[Algernon Sidney Johnston [at Abingdon, Virginia] to Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston [at Maiden Spring], Tazewell, Virginia, January 16, 1823, Box 1, John Warfield Johnston Papers, 1778-1890, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University].
Apparently, this is the first letter from "Old Syd" (1801-1852) to his sister-in-law Louisa (1800-1873). Written in a whimsical Romantic-tinged style and somewhat flirtatious at times. Louisa's husband, Dr. John Warfield Johnston (1790-1818), had died four years and a few months previously.
". . . for the last two or three weeks I have been continually in in the company of witty, facetious and beautiful young ladies . . . now back to the security of Johnie's counter." Mentions John "Johnie" Greenway several times, and his "counter" and "table."
Recalls recent events. "Being honored by the Sergeant with an invitation to his wedding, I mounted the Koult, (you know the Koult) and cantered down in such high style that several times in the road I was taken for the young lawyer going to marry the famous Miss Eliza Preston."
Charles Clement Johnston (1795-1832) married Eliza Madison Preston (1803-1828) on December 29, 1822, in Botetourt County, Virginia. He is here called "the Sergeant" probably because he (seems to have) served with that rank in the Seventh (7th) Virginia Militia Regiment under Lt. Col. David Saunders (1761-1842) of Bedford County, Virginia, during the War of 1812. The regiment was stationed in Norfolk.
"I attended the wedding with all the gravity meted to the occasion, and remained 9 or 10 days after, dividing my time between Greenfield and my Uncle Charles's, the attractions to each place being about as equally balanced as a pound weight on one side and the proper number of grains of coffee. But into the other scale by the nice hand of Johnie Greenway; tho,' to be sure, they at least predominated on one side: There were two or three ladies at each place; It am [sic] a fact, my dear sister, that one or two of them are amazingly pretty . . ." It would take too long to describe; "the Captain" could provide additional description.
Greenfield = Greenfield Plantation, about five miles southwest of Fincastle, Virginia. Still owned at this time by John Preston (1764-1827), Eliza's father. "Old Syd" was probably referencing Eliza's sisters, living at Greenfield: Sarah Radford Preston (1806-1848) and Susanna Smith Preston (1805-1857). William Preston (1798-1846), Eliza's brother, also resided there. Susanna later married William M. Radford (1810-1873). Sarah married Henry Morton Bowyer (1802-1893).
My Uncle Charles's: Charles Johnston (1769-1833), Botetourt Springs, Virginia (Hollins).
"But for an accident I would have gone with Edward to see you when he went . . ." Intends to visit in the spring or summer. "I certainly shall . . ." They will hike the hills around Tazewell, "explore the labyrinth of the valleys in every direction, until the panthers and bears scare us home . . ."
"Perhaps Edward may have communicated my secret to you already, but I think it probable that he was so much taken up with the narration of his own adventures as to forget it . . ."
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867) would marry Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (ca. 1802-1848) in New York City the following February. They would regroup with "Old Syd" in Columbia, South Carolina, a few years down the road.
For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.
Apparently, this is the first letter from "Old Syd" (1801-1852) to his sister-in-law Louisa (1800-1873). Written in a whimsical Romantic-tinged style and somewhat flirtatious at times. Louisa's husband, Dr. John Warfield Johnston (1790-1818), had died four years and a few months previously.
". . . for the last two or three weeks I have been continually in in the company of witty, facetious and beautiful young ladies . . . now back to the security of Johnie's counter." Mentions John "Johnie" Greenway several times, and his "counter" and "table."
Recalls recent events. "Being honored by the Sergeant with an invitation to his wedding, I mounted the Koult, (you know the Koult) and cantered down in such high style that several times in the road I was taken for the young lawyer going to marry the famous Miss Eliza Preston."
Charles Clement Johnston (1795-1832) married Eliza Madison Preston (1803-1828) on December 29, 1822, in Botetourt County, Virginia. He is here called "the Sergeant" probably because he (seems to have) served with that rank in the Seventh (7th) Virginia Militia Regiment under Lt. Col. David Saunders (1761-1842) of Bedford County, Virginia, during the War of 1812. The regiment was stationed in Norfolk.
"I attended the wedding with all the gravity meted to the occasion, and remained 9 or 10 days after, dividing my time between Greenfield and my Uncle Charles's, the attractions to each place being about as equally balanced as a pound weight on one side and the proper number of grains of coffee. But into the other scale by the nice hand of Johnie Greenway; tho,' to be sure, they at least predominated on one side: There were two or three ladies at each place; It am [sic] a fact, my dear sister, that one or two of them are amazingly pretty . . ." It would take too long to describe; "the Captain" could provide additional description.
Greenfield = Greenfield Plantation, about five miles southwest of Fincastle, Virginia. Still owned at this time by John Preston (1764-1827), Eliza's father. "Old Syd" was probably referencing Eliza's sisters, living at Greenfield: Sarah Radford Preston (1806-1848) and Susanna Smith Preston (1805-1857). William Preston (1798-1846), Eliza's brother, also resided there. Susanna later married William M. Radford (1810-1873). Sarah married Henry Morton Bowyer (1802-1893).
My Uncle Charles's: Charles Johnston (1769-1833), Botetourt Springs, Virginia (Hollins).
"But for an accident I would have gone with Edward to see you when he went . . ." Intends to visit in the spring or summer. "I certainly shall . . ." They will hike the hills around Tazewell, "explore the labyrinth of the valleys in every direction, until the panthers and bears scare us home . . ."
"Perhaps Edward may have communicated my secret to you already, but I think it probable that he was so much taken up with the narration of his own adventures as to forget it . . ."
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867) would marry Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (ca. 1802-1848) in New York City the following February. They would regroup with "Old Syd" in Columbia, South Carolina, a few years down the road.
For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.
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