Thanks for bringing Armstrong's narrative to the attention of the list. Steve Pearsall's translation of this informative and entertaining work may be viewed at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~ncduplin/armstrong.htm Horace KRobe30171@aol.com wrote: > > Hi list! > > While I was in New Hanover Co., I copied a letter written by Thomas James > Armstrong in 1867 in response to letter from his daughter who urged him to > write of his life story. He was born in 1813. The following part of the > letter mentions Newtons. This took place about 1831. I have added > punctuation and corrected some spelling. This episode takes place after Mr. > Armstrong had partaken of a bit too much liquor (which he regretted > thoroughly) on his way to his new post as a clerk at Mr. Chambers store. > > Thought you might find it interesting. > > "The next night we camped near where Praggies (illegible) house now stands > then called Smokey Tavern. Old Mr. Issac Newton and Wm Newton camped with > us. They were from near Dochers (Docters) Creek. They went down to meet > rafts next morning. We arrived at Wilmington and in a short time I was at my > new vocation (As clerk of Mr. Chambers' store). Oh, how miserable. Everybody > strangers to me. I as raw as it was possible to be. My employer Mr. James > Chambers, a very crabid, short, crusty, kind of man. What would I have given > could I have only been relieved of my embarrasing condition. Mr. Chambers > and E.J. Hall were doing business together under the name and style of James > Chambers Gr(Illegible). It so happened that Hall bought the Tupt of Newton, > Davis, and others and they were to buy what ever goods Mr. Chamber could > furnish. So the memorandums were handed in badly written and I set to work > to filling it. I did not know what the items were or whether we had them or > not and dreaded to ask Mr. Chambers, but I did ask him every thing I wanted > to know. Sometimes he would answer me pleasantly and at others as though he > could snap my head off. I bore it all patiently determining to do my whole > duty as far as I could. The Mr. Newtons seemed please to have (me) wait on > them and remained true customers to Mr. C. after (illegible) William Newton > went to Georgia and died.