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Archiver > BRETHREN > 2003-05 > 1051848631


From:
Subject: Re: [BRE] Questions from Kelly
Date: Fri, 2 May 2003 00:10:31 EDT


In a message dated 5/1/2003 9:58:35 AM Pacific Daylight Time,
writes:

> An interesting letter. If it is dated, it would help us to "place" it
> in historical context, but it does sound more like 19th century than
> 20th

Hi James and Thanks for the Email!

The Letter d\from my Great Grandma is dated 1934 I am thinking. You all
can see photos of these people accually, at this link <A HREF="http://groups.msn.com/MelungeonFamilyPhotoAlbum/kellypritchardsalbum.msnw">Melungeon Family Photo
Album</A> <A HREF="http://groups.msn.com/MelungeonFamilyPhotoAlbum/kellypritchardsalbum.msnw">;
http://groups.msn.com/MelungeonFamilyPhotoAlbum/kellypritchardsalbum.msnw</A>;

I don't wear make up that is probably a left over brethern thing, although
my Ma and siblings wear it. I also do not like to wear jewerly except the St
Christopher, and I started wearing it, at 14 more to going steady with a boy
and exchanging metals than from any family doings.
In Sneedville area, there was a church, and minutes from the church. <A HREF="http://searches.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/archives/va/scott/church/stonycrk.txt">;
http://searches.rootsweb.com/usgenweb/archives/va/scott/church/stonycrk.txt</A>;


PS for your interest her is a letter from my Great grandma, a Dunkard
who married into my Sneedville line. Also I should mention on the Crosswhite

line, there is speculation they also may have Melungeon ancestors which have
not been proven. Rhoda Crosswhites mother was a Brethren as was she. If she
has a Melungeon decent it comes from her fathers side as from her mothers
side it is said they were born in Germany. I have yet to prove this. Her
Parents were a Kraus, and a Thomas. and one of her siblings married a
Sneedville Scott and her mother, Lavina Scott (Crosswhite) is buried in the
Cherokee cemetery.
It is addressed to my Aunt Leola, my mothers eldest sister. & was written
in 1933.
Kelly PS it is interesting to note in the letter there is no mention of my
mother Betty or their brother Jesse Stanley Simpson. Jesse's father William,
Rhoda's Husband, was born in Sneedville.

Los Angles, California
Nov.7th 1933
Mrs. Leloa P. Johnson

My beloved one, as you are the eldest daughter of my eldest living child, I
am writing you this love letter to tell you of the things I want you to know.

And by this message for you to it to you sisters and brothers and children as

they grow old enough to know the meaning of these things of which I am
writing.

You must remember that this is to be as a legacy, I am now writing to you,
as eldest descendent of my 2ed generation of the eldest Branch of my Family
Tree, so to speak, I wish you to know, that according to the Encyclopedia
Brittanica we are the desendants of the Baroncy of Fainig of Crosswaite of
England, of which you can get the full information of my brother, A.G., of
Eaton, Ohio, who has the family history.

But more improtant things than this I wish to write at this particular time,
as I fear some times when I have these bad heart attacks of heart failure,
that the sands of life are running low for me, so I am writing similer
letters to you three grand-childern, who are the three represenitives of my
branch of the family.

Now my dear Leloa, I can give you an ancestry far greater than one of Royal
blood as the world may count of more value and that is, you come from a line
of Pilgrams who have been followers of the weak and lonely Savier of the
earth children and many of these ancestors of yours have been brave and noble

warriors at the front of firing lines against the arch enemy of our souls.

Therefore , this is the legacy I want to commit to you as my representive on
down the line towards eternity, that you will never forget your ancestry in
this, that you belong to a Pilgrim race who have suffered much for the one
Who died for us all, This is the legacy of the Hidden Treasure that I trust
you will help all your generation find as I've faithfully tried and am trying

even now to reach out there in writing even in this poor way with my left
hand in my paraletic state in my seventy fourth year.

But you my darling one, I'm looking to tell the younger ones that they might
know how their old grandmother prayed daily for them all and with tears
besought the Lord to save my household and not let the enemy have one of them

and how my hearts prayer is that your and Alberta will take up the Pligrims
journey for the soul winners crown of eternal life. There is nothing to lose,

I am so glad that you and Alberta, have good men to help you along this walk
of the Christians way, if you will all be faithful, I have to say that the
greatest happiness of my long life has been in trying to be in the fear and
favor of the Lord and felt sure that if any of you live to the years of three

score and ten as I have that will also be your testimony.

Today as I look back over my wasted moments spent in other pursuits of
pleasure, I can not but see how vain and empty they have been of real joy, so

take an old persons advise once and instead of a royal ancestory there is no
comparison in that and the weak and lowly Nazerene for this world and the one

to come. My constant prayer therefore will ever be that all the remaining
years of life we seek together in the harvest sheaves for the Masters gather.
Your Loving Grandmother.
Rhoda Crosswhite.

______________________________



Kelly Pritchard
Tyro Media < Click Link for band shoot photos >
<A HREF="http://groups.msn.com/TyroMedia/shoebox.msnw">http://groups.msn.com/TyroMedia/shoebox.msnw</A>;

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