April 2, 1913 - Ruth Ricketts

Apr. 2, 1913,

Dear Hattie,

    How are you

feeling today? O. K. I hope

we are all well at

present I am coming

to see you Fri. if I can

& want you to meet me

at the depot I will just

bring this baby & will

come on the morning

train. love to all I am

as ever your sister.

    Ruth Ricketts

Ruth Ricketts is the sister-in-law of Hattie Elliott Richardson and Esther's aunt.

Probably March 1913 - WEW

 

Hello!           

          hope you

like your new

home fine.  I guess I will see

you Easter if

nothing happens.

well byebye

                  as ever a F.-

WEW

 

Postmarked:  None
Addressed:  Miss Esther Richardson
                     News Ferry, Va

WEW is thought to be one of the Willies who has written to Esther previously.  His identity at this time is still unknown.  WEW refers to Esther's "new home".  Esther moved with her mother and siblings to News Ferry, Va (Halifax County) in Jan of 1913.  Based on that date, this postcard is estimated as being written in March 1913.

March 18, 1913 - Atwood Gosney

            Danville, Va

                        March 18-13

Dear Esther

                        I will with the greatest

of pleasure write you a few

lines to night. hope you

all are well. I am feeling

very well except a little

tired.

How are you liking down

there all O.K. I hope.

I guess you see Willie

as often as you want too

now.

I have been having a fine

time last week and Sunday

but feel a little lonesome

this week for Duck went

home Sunday.

Tell Aunt Hattie that Mr

Bearman haven’t come home

[page 2]

yet so I haven’t strat

ened up with him yet

I have got to go to  Boston

Boston next week I guess

and I will try to make

it so I can stay over there

as I come back.

Well I haven’t any news

to write so I will close

write soon and a long

letter  be good

            ByeBye

            Atwood

Postmarked: Danville, VA

Addressed:  Miss Esther Richardson

                     News Ferry, Va 

Atwood Gosney is the writer of this letter.  He is the first cousin of Esther and the son of Amanda Sarah Richardson and Thomas Gosney. Willie is most likely a mutual friend and possible suitor of Esther's as well. There is no known family relationship with the Mr Bearman referred to. Duck is obviously a nickname, but their true identity is not known. Aunt Hattie is Hattie Richardson - Esther's mother.

March 16, 1913 - Howard Roberts

My Dear girl

                        How are you

ben standing this muddy

wether. I ben laying

close bye the fire all

the day. Now ben at

home all the  Even but

Bryan and Fletcher and

my self. I ben looking

at your picture wish

ing I could see you. I

ben staying at home

every Sunday  since you

[Page 2]

ben gone. I started to

come down there to day

but it was now close

to  easter I thought I

would wait. I want to

see you  sow bad it

seems like it been

too months since you

ben gone. bee down

at the Station Sat

even sow I can see

you as I pas. I going

dow to Boston and

come up there Sunday

even bee sure to

meet me bee sure

to come down Sat even

[Page 3]

when the train pass. Scott

come here wensday and

stad to Friday even

and Bryan tooked him

to the station he sad

he was going to Sutherlin

he said he was own

his way dow there. he

told Bryan I never saw him. I wrecken you herd

of Howard Warren ben ded

he did Sunday even but

2 o’clock . he had the

measles and the  paneumonia

in both sides. I going back

to the saw mill

_emrning. it looks sad

when I pass there. can’t

see you. Esther you is the

only girl I ever cred

any thing for but I

now you don’t think that

much of me. if you could

see me now you wont

now me fel way saw.

ben grieving sow. Esther

don’t let any one see

this for it such a mess

well I will close for

this. excuse this scribing

and all mistakes.

from yours true

frind Howard.

**sow = “so”

                                                                           did=dead
 Postmarked: Ringgold, Va
Addressed: Miss Esther Richardson
                  News Ferry, Va

This Howard is Howard Roberts of Pittsylvania County, VA.  Howard was an ardent suitor of Esther's penning many letters and postcards to her.  He often signed his letters HLR.  You can other correspondence from Howard Roberts here, here, and here.  You can also read a little more about Howard here on my main blog Are You My Cousin? .

March 13, 1913 - W. H. D.

Hello. how are you

enjoying your self?

fine I hope. How

do you like your new

home? We certainly

do miss you all up here.

Guess I will see you

Easter. Tell Scoop hello.

                     Bye. Bye.

                       23.8.4

Postmarked: Ringgold, VA
Addressed:  Miss Esther Richardson
                   News Ferry, Virginia

23.8.4. is a simple substitution code that stands for W. H. D.  The identity of WHD is not known.  Scoop is obviously a nickname for a mutual friend/relative.  Again the identity is not known.  Hopefully one day, the names of these individuals will be known.