Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie, February 17, 1820

Pharsalia, Nelson County, Virginia. Virginia Department of Historic Resources

[Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne at Oakly, Lynchburg, Virginia, to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie at [Pharsalia,] Nelson, Virginia, February 17, 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.]

                                      Oakly February 17 1820
My Dear Sally

I must confess my negligence in not answering your first letter; a few days after I received it I went to Bottetoute [Botetourt Springs] and every week their [there] I intended answering it but something or other prevented me.

[Y]ou will scarcely believe me if I tell you I was not at Bob's wedding they honoured Lucy and myself with an invitation but I understood the hooping [whooping] cough was their [there] which prevented me. Lucy Tom and Mr. Langhorne were the only members of the family who were there and Kitty I am quite distressed at the idea of not being there. Cate and Ann were the bridesmaids they company are all to dine with me next twesday [Tuesday]. I wish to heaven you could be with us.

Sally you never saw any one more reduced than sister Betsy is her cough seems to have fixed itself and it is not my opinion that she can ever recover, if any thing will ever do her any good it will be coming back she is more dissatisfied than any person I ever saw and I believe she would prefer death rather than remain there [at Botetourt], it is a gloomy place; entirely surrounded with mountains, your place is a palace compared with it in every respect, she says she knows if she had not have gone their [there] she would never have been so sick.

[T]he old man [Charles Johnston] seems to be fixed for life and has no idea of coming back she had several crys [cries] about it whilst I was there,

We have sent to Richmond for seed they have not arrived yet; I have [?] in town to get you some Tomattoe [tomato] seed and can't, I have an invite to Maurice Hapson's[?] wedding the 18 of May I hope I will not be disappointed.

Mr. L sends his love and complasance [complaisance] to you and your good man and bods me to tell you Bob was very much alarmed.
                                             In haste your affec'
                                                    Sister
                                                        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.

Because of the Panic of 1819, Charles Johnston ("the old man," 1769-1833) had to sell Sandusky; the Johnstons relocated from Lynchburg to Botetourt Springs in late 1819, early 1820.

Betsy (also Betsey) = Elizabeth Prentiss Steptoe Johnston (1783-March 28, 1820). The Panic of 1819 and abrupt relocation away from Sandusky seem to have broken her spirits and led to an early death.

Bob's wedding = Robert "Bob" Callaway Steptoe (1791-1870) married Elizabeth "Betsy" Leftwich Steptoe (1800-1840) on February 15, 1820. 

[Another Bob = Robert "Bob" Cowan Penn (1789-1856).]

Lucy = Lucinda "Lucy" Steptoe Penn (1795-1878).

Cate and Ann = not sure who they are. 

Maurice Hapson or Hobson = not sure who this is.]

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