Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie, August 20, 1820

Federal Hill, near New London, Virginia. Virginia Department of Historic Resources

[Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne at Federal Hill, Virginia, to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie at [Pharsalia, Rose Mills,] Nelson, Virginia, August 20, 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.]

                                                               Federal Hill August 20th 1820
Dear Sally

I locked your things in a trunk with my keys and I have no one, who I could trust to get them. I am in hopes Mr. Langhorne will be home in a few days and I will send them by the first chance.

I wish you would come up and stay with us whilst they are painting your house, and I will try and do down with you, Papa seems to be very anxious [about?] you. I think it would be much the best plan for you to come up and stay with us.

Lucy and little Bob are quite well. Miss Peggy is chock full of Nelson and what she saw. Mrs. Byrd was quite charmed with her visit. 

Tom has gotten home and is very much mended. Papa is much weaker than Tom, Papa and myself were very busy fixing to go over after Tom  we were to set off to day, but he took us quite by surprise and came down with sister Kitty Thursday, he says Mr. Johnston us the stingiest man on earth; what do you think of his having a large company[?]

The Miss Marx [?] and I can't tell you who and having nothing but pancakes for a des[s]ert.

It seems confirmed that Polly Irvine and Mr. Montgomery are to be married he goes to the Captain's and stays two or three days at a time, I sent to her last week to come to Papa, she has not been yet; if Papa did not intend going to Liberty to day in our gigg I would go over and see Betsy and them all and try and find it out.

Every body seems to be anxious to know who will buy the grove [The Grove] it is thought Boden of Williamsburg will try and get it.

Hannah is now bringing in breakfast; and I must bid a farewell tho not without tel[l]ing you we shall look for you up very soon do c[ome] up and stay until your house is dry.

                                           your affectionate Sister
                                                  F. Langhorne

PS They are all getting better at Major Reid's Cate is riding out but they boys can't sit up the old man was taken day before yesterday.  F. L.


[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.

Papa = James Steptoe (1750-1826).

Lucy = Lucinda "Lucy" Steptoe Penn (1795-1878), married to Robert "Bob" Cowan Penn (1789-1856). Lafayette ("little Bob") Penn was born on August 6, 1820 (and died in 1840).

Miss Peggy = Margaret "Peggy" Bradfute (circa 1788-1833), a daughter of Robert Bradfute (1749-1816). Grace Bradfute (circa 1792-1855) was one of her sisters. Davidson Bradfute (1781-1831), one of Peggy's brothers, married Maria Byrd (1786-1854) in 1809, and served as Cashier for Farmer's Bank of Lynchburg. Alexander Tompkins (1784-1864) acquired Davidson Bradfute's house, in the vicinity of New London, Virginia, after the latter's death, and was Head Cashier at the same bank. Among these folks would have been possible candidates for portraits by Harvey Mitchell (1799-1866).

Mrs. Byrd = mentioned in other letters around this time, but not sure who she is. 

Tom = Thomas Eskridge Steptoe (1799-1880).

Sister Kitty = there had been a Kitty Steptoe (1789-1790), but unless she was a traveling ghost at the time of this letter, this is more likely a reference to Catherine Callaway Langhorne (1792-1871), spouse of William Callaway Langhorne (1783-1853), or Catherine Mitchell Steptoe (1780-1858), spouse of James Callaway Steptoe (1781-1827). 

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 spirit and led to an early death.

Miss Marx = not sure who this is. 

Polly Irvine = possibly Mary B. Irvine, who married Dr. Paul C. Cabell in 1823.

Mr. Montgomery = not sure who this is.

The Captain's = either William Manning Mitchell (1774-June 12, 1824) or, perhaps, an Irvine. 

Betsy = possibly Elizabeth "Betsy" Cowan Irvine (1790-1862), who married John Watts Scott (1790-1850) in 1816 or 1819. Apparently a sister of Polly Irvine's.

The Grove = close to New London, Virginia.

Mr. Boden of Williamsburg = not sure who this is. 

Hannah = probably an enslaved servant. 

Major Reid'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.

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.]