My dear Preston
I promised myself that I would (by way of setting you a good
example) answer you ever-welcome letter the day after I received it, but first
one thing and then another has happened to prevent me until I have suffered
nearly three weeks to pass without writing.
We have as usual had a lonely and dreary winter one of the
mildest we have had for many years every thing begins to wear the face of
Spring the fields green, and the peach trees are in full bloom which I much
fear will be killed by frost.
Your Uncle Radford returned last evening after a visit of a week
to Bedford he left them all well at Father’s. Dr. Radford and his Lady were
there I could not go down as we had just got a teacher who boards with us, the
little girls are getting on, very well with their studies and I hope will soon
be able to write to you, they talk a great deal about you and are always
wishing you lived near to us.
Cousin Eliza Carrington has not yet arrived in Botetourt but is
expected the last of this month she has been greatly perplexed & harassed
& I much fear it is not to end with her removal to Botetourt. It is
generally believed that the Gen’l is totally ruined.
Aunt Sally I heard had settled something quite handsome on
Cousin Eliza and we heard Mr. Brace had given some ten or fifteen slaves to the
children, so that in any event they will be much richer than any of us in this
part of the country. She has too you know a very opulent brother, and cousin
Tom will be able & I have no doubt willing to do a good deal for them if
they should require it, by the by have you heard that Cousin Tom Preston is
certainly to be married to our Botetourt Bell [Belle] Miss Elizabeth Watts,
since Mr. Holcomb’s marriage he has been a constant visitor and is to be
married ere long – the day not fixed but all other preliminaries settled, I
hope and trust that he will be happy for I have a sincere affection for him.
I had not heard until you wrote that Eliza had gone to the South
pray when you write give me her address I wish to write to her and beg her to
spend next summer with me, I know our house and neighborhood offers very few
attractions for a young person but to tell you the truth I want to get
acquainted with Eliza and she will not be able to stay in the South during the
Summer months. I would be sincerely glad to have her with me, tell her as much
in your next letter and when I know certainly where she is, I will write to
her.
I did hear that cousin Sally Floyd expected to settle in Abingdon
but her health is so bad she will hardly continue to keep house long.
Cousin Tom said Aunt Sally would come down as soon as the roads
were passable to visit her daughter Mrs. McDowell who is in great affliction as
I suppose you have heard of Sally’s separation from her husband Mr. Thomas of
Maryland it is a horrible affair but all agree he is entirely to
blame.
Mr. Peyton left here last Sunday on is way to Washington with
his daughters to put them under the care of your Uncle Edward. I am truly glad
to hear you say he is doing so well I hope he will continue to prosper. I think
the occupation will suit him much better than teaching did, the old French
people have gone to be with him in Washington.
When you see Uncle Joe remember me kindly to him I am not so
entirely unacquainted with having met him some years ago in New York and I was exceedingly
pleased with him.
Susan Bowyer received your big paper and was exceedingly pleased
with it, the boys are going to school to our teacher and I hope are doing well.
Tom I think is to be a plantation man. Tell Carleton to write to us we would be
very glad to hear from him.
Your uncle and the little girls write with me in kind love to
you Liz says she will knit you some socks if a soldier will were [wear] them.
Write soon to your affectionate Aunt.
S.
S. Radford
[S. S. Radford = Susanna (Susan) Smith Preston Radford (1805-1857)
Preston = John Preston Johnston/aka Johnstone (1824-1847), eighteen-year-old cadet
at the US Military Academy (Class of 1843).
Dr. Radford and his Lady = Dr. John Blair Radford (1813-1872)
and Elizabeth Campbell Taylor Radford (1820-1886).
Eliza Carrington = Elizabeth (Eliza) Henry Preston Carrington (1796-1877)
Gen’l Carrington = Edward Codrington Carrington (1790-1855)
Aunt Sally = probably Sarah “Sally” Buchanan Campbell Preston
(1778-1846)
Mr. Brace = not sure who this is.
Cousin Tom, Tom Preston = presumably the same person = Thomas
Lewis Preston (1812-1903) who married Elizabeth Watts (1822-1843) on September
18, 1842.
Mr. Holcomb = not sure who this is.
Eliza = Eliza Mary Johnston
(1825-1909)
Sally Floyd = Sarah “Sally” Buchanan Preston Floyd (1802-1879)
Mrs. McDowell = probably Susanna “Susan” Smith Preston McDowell
(1800-1847), married to James McDowell (1795-1851).
Sally = Aunt Sally above? Did she remarry briefly after the
death of her husband Francis Smith Preston (1765-1836)? Or is this another Sally?
Mr. Thomas of Maryland = not sure who this is.
Mr. Peyton = probably either William Madison Peyton (1814-1868)
or General Bernard Peyton (1792-1854), then serving on the Virginia Military
Institute’s Board of Visitors with General Peter Carr Johnston (1793-1877),
general in the Virginia militia. Probably Sue and Lizzie Peyton, who had been
students of Edward’s at Botetourt Springs, circa 1839-1840.
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867) had moved to Washington City
by this point. He was working as a newspaper editor but also, it appears,
boarding and tutoring students.
The old French people = Jerome de Cressac Villagrand (1776-1845)
and Joséphine Labarrière Costar de Cressac Villagrand (circa
1776-1858), mother of Estelle, Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (De Cressac
Villagrand) (ca. 1802-1848).
Joe = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891), first lieutenant in the US Corps of Topographical Engineers.
Susan Bowyer = one of the Bowyer clan.
Carlton = Richard Carlton Walker Radford (1822-1886), West Point
Class of 1845.
Little girls = Elizabeth (“Liz”) Radford (1832-1898) and Mary Anne
Radford (1833-1878).]
[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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