| Location | Fortress Monroe, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Document Type | Correspondence |
| Names Mentioned | Catherine, William Massey |
| Date | July 10, 1865 |
| Document Title | Letter from Mrs. Catherine Massey to Hon. Edwin M. Stanton, 10 July 1865 |
| Document Description | Catherine Massey, the wife of a black soldier, shared Rosa Freeman's assumption that a husband's obligations to his wife included such material support as housing, food, and clothing. Massey's complaint about her spendthrift husband also revealed, however, that she regarded that obligation as mutual; wives, too, were expected to make material contributions to the household. She addressed her letter to the secretary of war. This letter comes from "Families and Freedom: A Documentary History of African-American Kinship in the Civil War Era," page 181. |
| Transcription |
Hampton Fortress Monroe Va July 10th 1865 Respected Sir I pen you this pamplet of a letter praying your honor to so arrange my Husband William Massey (Colored. 1st U.S.C.T Com. G. Infantry) Money that when he is discharge I may receive Sufficient to meet my wants I am his lawful wife and he has neglected to treat me as a husband should. And unless your honor So arranges his money as to privelledge me to meet my wants, he never will as he is nothing but a Spendthrift I have not received a cent of money from him Since last March /65—then he gave me twenty six dollars all of which he took back again he has left me in detrimental circumstances and I know not how to meet my present wants I have toiled and am still striving to earn my bread but as I feel myself declineing daily. I think it no more than right that he should be made to do what he has never yet done and that is to help me to support myself as I helped yes not only helped but naturally did support him before he came in the army I would not ask for any one to attend to his money matters for him. Were it not for the fact that he seems to be slothfull as to attend to it for him and myself please attend to it for me and my prayers to Allmighty God for your honor shall be that God may prolong your life and enlarge your feild of good and at last when this mortal tenement shall dissolve. Prepare for you a mansion in the realms of unclouded day With due respect to your Excellency I remain faithfully your Humble Colored Servant Mrs Catherine Massey When you Receive this please answer as soon as you can make conveneint Direct thus Mrs Catherine Massey Hampton Fortress Monroe Va |
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[Author (if known)], Documents from the Freedmen and Southern Society Project, [Date (if known)], Enduring Connections: Exploring Delmarva’s Black History, Nabb Research Center, Salisbury University.
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