George Steptoe to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie, October 5, 1827

[George Steptoe at Liberty, Bedford, Virginia, to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie [at Pharsalia], Nelson County, Virginia, October 5, 1827. 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

Presuming that you have not heard of the dangerous illness of your Brother James, I merely drop you a line to inform you that he is at the point of death. I fear there is but faint hopes of his recovery. He has been confined 7 weeks with the bilious fever, & there has been no abatement of it yet.

If you should wish to see him, by coming up as soon as this reaches you, you may probably do so, but it is not my opinion that he can stand it another week.

[A]ll the rest of your friends are well as far as I know.

                                                                                Yrs affc’y

                                                                                  G. Steptoe

[George Steptoe (1785-1862) was married to Maria Anne Thomas Steptoe (1792-1872).

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.

James Callaway Steptoe (December 10, 1781-October 24, 1827) was married to Catherine Mitchell Steptoe (1780-1858); they had at least two children: Frances Callaway Steptoe (1810-1880) and Edward Dillon Steptoe (1811-1854). James served for a time as Clerk of Bedford County, in which capacity he mentored Robert Crump Mitchell (1807-1872), a maternal nephew. Upon the death of James, Robert was elected (on November 27, 1827) the new County Clerk. See Frederick Johnston (1804-1893), Memorials of Old Virginia Clerks (1888), page 81.]

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