Nine letters between the Reid and Simpson families
written between 1816 and 1847
Contributed by Ralph Simpson
1) John B. Reid to his father, Major John Reid (1/9/1816)
Richmond Ky. Janr. 9th 1816
Dear Father,
No doubt when you open
this letter & see the early date of it from the one I sent you by Col.
Murphy, you will be a little astonished, the more so when you see it is from Richmond. After my
compliments to you, mother & the rest of the family, I will state to you
the cause of my living in this place. When Col. Murphy started home I
rode with him to this place & when we had parted & I was about to start
back to uncle Maj. Grugett, the gentleman with whom I board, understanding that
it was my intention to go to school in this country somewhere, informed me that
there was a gentleman lately arrived here from Boston who was well qualified to
teach & wished to get a small private school in his home, I told him I
could give no answer untill I saw uncle & conversed with him on the subject
as I intended to be entirely guided by him - consequently next day uncle and myself
went to town to take my deposition which was done accordingly. & then
Maj. Grugett introduced uncle to the gentleman when after considerable
conversation with him & his being so highly recommended by an acquaintance
of uncles' he concluded to send me to him awhile - so I commenced on the 19th
Dec in order that if I should not like his teaching I might leave off going
& loose less time than I would if I should have commenced after Christmas -
but in the time that I went I liked him very well as a teacher & determined
to continue with him - but next it was necessary to know what he would have for
tuition, which he said would be one dollar per week - which I immediately
determined not to give him - but after consulting with uncle - he thought that
my advantages here would be so great as we both board in the same room together
(that is the teacher) that we concluded to offer him $30 per Ann which he
refused to take but sd. he would take 75 cts a week. This uncle and
myself thought was very extravagant but upon considering over everything we
concluded to give it to him for 3 or 4 months - as Willson's session had
commenced about the 1st of Decr. last & there is only 5 months
in a session which would have only 4 for me to go in. & I would have
to pay for the whole session even if I could only to go 2 months - whereas I
only pay him for the time I go - & my advantage here will be as great again
as at Willson's - for if I was to go on to Willson then the school would
be very much crowded & has only about 10 or 12 students & of rights I
can get any information on any subject whatever from Mr. Whitting who is my
teacher - for you may depend he is a very clever fellow & a Yankee too has
formerly taught in one of the principle Academies in Massachusetts & a graduated
lawyer but his state of health at present will not permit him to come to the
bar - & as my future study is that of law he says he can teach me every
thing necessary to commence that study. - I am now studying geometry &
trigonometry & expect to commence geography up on a new scale there is a
small book with questions in it & I am to find the answers from the globes
which will fix it in my mind without any summarizing. - I have to give
Majr. Grugett $75 per term for board. & to Mrs. Parker a private lady
in town $15 per term. for washing. The more I am in the country in which
you live, - you cannot imagine how my astonishment is excited to think that you
will live there & not come here - now let me again entreat you to sell yr.
possessions if possible & move to this or some other country better than
that as soon possible for the sooner the better. - I was on Wednesday the 27th
Decr. at a Masonic Ball held at Maj. Grugett's, where I enjoyed myself very
agreeably with 69 other gentlemen & about 100 ladies - the company
separated about 12 o'clock - all in harmony. - Polly Simpson is to be married
tomorrow evening to a Mr. Phelps a close neighbor of uncles who is recommended
to me as a very fine young man & very well off. Robert is to be
married in about 2 weeks to a Miss Dickey & Richd. is going to Orleans -
the people of this town & also in the country have & are now very
sickly with something like the influenzy & bad colds. - I have been very
unwell with it but am much better than I have been - & hope this letter will
you all enjoying health - Duke Watson? is still living with xxx & has got
no where else to go to but uncle says he will pay him whatever his work shall
be worth untill he can get some place to go to - I have one charge to give you,
that is, you must not fail to write to me immediately after the reception of
this letter & let me know how all acquaintances are & also if you have
sold yr. tobacco when, where, & what you got for it - do all you can to
keep Clary & Tommy at school for youth is the time to improve the mind
& cultivate the morals - I will write you again in the course of a month or
6 weeks & let you know how I progress &c &c -
Give my love and best
respects to all the family & give my friends particularly to Col Murphy
& Mr. Leasaur? - Tell William that I should be extremely glad to receive a
letter from him -
I got a pretty general
acquaintance with all the gentlemen in town & find extremely clever &
familiar. - I must close this letter, after saying as much as I have, but with
reluctance for it appears as I wish to write something but know not what - I
therefore subscribe myself your Sincere & ever affectionate son.
P.S. Let me know also if you are about to get
many subscribers to T. Reids proposals - yrs. &c.
JBR
From the John Reid Papers #3882
Southern Historical Collection, Wilson Library
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
|
1) John B. Reid to his father, Major John Reid (1/9/1816)
2) John B. Reid to his father, Major John Reid (3/3/1816)
3) John B. Reid to his mother, Keziah Simpson Reid (3/5/1816)
4) Richard "Duke" Simpson to his brother-in-law, Major John Reid (4/24/1816)
5) Richard "Duke" Simpson to his brother-in-law, Major John Reid (5/8/1816)
6) Richard "Duke" Simpson to his nephew, William B. Simpson (4/7/1845)
7) Richard "Duke" Simpson to his nephew, William B. Simpson (9/9/1845)
8) Richard "Duke" Simpson to his sister, Keziah Simpson Reid (5/4/1847)
9) Duke Williamson Simpson to his aunt, Keziah Simpson Reid (10/25/1847)
