1861 August 5 Hopewell, Ala.

My Dear Master

I received your letter two weeks ago and was
very glad to hear from you, and as Mr. Benj Banden
expects to start to Virginia in a few days I
expects to send my letter by him.

We are all well at this time, and have
had but little sickness this summer. I have
heard of but very little sickness in the Neighborhood
I have nothing new to write about every thing
is going on as usual. the people are very
busy at this time pulling Fodder. they commenced
three days ago. we have had a long spell of
rainny weather, but for the last week it has
been quite fair. last night we had a good
shower. the garden is quite grassy this
rainny weather. we still have a plenty of
vegatables to eat. we have more Tomattoes than
we can destroy. Mrs Henry and Miss Mary came
here the other day, and got a half Bushell of them.
they desired to be remembered to you. Etter has
a very nice crop of onions they are all dried
and I think that they will keep. the peas
that you had planted in the garden has turned
out very well -- boath kind of them. we have
enough of Josephs corn for seed another year.

[page 2]
we are saveing Sunflower Seed and other different
kind of seed we have a very few Figs on the
Trees this year. the Mulbery cuttings that were planted
in the garden behind my Hen House is dead.
one of the young Pomegranate Trees in the garden
is full of fruit. We have Preaching at the
Church regularly three times a month we also
have family prayers regularly every morning
We have not heard from Mr Powell since h
went home from here the first of July, but
we expect him here this week. I will do what I can
at cloathing the people my young Turkeys are
growing very fast I have 10 that are as large as a
Hen, and 10 smaller size which are growing very fast
I often think of you--and fear Sometimes that we
shall never meet again, but should we fail to meet
again on earth I hope that we shall meet in
heaven where parting shall be no more.
remember me to master Charles and to Benthrer[?]
and to all of my relatives and believe me
as ever your servant
Lucy Skipwith

Genl John H Cocke

P.S. Uncle R told me to say to you that P.H. Skipwith said
that he could sell the goats from $20 to $25 a piece provided
male & female to-gether.

Genl J.H Cocke

Lucy Skipwith was a slave trusted to manage one of John Hartwell Cocke's Alabama plantations.

MSS 640