Stewarts Ville (Stewartsville Township, NC)
Aug.4th, 1878
My Dear Sister,

I write to inform you that Bell* and myself arrived safe in NoCa, (North Carolina) no doubt you heard long before this that we had made up our minds to come, Duncan wrote to you soon after our arrival in Rio after our dissapoint (disapointment) in not getting off on the vessel that we first expected to sail on, our baggage was delayed and got to Rio a day too late for us to come on that vessel we would of come had we of gotten off at that time but after having to wait a month and no vessel comming in we almost gave up the idea of comming as he had the offer of a good situation on the Vila Isabell stree (street) cars the superintendency of that line, Mr. William Raney had been at Rio putting up some ferry boats and was comming home on an english steamer Duncan saw him and made arrangements just one day before we left to send Bell and myself with him to New York, we Started on the 20th June from Rio and landed at N.Y. on the 5th of July, had a very pleasant voyage, only five passengers, we arrived in N.Y. on Friday morning, and Mr. Raney had our baggage checked through, and tickets through, we started that same evening and got to Wilmington (NC) on Saturday at seven in the evening, found all of our friends well, staid at cousin John McLaurins until Wednesday, then came to ShueHeel (Shoe Heel**) and stayed at Lavenias until Saturday, then came home with sister Margaret, I have seen a good many of our friends tho I have not been to many of their houses, I have not been very well since I came, am troubled with my bowels suppose it is change of water and climate. I cannot realize that I am in NoCa, so many changes, not a place or person looks like they did. So many young ones married and the old ones have changed a great deal. Mrs. Covington has just left and the MacKeinzies they are not well, I stayed four days at cousin John McIntyre's last week and went to Daniels. They are all well. Mit (Milton McIntyre) is Married to JL Fairley's (John Laurin Fairly's) daughter (Mary J.) the last one (child) that is living but Catty (Catherine) and Angus, you have heard of cousin Margarets death and cousin Sally it is thought that nursing and lifting Marg't was the cause of Sallie's death. She only lived three weeks after Marg't. Alexander Malloy dide in May. James Leache's wife is dead and a great many others. Duncan rented our place to Rob and Berry Bowin for two years, Bob was married to Molly Ellis on the 22nd of May. I left on the 14th they had everything ready two months before I left waiting for me to leave. John is still in the same place where he was. His and Anna's mach (match) is all broken up by mutual consent. I left all of our friends well, Mrs. Boil had another girl called her Mary, Mrs Northrop's baby dide, she sent you a needle book but I do not know how you will get it. All of your relatives are very much dissapointed that you did not come and see them and are surprised that you or Duncan do not write to them, Sister Hariet says she wrote a long letter to you after she got the things and your letter she says she got everything in good order and distributed every thing as you said. Bell is gone to Laurenburgh to Church today. I rc'vd a letter from Duncan today, all is well. Sister H and Julia and all the kin send love to you. I am as ever your sister

MJ McIntyre

* This letter was written by my g-grandmother, Margaret Jane Adams/Malloy/McIntyre (widow of Angus Malloy), and in it she mentions her daughter Margaret Isabelle (Belle) McIntyre who later married my grandfather Duncan Thomas McIntyre. So Belle was my cousin, later to become my grandmother when she married my cousin Duncan, later to become my grandfather. Are we confused yet?

** According to an 1886 map of Richmond county NC, Shoeheel was located about 7 miles ESE of Laurinburg. Today it's known as Maxton, on old Hwy 74, the name has been changed several times over the years.