Frances Callaway Steptoe Langhorne to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie, December 5, 1817

Sandusky. Lynchburg, VA (Nov 2008) by Pubdog: public domain via Wikimedia Commons

[Frances Callaway Steptoe Langhorne at Sandusky, Lynchburg, Virginia, to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie, December 5, 1817. Massie Family Papers, Virginia Historical Society. This is my rough, annotated transcription from a copy graciously provided by William Myers. Extra paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.]

Dear Sally

I expected to have been in Nelson before this, but have been extremely unwell [unwell] ever since I came up. I have not spent one well day for three weeks. I should have had a very severe attack of the billious [bilious] fever, if I had not have taken such a quantity of medicine. I fear very much I shall not be able to return to Cumberland to pack up.

I suppose you have heard that Mr. Langhorne intends living in Lynchburg, he will live in a house belonging to Mr. Hazle, a large brick house near Mr. Dunington’s.

Lucy [and] Patsy Reed and myself came down on sunday [Sunday] and this is friday [Friday] Lucy and Patsy are going up to day but sister Betsey thinks I am too unwell. I was extremely unwell yesterday.

Mr. Johnston intends having a big dinner tomorrow Mr. Jefferson is to be of the party and to dine on venison at least that is a dish they seem to admire most.

Lucy is as fat as she can wallow and Jimmy shorts is as bad; he talks of Captain [and] Aunt Sally and little Tom Thum [Thumb] frequently.

Brother Billy intends spending his christmas [Christmas] with you and if I am well enough I will go down with him.

Kitty Langhorne has a fine son nearly a month old.

Robert Bradfute is to be married the tenth of this month to a Miss Varser of Hallifax [Halifax]. Baldly and Robert have opened a large store in New London.

Davidson has sold his land in Bedford to the Bullocks at fifteen dollars and takes it out in goods they keep store in Mr. White’s store and Robert’s wife is to live upstairs.

John has been as sick as I have been he has had a most shocking cold.

When I began this letter I did not expect to write a dozen lines I felt so unwell.

Lucy Johnston is expected home next week.

I hope you will excuse this miserably written and spelled letter.

My love to Mr. Massie Tom Thum [Thumb] and yourself

                                            I am your affectionate sister

                                              F. Langhorne

[Frances Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816. Their son William Maurice “Wee” Langhorne (1818-1900) would be born on June 30, 1818.

Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828) was married to William Massie (1795-1862) and was the daughter of James Steptoe (1750-1826). There is a massive Massie collection at the University of Texas here.

Little Tom Thumb = Thomas James Massie (1817-1877), born on March 23, 1817.

Mr. Hazle = unclear who this is.

Mr. Dunington = probably Walter Dunnington (1778-1818) or a close relative of his. 

Lucy and Patsy Reed = not sure who they are.

Mr. Johnston = Charles Johnston (1768-1833). His second wife, Elizabeth “Betsey” Prentiss (aka Prentis) Steptoe Johnston (1783-1820), mother of Frances, would die on February 13, 1820, age thirty-seven, and be buried at the Callaway-Steptoe Cemetery in Bedford County, Virginia.

Before the relocation to Botetourt Springs, Sandusky = Charles Johnston estate from 1808 to 1819, in Lynchburg. For much more, see this link.

Mr. Jefferson = Thomas Jefferson (1743-1826).

Lucy = Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn had married Robert Cowan Penn (1789-1856) in 1814; their daughter Frances “Fannie” Louisa Penn (1818-1879) would be born on June 21, 1818.

Jimmy = James Callaway Steptoe (1781-1827), had married Catherine Mitchell (1780-1850) in Bedford County on September 21, 1808.

Brother Billy = William Steptoe (1791-1860).

Kitty Langhorne = Catherine Callaway Langhorne (1792-1871), married to William C. Lanhorne (1783-1853); their son John Miller Langhorne (1817-1907) was born on November 9, 1817, in Bedford County.

Robert Bradfute (1781-1831) would marry Lucy Ann Vasser (1794-1826) on December 20, 1817.

Davidson = Davidson Bradfute (1781-1831).

$15 in 1817 = about $260 in early 2017.

John = not clear who this is. <Correction, September 11, 2017: John Scarsbrook Langhorne (June 1, 1817-1896).>

Lucy Johnston = Lucy Hopkins Johnston, (1800-1888), who would marry Thomas Marshall Ambler (1791-1825) on April 14, 1819.]

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