Letter from Victoria Cunningham Bailey to Margaret Cunningham Sullivan — likely May 1867 · Greer Heritage Museum collection

Title

Letter from Victoria Cunningham Bailey to Margaret Cunningham Sullivan — likely May 1867

Accession Number

2022.1.1.24

Accession Date

February 4, 2023

Accession Creator

David Lovegrove

Depositor

Shuman B. Gerald, III

Description

Regarding the date: the key data point is that she talks about Margaret’s namesake. That has to be Margaret Henrietta Bailey, who in the July 3, 1867 letter is already going by “Etta” — the name she would go by the rest of her life. She was born in 1866, and is apparently already talking/walking by this letter (which pushes it as far from 1866 as possible). It could well mean that she went by “Margy” from birth to this point, and the “Etta” nickname hasn’t developed yet; perhaps it came about over the next few months as Etta was learning to talk and trying to pronounce her own name. However, it’s also possible that this letter is after the July note, the “Etta” moniker is already in use, and Etta has just figured out she also has a first name that’s named after her Aunt Margie — and is reveling in that thought. If so, the letter could be from any point up to 1869, when Estelle was born (and would have almost certainly been mentioned).

Date

Undated, but likely May 1867.

Storage Location

General Archive Box #7 Folder #5

Text

Baileys Cross Roads
My dear Sister
According to promise I avail myself of the present opportunity of writing to you after a hard days spinning, in all amounting to eight cuts. I think I will have some very pretty jeans. it is Brown & white mixed.
We arrived home safely after travelling from Dr. Austins in the rain and a very hard rain too, I beged Mr. Bailey to stop but he was homeward bound. & found all doing fine I never as much as lost a little chicken, dont you think I have good housekeepers and it will encourage me to go again. I have an idea of going to Presbyterry but have given it out Mr. Bailey will leave Wednesday next. I should like to go if I had two or three fine dresses to wear, as it is in a very welthy neighborhood and no doubt there will be a great deal of dress displayed.
I have been right at home since my return from your house and has had very little company. so I am not [fronted?] as regards news. but probably I have a little. Francis Morgan was married last week to Miss Nannie Smith daughter of Mr. Henry Smith and it is thought the Dr. will marry next month to a Miss Perry from Chester Dist. She is a very nice lady, he will never do better, his Mother is almost carried away with his choice. Horace & Carrie King has been over brought two of there N.C. friends with them. They appear to be doing finely Carrie is very anxious to see Mary, and thinks now she will visit her this winter, she does not like teaching much dont like to be away from home.
I hardly know what to say about your name sake, she gets smarter every day I wish you could see her taking on over your likeness she has to look at it several times during the day and says My Margy, she remembers you all can tell who gave her doll to her, but tell Lizzie I am sorry she has not taken better care of it, has its head broken, and George she speaks of him and says Georgy’s gone. you will be surprised when I tell you she has been out almost all day gathering Peas (with Ann & Harriet) you will say Vic is mighty Careless with that Child, and now she has gone after the cows, she has had a spell of Croup about two weeks ago I tell you we was uneasy but we begun doctoring as soon as we found it out and relieved her after awhile. The meeting at P.G. went on until Sunday night Miss Serena & Nannie Dilliard Miss Nannie Copeland, Vic Vaughn, Lizzie Ross, Mr. Mason & Smith joined and were baptized at [Carxes?] old works the next Sunday evening by Rev. L Vaughn
We had Mr. Reid with us the 2nd Sunday he enjoyed his trip to Laurens very much and gave us a history of the Celebration at Friendship after hearing of shuch an immens croud being there I was not sorry, but was a little sorry when I cam home and found all right I wished I have [stared?]

Relation

Etta Bailey Burgiss papers