Marie Perkins
[Marie Perkins was enslaved in Charlottesville, Virginia, while her husband was the property of a different
landowner. In this letter, written in 1852, she pleads for him to arrange her purchase, fearful that she and
one of her children might--like her son, Albert--be sold to a traveling slave trader.]
Charlottesville Oct. 8, 1852
Dear Husband,
I write you a letter to let you know of my distress. My master has sold Albert to a trader on Monday court day
and myself and the other child is for sale also, and I want you to let [me] hear from you very soon before the
next court if you can. I want you to tell Dr. Hamilton and your master if either will buy me they can attend to it
now and then I can go afterwards.
They asked me if I had any person to buy me and I told them no.
A man by the name of Brady bought Albert and is gone. I don't know where, they say he lives in Scottsville.
I am quite heart sick .
Nothing more.
I am and ever will be your kind wife.
Marie Perkins
http://slaveryinamerica.org/narratives/nar_marie_perkins.htm
Smythe, A. M.. Letter from Mrs. A. M. Smythe to her cousin, Feb 17, 1837 concerning the
sale of a family of slaves.
Electronic Text Center, University of Virginia Library
My Dear Cousin,
I must beg a favor of you which I trust you will grant. at March court our little all will be
sold for debt. You know how much I am attached to Sally and her children. attached to
them because they are the best of slaves. I never knew so faithful and valuable a family of
negroes. you have it in your power to purchase them. if you do so I can leave the country
with peace of mind. the first of April we will set out for the North Western territory, a
howling Wilderness.
My Husband will be in Abingdon this week, he told me, he would visit you, his spirits are so low
I fear he will not. if you see him, say every thing to cheer him. My Mother is unable to raise the
money at present to buy the family I speak of -- Harry would I suppose but his Wife will sell a
negro upon the most trivial offence. none can please her.
Martha the oldest of the children is 16 she has been afflicted with St. Vitus's dance 8
winters. in the Spring, Summer, and Fall she is perfectly well, Doct. Floyd told me in the
commencement of the disease that lime was the only cure, for several winters it has been
gradually leaving her, this winter she has been confined only one day of course she will
go lower in consequence of it. she does all kinds of work, that is usual about a house. and
knits all the Woolen socks and stockings that are worn in the family -- Mary is 13 she can
sew very well – Madison is 10, a very capable and likely boy. there are three younger
ones. Sally will have another in June.
I wish My Dear Cousin you would write as soon
as you can -My love to yourself and family
I am My Dear Cousin Yours truly and sincerely
AMS
http://etext.lib.virginia.edu/etcbin/toccernew2?id=SmyLett.sgm&images=images/modeng&data=/texts/english/modeng/parsed&tag=publi
c&part=1&division=div1
Hannah Valentine and Lethe Jackson
Slave Letters in the Campbell Family Papers
Letter to Eliza from Hannah Valentine, November 1, 1837
Personal correspondence to her daughter relating daily events since their separation.
Tell Richard that Aunt Lucinda sais she has Dreamed about him several times since he
Left Here
[In left-hand margin:] Give My Love to All Michels Bothers & Sisters & Tell them all to
write to Me - tell Richard that Mary sais he must write to Her!
Abingdon Nov. 1st 1837
Dear Eliza
I received yours & Richards Letter day Before yesterday with great pleasure I have been
quite uneasay since for an opportunity to write to you. You must not expect [me] to write
to you Often as it is some trouble to get a person to write for Me - I have written to
Michel by Nancy Singleton. Your Children are all well and doing very well - and have
never suffered from sickness one moment since you Left here they talk some Little about
you but do not appear to miss you a great deal I am not as well my selfe as I would wish
to be although I am still about and so all my Business but am Quite unwell - Your Little
Daughter Mary is one of the best Children in the world and is very Little like a child You must make Miss Virginia Read this Letter over 3 or four times as I Have to get some
of the first Cut of young Gentlemen to write them - tell My Dear son Richard that I will
Have a few Lines written to him to day his Wife and Friends are all well. His Wife has
not yet Received his Letter but I will try and send it to Her between this and Sunday.
Give My best Love to Michel & David tell Michel that I am very Happy to Hear that he
Has seen all his Relations tell them all they must behave themselves and be as Genteel as
they posibly can and try and take Good care of their Master & Mistress Knowing they are
the Best Friends they have in this World. tell David he must be a good Boy as Nothing
Will give me as much pleasure as to hear of his Good Conduct and it is all my thought for
fear you not conduct your selves as Genteel as I would wish you to do. tell Miss Virginia
I will Send Her Cloak by Ginny Robinson in about 4 weeks as it is impossible for me to
send it sooner. Give My Love to Mistress & Master Most Particularly and to Miss
Virginia & My Good Husband Michel tell him he can form no Idea how much I Have
thought of him since he Left this place and how much I have missed him- Aunt Lucinda
and Mary Send their Love to you all and to Master, Mistress & Miss Virginia
I Have no Strange news to write to you about Our Town more than I Have told youTheodore Sterricks send his best Love to Richard & Your Selfe and sais Richard Must
Kiss Eliza three times for Him. He sais he has no news that will be interesting to you but
that he waited on Sam White & Jane Good to be married Last Saturday night James
Turner & Sam Calliway join me in Love to you all and will write to you all to day I
expect - Mary tells Me to say to Miss Virginia that she must not forget Her but
Remember her in her Prairs tell her that our New Station Preacher is Named Winton Late
from Wythe Station there has been a Great Revival of Religion her among the Methodists
and about 30 Have joined the Church among the Rest was Mr. Craig & C Mrs Andrew
Gilson had a fine son on Saturday Night Last and they are Both well. Miss Ellen White
Received a Letter from Miss Mary Last Monday She was well & Sent her Love to all
Masters Servant on the Hill - tell David that Easter sent her Love to him and expects to
Receive A Letter from him shortly - No More at Present But Remain you Most
Affectionate Mother Until Death
Hannah Valentine
http://scriptorium.lib.duke.edu/campbell/1837-11-01/1837-11-01-p3-72.gif