the S[t]ate of North carolina
Gilford county this the 20 of June
AD 1863 Mr gover vance ai [1]
Seat mi Self to inform you
that ai want to go to
fayett vill to work and
ai wanted to no whethe
ai cold Go or not ai have
worked at the armory Mills
agoin on 2 years and hant
got but 1 dollar a day
the wont give me no more
and ai cant bord mi self
at that and ai am a good
black smith and ai can
git More if the law will
let me go to another Shop
the was a man from
fayetts vill and he offerd
me 4 dollars a day and if
they is enny law to let me
go and work thare ai
[page 2]
want u to let me no it
for ai have a famly to
work for and ai cant
suport thame at 1 dallor
per day and ai hafto
pay 20 cents for flouer
$50 dollars abushel for Corn
and $1 dollar apound for
meat and ai want u to
let me no whether ai
Can go to fayetts ville
or not the Same company
ai work for pays sevrel other
handy $65 dollars amonth
and the dont hafto work
half as hard as ai do
this work ai hafto doo
is all hevy work and ai
dont git but 1 dollar a
day direct your letter to
jamestown gilford Co ..NC
grant mi recipt if u can
John Helms to Mr
govner ,, Z,,B,,vance