Facility Ten
5th June
18 ¾
Maj. James C. Glaves
Buffaloue ford
Wythe Co
Va
R facility
Macmin C June the 1 1841
Dear Sir
Yours of the 12 of May has been recied (received) by me my family is well i was glad to hear that mother would still keep my negro women & child it seem to me in your letter like mother complained because i did not writ how or where she was to live provied (provided) she moved to ten (Tennessee) i felt very deliget (delinquent) in saying any thing a bout thet as i did not know who she had choesen to lieve with for severel of her Children had been theare and i exspected had made her some offers best if she thinks that she can live in the house with me contented She can do so in welcome i will treat her well & see that she has plenty of any thing & every thing that she stands in need of i think that it would be right for her to enjoy her living the ballance of her days let them be many or few i think she was rite to see brother Calvin first & be satisfyd to move to ten or to stay if it Could be so She wanted to know how her negroes was to be provided for i think it would be the least troble for her to hire her boys all out & the most profet & wheare a negro is hired
in ten theare the (they) are provided for both for vitals (vittles) & clothing & have a cabin built for Sally covenent to my house as my negroes is but few in number i would nether have them to theare selfs she appears to be unwiling to leav her home without nowing for Certain where She was going to i took my seat in her Cheaur (Chair) & found it a heard thing to leave home without nowing where i was going & how i was to be treaed (treated) but if she Concludes to move to ten she Can start to move right to my house when she de termines what she will do you will pleas to let me no by riteing & william (William Orr) will Come in for her at any time
you wish to now the reason why John austin does not come or send for his negros i cannot tell i seen a man last weak & inquired but he could not tell & lived a Close neighbour
Jeames Respectfully your friend
Nancy Orr
Mr Jeames T. Gleaves
Nancy Orr writes a very compassionate letter in which she inquires about her mother, who still lived on the Rutherford homestead in Wythe County. Nancy explains why it would be best for her mother to move to McMinn County and explains how she would provide for the slaves that would move with her. Someone else (possibly her husband, William Orr ?) addressed the cover. John Austin married Nancy's sister, Delilah, and also lived in McMinn County.