Abraham Haywood Merritt was the son of William Merritt (1798-1867) and Sarah Rencher (1791-1859).
He was the generally referred to as Haywood, and was the editor of the local Chatham newspaper in the late 1800's.
The following trascript of a letter from Haywood to his sister concerning his engagement to Sarah was provided by another researcher:
Received from Duke University, part of the Rufus Henry Jones Papers
[NB: either the sister to whom the letter was addressed or their other sister married Rufus Jones]
Olin, March 26th, 1861
My Dear Sister
I am a little unwell tonight, but I must write a short letter to you. I know you love me, and all that concerns my peace and happiness in a measure concerns you also. I write then on a subject which concerns us both. You have often heard one speak of Miss Lizzie Purvis. Well, she is likely to become your sister. I have all the while thought highly of her, but I never really loved her till this session. She has a clear head, a pure and affectionate heart. You know I must think her worthy of myself, or I would never ask her to become my life partner. She trusts me implicity and loves me as most sincerely. She is a true Christian., When you come to know her, you and Bro. Rufus will love her for her own sake; till then , you must love her for my sake. I have told her of you-she loves you both already. When I told her I was going to write to you she said "give them my love". And expressed the hope that you would love her as she felt sure she would you.
It has not been long since I first mentioned this subject to her. I do not know when "the day" will be when we shall be united for better and for worse-several months yet, I guess. All I ask which I'm sure you will both grant is to acknowledge and treat her as a sister. I do not expect to teach here next session. I may go to Greensboro Female College, or I may not teach at all. I would like to be able to rest awhile anyway---
You are not at liberty to talk of the contents of this letter yet awhile. Please write to me immediately. I do most sincerely hope that you will not disapprove of what I have done. If you should be even disappointed in her to whom my faith is pledged, recollect that she will be all to me, and as you love me, love her.
I again ask that you or Mr. Jones one write to me very soon.
Love to all- Affectionately
Your brother
Haywood.
--------------------------------
MARRIED,
In Olin, on the 25th ult., by the Rev. W. H. Bobbett, Mr. A. H. MERRITT, of Chatham, to Miss S. E. PURVIS, daughter of the late Rev. James Purvis.
—Published in Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer (Fayetteville, North Carolina), August 12, 1861, p. 3.
He was the generally referred to as Haywood, and was the editor of the local Chatham newspaper in the late 1800's.
The following trascript of a letter from Haywood to his sister concerning his engagement to Sarah was provided by another researcher:
Received from Duke University, part of the Rufus Henry Jones Papers
[NB: either the sister to whom the letter was addressed or their other sister married Rufus Jones]
Olin, March 26th, 1861
My Dear Sister
I am a little unwell tonight, but I must write a short letter to you. I know you love me, and all that concerns my peace and happiness in a measure concerns you also. I write then on a subject which concerns us both. You have often heard one speak of Miss Lizzie Purvis. Well, she is likely to become your sister. I have all the while thought highly of her, but I never really loved her till this session. She has a clear head, a pure and affectionate heart. You know I must think her worthy of myself, or I would never ask her to become my life partner. She trusts me implicity and loves me as most sincerely. She is a true Christian., When you come to know her, you and Bro. Rufus will love her for her own sake; till then , you must love her for my sake. I have told her of you-she loves you both already. When I told her I was going to write to you she said "give them my love". And expressed the hope that you would love her as she felt sure she would you.
It has not been long since I first mentioned this subject to her. I do not know when "the day" will be when we shall be united for better and for worse-several months yet, I guess. All I ask which I'm sure you will both grant is to acknowledge and treat her as a sister. I do not expect to teach here next session. I may go to Greensboro Female College, or I may not teach at all. I would like to be able to rest awhile anyway---
You are not at liberty to talk of the contents of this letter yet awhile. Please write to me immediately. I do most sincerely hope that you will not disapprove of what I have done. If you should be even disappointed in her to whom my faith is pledged, recollect that she will be all to me, and as you love me, love her.
I again ask that you or Mr. Jones one write to me very soon.
Love to all- Affectionately
Your brother
Haywood.
--------------------------------
MARRIED,
In Olin, on the 25th ult., by the Rev. W. H. Bobbett, Mr. A. H. MERRITT, of Chatham, to Miss S. E. PURVIS, daughter of the late Rev. James Purvis.
—Published in Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer (Fayetteville, North Carolina), August 12, 1861, p. 3.
Abraham Haywood Merritt was the son of William Merritt (1798-1867) and Sarah Rencher (1791-1859).
He was the generally referred to as Haywood, and was the editor of the local Chatham newspaper in the late 1800's.
The following trascript of a letter from Haywood to his sister concerning his engagement to Sarah was provided by another researcher:
Received from Duke University, part of the Rufus Henry Jones Papers
[NB: either the sister to whom the letter was addressed or their other sister married Rufus Jones]
Olin, March 26th, 1861
My Dear Sister
I am a little unwell tonight, but I must write a short letter to you. I know you love me, and all that concerns my peace and happiness in a measure concerns you also. I write then on a subject which concerns us both. You have often heard one speak of Miss Lizzie Purvis. Well, she is likely to become your sister. I have all the while thought highly of her, but I never really loved her till this session. She has a clear head, a pure and affectionate heart. You know I must think her worthy of myself, or I would never ask her to become my life partner. She trusts me implicity and loves me as most sincerely. She is a true Christian., When you come to know her, you and Bro. Rufus will love her for her own sake; till then , you must love her for my sake. I have told her of you-she loves you both already. When I told her I was going to write to you she said "give them my love". And expressed the hope that you would love her as she felt sure she would you.
It has not been long since I first mentioned this subject to her. I do not know when "the day" will be when we shall be united for better and for worse-several months yet, I guess. All I ask which I'm sure you will both grant is to acknowledge and treat her as a sister. I do not expect to teach here next session. I may go to Greensboro Female College, or I may not teach at all. I would like to be able to rest awhile anyway---
You are not at liberty to talk of the contents of this letter yet awhile. Please write to me immediately. I do most sincerely hope that you will not disapprove of what I have done. If you should be even disappointed in her to whom my faith is pledged, recollect that she will be all to me, and as you love me, love her.
I again ask that you or Mr. Jones one write to me very soon.
Love to all- Affectionately
Your brother
Haywood.
--------------------------------
MARRIED,
In Olin, on the 25th ult., by the Rev. W. H. Bobbett, Mr. A. H. MERRITT, of Chatham, to Miss S. E. PURVIS, daughter of the late Rev. James Purvis.
—Published in Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer (Fayetteville, North Carolina), August 12, 1861, p. 3.
He was the generally referred to as Haywood, and was the editor of the local Chatham newspaper in the late 1800's.
The following trascript of a letter from Haywood to his sister concerning his engagement to Sarah was provided by another researcher:
Received from Duke University, part of the Rufus Henry Jones Papers
[NB: either the sister to whom the letter was addressed or their other sister married Rufus Jones]
Olin, March 26th, 1861
My Dear Sister
I am a little unwell tonight, but I must write a short letter to you. I know you love me, and all that concerns my peace and happiness in a measure concerns you also. I write then on a subject which concerns us both. You have often heard one speak of Miss Lizzie Purvis. Well, she is likely to become your sister. I have all the while thought highly of her, but I never really loved her till this session. She has a clear head, a pure and affectionate heart. You know I must think her worthy of myself, or I would never ask her to become my life partner. She trusts me implicity and loves me as most sincerely. She is a true Christian., When you come to know her, you and Bro. Rufus will love her for her own sake; till then , you must love her for my sake. I have told her of you-she loves you both already. When I told her I was going to write to you she said "give them my love". And expressed the hope that you would love her as she felt sure she would you.
It has not been long since I first mentioned this subject to her. I do not know when "the day" will be when we shall be united for better and for worse-several months yet, I guess. All I ask which I'm sure you will both grant is to acknowledge and treat her as a sister. I do not expect to teach here next session. I may go to Greensboro Female College, or I may not teach at all. I would like to be able to rest awhile anyway---
You are not at liberty to talk of the contents of this letter yet awhile. Please write to me immediately. I do most sincerely hope that you will not disapprove of what I have done. If you should be even disappointed in her to whom my faith is pledged, recollect that she will be all to me, and as you love me, love her.
I again ask that you or Mr. Jones one write to me very soon.
Love to all- Affectionately
Your brother
Haywood.
--------------------------------
MARRIED,
In Olin, on the 25th ult., by the Rev. W. H. Bobbett, Mr. A. H. MERRITT, of Chatham, to Miss S. E. PURVIS, daughter of the late Rev. James Purvis.
—Published in Fayetteville Semi-Weekly Observer (Fayetteville, North Carolina), August 12, 1861, p. 3.
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