Robey Family

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Mariah Waite Robey to Mary L. Graves, 1851

Note: Mariah Waite Robey was the first wife of John Collins Robey, and daughter-in-law of William and Mary Collins Robey. She was writing to her husband's niece, Mary L. Graves, daughter of Hubbard and Cynthia Robey Graves and granddaughter of William and Mary Robey. Every effort was made to preserve the original spelling, grammar, and punctuation. This letter is courtesy of Mrs. Jane King Fohn, a great- great-granddaughter of Mariah Waite Robey. R. Campbell, Ed.

Mariah Wait Robey to Mary L. Graves
December 7, 1851
Near Austin, Travis Co., Texas

Respected Niece:
I now seat myself to address a few lines to you and assure you we have not forgotten you. Although time and distance has far separated us my mind is often with you in my waking hours and night dreams. I received your [letter] of the 2'nd of July in due time and have put off writing on account of having so much sewing to do before campmeeting and since for the Texas Bachelors and the neighbors and carding and spinning for knitting stockings as there is no carding machine nearer than fifteen miles. I raise my own cotton pay three bits for good fine wool.

We sympathize deeply with you in your affliction in the loss of your Dear Uncle Charles . I would like to know how Lorryann (wife) gets along. I would like to have been with you last summer on a visit when Louisa and seen you all together but was denied that privilege. I hope we may yet be permitted to meet again in this life but if not it is my prayer that we may meet where we will not have to take the parting hand, where the wicked cease from troubling and the weary are forever at rest. We are all well at this time except the children have cold. Father and Mother Robey have come in while I am writing. They are tolerable well for their age. Father is reading the Texas Wesleyan Banner. Mother is looking in the lady's book. We had very dry summer. Our potato crop failed. I raised some pumpkins. The dry weather set in while the vines were in bloom,. The blooms then dropped off the vines nearly died and the fall rains came and the vines revived and bloomed. Pumpkins set on the vines and grew and got ripe but are very small. My tomatoes bore the second crop. My fall garden done well--cabbage, mustard and onions I set out two weeks ago are growing fine.

Your grandmother says when you write tell about all the folks. She said she looked at the piece of flannel you sent with much pleasure--was glad to hear that you could spin so well and hoped that you all would make good spinners and says it will do her as much good for you to wear the flannel as to wear it herself.

We have eaten our diners. We dined on boiled pork, beef cabbage, corn bread, fried venison, biscuit and butter plums, molasses and Imperial Tea. Had a fine growing shower and the sun is now shining. the fall has been pleasant; no heavy rains has fallen as yet; light showers frequently. Winter has set in but very mild. But little cold weather. I have saw but little ice yet only two mornings yet this season.

Asberry and Lady are well. Their wedding was a sort of snatched up piece of work. We had an invitation the same evening at sundown. You may be sure we was mightily fixed up. Some of the boys bothered As, made him say yea twice. The old Parson told him he was double married. John Harrell folks are all well except himself. He is complaining some. Elizabeth and little John was here the other day. John is what might be called a caution; he kept us both busy, sometimes climbing the gate and the riding the anvil after the chickens and roasting pomegranates.

Monday morning raining. All well. Father and Mother are here yet. Mother says tell your pa she wants him to send her little girl to her. She will send her to school. Our school will be out this week. Our girls have learned very fast. Frances has got nearly through her grammar. Emily is reading in her fourth reader. James Rust is well. We have had more grapes here this year than I ever saw. Fidelia wrote to William Robey in September. Your Uncle John wrote to Uncle Levi the latter part of Sept. We had a letter from sister Susan about that time. John wrote the particulars in his. I presume it has reached you long before this. I wish you to write as soon as you receive this and let me know how you are a getting along and what is the reason my brothers and sisters never write to me if you can. I pass many lonesome hours. I sometimes feel that I am forgotten by my friend. John mailed three papers four our folks yesterday. Remember our love to all inquiring friends if any there chance to be. I suppose you would like to know how your Aunt Anna looks. She is tall and well proportioned, fair skin, blue eyes and red hair. I must close. Please excuse all mistakes.

Mariah Robey