[Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne at Cottage, Lynchburg, Virginia, to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie at [Pharsalia,] Rose Mills, Nelson, Virginia, August 16 [or 17], 1820. 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.]
Cottage August 16th 1820
My dear Sally
Ben has just gotten down from Mr. Johnston's with a letter from brother Billy Tom is much better and walks to breakfast and dinner.
Papa will go up next week, Tom wishes to go to the Sweet springs.
Lucy is going on very well but craves some of your whiskey too much.
I hope you will come up as soon as Tom and Papa return; Papa wishes me to go over with him but I don't know how it will be I had concluded to go until Tom desired to go on to the springs but I believe I shall now decline it.
It was at Major Read's the day before yesterday they were mending very fast except Nathan, who I fear never will mend, we hea[r]d last night of the death of Sally Harris, she nursed Cate like a child and no doubt fatiegued [fatigued] herself to death.
Your ever affectionate Sister
F. Langhorne
[Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" 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.
Papa = James Steptoe (1750-1826).
Brother Billy = William Callaway Langhorne (1783-1858), who was married to Catherine Callaway Langhorne (1792-1871).
Lucy = Lucinda "Lucy" Steptoe Penn (1795-1878), married to Robert "Bob" Cowan Penn (1789-1856). Lafayette Penn was born on August 6, 1820 (and died in 1840).
Major Read's = related to Major John Reid (1784-January 18, 1816), aide-de-camp to Andrew Jackson, born in or near New London, Virginia, then based in Tennessee; and Maria Frances Thompson Reid (died January 1816?). They apparently had a daughter named Sophia Reid. Jack Reid was directly related to Nathan Reid (1753-1830), who had married Sophia Thorpe in 1784. Other Reid family members lived around New London and Lynchburg, Virginia. Jack Reid was working on a biography of Andrew Jackson at the time of his death.
Sally Harris (died 1820) = not sure who this is.
Cate = mentioned in other letters around this time. Not sure who she is, though.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
Cottage August 16th 1820
My dear Sally
Ben has just gotten down from Mr. Johnston's with a letter from brother Billy Tom is much better and walks to breakfast and dinner.
Papa will go up next week, Tom wishes to go to the Sweet springs.
Lucy is going on very well but craves some of your whiskey too much.
I hope you will come up as soon as Tom and Papa return; Papa wishes me to go over with him but I don't know how it will be I had concluded to go until Tom desired to go on to the springs but I believe I shall now decline it.
It was at Major Read's the day before yesterday they were mending very fast except Nathan, who I fear never will mend, we hea[r]d last night of the death of Sally Harris, she nursed Cate like a child and no doubt fatiegued [fatigued] herself to death.
Your ever affectionate Sister
F. Langhorne
[Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" 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.
Ben = not sure who this is.
Mr. Johnston = because of the Panic of 1819, Charles Johnston (1769-1833) had to sell Sandusky in Lynchburg; the Johnstons relocated from Lynchburg to Botetourt Springs in late 1819, early 1820. 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.
Papa = James Steptoe (1750-1826).
Brother Billy = William Callaway Langhorne (1783-1858), who was married to Catherine Callaway Langhorne (1792-1871).
Tom = Thomas Eskridge Steptoe (1799-1880).
Major Read's = related to Major John Reid (1784-January 18, 1816), aide-de-camp to Andrew Jackson, born in or near New London, Virginia, then based in Tennessee; and Maria Frances Thompson Reid (died January 1816?). They apparently had a daughter named Sophia Reid. Jack Reid was directly related to Nathan Reid (1753-1830), who had married Sophia Thorpe in 1784. Other Reid family members lived around New London and Lynchburg, Virginia. Jack Reid was working on a biography of Andrew Jackson at the time of his death.
Sally Harris (died 1820) = not sure who this is.
Cate = mentioned in other letters around this time. Not sure who she is, though.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
No comments:
Post a Comment
Commentaires