1861 Dec[ember] 1 Hopewell [Alabama]

My Dear Master

I ought to have writen to you before
this but I have been so trobled in
mind about Betsey, that I could not
compose my mind to write a letter,
but I feel a little better Sattisfied
than I have been knowing that all
things are in the hands of God.
and he has said that all things
shall work togeather for good to
them that love him--and I know
that I do love him--therefore will I
trust his holy words. I want you to
be satisfied in this case let it cost
me what trob[l?]ed in may.
We are all well at this time and
the people are quite healthy again.
Aneha[?] down at New Hope has
been very sick but he is now much
better. The rest of the people down
there are well. The weather this
morning is very cloudy all have just
had a hard rain and are looking
for more. we also had a hard rain
day before yesterday. it is very
hard on the Cotton as it is too wet to pick

[page 2]
Cain has passed seventy three boys. he
says that he do not think that he can
get a Hundred. he says that he has worked
on his Ditches since the rain and put
them in good order.
The garden is in very good order.
we have some very nice winter cabbage
our Turnips re not as nice as they
were last year. they seem to be rottening
We have had no weather cold enough
to kill Hogs. We had preaching at
the Chapel yesterday by the Rev mr
Brame. he gets here very often time
enough to hold morning prayers
with us. he seems to be a fine man
I have just heard of the death of mr
Alfred Witherspoon. he died at
his residence the 29th of Nov. he died
of consumption. Dr William Avery
returned home from Va three weeks
ago in very bad health--he is now
much better. his sister mary went
after him. mrs avery and the young
Ladies are well. as Smith is going to
write I will Bring my letter to a close
hopeing soon to see you an hear from
you I remane your servant
Lucy Skipwith

Gen John H Cocke

[in left hand margin of page 1]
Smith is gone to the Landing to see the Soldiers take the Boat
do not know when he will be back.


Lucy Skipwith was a slave trusted to manage one of John Hartwell Cocke's Alabama plantations. Her letter of October 28 mentions Betsy having given birth to a white baby.

MSS 640