Duncan L. Campbell Letter, 1840

 
In doing genealogical and historical research I have discovered that family histories and county history cannot be separated. Our ancestors made our history. One family that left a written record, through letters, of early times in our county was the Campbells. They arrived here from Scotland in the late 1700s and settled near Steer Pen (present day Patrick).
 
In 1840 Duncan L. Campbell wrote several letters to an Aunt and cousin in New York. Here are some excerpts from those letters:
 
“ I received your letter dated January 8, 1840 the first of April. We are all well at this time hoping that this will find you all the same. Brother Archibald (Alexander) was born the 27th of November 1817 and married Geturah Rowell of Irish descent and they have two daughters, Eda Henrietta and Keturah Loretta. He is teaching school this year at twenty dollars a month.
Sister Sarah Jane was born March 12, 1817 and on November 7, 1839 she married Elias Wilks, a widower with three children. Sister Mary married John Wilks a brother of Elias.
I was born July 7, 1814 Mother died 18th October 1838 of consumption. Uncle Alexander and Eleanor Clark are doing well and they have 8 sons and 2 daughters and 8 slaves. None of their children are married yet and they live eight miles from us.
Your mother wanted to know if any of us belonged to a religious society. Sarah and Mary belong to the Prespeterean <sic> Church. Mary’s husband is a deacon in the Baptist Church, there is a Methodist, Unitarian, Roman Catholic and Episcopalian Society here.
I want to know of you if you hear anything of Uncle Alexander and Dugald Campbell we have heard nothing of them in 18 or 20 years, also Uncle Archibald in Scotland. I have never wrote to Uncle Malcom Campbell, let me know how he is.
You wanted to know my politics. I am a democrat and am going for General Harrison and my neighbors also. We want to dethrone Mr. Van Buran forever, we do not think he is suitable for a Justice of the Peace, let alone the president of the United States.
We had the driest summer and fall I ever saw which hurt the crops. We made 2000 lbs of cotton this year. We have 783 acres of land, 2 horses, 25 head of cattle, 60 hogs, and 18 sheep. Corn is one dollar per bushel, cotton 10 cts. per lb., pork 7 cts. per lb. , flower 3 cts. per lb., coffee 16 cts. per lb., sugar 12 ½ cts. per lb., iron 6 dollars per cwt., salt 3.50 per sack, cheese 15 cts. per lb., butter 25 cts. to 30 cts. per lb.
We have grist and saw mills hand here on streams that never fail, there is one factory that spins cotton 12 miles from us. There is no railroad or canal near us but there is one of each in this state. Travelers ride here in stages. We live 13 miles from the Pee Dee River the steam boats come to the town of Cheraw which is 16 miles from us.
I have no more at this time and remain your cousin and nephew until death.
                                                                Duncan L. Campbell”



 

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This article is the work of Tony F. Smith. I take no credit for it in it’s entirety others than posting it here for viewing by Chesterfield County researchers, a task for which I think Tony will gladly endorse.This letter was originally printed in an Article entitled “Chesterfield County Bicentennial 1785 – 1985” by Tony F. Smith 

Duncan L Campbell was born 7 July 1814 in Chesterfield County and died June 1893. He was married to Isabella Ruthven and to this union were born thirteen children.