Letters Written by
Samantha Ann Smith Currie
to William Joseph Woodward
Mooshannee NC
Dec 28 1900
Dear Cousin
I read your kind letter I did not have time to write much.
I hope you saw Mr Porter and the boys.
I was a child when your father left Raleigh. I will tell you
what I know about the family Your Grandmother Woodard's father was
Nathannal Jones he had 3 daughters Triplets Dilly Dollie & Dicy.
Dilly married my mother's brother Joseph Woodard. Dolly married
Mr Anderson Taylor. she died years after that and he married Dicy
he died left Dicy a widow with 2 children & I lost sight of them after
that If your Grandfather Jones had any sons I do not remember -
Your Great Grandfather on your fathers side was Pleasant Woodard.
he had 6 children William Christopher Joseph. Joseph was your
Grandfather - The daughters China Green Charity Smith "my mother" &
Winifird Jones. China & Winifird with their husbands went out West
with my Grandfather. Uncle William went first. They had good property.
Uncle Joseph Christopher & my father Axelander Smith started to go
west but did not go father than Raleigh. All our family were from
Wake Co in neighborhood of Holly Springs I dont know who you Great
Grandmother was.
I have told you as near as I can remember - I lost my mother
when I was very young and had to live among strangers and I lost
sight of our people. I have been anxious to hear from them Give my
love to your mother and father It has been a long time since I heard
from them or saw them Mr Porter was in Fayetteville last year I asked
him to go to see them he told me your father was looking well for his
age. I did not hear of your aunt China Whaleys death till Mr Porter told
me. I am with my daughter my health has not been good in long time
My husband is in business on the state farm he comes every now & then
to see us My oldest Charles is in the Navy has been 9 years. he is
on the Gun Boat Bunnington 1st Seargent. My younest son William Thomas
has been a conductor in SC but it was sickly there & he has not been
well lately I wish he would leave there & get something alse to do he is
a good Book Keeper & Telegraph operator I am looking for him now here
every day. My daughter keep Post Office at this place
I would be glad to hear from you at any time
Wishing you a happy New Year.
I am ..?. Sincerely cousin
S A Currie
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Mooshannee
Moore County
Feb 12 NC
My Dear Cousin
I hope you will excuse me for not writing to you before this
and thanking you for your nice letter and pictures. I was so glad you
thought of sending me the little Darlings pictures also yours. about
then that I was in great trouble. my youngest son was sick and was
expected to die with Typhoid fever he was then at Enfield he is much
better now I(?) and was able to come here a few days ago I hope he
will soon be well. I have two sons and one daughter she married
John W Porter from Duplin Co his only Brother lives in wilmington
he is the Porter of the M E Church at that place you ought to go to see
them. my son in law is a rail road man I was sorry you missed seeing
him and little boys they they staid there two days my husband is living
he has business at the state farm, it is in Halifax County. my health
has not been not been good for a long time I stay with my daughter most
of my time till I get better Mr Currie comes here and stays a while I
have one son Charlie he went on sea about 10 years ago. I wrote to
Mariah since I came here she was then in Raleigh Mr Jones was keeping
boarding house she told me her health was not good I think she has
four children, their names are Mollie Clara Willie and Laslie I do not
know about Betsy Hardie family but I spose she is there if she is living
many years ago when I was living in Raleigh a number of Mr T P Devering
family there came two sweet little boys to that house I know one he was
my Cousin Robert and the other boys name Willie (I wonder if you are
the same little Willie) they has(?) some Blacking to sell and Mr
Devereux bought a box for 75c Mr Devux said they the nicest little boys
he ever saw
I see some favour to your Dear father in your picture your
largest daughter in the picture is beautiful she is very much like
another little cousin I have in Raleigh but all the children was sweet
looking I expect your wife is handsome too I wish I was able to come
down there to see you and family and if I was keeping house I surely
not let you rest till I had you with me some I then could talk with
more pleasure than i can by writing when you see your Parents please
give my love to them Oh how glad I I would be to see them
My sick is here with us he is very weak after such a severe
attack he is anxious to get to his work.
I do not remember much more about our family except I was told
that Uncle William your grandpas Brother went off toward Georgia with
grandpas negroes and never was seen or heard from afterwards then
soon after Aunt China Green Aunt Winiford Jones and Grandpa went but
Uncle Joseph and Uncle Chrisifer and my father got out of the notion
so they spent their days in Raleigh we heard from them sometimes.
you must excuse this fumblefist hand I most always get my
Daughter to do my writing but she is sick today I am 75 years old
and cannot use glasses
Well I hope you will let me hear from you sometimes I thank you
for such a kind letter and the pictures I tell you how much we enjoy
them give my love to your dear wife my Daughter Nora sends her love
I want to go to Raleigh some time this summer if I improve in health
that is my birth place but all of my old (friends?) are dead except
Maria and Betsy
Well Dear Cousin I will close for this time but we must not
forget to write once and a while
I am your Cincere Cousin
Mrs John H Currie
Mooshannee
Moore County
North Carolina
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