Dec. 22, 1929

Dear Cousin

  The receipt of your letter was most welcome. I am sorry for delay in my answers but I gave your letter to my nephew and it was misslaid by mistake. Yes, I am Sarah Jane (O'Shields) married Breazeale. I was born May the 12, 1857 and the names in your letter bring memories of long ago. My grandparents was dead even before my parents married, but I know of them. Jethro and John O'Shields were brothers and yes they fought in the Revolutionary War together. My grandfather John O'Shields and my grandmother was a Paschal - she was raised by the Paschals as some might say - she was Elizabeth Lucretia O'Shields but commonly called Lucretia by the family because there was several Elizabeth O'Shields in the family. My mother added one more you see - she was Elizabeth Heaton called Betsy you see. My father was William Paschal O'Shields married 2 times, first wife Elizabeth Ann called Eliza or Lizzie but my mother Elizabeth called Betsy. My father died he died when I was a girl at end or just after Civil War. Papa started to Georgia to help my brothers widow. She had wrote for help. This was my half brother Leonard O'Shields. My father was killed when he went to trade or sell a horse to get provisions for us and Leonards widow in Georgia. If he fell from his horse or was killed we were never told but both horses were never found. We had it it hard being my mother left a widow with us small children not able to work the fields. We almost starved and I remeber (spelled this way in the letter) going with my mother to a neighbors smoke house to scrape dirt to boil for salt. If my mother were yet living she could tell you much more. I will ask my brother J.A. O'Shields to write you if he will - for he has Papa and Mama's Bible with the family Record. Will Close with Love, Your O'Shields cousin
  Sarah Jane Breazeale

Note:  I have searched for this family bible, unsuccessfully.  If anyone knows of its whereabouts, I beg you to contact me.  It is very important for family history.