Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn to Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie, May 17, 1820

[Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn [near Lynchburg, Virginia], to Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie at Pharsalia, Nelson County, Virginia, May 17, 1820, conveyed “by Uncle George.” 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.]

                                                                       May 17, 1820

Dear Sally,

I received the capes by Uncle George for the little girls & shall send them up by Mr. Johnston who is now attending the chancery Court.

Papa is much the same as he was when Tom wrote you perhaps a little better as he thinks he could eat some muffins and has been talking a great deal of old lady's mutton chops. I think his wishing to eat is a proof that he is mending, though very slowly -- he has sit up for the last four or five days and walks about the room occasionally.

    [F]arewell & believe me your affectionate Sister - L. Penn

P.S. I was in Lynchburg about a week ago & could not see any Canton Crape that was nice enough for the children's frocks & their spring goods had not then arrived & I have not heard from Fanny whether she has gotten them or not, but have written her, by Uncle George to send Martha's to you if she has.  L. Penn

[L. Penn = Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn (1795-1878), who married Robert Cowan Penn (1789-1854) in 1814.

Sally = Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828), who married William Massie (1795-1862) in 1814.

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

Papa = James Steptoe (1750-1826), residing at Federal Hill.

Tom = Thomas Eskridge Steptoe (1799-1880).

Uncle George = also mentioned in other letters, most possibly George Callaway (1785-1822), a son of James Callaway (1736-1809) by his second wife, Elizabeth Early Callaway (1759-1796). However, "Papa" James Steptoe (1750-1826), Lucy and Sally's father, also had a brother George Steptoe, born in 1748 but, according to vague family trees on Ancestry.com, died in 1802 -- a doctor, apparently.

Old lady = not sure who this is.

Fanny = Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816.

Martha = probably Martha Butler Johnston (1814-1836).]

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