Thanks to our partner, Matthews Heritage Museum, and funding from a North Carolina State Historical Records Advisory Board (SHRAB) grant, Massey family letters from the late 1800s are now available on our website. A majority of the letters are written to Dr. Henry V. Massey and provide a look into the lives of various Massey family members as well as their acquaintances.

The letter below was written by Oliver M. Perry to his uncle, Dr. Henry V. Massey, on October 6, 1876. In his letter, Oliver goes into great detail about Dr. Massey’s sister Rachel, discussing her desire to move back to “Old Carolina” and commenting that she is “doing as well as could be expected as she has no husband.” In addition, Oliver discusses his hopes for his uncle to travel down to see him, this years crop yields, the health of family members, sickness in the community, as well as his current job and relationship status.

Letter from Oliver M. Perry to Dr. Henry V. Massey.

To read the rest of Oliver’s letter to his uncle, please click here.

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