[Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn at New London, Virginia, to Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie [at Pharsalia,] Rose Mills, Nelson County, Virginia, July 24, 1817. 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.]
July 1817
Dear Sally
Expecting you were anxious to hear how little Tom was coming on I concluded to write you if it was but one line, he is very well and has been ever since you left him and still continues to fatten -- by the time this reaches you I suppose you will be about setting of[f] to the Springs.
Write us soon how you are and how Miss Peggy is.
Harry L was expected at the Forest to day but Dick does not expect he will call on us without being invited. [H]e came up to Ross's sale at the Iron Works to buy Negroes I suspect; if so we may conclude he has given out the idea of coming to Lynchburg.
Sally says she wants to hear from her children.
My love to Miss P. and tell her I wish her success also to Mr. Massie and believe me to be your Affectionate Sister
Lucinda
[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."
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
July 1817
Dear Sally
Expecting you were anxious to hear how little Tom was coming on I concluded to write you if it was but one line, he is very well and has been ever since you left him and still continues to fatten -- by the time this reaches you I suppose you will be about setting of[f] to the Springs.
Write us soon how you are and how Miss Peggy is.
Harry L was expected at the Forest to day but Dick does not expect he will call on us without being invited. [H]e came up to Ross's sale at the Iron Works to buy Negroes I suspect; if so we may conclude he has given out the idea of coming to Lynchburg.
Sally says she wants to hear from her children.
My love to Miss P. and tell her I wish her success also to Mr. Massie and believe me to be your Affectionate Sister
Lucinda
[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.
Little Tom = Thomas James Massie (March 23, 1817-1877).
Miss Peggy = probably Margaret "Peggy" Bradfute (circa 1788-1833), daughter of Robert Bradfute (1749-1816) and sister of Grace Bradfute (circa 1792-1855) 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.
Harry L = Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854), who had married Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe (1798-1832) on March 13, 1816. Harry's second wife would be Anne Eliza Scott (1800-1870).
Ross's sale at the Iron Works = David Ross (circa 1737-May 4, 1817) estate, owner of Oxford Iron Works. See Charles B. Dew, "David Ross and the Oxford Iron Works: A Study of Industrial Slavery in the Early Nineteenth-Century South." William and Mary Quarterly, Volume 31, Number 2 (April 1974), pages 189-224.
Little Tom = Thomas James Massie (March 23, 1817-1877).
Miss Peggy = probably Margaret "Peggy" Bradfute (circa 1788-1833), daughter of Robert Bradfute (1749-1816) and sister of Grace Bradfute (circa 1792-1855) 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.
Harry L = Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854), who had married Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe (1798-1832) on March 13, 1816. Harry's second wife would be Anne Eliza Scott (1800-1870).
Ross's sale at the Iron Works = David Ross (circa 1737-May 4, 1817) estate, owner of Oxford Iron Works. See Charles B. Dew, "David Ross and the Oxford Iron Works: A Study of Industrial Slavery in the Early Nineteenth-Century South." William and Mary Quarterly, Volume 31, Number 2 (April 1974), pages 189-224.
Dick = probably Richard Henry Lee Steptoe (1786-1818/1819).
Sally = Another Sally, not sure who this is.]
Sally = Another Sally, not sure who this is.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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