Letter to Master Edgar Jackson, Murfreesboro, N. C.
The envelope bore the seal of the "National Hotel, near the Steamboat & Railroad Depots,
Wilmington, Del. Sylvester Rianhard, Propr."
"Wilmington, Del., July 22th, 1858.
Dear son
I received your favor of the 15th inst. yesterday and was glad to here from you
and to here you was all well. it affords me a great deal of satisfaction to think i have a son that can write and let me
know how you all are and let me know what is going on.
You say you are ageting tired of the printing office I think you had better try and stay the year out if you can for i don't
think it will be any disadvantage to you. We are geting along very slow with the ship but some better then they was when I came here.
I think the machinist will get through next week but the joiners is very much behind with there work and if we wait for them to do all we want
done it would take three or four weeks and i expect we shall leave before it is all done and have the ballence finished after we start.
We expect to run from Petersburg and want to be there on our first trip by the first or fifth of next month but i fear we shall not get
there by that time. She will be a fine ship when finished. Her name will be the Star of the South. I have got three men besides myself fiting the sails
and riging so as to have everything in order by the time the rest of the work is done. I have it very lonesome in nights i bord at the Hotel and sleep on bord
the ship and have no company but mesceaturs but have any quanity of them. You may send me two or three numbers of the Regester.
I think you had better be drawing some of your wages for fear it will not come so easy at the end of the year.
You must write again. Give my love to your Mother and little Brothers and sisters and Except a portion for yourself.
Be a good boy and be good to your Mother and Brothers and Sisters. From your affectionate father,
J. A. Jackson"
"Leaves From the Family Tree ...", Edgar B. Jackson, Franklin, Va., 1939
footnoted text on pp. 4 & 5, as reprinted 2004 by The Murfreesboro Historical Association, Inc.
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