Tracy Stancil posted the most wonderful Stancil family letters from the 1850s to our list. They are so long that I am reposting them in three or four posts since Rootsweb limits the size of a post. Many thanks to Tracy for sharing these. Enjoy! Brenda ____________________________________________________________________________ ___ Most of you no doubt have no known connection to the Stancills in Pitt County, but I hope you will take a few minutes to read this post. For the few of you who may have a Stancill in the woodpile somewhere it might be especially interesting, but even for the rest I think you will find this especially interesting from a historical standpoint. It provides a realistic perspective on life in the 1850's, addressing the things that were important in day to day life of that time. Some of the subjects mentioned are the crops, the health and well-being of the family, religion, politics, and education. First a little background to set things up. Godfrey Stancill born 1776 died 1850 and his wife Dorcas Jones 1780-1843 had a son named Caswell Stancill who left Pitt County about 1846 and settled in Mississippi. Caswell Stancill married Rebecca Ann Anderson daughter of Ruel Anderson and Ritty Brown. This is a series of letters written by Caswell and his family in Mississippi to his father Godfrey and his brother Henry back in Pitt County. The first two letters are addressed to Godfrey Stancill who unbeknownst to Caswell had already been dead for a year and a half. Imagine not learning of your father's death for a year and a half ! Here is my faithful transcription of these letters penned mostly in Caswell Stancill's own hand: LETTER #1 May 22, 1852 Sunflower County, Mississippi My Dear Father, It has been a long time since I have written but a longer time since I have heard from you. I have written a great many letters and have received no answers. I think I will commence again shortly and write you all again. Perhaps some of you may find it convenient to answer. I could write a great deal but will content myself at present by merely stating that myself and family have recently enjoyed a reasonable state of health, though we have had a great deal of very hard sickness since we have been in this country. I have a fair prospect for a crop this year. My corn is about as high as my head and looks fine. My cotton also looks very well. I expect to make this year 70 or 80 bales of cotton. Present my best respects to all my brothers and sisters, to all my connections and enquiring friends. Rebecca Ann (his wife) wishes to be remembered by you all. Accept for yourself sentiments of the highest esteem. Your very affectionate son, Caswell Stancill LETTER # 2 This next letter is from Caswell 's son Ruel Marcellus Stancill to his grandaddy Godfrey Stancill back in Pitt County.(Again Godfrey was dead and they didn't know it.) The State of Mississippi Sunflower County May 2, 1852 Dear Grand Pa, We have not heard from you for some time but would like to know how you are and how you are getting along. The crops were tolerable good last year on the river where we live. Some people make a bale of cotton to the acre. Pa made fifty two bales of cotton last year and his cotton has four leaves now and his corn is knee high. We have no trouble of getting our cotton to market. All we have to do is to put it on the river bank and then hail the steam boats as they pass and they will stop and take it on and if we want to go they will land us at any point we wish. Myself and brothers are going to school. I am studying Arithmetic, Latin Grammar, Philosophy, and Chemistry. We are tolerable well at present except Pa who has had fever every other evening for the last week.(sounds like maybe he had Malaria) I have a spritely little sister that was six months old the twenty sixth of last month. I hope these lines will find your health good. Write to us the first opportunity for we are very anxious to hear form you. Oh how glad I should be to hear from you and the balance of my relations there. Nothing more at present. Give my best respects to all enquiring friends and relations and accept for yourself all the same. Ruel Marcellus Stancill