I think I have traced the 1864 letter to Sallie Carden a daughter of
John Carden [b 1802] and Elizabeth Smith. Note: John was a mill owner
and operator in Halifax County, Va. Many of the family are buried in
the Carden Cemetery in Halifax County including John and Elizabeth and
their son John Calvin.
John Carden's parents were:
Father: James Carden b: JUN 1756 in Goochland Co., Va.
Mother: Sarah DePriest b: ABT. 1760
Please let me know if you are in this Carden line. Thanks. I have
info on the brothers who fought for the confederacy and what happened
after the war.
Quoting trish(a)tcarden.com:
Carden's interested in Virginia Cardens or those just wanting to
help
solve a mystery.
Here is the transcription of the letter that was recently found when
remodeling was done on the old home in Virginia. If you can help
identify any of the Cardens please respond to Trish Carden.
Pat(a)tcarden.com
Home"
Dated May 11, 1864
"Darling One,"
I received your truly kind and very affectionate letter about a
week ago and have been trying every since to try and feel like
answering it but dear cousin I have not had the resolution to do
anything since my dear sisters death in fact I have been in bed the
best part of my time since she died. Oh, my heart is well night
broken you know no one else can imagine my feelings. I feel dear
cousin that these troubles are killing me. My nature is such that I
cannot bear up under afflictions when my friends are taken from me. I
give up to despondency. I know tis weak, but--you know our cup has
indeed been a bitter one. To be bereft of a loving father and sister
in such a short time. Oh you little know the agony I endure. How
often do I wish you were here with me so I might lay my aching heart
on your bosom and tell you my trials and have you shed the sympathetic
tear with me. Methinks it would soothe my troubled breast, but alas,
I cannot and do not expect you. I know your duty is to be with your
mother. One cannot do enough for them, form Ma my heart breaks within
me when I think of what she has had to bear within the last three or
four months but she bears her troubles a great deal better than I can.
After all of our affliction at home we received a letter last week
containing the sad intelligences of dear Aunt Nancy's death. Ma's
only sister was taken with convulsions and had them two days was
perfectly insensible from the time she was taken until she died. None
of us were able to go to see her or to attend her burial. Bettie and
myself were from home we went with Mr. Hudson home from the burial
(*referring to her own sister I think) and spent all last week with
him. I know I never spent as sad a week in my life. It seems so
strange being there without sister Mary. I was really sick several
days but tried always to keep up. I never saw anyone troubled as Mr.
Hudson does it is heart rending to see him. I think sometimes I could
feel resigned to sister Mary's death but when I look at him I am
driven almost to despair. I reckon no one ever loved a wife any more
than he did. He doesn't like to talk about anything else will sit and
talk about for hours at a time. Says he knows no one ever had a
better wife than he did. He seems to be so much afraid we will not
think as much of him as we did while sister Mary was living seems to
love us a great deal better than he ever did. He told me every day
while I was there not to forsake him says I a more like sister Mary
than anyone else in the world.
Oh, cousin Ann how I long to see you. I have so much to talk to you
about which I cannot write. But I fear we will never meet again in
this age. I cannot hope for any thing my health is very delicate more
so than it ever has been. I hardly look like myself some days I feel
tolerably well and then again I am a great deal worse but I do not
suffer much pain yet. I fall off every day I am going through a
course of medications from Dr. Mathew, and I hope he may cure me.
They all here think I am improving since I commenced it, but I am so
low spirited I can't foresee it myself. We have sis Mary's youngest
child. Mr. Hudson said he wanted me to take care of him he is very
fond of me doesn't want any one else to have anything to do with him
but myself he is just as sweet as he can be but mightily spoilt. I am
afraid I will love him too much it makes me feel so sad to look at the
dear little children left so young without a mother's love. From
Julius I never saw such a change in a child in my life he is not like
the same is very anxious to come up here and stay with his little
brother but his Pa says he couldn't live without him, his health is
very delicate I sometimes think he will never be easy.
Amanda received your letter a day or two ago. Oh you cannot
imagine how glad we were to hear from you. I was so uneasy about dear
Aunt Betsy. My thoughts were constantly with you. I can imagine your
feelings this well I know the anguish of your heart. Oh how many a
miserable moments I spend in thinking of Ma's being taken from me. I
feel that my life would be a blank if bereft of her love and
protection would that I could discard such thoughts but "ah the many
cruel fancys are in my brain" I know you will say look on the bright
side but there is no bright side to the picture "ever this from
childhoods hands I have seen my fondest hopes decay" but I must stop
this sad strain for fear of making your heart as sad as my own. When
I wrote to you before I expected Peter and Charlie one would have been
with us before now but alas all of our hopes were blasted. We looked
for Peter two weeks but he didn't come and we haven't heard a word
from him in three weeks. I feel very unhappy about him. Charles
would have come home before now but they stopped issuing furloughs and
they could not get off. We can't (don't) hear anything from Bro
Henry's detail sent it to the sec. of War. I don't know how long it
will be before we hear from it. We are here without anyone at all, we
have tried to keep a guard on the corn house and smoke house every
night. The rogues have tried to break open our smoke house twice this
week, but the Negroes run them off they shot at them night before last
but unfortunately didn't hit anyone. I never heard of as much
reougueship in my life and they seem determined for us not to have
anything. I received a letter from Uncle Randolf last week he spoke
of coming down to see us soon. I am so much in hopes he will for I
want to see him dreadfully he wrote to know if I would go home with
him but I can't possibly go I am tied down now. I can't think of
leaving Ma until she gets some of the boys home. I have abandoned the
idea of teaching, my health is not sufficient to teach we think of
sending Willie, Johnny and Julius to MR Black???oe Whith?? They have
a splendid teacher there this year. I received a letter from Cousin
Jane last week and have written to her to get our mourning for us it
will cost us around $600 ( there is no decimal used...could be 6
dollars? I'm thinking these are black dresses and such?) a piece to
get one suit aint it ridiculous. Brother has come and I must close.
Burn this as soon as you read do pray don't let anyone see it I am
ashamed to send it to you. Amanda? says she intends writing you a few
lines in this (she doesn't) give my warmest love to Cousin P Cousin M
and Cousin Robert. Tell Cousin Robert I think he might come down and
stay with us some. He is sending me a letter but I reckon he will
never tu??(blurred)ck?? *looks like a six letter word* it tell cousin
M we have been expecting a letter from him ever since he left. Ma
Bettie and Amanda write with me in sending hearts full of love to you.
I hope Aunt B will be entirely well by the time this reaches you
write soon to your disconsolate and bereaved cousin.
Sallie Y?L or F? Carden
Trish Swallows Carden
Nashville, Tennessee
Pat(a)tcarden.com
http://www.tcarden.com/tree/ensor/
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As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that
whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting
life. John 3:16
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