File:1831-07 Roberts, G.W. to John Deeds
This is addressed to Mr. John Deeds, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and is postmarked Nashville. It is of particular interest because it indicates that John Deeds was not yet married. (PS 1999)
July 3d 1831
Honored Sir,
I embrace the earliest opportunity to redeem the promise which I made to you to write as soon as I arrived here. This is the fourth day I have been here, and I have been so busy engaged at work that I could not get time before. I was fourteen days coming from Pittsburgh here, being detained five days on the route. When I arrived here, I found that my uncle had gone to Vicksburg, Mississippi, where they kill all the gamblers; I therefore concluded to stay and work in Nashville until October. Being informed that Mr. G. W. B. . . , a [box ?] carpenter, wanted hands, I made application to him . He hired me immediately, He is to give me 26 dollars a month and board and lodge me. He is a fine man, indeed. He sent off and got me a complete set of bench tools when I set to work.
Nashville is a fine, healthy place, but it is very warm. Slavery exists here to the utmost degree, and carpenters are needed here the worst kind of a way.
Now, Friend Deeds, let me give thee, as the Quakers would say, a little piece of advice: first, get yourself a respectable woman which you think will make a good mother for you children, and settle yourself in Pittsburgh or out in the Eight Tracts, and be assured an industrious man as you are will make a comfortable living. There is nothing to be made by rambling, for the more you ramble, the more you would like to ramble.
Tomorrow is the Fourth of July. They are making great preparations in this city to celebrate splendidly, but I believe I shall spend it putting the sheeting on a big brick house. I expect you will spend it in a right manner in Pittsburgh, and I wish you with all my heart a happy Fourth of July.
If you see Robert or Margaret M . . . , Let them know where I am and give them my best respects.
Yours affectionately, with my best wishes for your welfare,
G. W. Roberts, Nashville, Tenn.
John Deeds, Pittsburgh, Pa.
N.B. Now I have redeemed my pledge, you redeem yours. G.W.R.
