August 17 1821 Sumner County Tennefsee

Dear Son James I write a few lines to let you know that your Dear old Father is Dead or reather fallen asleep he departed this life the 15 of June he never was well after you left him but still got worse until he died I never saw any one Suffer as much in my life before we had to sit up with him from about the midle of february until the middle of June His misery was so great at times that it apeard as if it was not possible for him to live one hour for months before he Died - at times he would raise his hands and sing his sweet song as he calld it - O when shall I see Jesus and dwell with him above etc. He said when he could feel like singing he felt but little misery, he was so weak it would take him a long time to finnish his song when he began it but he would keep trying until he would get thru it, a few minutes before he breathed his last, he sayd O my heart and my heart strings, and sayed Frankey is singing her free song and I shall soon be singing mine then he raised his hands and said O lord and tried to say more but his tongue failed him.

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Charles had the bad luck to lose his wife in march and has sent letters to you and Mrs. Wyatt but never has receivd a line from neither of you since so he don't know wheather you have Ever got his letters or not he is very unwell at this time and has bin for some time indeed he never Injoys any health at all scarcly he came here yesterday and stayed until after breakfast this morning he and the two little girls the Children are both well - I myself am as well as I have bin for some time but am very much afflicted with a pain in my head and breast but am as well as I Ever Expect to be in this life the rest of the family is all in Common health for which I desire to be thankfull - your Brothers and Sifters are all well as far as I know Except Charles and their family, G. Harris has movd to Duck river, Robert Hawkins is living about three miles from us on rented land he has a fine Crop of Corn Coming on - I wish to write more but my hand shakes so bad I am affraid you Cant read my writing. I Expect you wish to know how your Father has left his affairs he has left Abraham to James and Richard Woodson at my Death and a Childs part to be Divided between them, and has left Betsy to Frankeys Children at my Death also a Childs part to be Divided among them his will was for me to keep

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them as long as I live you know how he has given the rest of the young negros he has willd all the ballance of his property to me to have and injoy dureing my life and at my Death to be Equilly devided, my Dear son I Cant tell how glad I should be to see you. to talke to and have your advice your Father had a very great Desire to see you after you went away and would often say I wish I could see Jamey but I never shall he was very uneasy for fear I should lack a friend after he was gone he thought if you was here you would see that I was taken care of he said to Charles one day as he was standing by his bed, Charles see to your mothers businefs but poor fellow you are not able to see to your own. Charles said well Daddy if I do as well as I Can I Cant do no more and said he would do as well as he Could for me, it was on my account I believe that he had such a desire to see you it appeared that he was very worried for fear I should come to suffer after he was gone but I am in the hands of a good god and hope he will take Care of me, no more but remain your loving mother untill death.