1830 Letter 

     In or about 1805, Isaac’s father William Willis moved along with, at one time or another, members of the Waggener family and Robert Garnett, Isaac’s wife’s father, to Kentucky to take up land granted to him from his service in the Revolutionary war.

    Robert Garnett’s son Captain William Garnett had served and died during the revolutionary war, and Robert received a large tract (2002 acres it is said)  for his service. Another son Oliver had already departed for Kentucky in 1815, and Robert Garnett left Orange and traveled to Kentucky in 1824 to join him; lore has it the whole trip was made on horseback at the age of 88 years.

    Isaac purchased all of the Garnett’s land in Orange (the Horseshoe Farm). Robert Garnett died December 30, 1830, and this letter was written to Oliver Garnett, Isaac’s brother-in-law and Robert Garnett’s son, in August of that year.

FRONT:

LETTER:

1830 Letter to his father in law, Oliver Garnett (click for hi res); contrast has been added for easier reading.

Transcription:

Orange Ct House 19 Aug 1830

Oliver,
Inclosed you will find a check on
the MS Bank at Lexington [KY] for $600, which
you will place to my credit, on the week
of this, you will wright to me, acknowledging
the receipt of the [draft], and [inclose] me
my obligation which I gave you, to the
post office Orange Ct House VA and very
much obliged [& very] very respectfully

Isaac Willis

Special thanks to Oliver’s descendant and their ancestors
for preserving and contributing this family history for all of us to enjoy.