Thomas S. Webb, son of Catherine Stribling, writes 1846 letter to sister in MS
The following letter was written by Thomas S. Webb of Giles Co., Tn, to his sister, Frances Webb Clark, of Attala Co., Ms. in 1846 after hearing of the untimely death of her husband, Maj. James Green Clark. In the letter Thomas Stribling Webb mentions his two sons that were in Monroe Co., Ms -- and also his little William Bell Webb.
Sent to: Mr. M. A. Clark
Kosciusko
Attala County
Mississippi
State of Tennessee, Giles County, June 8th 1846
Dear Sister and family.
I for the first time take up my pen in order to write you a few lines. I do hope that you will forgive me for not writing to you before now, all that I can say on the subject is that it is not for a want of kind feelings toward you and your kind children.
I received your kind letter last winter, and was so mortified to hear of the death of my kind and loving Brother James [ James Greene Clark ] that my heart almost gave way at the thought to think that I had left him a short time before in good health and then hear that he was gone, no more to be seen by me in this world. It was almost more than I could bare, but we must submit to the hand of Providence and ought to do it, without a murmur we must say (as I did when I lost my dear wife ) that our loss is His gain.
I have great confidence in your children. I am sure that your sons will do their duty toward you, now is the time that you will need their power to make you happy;
I shall never forget the kind treatment which I received when at your house. Never shall I forget parting from Brother James, and little did I think that it would be the last time that I should see him but we must give him up and try to prepare to meet him, in a world where trouble is not known.
I have nothing of importance to write you, my health is very bad at this time, and has been so nearly all the time since I got home last Summer. I fear that I will not live long. I have a breast complaint this morning. I spit up a quantity of blood.
My family enjoys good health, my two oldest boys, Lafayette & Warren, live in your state down in Monroe county, where our connection lives. They are doing well I think. Warren is overseeing for a man from this county by the name of Carter and Lafayette lives with a man by the name of Esell [ Ezell].
My third daughter Manday is married. She married a man by the name of Brown and now lives in Pulaski. Her husband is interested is publishing a newspaper.
My other children live with me. My little baby, William Bell, is one of the finest children you ever saw. He can run anywhere and talk any thing he wants to say.
I am indebted much to my oldest daughter Catherine for her attention to him. She has stayed at home nearly all the time since her mother died, and has done her duty toward her little brothers and sisters.
Dear Sister, I feel very much for your great loss, but you have one thing to console you in your troubles, that is, you have the best children to comfort and assist you in the world.
Cousins Adolphus and Charles, I want you to stand by your mother in all her trials. Now is the time she needs your assistance. My acquaintance with you is quite limited, but I do assure you that you stand high in my estimation. I shall never forget the attention which you give me when at your father's house. I do hope that you will write to me. Do not think, because I have not written that I care nothing for you.
I have a great many relations, as you well know, and I must write to them all occasionally -- and my health and other matters to attend to, which takes up all my time. There is not a man living who is more fond of receiving letters than myself, although a bad hand to write them.
I have received some letters from South Carolina since I was at your house. Our relations all seem to be doing well there with the exception of the great scarcity of provision which is very great.
I suppose there is a great many familys moved from SoCar. to this state the last winter. Corn is high and scarce here this summer more so than I ever saw it, owing to the great drouth we had last summer.
I want to give my best love and respects to Brother Mike and family. [Micajah Webb ] Tell him that I would be glad to receive a letter from him. Also give my love to Mr. Savage & wife [ Martha C. Webb ( daughter of Micajah Webb ) married Thomas D. Savage]- tell them to write to me I would be fond to hear from them.
We have great talk about the war. Our troops started on Friday last for the Rio Grande. I am of the opinion that we ought not to have had such a war but as we have got into it we must defend our rights. We had a call on the state for some twenty five hundred troops and there was upward of ten thousand turned out, the balance that did not go waits for another call.
I must bring my letter to a close, my saying to you all that I do sincerely hope when these few lines come to hand that they may find you all enjoying health and happiness while I remain your loving Brother until death.
Thos. S. Webb
SOURCE: Miss Elizabeth Webb’s file at Greenville County Library
Copied in late 1970’s.