The following is one transcribe letter between my 3^rd great grandmother Prudence (Dixon) O’Briant and her Aunt Martha (Dixon) Davis d/o William Jacob Dixon, Jr + Margaret Wilkerson. “3^rd ggrandparents” Prudence Dixon b. 16 Oct, 1808 Person Co., NC-d. 09 Aug 1878 Kosciusko, Attala Co., MS; married 16 Jun 1831 Person Co., NC to Randolph Cheatham O’Briant (name as per signature with Military Archives) b. 08 Aug 1810 Granville Co., NC-d. 08 Aug 1888 Kosciusko, Attala Co., MS; both are buried: Jerusalem Church Cemetery, Smyrna, Attala Co., MS.

Randolph’s parents Dennis O’Briant, Jr. + Frances Wilkerson are referred to in this letter “old Mrs & Mr Briant) also originally from Granville Co., NC moved to MS and are both buried at the New Hope Baptist Cemetery, near Kosciusko, Attala Co., MS.

The original is filed with the Natl. Archives along with several other documents found during the course of family researching.

1867 May 26: Corresponded letter from Martha Dixon-Davis residing in Ringgold, Pittsylvania Co., VA to Prudence Dixon-O'Briant residing in Kosciusko, Attala Co., MS (typed from photo copy as written) This lineage is originally from Granville/Person Co., NC

My Dear Neice

Your most welcome letter of May the 6th is at hand and I hasten to reply. I was verry proud to hear from you all. I was ferful I never would hear from you any more, the war had cunfused everything so, that I had gave up all hope of hearing from my folks so far away, but I see now the way is open and you all are living at the same place and I hope will ceap up correspondence and not only that, but visits. Youre welcome letter found miself and family what of them is living, in verry good health. I am old and feeble and am pestered with a coff, which I have bin troubled with for several years. All of mi children is marred. I lost too in the army Willam and John. John died at Richmond and was bro't home and buried. William belong to Jackson army and had his thigh broak at Seader Run fight in 62 and was carried to the hospital at Staunton and went thru the second amputation by the carless surgans, which killed him, he was broat home by his brother Allen and buried.

My Darter Piety Walker lost her husband in the army was taken Prisnor at the Wilderness fight and died at Point Lookout in prison. Piety is living on my land and she had living three children.

Sara Williams, my Darter lost her husband in the war, was killed dead at Gatorsburg in Pensilvania fight. She has three children, 2 boys and one girl. One of the boys with Govnor Williams and other boy is hear. The girl with her, she is living at Tom Sawyers.

My son Crawford is living hear on his land and doing verry well. He marred a short time before the war to Miss Harriett Chaney. He has 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl. My son Allen is moved sum 90 miles off, in Northcarlina, he was hear a short time ago and was well. My Darter Lisibeth Smith is living in Northcarolina and was all well when they left my house a few weeks ago. My Darter, Ann Ingram is living in Caswill Co. N. C. She has no children. She was well last Christmas.

My Darter, Eliza marred in 60 to Mr. Hall. She has 3 children, all girls.

She is living with me. Mr. Hall tends mi plantation he works in Danville at his traid at three dollars a day and only come home of a Saturday.

I was very much grieved at the death of my good old mother. Miself and William was going out to see her but the war broke us up from going it is to late now. She is gone. I shall never see her on this earth but I hope we will meat in the undiscovered world. She now rests with the blessed Savior there never more trouble with the ways of our sinful and troubled world.

Prices of produce-Everything to eat is selling high. Bacon rainges from 14 to 20 cts. Corne $5.00 to $6.00 per barrel. Flower from $14 to $20 per barrel. Shugar 14 and 15 and 18 cts. Coffee 28 and 35 and 40 cts. Molasses 75 cts. To $1.00. Domestick goods about double to what they was before the war. Our tobaccoe is setting well. All the nabors sold their crop around at fifty dollars per hundred that had a good crop. Some has sold their finest tobaccoe at $150 per hun. The present crop looks promising, the spring is very late indeed. Wheat looks fine but small crops sowed.

Prudence, I want you and Mr. Briant to cum if you will. I will go back with you, if you cant cum let some of the younger ones cum. I want to see you all. I must close for the present. Write soon and often. My love to you all, the children all sends their love to you all. So, no more-farwell, May the Lord bless you all. I remain, as ever your affectionate grandmother till death. 

Marthey H. Davis

 P. S. What has becum of old Mrs. & Mr. Briant