From David Jones, Vinton, VA

Here is letter number 4. My grandmother saved several TURNER letters from the 1800's that she passed down to me. Whenever she got them out she was so proud of the fact that her ancestors could write. I will type out the letters in the same style and line length as the originals for other TURNER searchers to enjoy. Your comments are appreciated. The following letter is from Permelia Corn (TURNER) CARTER in Monroe Co., KY to her parents Shadrack and Judith (BURNETT) TURNER in Patrick Co. VA References to other people in the letter I can identify include Joseph Shores TURNER and his wife Rachael among others. Contact me at n4jed@aol.com )



                     Monroe Cty Kentucky
                              June the 28 1856

Dear Father Mother Brothers and 
Sisters   I will now in form you er
are all well and have enjoyed as good
health hear as we did there   Amanda
is complaining som   Jos and Rachel is
well   Jo received your letter   I received
Tinys and would of answerd it long
a go though had nothing to write
worth sending and if I wait for something
you wont hear from mee   so you shall 
hear from mee if it is only to say
howdy   we had a cool spring   at this
time the wether is warm and very dry
weve made 25 bushels of good wheat
and have a very good crop of oats
corn and 4 thousand plants of to bacco
planted   we are not quite half done
planting   if it rains by the middle 
of July I have a promising flax and
cotten patch  a good many vegetables
though they ar sorry on the account
of the drouth   we have a very pretty
young orchard coming on and some
froot on them  and some peaches   our
gray filly provd to be a splendid nag
we keep her yet   we bought a cow and 
yearlin calf this spring for 15$    the
foxes has deprived mee of many cicanes (chickens?)
I have 4 goslins   I have white washed
my house and got a high post bedstid
and a cup board   my house looks quite

(page 2)

grand for kentucky   the water geting
very sorry generally though our spring
never fails and is as good water as i ever
drank   Jo sais tell you all he has forgot
how to write   you must excuse him for
not writing   Mr Hin is hear and well
he has had some work to do thoug
finds it scearce  J has not desided whet
her he will come to Va this fall
or not   if he does it will be lat
he wants you all to write to him
and give him the news ginerally
Tiny you accused us of making
fun of your letter   not so   it just
such as I want tot hear all of
you   pleas write to mee often
I would be glad to hear every
weak   the children has growd so
you would hardle no them    Merit
can walk good   I recon I would
way a hundred lbs   I must come 
to a close for the want fo something
to write
                        Permelia Carter