Sunday, March 26, 2017

Charles Clement Johnston to Susanna (Susan) Smith Preston, April 20, 1829

[Charles Clement Johnston at Wythe Court-House to Susanna (Susan) Smith Preston near Fincastle, Virginia, April 20, 1829. Box 25, Folder 5, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529. This is my rough transcription. Instances of the "long s" in the original have been modernized and paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]

My Dear Susan


I received from Mrs. Crutchfield a day ago the first intelligence of your return from Washington. She was not able to answer my various inquiries about you, so that I am only left to conjecture and to hope that your health and spirits have been improved by your trip. I should have written frequently to you had I not supposed that you would stay so short a time in one place that my letters could not find you.


I wish you had as good a reason for not writing to me: I am sure if you knew and felt what an anxious solicitude I have about you, you would relieve it by letting me know sometimes where and how you are.


My own health is scarcely so good as when I saw you last: I feel as if my calamities were preying on my vitals and exhausting my life, but I struggle to bear up myself under them.


I expect that your Mama will be in Abingdon in a few days: I shall reach there tomorrow and will inform you as soon as she arrives what her intentions are respecting her future plans.


As soon as my professional engagements will permit I will pay you a visit in Botetourt. I cannot say however at present how soon this will be. 


With my kindest wishes to Sarah & Mrs. Bowyer & William & family I remain as always D'r Susan

                              yr most affectionate brother
                                    Ch. C. Johnston 

[p.s.]


My Dear Children


Your father was delighted to hear from Mrs. Crutchfield that you were well and what good children you are. I bought for you yesterday two beautiful books, that I will send by the first opportunity, and I hope you will both be able almost to read and understand them when I see you next.


I hope to fold my dear children in my arms in a short time. Get your Aunt Susan or Sarah to read this little letter and to answer it for you: kiss them both for me and be sure that I am as always your dotingly[?] fond father

                                        Ch. C. Johnston

[Eliza Madison Preston Johnston (1803-November 27, 1828) married Charles Clement Johnston (1795-1832), at Greenfield, on December 29, 1822. 
Sue/Susan = Susanna (Susan) Smith Preston (1805-1857)

The children = John Preston Johnston (1824-1847) was born on February 1, 1824. Eliza Mary Johnston (1825-1909) was born on July 3, 1825.
Sarah = Sarah Radford Preston (1806-1848) married Henry Morton Bowyer (1802-1893) on September 8, 1827.
William = William Mosely Radford (1810-1873). Sadly for Charles, no doubt, Susan married William in August of 1831 at Greenfield. 
Mrs. Crutchfield = not sure how she fits in yet.

Your Mama = (stepmother) Elizabeth Ann Carrington Preston (1768-1839).
Mrs. Bowyer = presumably Elizabeth Hubard Bowyer (1779-1857).]

[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]

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