Bishop, Dock ~ Letter to Cousin

Dock Bishop 1884 Newspaper
Dock Bishop Timeline

Material submitted by Larry Hellums

Oxford, Miss.
Oct. the ___ 85
 
Mr. Bill Bishop
My Dear Cousen
 
With plesher I write you this leaves me well and hope this will find the conecton the same. I wrote Has as soon as I got back from Pittsboro tho have not heard from him yet. I will not have my trial the 26 of this month for the judge has called in his Court and now I have to stay heare untill March. I think my case will be nol processed heare and then they will send me to Coffeeville. I fear tho I hope that I can stay heare wheare I can be with my friends. I have not saw my Councels in some time. Cousen I am so trubled now I have a letter from my sister and Ma is Dean and it is verie greavous to me to heare of the death of my dear Mother who was so earnestly Praying for me to come home to her once more tho as for my triel I have no fears but what I will have my liberteys when I get my triel and want you to find out all you can for me so I will have no trubel when the time comes for my triel. I want you all to write me for I am glad to hare from you all. Tell Jim that I want him to come to see me soon. Would be glad to read a letter from him and learn all the news. I have bin expecting some of you up for some time. I want you to bring me a Bushel of Potatoes when you come. I heare from my wife evrie week. She is well and in good heart about my case and has fears but what I will come home when I have my triel. She has some good evidence for me since Court. Cousen I want you to not forget to go see her and console her all you can for you know Cousen that it is bound to be disheartening to her with no one to console her in her trubels and I will take it as a favor if you all will do this much for us and you shal never lowse aney thing by it in the future. Give my love to Cousen Mollie and kiss the littel ones for me. Tell them I will send them my picture when I go out to court so I can get one taken for them. Tell my little Cousen that I got those Peaches she send me while I was at Pittsboro. Would be glad if you cold bring them all with you at court heare to see me. Tell Has I don’t think that he have treated me rite by not ancering my card. Cousen I have a heap to tell you when I have a chance. Tell Henry to not think hard of me for not writing him for I have so much writing to do & want you all to come around to see me when you come to town. Give my regards to all the conecton and hope to heare from them ofton. I am Sorrie they will not set my triel at Pittsboro this month tho I think that I can demand a triel at eney time and they are bound to give it to me as my liberties is debared on account of that case being against me.
[Large crease] I want you to do all you can deare on this case for I think that Jim will be preset in the triel heare this court and get up all you can in regards to evidence. Let me heare from you as soon as you get this. Get me all the news of the comunity. I heard that Ed A was gone and I think he is ashamed of him self and can not stand to face eney boddie that every new him after swaring such lies as he did. He is 8 miles a bove Ponttoc neare Cedar grove. I am you true cousin, With love to all the conection,
J. Dock Bishop
 
This letter was written to William Tillman (Bill) Bishop, first cousin to Dock.
Has refers to Isaac Haswell (Has) Bishop, brother to William Tillman and another first cousin to Dock.
Sister was Anna Bishop, mother was Melvina Starkey Bishop.
Jim refers to James T. (Jim) Bishop, brother to Bill and Has and another first cousin to Dock.
His wife was Mattie Lamar Bishop.
Cousen Mollie refers to the wife of Bill Bishop, Mary Ann (Molly Bill) Williamson Bishop
Henry was Wilson Henry Bishop, brother of Bill, Has and Jim and another first cousin to Dock.
Ed A refers to Ed Amet, a witness at Dock’s trial at Pittsboro, Calhoun Co. for the killing of W.T. Wise.
I am not sure why the letter is signed J. Dock Bishop. All of my information indicates that his initials were N.W. Bishop.