Extracts from Family
Letters of Robert Yancey, Jr. and Agnes Wilkinson
of Mecklenburg Co., Virginia
About 1775-1853
[note photos at bottom of page]
Ancestry: Robert Yancey, son of Robert, son of Richard, son of Charles, son of Charles Yancey
Robert Yancey, son of the senior Robert Yancey and Philadelphia
Jones Griffin, was born about 1775 in Mecklenburg County,
Virginia. He married Agnes Wilkinson on October 10, 1796 in
Mecklenburg County. Agnes was the daughter of William Wilkinson
and Sarah Franklin. To better place this family in a historical
timeline, their marriage would have occurred during the closing
years of George Washington's presidency. It would seem that
Robert and Agnes grew up in the years of the Revolutionary War.
It was also a time in which the population was on the move. Four
of their six children left Virginia to settle in other states.
Sally and John stayed in Virginia. Robert (son of Robert Jr.) and
his brother James went to Georgia, and Lewis settled in
Mississippi. Harriett moved to North Carolina after marrying her
second cousin, Richard E. Yancey. Richard was the son of Absalom
Yancey and his wife (name unknown.)
[click here to see family chart]
Robert Yancey was a farmer. Most, if not all, of his sons
followed in his footsteps and seem to have farmed most of their
lives. Several letters written between the family members in the
1840s and 1850s have survived.
[Note: Some punctuation has been added to assist reader. Letters
are not corrected for spelling. The letters were usually
addressed to one of the brothers and then forwarded to the other.
They were addressed to either the Marthasville (Atlanta) or Rough
+ Ready (Forest Park) Post Office.]
To: Robert Yancey and James Yancey DeKalb Co. Ga Marthasville
P.O. January 3, 1846
"Dear Children I take the oppotunity to write a few lines to
you both... to in form you all that we are all well at this time
thanks be to God for the same. hoping when these few lines reach
your hands they may find you all in the same state of health...
Richard and harriet wishes to be remembered to you all. herriets
got five children, three boys and two girls... it takes a great
deal to bread them... Luis is in a bad fix he is going under the
docter... I want you both to write to me how you all are and how
you are makeing out. Nothing more only remain your father and
mother until death.
Robert Yancey and Agness his wife I receive your letter that you
rote 28 September [1845]"
Some of the letters dealt with the price of farm goods in the
different areas of the country in which they were living...
"...I will say something to you now about the times in this
country. every thing to eat is high here. [flower is worth 8 to 9
dol per bar] corn is worth $5.00 per bar. and hard to git at
that. people that has got it dont like to sell it. wheat is worth
$1.60 per bu. bacon from 16cts to 18cts per lb coffee and sugar
is about the same. corn crops are sorry then I ever saw them.
wheat was very short. bugs are very numerous and we have had a
long dry spell..."
Richard E. Yancey Harriett P. Yancey Granville County NC August
this the 21 1856
Other letters dealt with the settling of Robert's estate.
"...I am very mutch troubled for the lack of my Father... I
want you to wright to mee how you are geting on in the world and
tell Brother Robert I want to hear from him. I want you to wright
to mee when you expect to go to Fathers and I want to go my self
when you do. John wrot to mee that he and Richard thought best to
let the estate stand until fall... Dear Mother she is destitute
of a friend now. No wone to console her nor provide for her...
She is never out of my mind and there fore it troubles mee.
...all I can do is to try and meet him in a better world..."
Lewis B. Yancey May the 14 1853
Apparently, Robert had at least a few slaves. One slave, named
Starling, was purchased from the estate by James and Robert.
However, before he was fully paid for, Starling died.
"...I was very sorry to here of the loss of your negro. It
seems... you have very bad luck... Mr Graves owes [you for work
Starling did] a little... I dont know exactly the amount yet but
I going to find outt... and after paying for his coffin and other
little expenceces what is left I will send it own to you.
Starling has a suit of Kentucky jenes close here and a sort of
over coat and I want to know what I must do with them? his
children has aked me for them and I told them I did not have any
rite to give them away without your concent... John says you are
due the esstate seventy 1,50 [$71.50] for Starling..."
Richard E. Yancey
"I seated myself to write to you once more... I wrote to you
about the death of Starling. he died the fourth Saterday in May.
...people think now he died with the small pox for old Caty
Cousin was sick with it and died with it and Starling wint to see
her and so did some of Kiah Griffins family wint to see her but
nobody didint know what kind of deseas it was then untill after
Starling died and then Kiahs whole family and some of the free
negros was taken with it and then the Drs prenounced it the small
pox... John F. Yancey wants to know which is going to setle for
Starling, you or Robert... he has not settle the istate
yet..."
Richard E. Yancey [About 1856]
Robert Yancey and Agnes Wilkinson were born, married, raised
their family, and died in Mecklenberg County, Virginia. Robert
died April 16, 1853 and Agnes died the next year in 1854. The
exact date of her death is unknown.
John F. Yancey and his wife Lucy Wilkins
of Halifax County, Virginia
More photos
James Yancey
of Clayton County, Georgia
Lewis B. Yancey - of Tippah Co., Mississippi