Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn to Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie, November 21, 1819

[Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn [at or near Lynchburg, Virginia], to Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie at Pharsalia [in Nelson County, Virginia], [November] 21, 1819.  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.]

                                                               Sunday [November] 21st 1819

Dear Sally

I saw the other day the lovely Miss Dean that Frances and Harry talked so much about at a dineing [dining] party at Capt. Purvises[?], she cannot be cal[l]ed hansome [handsome] though she may be a very fine woman. William Langhorne & Harry appeared to be devoted to her, the day after they dined at papa’s the old man observed to her several times he had three sons single & that she must be locked up here some where. Harry talks of giving her a dancing party provided she will stay up until he moves into his new house; Sister Betsy very unexpectedly left Papa’s the day after she got there it was her intention to have staid a week or ten days until Mr. Johnston could get things comfortably arranged at home for her, but she was fearful the weather would be bad and probably detain her much longer, to which I cannot think she would have had any serious objection to.

Tom went up with her & says she was very anxious to return with him that nothing but the Education of the Children prevented her from returning & staying the Winter at Papa’s, he says she was remarkably low spirited after she got home.

Mr. Johnston wrote to Papa a few days ago that she was much worse & that he wished very much that Brother W. would go up to see her. I have heard since she was better.

[P]oor Mrs. Clark is very ill I saw her a few days ago she appears as if she could not possibly stand it much longer.

[D]id you ever see so delightfull [delightful] a spell of weather as we have had if it continues much longer I think you might afford to come up to Harry’s great Hurea[?] as old Mr. Bradfute used to call it.

Grace is still in town & Spence a’going to school to his Brother at the place where his Father lived.

I have seen nothing of Miss Peggy since you left here I think it probable she will be at Church today & return with Mrs. Bradfute.

Papa wishes you would send up the Carpet as soon as you can with convenience my love to Mr. Massie and believe me your affectionate Sister

                                                                  L Penn

[p.s.] write me soon

[L. Penn = Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn (1795-1878), who married Robert Cowan Penn (1789-1854) in 1814.

Sally = Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828), who married William Massie (1795-1862) in 1814.

Miss Dean = mentioned in other letters, sometimes spelled Deane, or Mary Deane.

Frances and Harry = Frances “Fanny” Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832), who married Henry “Harry Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) in 1816.

William Langhorne = William Callaway Langhorne (1783-1858), who married Catherine Callaway (1792-1871) in 1811.

Sister Betsy = Elizabeth Prentiss “Betsey” Steptoe Johnston (1783-1820), who married Charles Johnston (1769-1833) on New Year’s 1806-1807.

Papa = James Steptoe (1750-1826).

Mr. Johnston = Charles Johnston (same as above).
Tom = Thomas Eskridge Steptoe (1799-1880).
Brother W. = William Steptoe (1791-1860). 

Mrs. Clark = Not sure who this is.

Mr. and Mrs. Bradfute = probably related to these Bradfutes in some way: Robert Bradfute (1781-1831), who married Lucy Ann Vasser (1794-1826) on December 20, 1817; and 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. 

Grace = Not sure who this is.

Spence = Not sure who this is.

Miss Peggy = probably Peggy Bradfute, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Bradfute.]

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