Letter Dated: Grayson, VA October 11th 1831 Addressed To: "My Loving Sister and Neases" Contains Letter Written From: Mina & John McMillen to Eleanor (Mossman) Ballard.

Envelope: Addressed to Mr. Anthony Ballard
State of Illinois; Sangamon Co.; Springfield
Dated: 26th October; Austinvill, Va
Envelope penned by: Mina (Mossman) McMillen; wife of John McMillen

Notes: Mina, daughter of Archibald & Margaret (Young) Mossman was born on 12 Dec 1797 in Grayson Co., Virginia; she married John McMillen on 28 May 1815.

"Anthony Ballard" addressed here is the same as Christopher Anthony Ballard (1789-1862), son of William & Elizabeth (Anthony) Ballard; and husband of Mina's oldest sister Eleanor (Mossman) who was born in 1791 in Berwick Upon Tweed, Northumberland, England.

This letter dates the birth of her daughter "Marthy Jane" as 17 July 1831 and indicates she has six daughters, including one set of twins. Speculated five of their names to be: Maryann; Margaret; Eleanor; Amanda; and Martha Jane.

Letter indicates that Mina and John also plan on moving to Illinois.

Envelope and letter in possession of Patricia Davidson-Peters

"Mr. Anthony Ballard
State of Illinois
Sangamon County
Springfield
Austinville, Va 26th Oct [25]

Grayson V:A October the 11th 1831

My Loving Sister and Neases I feel thankful to the great god of Mercys that I once more have the privileg of writing to you and I must Informe you that we Recived your letter In May at which time I was Lying in a verry low Situation it was Said to be the feever the Docter was brought he left me Some medison and Said he did not think there was any dainger but that his medison would relive me but to the contrary I Continued getig worse at lenth John went and brought Mrs. Moony which was the Midwife I had when my Twins was born She is a verry fine woman and may be Caled a Docteress. She could soon Discover the misterys of my Complaint and being verry Silful she gave me great relife: this case my Sister I hope to describe to you more particelar. If I am spaired to see you. I was takeen on the 11the of May and Confined to my Bed and room for about the Space of four weeks then I became abel to walk out a littel and had got much relived from the Extream misery I had Sufered but I Delayed writing to see what would be my fate and I continud verry weakly till the 17th of July when I was skilfly brought to Bed with a fine Daughter and I have cince been as well as could be Expected for me as I am maturely weakly We are all Incommon helth at present thanks be to god for his mercys and we are greatly Inhopes that this will find you all Injoying the Blessing of good helth. I was Sorry to hear that my Nephew and Nease had left your Towne for

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For I know It must be very hard to Part from a child Thoug I hope they have Returned to you be fore now: If not you will please rememer our Love and Respect to them we wish to know how they are and wheare they Liv and tell them If Conveiant we sould Like to Recive Some News papers again We have not had any Letter from my Brothers for 13 months we heared from them last July all was well and George was about to go to your house as soon as he Could get home he said he was Comeing in here from here to Norfolk and perhaps to England but he had not come yet you will please tel us what you can about him and If you have gained any more Information Concerning Fathers Estate. I would have wrote In August only we wanted to Move this fall and have been Seveal times oppearunitty Just on the Brink of Selling but still we are disapointed and now itis geting too Late In the season to start so long a jurny with our smal children: being sadly disapointed we hope to make sale this winter and prepare for anerley Move in the Spring: Although It seams hard to be putingit off so long but we must beare those things as pashent as possebel and i hope to hear frm you all soon and that is a great Consolation while we are seperated so far from Each other the Children think the time long tosee thear Cosens and Maryann often says Mama when will we Move to Illinois for me and Cosen Caroline to take the twins and all the Rest of the littel girls in a drove to play

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As we had a name for Each of our Mothers and one for my sister two for Johns sisters I had no perticular name invese and I gave up for Amanda to name her littel sister so she caled her Marthey Jane. We wish you to write as soon as you have this as we are anxious to hear how you all are and how times are in that state now: So no more at present only we all join in Lov to all of you and Remine your Affectionate

Brother and Sister Untill Death"

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