Letters+from+Joel

 By: Wes Brown

On a cold September night in 1771 father began his habitual letter writing to mother. I remember this night in particular because father was crying in his study and the entire house could hear him. My brother Joel, named after father, was awaken by the noise and I had to pop him so he wouldn’t’ make any noise - I wanted to hear what was happening and I knew that father would eventually read it aloud before sealing it. “Mr. Lane! Mr. Lane you alright?” asked Thelma our housekeeper as she walked by the study and naturally father paid her no mind. The crying continued for some time after until he finally began his reading. As father began his reading I could hear the crackling in his voice and I knew something was terribly wrong. Our mother died just two days before and I knew that father had to be writing a goodbye letter to mother… there was no other explanation for his behavior. The letter read: To My dearest Martha,

 I know that you will never receive this letter but I needed some sort of closure for my own well being before your funeral. These past few years have been something that I know you’ve treasured, as have I, and the world will mourn the loss of such a person, such as yourself. All the children, especially little Dorothy are in tears repeatedly as my quill hits this paper. I’m not sure what to say to them – how to say it to them. I need guidance and I know that’s what you would be doing for the children if the roles were switched.

 I’ll try to keep my sanity the next few months and help the children with this hardship but I know it will be difficult. I’m going to prioritize more and put family before Raleigh. Your sister, Mary, has been especially helpful thus far and is planning on staying with us for a good while. I expect this will help with the children and ease my sanity.

 Yours Forever,

 Joel

I couldn’t fathom how hard it must have been for father when mother died and I definitely couldn’t understand how he was able to live away from her for so long before her death; then again I guess I couldn’t imagine the strain it had on mother either. You see, father was living in Johnston County to be close to Raleigh and mother, myself and my brothers and sisters were in our home in Wilmington. Before father left for Raleigh I remember hearing him and mother talk about the turmoil our country was in with England and the importance that his role had on the development of the Piedmont region. It may have been childish of me but I often sat alone and cried wishing he would come home to us. When mother received letters ever few weeks I loved sitting with her reading them but sometimes I was scared for what was to come next. With the continual rebellions happening throughout the south I could only imagine father was writing that he was in danger or that we were possibly in danger. He did often times bring good news like when he became lieutenant colonel of Wake Militia or when he would send news of the progress of the home he was preparing for us in Raleigh. I suppose it’s somewhat childish of me to be thinking of the days past, when I should have been thinking of the future. Aunt Mary had recently moved into father’s room and I’m not really sure how I felt about it. I should have saw this coming after mother’s death but I often thought it was a phase father was going through because he missed mother so much. All I can remember about that September night was that I heard my father cry for the first time and that I finally decided to join forces in the fight against Great Britain so that I could be a man just like father.


 * Pedagogical Application**: This short piece could be used as a hook to introduce the development of Raleigh and how Joel Lane is considered one of the founding father's of the city. By picking up on subtle characteristics that Joel Lane had (i.e. being colonel of Wake Militia) students can investigate his presence in the city. Finally, students can reconstruct the letters that were mentioned in the narrative and develop a time line in both Raleigh's foundational history as well as America's. My goal for the students is for them to leave with a better understanding of the foundation of Raleigh and its impact on the city today. I hope to facilitate this through a class discussion about the history of Raleigh and through a webquest that is scaffolded by the instructor. In terms of assessment I think it would be interesting for students to create a presentation with Google Earth (similar to the web tech tool Google Lit Trips) to show the streets of Raleigh today verses the streets of Raleigh in the 1770s-1800s.

November 15, 1770

 Martha,

 I’ve come close to moving up in the scheme of things hear in Johnston. The acreage is beautiful as are the people and buildings. I’ve begun to commission land for a country court here in Johnston County. It seems only natural that a governing location be formed and I’m such a privileged gentlemen to be a part of it. I can’t begin to wonder what is to come of us next and our country. There have been many, many developments throughout the past few weeks and I cannot imagine to think what should come of me in the next few months.

 Yours truly,

 Joel

 January 30, 1771

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Martha,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> My dear, dear sweetheart how I miss thee and loathe that you are so distant from me. I am nothing but exhausted in my attempts to communicate with you these past few weeks and you have my sincerest regret that I’m just now writing. As you may, or may not have heard, our great governor, William Tryon has recently appointed me lieutenant colonel of Wake Militia. There has been a building up forces in an around Orange County and I am nothing but intrigued by the prospect of fighting for the colony. Many are angry at Governor Tryon and I have heard many threats to his life, especially from the western counties of a perspective rebellion beginning. I can only hope that you my dear will be safe and our children will prosper.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Yours truly,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Joel

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> May 16, 1771

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Martha,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> From your previous letter I hope to assure you that the plantation is, as always, steady and secure. As the county court met I am now an appointed member of the court. I cannot imagine what else I’m expected to do other than to say yes when offered these positions. At times, I feel overwhelmed and eager to pack-up the house and move back to Wilmington. Oh how I miss the smell of the saltwater and picking seashells each morning with Henry, James and William. I do hope I’m not being too presumptuous when asking if they miss me? What is life without a father even if they do have everything they will ever need.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I forgot to mention the how reluctant Governor Tryon was in sending the Wake militia into the Battle of Alamance. I can only admit that I am nothing but relieved that I didn’t have to head to battle but the lingering threat of revolution continually lingers near. I’ve heard talk of an uprising with even more Regulators from the west and I feel that the time of the British rule may be on a decline.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Yours truly,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Joel

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> September 9, 1771

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> To My dearest Martha,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I know that you will never receive this letter but I needed some sort of closure for my own well being before your funeral. These past few years have been something that I know you’ve treasured, as have I, and the world will mourn the loss of such a person, such as yourself. All the children, especially little Dorothy are in tears repeatedly as my quill hits this paper. I’m not sure what to say to them – how to say it to them. I need guidance and I know that’s what you would be doing for the children if the roles were switched.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> I’ll try to keep my sanity the next few months and help the children with this hardship but I know it will be difficult. I’m going to prioritize more and put family before Raleigh. Your sister, Mary, has been especially helpful thus far and is planning on staying with us for a good while. I expect this will help with the children and ease my sanity.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Yours Forever,

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Joel

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">From Dr. Lee - you have some good ideas here, but the assignment is to write a story. Take the ideas and convert to a story with a central character(s) and simple plot. I think you have the plot outlined through the letters.