1861 November 18

My dear Howe [Peyton Cochran]

I send yr watch by
Mr. Peyton agreeable to Mrs Carrington's directions
also a letter from her to Nannie--I wrote
to you yesterday (Sunday) of course have
little to say this morning--except I heard from
yr Pa by letter yesterday--he had a breakdown
on Saturday & was detained until 8 Oclock at
Gordonsville consequent[l]y did not reach R until
1. at night found Jno & Willy sound asleep
if nothing happens he will be home tomorrow
Why is it that you never write to me
when you want anything? is it because
you have all things & abound, that yr
mother has nothing for you? I know you
are in a plentiful county for good things to
eat--not so with others--in different climate
they want bread & meat--& suffer, oh so
much for warm cloathing--Willie Lynn goes
to day to Newburn--Cousin Eliza goes
up to Holkham to stay some days--I am

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over charged with company: 19 persons out of
my own family eat dinner here yesterdy--I
think, I will have to draw in my horns-
or you all will have to come home to
till the Earth for us--So that Bred &
meat may not give out--the scarcity of
things together with exhorbitant prices
will run our funds very Low--and
the [p]rise is increasing evry day--we bought
salt by the bushel- at $5 your pa said
when he got t[hole in paper] sick at the idea of
having to give that price--we bought
10 bushels- from Foster-so it cost @50.
write soon--I hope & pray you may
continue well & do well, Love to
Nannie--

Yr devoted Mother

Mr Howe Peyton Cocnran
care of Capt. Southall
Williamsburgh
Virginia

Politeness
of
W.G. Peyton

Margaret Lyn Lewis Cochran to Howe Peyton
Cochran

MSS 9380