Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie, November 1, 1819

Sandusky, Lynchburg. November 2008 by Pubdog. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

[Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne at Sandusky, Lynchburg, Virginia, to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie at [Pharsalia,] Nelson, Virginia, November 1, 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.]

                                                  Sandusky  November 1 1819

Dear Sally

I am truly sorry to hear of your having coughs such a cold William has the worst cold I ever saw a child have. I was very much alarmed last night for fear of his having the croup but he is something better this morning.

I was quite delighted last night evening when I got here to find sister Betsy so much mended in mind and body she does not seem to mind packing up or talking of moving at all.

Mrs. Whitlock[?] has just sent to have her bedstead put up and sister Betsy's taken down which she refuses to do. Mr. Johnston wishes her to do it but she says she will not, I think she is quite right I would not be so turned round.

Jack cried all day about you and Tommo his face was quite sweled [swelled] and his eyes looked like peas. 

I will write to you often and let you hear we [how] we all are going on but I must insist on your coming up this winter.

             I am yours affectionately
                        F. Langhorne

[Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816. Their son John "Jack" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1817-1896) was born on June 1, 1817 (in later years, sometimes changed to 1818 or 1819). Their son William Maurice “Wee” aka "Billy" Langhorne (1818-1900) was born on June 30, 1818.

Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828) was married to William Massie (1795-1862) and was the daughter of James Steptoe (1750-1826). Their son Thomas "Tommo" James Massie (1817-1877) was born on March 23, 1817.There is a massive Massie collection at the University of Texas here.

Mrs. Whitlock[?] = apparently one of the new renters. Because of the Panic of 1819, Charles Johnston had to sell Sandusky; the Johnstons were in the process of moving to Botetourt Springs.

Betsy (also Betsey) = Elizabeth Prentiss Steptoe Johnston (1783-March 28, 1820). 

Mr. Johnston = Charles Johnston (1769-1833)]

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