Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn to Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie, May 17, 1817

[Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn [at or near Bedford County, Virginia], to Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie at Pharsalia, Nelson County, Virginia, May 17, 1817, "by Uncle George." 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 Sister,                                                                    May 17, 1817

Grace has declined going down fearing perhaps she may be taken with the measles at your house they are in Lynchburg and she has never avoided them. I got you the things you wanted the catgut is very coarse but could not get any that was finer. 

2½ yds shirting 2-6  =  6.3
Catgut 2 ½ 1.6          =  3.9
Bolt fonting[?] 3.0    =  3.0
                                     13.0

[W]ill you be so good as to send me by Brother W. how long lemon peel should be kept in water and what quantity of sugar should be put to it when preserved if you should not come up yourself. 

                                                                       L. Penn


[Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn (1795-1878), who married Robert Cowan Penn (1789-1854) in 1814. Their Bedford County, Virginia, estate was (or would be) named "St. Helena." 


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

Grace = probably Grace Bradfute (circa 1792-1855), daughter of Robert Bradfute (1749-1816) and sister of  Margaret "Peggy" Bradfute (circa 1788-1833) and Davidson Bradfute (1781-1831), the last who had married Maria Byrd (1786-1854) in 1809, and served as Cashier for Farmer's Bank of Lynchburg. 


Brother W. = Dr. William Steptoe (1791-1860), married to Anne Nancy Brown Steptoe (March 4, 1792-April 5, 1817) since February 7, 1815. Their son, Edward Jenner Steptoe (1815-1865), was born on November 7, 1815. 

Uncle George = also mentioned in other letters, most probably George Callaway (1785-1822), a son of James Callaway by his second wife, Elizabeth Early Callaway (1759-1796).]


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

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