Economic hardships and having to sell his factory to John A. Cameron, the Presbyterian Church and it Sunday school, the benefit of the completed bridge to the trades.

Advice on improving himself and recommendation to pursue Latin language studies; local news including a town election with candidates John A. Cameron and Gen. Davis, upcoming weddings, and Miss Catharine Elliot and her family.

Personal and family news, introduction of one cousin to another

Request to tend to a debt owed to Polly Kent

Advice for his nephew's "enlargement and prosperity in reasonable and religious matters"; family and local church-related news.

Plans for an upcoming trip to Nashville, Tennessee and New Orleans, Louisiana; family news; condition and prices of corn and cotton crops; "the present administration considered objectionable" in the district.

Birth of son, Frederick Augustus, on May 7; decision to move family to Jackson City, Tennessee in hopes of good financial prospects

The progress of the "Society of our Little Place" and other religious societies; religious beliefs; limited news of Jesse and Augustine Shepherd.

Advice and information on stuttering from this educator

Illness in that part of the country; increase in church membership and baptisms; teaching of religious beliefs

Family and local news; Mr. William Bradford's school; expresses appreciation to his tutor.

Action of declining to accept the call to Fork Church due to accusations of some unnamed offense

D[avid] G[arland] Shepherd's school account; advice on and offer of assistance to purchase good land

Personal and family news; small pox vaccinations; opinions of the young ladies

Recurring attack of "ague & fever"; John Shepherd's improvement in health and diet; fear of the return of cholera; news of friends from Fluvanna County; Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists in the area; much drinking, little temperance; war with the Indians.

Longing to return to Fluvanna County; an attack of bilious fever and inflamation of the lungs; lengthy discourse on "religious pretensions" and his "inclination to slight the goodness of God"

Decline of yellow fever; personal and family news; Tennessee Baptist Convention; news of Robert Boyte Crawford Howell (1801-1868), Pastor of the First Baptist Church; church-related news

Personal and family news; financial hardships; the need for an agent for the Baptist College; news of Pastor [Robert Boyte Crawford] Howell; church-related news.

Good crops of corn but too wet for cotton and tobacco; the effects of competition on the goods business; personal news; the dissolution of the President's cabinet and fear that [Andrew] Jackson (1767-1845) would outlive his popularity; formation of temperance societies.

Death of their brother John Shepherd on the 13th from bilious fever and his longterm ill health; illnesses of John's wife Martha and daughter Sarah Baker; financial state of their business.

Death of child Sarah Baker Shepherd; advice on "removing west & to a nonslaveholding state."

William Perkins living in New Orleans, Louisiana, Richard Smith replacing Perkins in Nashville, Tennessee, and his own business' loss of Smith; hardships of Martha Shepherd in supporting her family and her negroes, chiefly women and children; John Shepherd's estate.

Description of wife and children; Division of the Sons of Temperance, no liquor sold.

Advice not to sell the estate prior to their mother's death and explanation of provisions and special legacies in David Shepherd's will.

Continued advice to not sell estate until "we can be perfectly safe."

Death of Mrs. Long, widow of David Shepherd; terms of disposition of negroes in David Shepherd's will; advice to sell negroes as they are selling at high prices and seeking assistance with the matter.

Personal financial news; family news; John Shepherd's children being educated in South Carolina; inquiring into settlement of David Shepherd's estate; thoughts on abolition in South Carolina.

Offering a proposition as to the disposition of the negroes belonging to Mrs. Long, widow of David Shepherd.

Disposition of a negro woman and child, living with Samuel M. Garland.

Debt owed to David Shepherd's estate; purchase of a negro man and boy exhausting finances.

Choice of Martin Shepherd as guardian

Personal and family news; superior land in Kentucky and describing Shelby County, Kentucky as a good prospect in which to settle

The booming trade business; Mexican government's failure to recognize Texas' independence; northern provinces of Mexico commencing a revolt, President forbidding aid to Mexican provinces seeking independence; religious and church-related matters

Discussion of the last few months' invasion by the Mexicans; the current state of excitement among Texans and their strong feeling of independence; views on reasons for war; the effect of the dispute on business in Texas; personal and family news; church-related matters

Life in Houston, Texas; news of the Mexican rebellion against Texas; change in business status due to a dissolution of the partnership; personal and family news

Prospects in Texas worse for the time; expectation of a hostile demonstration by Mexico during the spring; the capture of about 250 "Texicans" in the town of Mier on the other side of the Rio Grande; view that the "Mexican nation cannot be regarded properly as a civilized people"; discourse on the Mexican population and the history of the separation of Texas; effect of rain on crops; discussion of "the perfidy of mankind"; personal and family news

Recovering from 1842 invasions by Mexico; doubts of the citizens of Texas over the proposition of annexation to the United States; personal and family news, improved business.

Personal and family news; crops promising to be abundant, especially corn, sweet potatoes, and sugar cane; discussion of advantages and problems to moving out west; thoughts on the government's treatment of Mexico, Texas, and annexation.

Plans to remove to Tennesee to be with their brother John; birth of Catherine Isabella Shepherd, daughter of Augustine Shephered, on December 20, 1835.

Personal and family news; David Shepherd in New Orleans now, in charge of a small lot of tobacco; his own tobacco crops doing poorly; state congressional and legislative elections.

Mourning the deaths of husband John and daughter Sarah Baker, her devastation over their loss.

W/ANS from John to Martin -- ill health; good corn crops; plans for cultivating cabbage, potatoes, tomatoes, and onions.

Acquaintance with Joseph Henry Shepherd, his good qualities, his religious beliefs having a strong Presbyterian influence, the effect of his brother John's death on his spirits.

News of Joseph Henry Shepherd's baptism in the waters of the Cumberland and joining the Church.

Personal and family news, particularly in relation to health and religion

Personal and family news; schooling of E[ ] L[acy] and Harriet Baker, and her studies in natural philosophy, astronomy, and use of the globes; visit by [James] Fife; intentions of having a school.

Personal and family news; religious matters

Sympathy and religious and spiritual support for death of a child of Mary Kent Shepherd; personal and family news.

From C. S. Farrar, on the circumstances and death of her mother; death of cousin Polly Farrar; w/ANS from Mrs. E. O. Mitchell, on the death of her mother

Illness, treatment, and death of Virginia on March 8th

Personal and family news

Personal and family news; grateful for their religious and spiritual support in his time of doubt, envious of their brother's newfound faith and baptism; the growth of Galveston, Texas with its fertile land and fine climate

Death of newborn and his wife's subsequent problems with drying up her milk; yellow fever in New Orleans; soil and climate of [New Orleans]; growth of churches, with Presbyterian, Methodist, Episcopalian, and Catholic buildings in progress; the conquest of Texas; w/ANS to Martin Shepherd -- good deal of shipping and business from other ports; the fluctuation of Texas government liabilities

Suggestion to write a piece on "the impropriety of the interference of the Pastor of a Church in political matters"; supporting the cause of "true religion" without political ties.

"The plan of classing scholars in grammar so as successfully to advance them"; discussion of scholars, named by initials, and their progress.

The examination of J. G. Hughes

Declining an invitation from Fork Church for Witt to preach; interest in the large churches under his ministry

Views on the community as a whole in regard to religion and the success of the [Fork] church in gaining membership

Increasing the membership of the Fork Church; the current condition of the Fork Church as being somewhat fragile; personal religious

Pursuing a teaching position at Winnsville Institute

Enclosing the Abstract of the Annual Report of the State Mission Board and soliciting funds.

Seeking the work of "private Christians" to spread the word of the Baptists

The Goshen Association, its election of delegates to the Richmond Convention, and its election of delegates to the Biennial Convention in 1856 and its directive to the Board to fill the vacancies, [James Madison] Pendleton (1811-1891) and the influence of [James Robinson] Graves (1820-1893) and the Tennessee Baptist .

Religious support to a friend

Appreciation of kind advice and interest in welfare

Personal and family news, particularly re Benjamin A. Shepherd and James Meredith Shepherd; attending the Law School; comments on the ladies, gentlemen, and families in Raleigh; detailed description of a visit to Monticello and Thomas Jefferson's burial ground; travel through Charlottesville, Gordonsville, and Richmond (by railroad to North Carolina); good corn crops, bad grain; life in Raleigh, North Carolina; the growth of the college at Chapel Hill.

Thoughts of marriage this spring season; temperance societies being formed and being opposed by the Episcopalians; Whig Convention of April 1842, where Mr. [Henry] Clay (1777-1852) was nominated for the Presidency and Governor [John Motley] Morehead (1796-1866) for reelection

Marriage of James [Shepherd] to Eliza I. Strother of Smith County, Tennessee; impending marriage to Catherine Isabella Dobbin, and having $1,500 to $2,000, 13 negroes and a good library; description of the Dobbin family members; the growth of Fayetteville

Married and family life, living with mother-in-law; owning 6 negro men, two young girls and two young women who have 5 children; principal crop in area is corn; wanting his own farm; improvements in the science of agriculture; rich lands in the state and the land on the Roanoke first rate, good corn and cotton crops.

Promotion of "Extra Billy" [William Smith (1797-1887), governor of Virginia, 1846-1849]; James C[ochran] Dobbin (1814-1857), a member of congress from that district, and his taking over Dobbins' clients; town recovering from a disastrous fire in June; wanting his own farm and having to hire out his negroes at present; best business is steam mill timber and turpentine.

Releases his own interest in his grandparents' estate; personal and family news

Personal and family news--new baby daughter, the four children, Henry Elliot, Margaret Dobbin, Kate and Mary; large legal practice with circuit in four counties, their residence on the "Sand Hills," the girls Marg[aret] Ann, Sarah, and Kate

Death of Bro. Smith in the Fluvanna County area

Lengthy religious opinions on man and his actions concerning "Negroe trading" and the condemnation [by the Baptist Church] for men trading negroes for gain

Personal news

Wanting to get together while he is at his father's

Occupied with business; personal and family news; Robert Boyte Crawford Howell leaving Nashville Church

The late Brother Smith's memoirs and inquiries as to Brother Smith's general character

The late Bro. Smith's general character and his involvement in politics

The late Brother Smith, his memoirs, and his involvement in politics

Religious thoughts

Religious thoughts

Inquiring about the condition of "Winnsville" and the probability of it being sold.

Harvesting and being unable to deliver guano to him; news of David F. Newton who has abandoned ties with the church and become an active abolitionist; the good qualities of [ ] Broaddus as a preacher.

The benefits of giving Shepherd's son a good education; lengthy discussion of farming, giving much instruction, and the rewards of farming; the Baptist church

Church-related news; lengthy discourse on the effects of abolitionism on blacks and whites, especially in regard to church and worship

Church-related and religious discussion

Mention of [ ] Broaddus and John Newton; "the large concourse of Black and White who cannot get in at the Fork Union," his disppointment in the church, and his schemes on how to construct a larger house

Gratification of hard labor in restoring faith in the brethren; mention of Brothers Broaddus and Whitescarver

Good qualities of Brother Whitescarver

Hardships of being ill with dyspepsia and trying to find relief, and various suggestions for the relief of symptoms

(incomplete)

Church-related news; discord in the church

Personal and family news, including his being ill with asthma, his children's health, and the improved health of Constantine; inquiries on whether or not he will stay in Fluvanna and advice on buying land; thinks that "a man with negroes can make more at farming and stock raising" in Texas; financial matters and settlement of their mother's estate

His own improved health and two of his children afflicted with "rheumatism or nervous weakness"; the Compromise of 1850 and the effects on emigration and Texas; life in Texas; offer to assist with the purchase of land...

Request from George A. Bowles for permission from John Newton to go to Hampden Sydney College; guardianship of their niece ["Kate"]

Personal and family news; administration of the mercantile business of Mr. H. Payne

Personal and family news; inquiries as to the standing of the Virginia Female Institute; cotton crops, scarcity of provisions

"the movements of troops and preparation for war"; support of the South

Relinquish of claims on balance due from Thomas Baker

Withdrawing his name as a candidate for the clerkship of the county, and the reasons for the withdrawal

Writing for his wife who is ill, expressing her sorrow that she will not be able to see her, and offering the gift of some fresh meat

Yankees being only eleven miles from Richmond, personal and family news

How the families and neighbors sustained visits from the Yankees, personal and family news

Feeling "a peculiar sympathy for my friends south," spiritual and religious message, discussion of Joel S. Bacon as a young man

Discussion of latest novels read, particularly of Byron, the opening of the Grangers' warehouse in Danville, Virginia

Discussing a matter with a man named Albins

Arranging to have his things moved to the smokehouse for safekeeping

Personal, educational, and religious news and word of persons at the school

Inquiring about the progress of his school; concern about the health of "Joe" [Joseph Henry Shepherd] and having an occulist care for him; concern over Mary [Shepherd] and her illness (due to pregnancy); probable plans for a trip to Virginia next summer; personal and family news.

Birth of their baby, Susan Manella "Nelly," on the 5th of March; Mary [Shepherd's] and children's plans to leave New Orleans, Louisiana for travel to Richmond, Virginia and his own visit there and to the northern cities on business

Uncertainty of Mary being able to leave as planned, chiefly due to "Ben's" absence

Mary not having the opportunity to leave, due to Ben's absence; delay in their travel plans

Still contemplating a trip to Virginia but worried about travelling with four babies, especially during the hot weather; discussing possible alternatives; wishing to go to New York and Boston in connection with his business; Ben's illness and poor eyes

Arrived with little Ben and William Perkins and his family by steamboat from Mobile, Alabama; wishing to take Ben to the best occulist in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Dr. Hayes' diagnosis that Ben's eyes would improve not with medical treatment but with overall improved health and vigor and suggestion for a change of climate; death of Shelton [ ] on the 6th; plans for arrival in Virginia and leaving Ben with sister Polly

Financial matter between a Mr. Henderson and a Mr. Miles; their father's estate; the current education of his children: John William, twelve, David I., ten; Elizabeth Rebecca, nine; Laura E., seven; and, Helen Mary, four; "our town a great place for drinking and gaming," the legislation repealing the license law for on premises

Note relinquishing all claims due from Thomas Baker and Martin B. Shepherd, administrators of their father's estate

Introduction from thirteen year old nephew, detailing current education; March 5 --personal and family news from his brother; one of his partner's being in Europe and in St. Croix for the treatment of consumption; being engaged with business, Sunday school, and church matters