Hello list! I just joined this list for the specific purpose of reuniting a family with a letter from/to their ancestors. I am not researching this family, and I really have no idea how it ended up in a box under my mother's house. I have come across this letter written May 22, 1877 from Robert Black to his nephew J. R. Black. In the 1880 census I found the family living in Smithville, Monroe Co., MS. There is no envelope; however, the letter is very readable. I am typing it here as it has some "newsy" information about births and deaths and neighbors, and perhaps it could help someone in their research. In addition, if anyone knows of someone researching this family who would like me to mail the letter to them, I would be more than happy to send it along. (I think after 130 years, it's time to rest again with family, don't you?) May 22nd, 1877 Mr. J R Black Dear Nephew - I am come to your uncle George's to night and have just read your letters to him and me and we now write you an anser. The connection here I believe are all well at this time. I will state to your mother that there are two more boys in the connection your uncle Walt's daughter Mary and your uncle Topes (?) daughter Milissa can both boast of fine sons a few days old. Your uncle George has wrote about all the news there has been several deaths round about. Ben Gibson died about a month ago. There has been but one or two weddings in this vicinity since you were out here. I was sorry to hear of the death of Cynthia Irvin (Irvin is crossed out) Tickle and Martha Irvin. Tell the old man Tom Irvin that I often think of him and family. They seem almost like kinfolks. Give my best wishes to W. A. & Mary Ritter and Sam & Delilah Bundy and especially to my old beau & every body else. When John S. Sophisan was up here last month he said he was going to answer your letter. Perhaps he has fishing to do makes him slow to write to you or rather perhaps he is being fished after by several calico dresses for he said he had received three or four April fools. My health has been good. My crop looks tolerably well. Write again Soon. Robert Black (name underlined). A Family Historian in Galt, CA ____________________________________________________________________________________ Finding fabulous fares is fun. Let Yahoo! FareChase search your favorite travel sites to find flight and hotel bargains. http://farechase.yahoo.com/promo-generic-14795097