Dear Sally
I have never gotten your articles until today the old man has
been waiting on me several days but Miss Peggy has been with me and they could
not have been gotten sooner he complains very much of being detained and that
his old master has not finished the books seeing him so anxious to be about his
tobacco.
I went to see Esther today the whole town seems to be alive with
portly women she has had the old Lady with her for some time the old soul is as
pleased as punch and so is John.
I heard today from Lucy Ambler she has gotten home safe and
sound. I thought she went off with very little reluctance, I suppose you have
heard of the fight Charles has had it is reported all over town that he ran
like fun but Mr. Langhorne says he acted very courageously and that a dirk was
twice taken from Rives; Charles came of[f] best of the two.
Mrs. Boyd talks of going to see you but I don’t think she will.
Miss Peggy is going to Mr. Yancey’s next week and I expect will be gone a long
time. Mrs. Bradfute in in great distress about poor little Sally, and Mr.
Tompkins sets of next week for Ohio so I don’t think the old Lady will go.
I enquired of Kyle about your checks he says it was packed up in
a box if their [there] was any bought, I have you will be pleased with the
things I am not so pleased with the stuff but you may like it as for my paying
for the shoes it made no difference about the money as you seemed to be
hard run and at any time it would have
answered for me.
We shall look for you about August to stay much longer than you
did before remember me to Mr. Massie and tell Tommo Jack talks of him
incessantly, he is always going to town to see Tommo and everything he has
Tommo has sent it to him. I send you an account of the articles I purchased for
you.
I am your affectionate Sister
F. Langhorne
4 yards of checks at 3/
$2
2 do bombayed 2/6 83
1 box of Cotton ¾ 62
1 do coloured Cotton 1/6 25
2 yds of ribband 1/6 25
¾ yd of persian 2/3 37
1 pair of shoes
2.50
6.82
[Amherst, Virginia, is only about eleven miles from Roses Mill,
Virginia, and about twenty-seven miles from New London, Virginia.
Frances Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry
Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816. Their son William Maurice
“Wee” Langhorne (1818-1900) was born on June 30, 1818. She was twenty years old
at the time of this letter.
Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828) was married to William
Massie (1795-1862) and was the daughter of James Steptoe (1750-1826). She was
about twenty-three at the time of this letter. There is a massive Massie
collection at the University of Texas here.
The old man = not sure who this is. <Revision, September 11, 2017: This may be "Old George" mentioned in several other letters around this time.>
Miss Peggy = not sure who this is. <Revision, September 11, 2017:
Esther = not sure who this is.
The old Lady = not sure who this is.
Lucy Ambler = Lucy Hopkins Johnston (1800-1888) married Thomas
Marshall Ambler (1791-1825) on April 14, 1819.
Charles = possibly Charles Pickett Johnston (1802-1852), died in
Mississippi -- details sketchy.
Rives = probably related in some way to William Cabell Rives
(1793-1868); note also that Dr. James Turner Saunders (1791-1864) married Ann Marie Rives
(1805-1887); they are buried together in Lynchburg, Virginia.
Mrs. Boyd = not sure who this is.
Mr. Yancey = not sure who this is.
Mrs. Bradfute and Sally = probably related to these Bradfutes in
some way: Robert Bradfute (1781-1831) married Lucy Ann Vasser (1794-1826) on
December 20, 1817. Davidson Bradfute (1781-1831). The Bradfute homestead was
located near New London, Virginia, which was very close to Federal Hill, the
estate of James Steptoe.
Kyle = not sure who this is.
$2.83 in 1819 = about $50 in early 2017.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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