiers/a/Ashby_Joseph_Cummins.html. Jim
Puckett[35]James M. Puckett, b. ca. 1841, son of Anthony (above) and Hannah Puckett. Married Nancy Stamper, 8/9/1866. See: https://russellvets.org/soldiers/p/Puckett_James_M1.html
is married too to some girl over on the
river.
Ann Barton[36]Angeline Barton, Age 3, 1860 RC Census, HH 294 (William and Metilida Smith). Age 13, 1870 RC Census, HH 229 (living with William and Margaret Barton.) Mother: is here. She is a smart girl and
Mother
has taken her to raise. Mrs Barton[37]Ruth Barton, age 37, 1860 RC Census, HH 294 (William and Metilida Smith). Wife of John Barton, 1850 RC Census, HH 371. lives
about
at different places. We went to Camp
Meeting
last week. It is going on yet. Jim Gib-
son[38]Possibly James Gibson, 1870 RC Census, Copper Creek, HH 127, age 39.
and several others professed religion.
Henry,
Dale & Johnny[39]Possibly brothers of Eliza Carter (unknown, John Taylor Carter, Charles Dale Carter.) John Taylor Carter went by "Jack". Alternately, Henry was a slave of Dale Carter. have been staying
over
here a great deal. They are all fine boys
and
Dale talked a great deal about “Dark”
I
wish you could see them again.
You
must try to come out to see us. I
would
be glad to see you and I know every
body
else out here would be as well as my-
self.
Mother and Sallie are well and look
about
like they did when you left.
The
old house yard is grown up with weeds
three
feet high and the doors & windows gone
out
of the old kitchen. Our servants live in Aunt
Nance’s
old house. I have not been down there
since
you all left. It is the saddest looking
place
you ever saw and I know you would
cry
over it sometimes if you could see it.
Sallie
sends her love and says tell you when
she
marries she is going to send for you to
do
up her wedding clothes.
The
yard is full of pretty roses now but the frost
and
snow will soon scatter their leaves.
You
must let me hear from you soon. Let me know.
If
you have many troubles these days.
Written
at the top of the first page above the greeting
We
never hear
from
Andy[40]probably former slave of Dale Carter. these
days.
I reckon
he
is dead.
Ike[41]probably former slave of Dale Carter.
is still
living
at
John
Lampkins.
Clara
and all
are
well up
there.
Rach[42]probably former slave of Dale Carter, daughter of Clara (see above). has
gotten
to be a
great
big woman.
I
reckon it will
not
be long be-
fore
she thinks
about
marrying.
I
forgot to tell
you
Charlie & Mary
are
living at old
Cousin
Mary Fulton’s
I
must close
Yours
affectionately
Lizzie
C. Carter
Lebanon
Russell
Co
