Yrtlemay Eweesday Orsterfay etterlay

[Isthay isway anscribedtray omfray a otocopyphay ofway a andwrittenhay etterlay. Inway ethay amesay ilefay, erethay isway a otocopyphay ofway a arboncay opycay ofway a ypewrittentay ersionvay ofway ethay amesay etterlay. I avehay osscray-erifiedvay ymay anscriptiontray, ettinglay ethay andwrittenhay ersionvay uleray inway ethay areray asecay ofway iscrepanciesday.]

Empsteadhay, Exastay

Ovembernay 1, 1946

Earday Ewittday andway Amilyfay,

Ouryay etterlay asway a easantplay urprisesay orfay allway ofway usway. Eway alwaysway enjoyway earinghay omfray ourway Ississippimay insfolkkay.

Esyay, I amway arriedmay. Ymay amenay isway ownay mrsay. Obertray C. Orsterfay, andway eway areway ivinglay earnay Empsteadhay. Astlay earyay eway ivedlay inway Allasday, utbay inway Augustway eway oldsay ourway omehay andway ovedmay onway anway 80 acreway acttray ichwhay Amamay andway Apapay avegay usway. I amway ethay onlyway ildchay, andway Amamay andway Apapay areway ettinggay alongway inway earsyay, osay Obbay andway I ecidedday itway ouldway ebay estbay orfay usway otay omecay ackbay otay Empsteadhay. Atway esentpray, eway avehay onlyway a ackshay ichwhay Obbay isway akingmay ivablelay untilway eway ancay uildbay ourway omehay. Eway avehay ourway ansplay ademay, andway inway a ouplecay ofway earsyay, eway opehay otay avehay a atherray icenay omehay. Obbay oesday onstructioncay orkway andway illway oday acticallypray everythingway imselfhay. Ethay ocationlay isway oodgay ootay; ourway aceplay isway eethray ilesmay omfray owntay, oneway ilemay omfray ethay Oustonhay ighwayhay, andway onway ethay Ookshirebray Oadray, a ackblay oppedtay oadray.

Egardingray ethay Amilyfay istoryhay, I eallyray avehay ittlelay oremay anthay Eatgray-eatgray-eatgray-andfathergray Alphray Orrell'sgay illway--orway atherray, a opycay ofway itway. Enwhay I asway inway Ississippimay inway 1940, I entway onway otay Eensborogray, Orthnay Arolinacay. Andpagray Eweesday adhay alwaysway aidsay atthay ishay Eatgray-andfathergray Alphray Orrellgay adhay oundedfay Eensborogray osay I ecidedday atthay omesay ofway ethay Orrellsgay ustmay illstay ivelay erethay. I oundfay a ewfay Orrellsgay inway ethay elephonetay irectoryday andway eganbay ookinglay emthay upway. Atway ethay irstfay ousehay, onlyway ethay ifeway asway atway omehay, utbay I ewknay Andfathergray Orrell'sgay ivengay amenay osay eshay ecidedday I asway a embermay ofway ethay amilyfay andway irectedday emay otay mrsay. J. Enryhay Arissfay, 214 W. Ashingtonway Eetstray. mrsay. Arissfay isway ethay eatgray-anddaughtergray ofway Obertray Orrellgay andway erhay usbandhay ethay eatgray-andsongray ofway Avidday Orrellgay. Alsoway mrsay. Arissfay asway a D.A.R., ethay egistrarray ofway ethay Unitedway Aughtersday ofway ethay Onfederacycay, Orthnay Arolinacay Ivisionday, andway alsoway elongedbay otay otherway istoricalhay ocietiessay, I inkthay. Eshay adhay a eatgray ealday ofway informationway aboutway ethay Orrellgay amilyfay andway asway indkay enoughway otay etlay emay ooklay atway asway uchmay asway imetay allowedway. I intendedway otay eturnray ethay atterlay artpay ofway ethay ummersay andway opycay omesay ofway ethay istoryhay, utbay Andpagray Eweesday assedpay awayway ilewhay I asway inway Altimorebay osay I ecidedday otnay otay opstay atway Eensborogray onway ymay ayway omehay. Oweverhay I otewray mrsay. Arissfay aboutway Andpagray, andway eshay entsay emay a opycay ofway Andfathergray Orrell'sgay illway andway alsoway omesay otherway informationway aboutway Andfathergray Alphray. I ademay eethray ypetay-ittenwray opiescay ofway allway eshay entsay emay; I avegay oneway otay Auntway Attiemay Orsbysay, I entsay oneway otay Ousincay Entonfay Ellbay Eweesday, andway eptkay ethay irdthay oneway. Afterway Andpagray iedday, I asway ivengay ishay oldway Iblebay. Itway isway oneway atthay Ousincay Eugeneway Indleylay (Ishay othermay asway Ancynay C. Eweesday) adhay ivengay Andpagray a umbernay ofway earsyay eforebay. I inkthay itway adhay eenbay Andpa'sgray other'smay. I alsoway ademay ypetay-ittenwray opiescay ofway ethay informationway inway isthay oldway Iblebay.

Ewittday, I ouldway akemay a opycay ofway Andfathergray Orrell'sgay illway andway alsoway ethay informationway inway ethay Iblebay, utbay incesay eway avehay ecentlyray ovedmay, I oday otnay avehay ethay imetay. Oweverhay, I amway endingsay ouyay ymay ypetay ittenwray opycay ofway allway ofway isthay ichwhay I amway adglay orfay ouyay otay opycay. Ustjay easeplay eturnray itway enwhay ouyay avehay opiedcay itway.

Inway 1942, Oraday Ossray omwhay ouyay obablypray owknay itequay ellway, otewray emay orfay a opycay ofway ethay Amilyfay istoryhay ichwhay I adhay. I entsay erhay ethay amesay asway I amway endingsay ouyay andway equestedray atthay eshay eturnray itway, ichwhay eshay idday. Alsoway eshay entsay emay omesay istoryhay eshay oundfay inway erhay other'smay andwritinghay afterway erhay othermay assedpay awayway andway alsoway omesay eshay oundfay inway dray. W. H. Ars'may Iblebay. Asway ouyay obablypray owknay, Ora'sday othermay asway Oraday Elizabethway Arsmay, aughterday ofway Arthamay Anejay Eweesday, aughterday ofway Anejay (Irginiavay) Orrellgay. Ethay informationway inway Ora'sday other'smay andwritinghay asway asway ollowsfay: "Othermay asway ornbay earnay (11 ilesmay) Eensborogray N.C.--Uilfordgay earnay Ockinghamray. Erhay other'smay amenay--Anejay Orrellgay--Erhay ather'sfay amenay--Alebcay Eweesday. Erhay andfathergray, Illiamway Orrellgay, N.C., arriedmay Enniejay Ackblay, Agay. Erhay andfathergray Eweesday, Ezekielway, arriedmay Arahsay Arringtonhay. Ezekielway Eweesday oughtfay inway Evolutionaryray Arway. Ehay ivedlay inway Elawareday." Ethay informationway opiedcay omfray dray. Ars'may Iblebay asway, "Alebcay Eweeseday Ornbay 1799 inway N.C. Iedday inway 1849 inway Ushtusacay, Issmay. Anejay Orrellgay Eweeseday, Ornbay 1802 inway N.C. Iedday Ecday. 15, 1864 inway Ecaturday, Issmay." Oraday asway interestedway inway ecomingbay a D.A.R. osay eshay aymay avehay oundfay otherway istoryhay incesay 1942.

Erethay areway a ewfay otherway ingsthay I earnedlay eitherway omfray Andpagray orway mrsay. Arissfay--orway otherwiseway--ichwhay I illway ytray otay ecallray. Irstfay, I on'tday elievebay Andfathergray Orrellgay eallyray oundedfay Eensborogray. mrsay. Arissfay asway aguevay onway atthay. Alsoway, inway omesay agazinemay orway ookbay incesay 1940, I eadray omethingsay aboutway ethay oundingfay ofway Eensborogray andway Andfathergray Orrell'sgay amenay asn'tway entionedmay. Omedaysay I ouldway ikelay otay ogay otay Eensborogray andway eckchay asway otay owhay actuallyway idday oundfay itway. Oweverhay erethay isway a eetstray inway Eensborogray amednay Orrellgay I awsay itway, andway itway isway ustjay a eetstray. Oweverhay, asway ouyay ancay eesay omfray ethay Illway, Andfathergray Orrellgay idday ownway a eatgray ealday ofway andlay osay itway isway ossiblepay ehay onatedday allway orway artpay ofway ethay itesay orfay Eensborogray. Econdsay, ethay Orrellsgay ereway Esbyterianspray; oweverhay mrsay. Arissfay admittedway atthay ostmay ofway ethay Orrellsgay ereway eavyhay inkersdray, andway asway eshay aidsay, "arriedmay eneathbay emselvesthay" osay ethay amilyfay ashay eterioratedday. Eshay entionedmay a ewfay owhay ereway ellway offway inanciallyfay--oneway, I elievebay atway Instonway-Alemsay inway ethay obaccotay usinessbay. mray. andway mrsay. Arissfay ivedlay inway a ellway uiltbay otway-orystay omehay, apparentlyway illedfay ithway a oodgay itbay ofway antiqueway urniturefay. Eshay aidsay ethay epressionday adhay ithay emthay atherray ardhay, atthay eythay ereway inanciallyfay independentway, utbay atthay asway allway. Irdthay, othbay eshay andway erhay usbandhay ereway omplexionedcay ikelay ouyay areway. Eshay asway atherray alltay andway argelay onedbay; ehay asway allersmay andway eryvay enderslay. Oneway ightmay aysay eshay asway a ittlelay abruptway inway erhay annermay andway oremay alkativetay anthay ehay asway. Ourthfay, Andpagray Eweesday aidsay ishay Andfathergray Ezekielway Eweesday asway eryvay eligiousray. Ehay asway a assclay eaderlay inway ethay Ethodistmay Urchchay; ehay adhay argechay ofway ervicessay inway ethay absenceway ofway ethay eacherpray. Andpagray aidsay atthay allway ofway ethay Eweesesday, exceptway ishay atherfay Alebcay, ivedlay aroundway Ewnay Albanyway, Indianaway, uringday ethay Ivilcay Arway. Ellway Andfathergray Alebcay asway eadday, utbay ishay amilyfay ivedlay inway ethay outhsay. Uringday ethay arway, Andpagray asway akentay isonerpray ybay ethay Orthernnay oopstray andway asway eleasedray onway ethay orthernnay idesay earnay Ewnay Albanyway. Ehay ocatedlay omesay ofway ishay elativesray andway oldtay emthay enoughway amilyfay istoryhay orfay emthay otay owknay ehay asway eirthay inkay. Eythay etlay imhay aystay ithway emthay a ewfay aysday untilway ehay oundfay orkway. Ehay adhay earnedlay ethay ootmakingbay adetray uringday ethay arway osay ehay ademay oesshay andway utcay oodway untilway ehay adhay enoughway oneymay otay eturnray omehay. Erethay areway illstay omesay Eweesesday earnay Ewnay Albanyway orfay everalsay earsyay agoway atway Oulderbay, Oloradocay, I etmay a irlgay owhay ewknay everalsay Eday Eeseway amiliesfay inway atthay icinityvay. Eythay ellspay eirthay amenay Eday Eeseway, accordingway otay ethay irlgay. Ofway oursecay atthay isway ethay orrectcay ayway, utbay I avehay alwaysway elledspay itway Eweesday asway Andpagray idday. (Itway asway alsoway elledspay Eweseday inway Andpa'sgray oldway Iblebay, alsoway Orrellgay asway onceway elledspay Orlgay.) Ifthfay, Andpagray aidsay ishay Andfathergray Ezekielway alwaysway adhay a oodgay ivinglay utbay asway otnay ellway-otay-oday. Enwhay ehay iedday, ethay estray ofway ethay ildrenchay avegay eirthay areshay ofway ethay opertypray (armfay, I inkthay.) eftlay otay Alebcay otay aketay arecay ofway eirthay othermay. I elievebay ehay asway ethay oungestyay. Andpagray aidsay ehay asway ootay oodgay eartedhay orfay ishay ownway oodgay. Alsoway ehay ankdray. I ememberray ellingtay ouyay ethay ollowingfay, utbay I illway epeatray. Ilewhay Andfathergray Alebcay andway Andmothergray Irginiavay (Unejay) ereway ivinglay inway Orthnay Arolinacay, ehay entway onway otesnay orfay ishay onay-oodgay iendsfray andway ostlay everythingway ehay adhay. Ehay ouldway avehay adhay otay ogay otay isonpray ifway ehay adhay otnay ippedslay offway atway ightnay. Ouyay eesay, ethay awlay asway atthay a ersonpay ouldcay ebay imprisonedway orfay ebtsday etherwhay eythay ereway ishay orway eoplepay osewhay otesnay ehay adhay "onegay onway." I inkthay ouryay Andfathergray Entonfay entway ithway imhay ecausebay ehay (F.) asway ofway ageway--orway almostway. Afterway eythay eftlay ethay "awlay" amecay andway ooktay acticallypray allway ouseholdhay urnishingsfay andway evenway ethay othclay inway ethay oomlay. Enthay Andfathergray Alebcay eturnedray atway ightnay andway otgay ethay estray ofway ethay amilyfay inway a agonway awndray ybay oneway ulemay--asway I ememberray Andpagray ayingsay. Ehay ouldway avehay akentay emthay ithway imhay atway irstfay utbay ehay idn'tday avehay imetay. Eythay eftlay Orthnay Arolinacay asway icklyquay asway ossiblepay. Ixthsay, Andfathergray Alebcay asway accidentallyway illedkay. Ehay asway eturningray omehay omfray owntay enwhay ishay orsehay evidentlyway anray awayway andway ewthray imhay outway ofway ishay agonway (orway ateverwhay ehay asway idingray inway) intoway a eamstray ofway aterway. Ehay asway oundfay ithway ishay acefay inway ethay aterway. Eventhsay, Andpagray oughtthay ishay othermay asway aboutway ethay estbay ersonpay ehay everway ewknay. Ehay eallyray ovedlay erhay. Eighthway, ethay easonray Eatgray-eatgray andfathergray Illiamway Orrellgay eceivedray onlyway $100 otay iscountday ethay ebtday ehay owedway ishay ather'sfay estateway, asway atthay enwhay ehay arriedmay, ishay atherfay avegay imhay ishay areshay. Andpagray aidsay ehay eceivedray andlay, a ousehay, oolstay andway a orestay; utbay ehay asway a oorpay anagermay andway ostlay atwhay ehay adhay. Ehay asway ethay eldestway andway ybay ightsray ouldshay avehay eceivedray ethay egacylay eftlay Alphray; utbay accordingway otay Andpagray, Andfathergray Alphray idday otnay onsidercay Illiamway apablecay ofway ossessingpay itway osay ehay avegay itway otay ishay onsay Alphray. Oweverhay, Andpagray aidsay Alphray idday onay etterbay anthay Illiamway ouldway avehay oneday. Alphray arriedmay anway Irishway irlgay, andway inway a ortshay imetay, eythay ostlay allway ofway itway andway adhay otay eturnray otay Americaway. mrsay. Arissfay aidsay eshay adhay iedtray otay etgay inway ouchtay ithway ethay Irelandway Orrellsgay, utbay adhay ailedfay. Eighthway, I inkthay Andfathergray Ezekielway Eday Eeseway amecay omfray Ancefray eekingsay eligiousray eedomfray, utbay Andpagray ewknay othingnay ofway ethay Ancefray Eday Eesesway. Esethay itemsway areway atherray atteredscay, utbay I opehay eythay eanmay omethingsay otay ouyay.

Ifway ouyay ouldshay earnlay anyway oremay ofway ourway amilyfay istoryhay, I illway appreciateway ouryay assingpay itway onway otay emay.

Ivegay ymay egardsray otay allway ofway ethay inkay.

Incerelysay,

Yrtlemay Eweesday Orsterfay