[William Carlton Radford at Poplar Forest to William Mosely Radford, Student at the University of Virginia, Albermarle, Virginia, c/o Mr. Gilmer, May 26, 1830. Box 29, folder 10, 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 William
Mr. Gilmer being on his way to Albermarle I take the opportunity of writing to you a few lines.
I find by your answer to John's letter, that he has been very indiscreet in writing to you on an important subject, and one calculated to give you some uneasiness from the communication itself.
It is the object of this letter to remove any uneasiness you may feel upon the subject, by telling you that the tale has made no impression upon any person whatever. In fact the gossipers, being entirely at fault upon the matter, have ascribed it first to one at fault and then to another, until they have no person to go upon. Under this state of affairs it will be entirely useless to challenge Miss H. A. on your return.
Your cousin Susan arrived in Lynchburg on Saturday evening last, came by here on Sunday, and went the same evening to New London on her way to Botetourt. Her anxiety on account of Sarah Bowyer's health prevented her from staying any time with us. She will probably return during the course of the summer.
She talks of Presidents, secretaries, members of Congress as her every day acquaintances. When I see her again I shall insist on her writing her travels. She was attended by her cousin a daughter of Gen'l Frank Preston (who has been going to school with Anne in Richmond) and by his son & young Mr. Trigg.
Susan left our friends in Richmond all week. She seems to think John will be let off. She states that William S. Archer member from Virginia will visit Miss Smith in the [?] of the Summer. He is very nearly as old as I am.
Having written you so lately I will conclude by presenting you the love of all the family.
your affectionate father
Wm. Radford
P.S. If you have not already stop'd the Museum do so immediately for me as the year is about to expire. I am heartily sick of it and would not pay the postage for it.
[William Carlton Radford (1781-1861)
Poplar Forest = Thomas Jefferson estate, connected to the Radfords. One area with a house was later called "Ashwood."
William Mosely Radford (1810-1873)
Mr. Gilmer = [?]
John = John Blair Radford (1813-1872)
Miss H. A. = [?]
Susan = Susanna (Susan) Smith Preston (1805-1857) would marry the recipient of this letter at Greenfield on August 31, 1831.
Sarah Bowyer = Sarah Radford Preston Bowyer (1801-1848), married to Henry Morton Bowyer (1802-1893) since September 8, 1827.
Her cousin = most likely Margaret Buchanan Frances Preston (1818-1852), who would marry Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) of Columbia, South Carolina, in Washington County, Virginia, on October 10, 1838.
General Frank Preston = Francis Smith Preston (1765-1836)
Anne = Anne Rebecca Radford (1816-1841), who would marry Charles Trigg Beale on April 17, 1837 or 1838.
His son = probably Charles Henry Campbell Preston (1807-1832) or Thomas Lewis Preston (1812-1903); his two other sons were living in South Carolina at the time.
Young Mr. Trigg = could be any number of Triggs.
William S. Archer = William Segar Archer (1789-1855), a nephew of Joseph Eggleston (1754-1811).
Miss Smith = [?]
The Museum = periodical.]
Note: Radford University, Radford, Virginia, has a digitized set of Radford Family Letters (transcripts) available online. Looks like a goldmine of material. Link here.
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
My dear William
Mr. Gilmer being on his way to Albermarle I take the opportunity of writing to you a few lines.
I find by your answer to John's letter, that he has been very indiscreet in writing to you on an important subject, and one calculated to give you some uneasiness from the communication itself.
It is the object of this letter to remove any uneasiness you may feel upon the subject, by telling you that the tale has made no impression upon any person whatever. In fact the gossipers, being entirely at fault upon the matter, have ascribed it first to one at fault and then to another, until they have no person to go upon. Under this state of affairs it will be entirely useless to challenge Miss H. A. on your return.
Your cousin Susan arrived in Lynchburg on Saturday evening last, came by here on Sunday, and went the same evening to New London on her way to Botetourt. Her anxiety on account of Sarah Bowyer's health prevented her from staying any time with us. She will probably return during the course of the summer.
She talks of Presidents, secretaries, members of Congress as her every day acquaintances. When I see her again I shall insist on her writing her travels. She was attended by her cousin a daughter of Gen'l Frank Preston (who has been going to school with Anne in Richmond) and by his son & young Mr. Trigg.
Susan left our friends in Richmond all week. She seems to think John will be let off. She states that William S. Archer member from Virginia will visit Miss Smith in the [?] of the Summer. He is very nearly as old as I am.
Having written you so lately I will conclude by presenting you the love of all the family.
your affectionate father
Wm. Radford
P.S. If you have not already stop'd the Museum do so immediately for me as the year is about to expire. I am heartily sick of it and would not pay the postage for it.
[William Carlton Radford (1781-1861)
Poplar Forest = Thomas Jefferson estate, connected to the Radfords. One area with a house was later called "Ashwood."
William Mosely Radford (1810-1873)
Mr. Gilmer = [?]
John = John Blair Radford (1813-1872)
Miss H. A. = [?]
Susan = Susanna (Susan) Smith Preston (1805-1857) would marry the recipient of this letter at Greenfield on August 31, 1831.
Sarah Bowyer = Sarah Radford Preston Bowyer (1801-1848), married to Henry Morton Bowyer (1802-1893) since September 8, 1827.
Her cousin = most likely Margaret Buchanan Frances Preston (1818-1852), who would marry Wade Hampton III (1818-1902) of Columbia, South Carolina, in Washington County, Virginia, on October 10, 1838.
General Frank Preston = Francis Smith Preston (1765-1836)
Anne = Anne Rebecca Radford (1816-1841), who would marry Charles Trigg Beale on April 17, 1837 or 1838.
His son = probably Charles Henry Campbell Preston (1807-1832) or Thomas Lewis Preston (1812-1903); his two other sons were living in South Carolina at the time.
Young Mr. Trigg = could be any number of Triggs.
William S. Archer = William Segar Archer (1789-1855), a nephew of Joseph Eggleston (1754-1811).
Miss Smith = [?]
The Museum = periodical.]
Note: Radford University, Radford, Virginia, has a digitized set of Radford Family Letters (transcripts) available online. Looks like a goldmine of material. Link here.
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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