[Peggy Bradfute [at or near New London, Virginia], to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie [at Pharsalia,] Rose Mills, Nelson County, Virginia, November 24, 1824. Postmarked Lynchburg, November 27, 1824. 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.]
December 28 1824
Dear Friend
I received your Letter & have executed to the best of my ability as their [there] was but little Choice all of that number coming from the Same Factory. I hope it will answer.
I now ask how you have spent your Christmas Merry or Sad.
I spent mine very agreeably at Church held by the Episcolians [Episcopalians] at our Church by the Reverent [Reverend] Mr. Smith.
Colls & Freeman of New Glasgow they had a Sacrament on Sabbath & a goodly Number of Methodist & Presbyterians Brethren united with them & we had a very solemn meeting on Saturday Doctor Davis & Abby had their Child Baptized by Mr. Smith they had their House full of kindred & Friends.
Harry & Fanny were invited but had gone up to her Father's. I write you some time ago that I was going to stay with her but Lucy Ambler being their [there] with an infectious Fever Prevented me. I was very sorry I could not see Lucy except to say howdy she has Fatten[ed] very much I saw neither of the Girls I regret very much this disappointment in visiting as expected you would be highly pleased to have seen them in that lonely Country.
[T]o change the subject I wish to know about breech I have committed to loose [lose] your Confidence I cannot conceive unless Mr. Massie told you I had mentioned what you had written about his being in a fret if that is what you allude to I will now Clear Myself before he had given me your Letter he said he had a great mind not to have Brought it as you had said so much about him he then told Sister Maria that you & him had a quarrel which lasted 3 days & that one knight [night] you did not sleep together he laid the blame on you & as usual espoused your cause.
I told him I knew he had grossly insulted you. Sister Maria told him she could hardly believe him for he was such a devoted husband & then mentioned you had said in your Letter you wished I knew what had put him in the dumps we wanted him to tell but he was ashamed we had several funny conjectures write me what it was tell him, pray for forgiveness as I am vindicating my innocence & this is a free Country you think you have a Great joke at last I will take a great deal less for it then you are willing to give.
[D]on't anticipate any pleasure in a connection of that kind for it is more than I have; should it ever happen tell the doctor I will speak a good word for him if he wishes it if I am so unlucky I need not be alarmed as I understand he is now courting a widow her name I don't recollect I thank you kindly for your good wishes on the subject I hope you esteem them such if I could be teased I should have no peace but thank[s] to my Maker they don't move me.
[Y]our Friend Mr. Johnston has been very tough in rousting me I was rather afraid to retaliate but I found their [there] was no stop[p]ing place with him he saluted me constantly with how do you Mrs.[?]
[A]t length I put him to a stand by telling him; the Widow I had been set[t]ing her Cap for him for 2 years he was dumb for 5 Minits [Minutes] at last realized he could get nothing out of me he believed he must let me alone I am sure he will never say sweetheart to me again I wish you could have seen him you would have Laught [Laughed] heartily.
[I]n great hast[e] I have not time to corrected errors or put stops or to say any thing about Catherine P. at present.
adieu my Friend
Peggy Bradfute
[p.s.] Bob is now waiting. Archibald says if you can get him a wife he will come with pleasure to see you.
[Sarah = Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828), who married William Massie (1795-1862) in 1814.
Because the Bradfutes keep showing up in letters from this period, here is an additional overview. All years approximate.
Robert Bradfute (1749-1816) from Scotland, married Sarah Irvine (1757-1807).
Their children included:
Elizabeth Bradfute (1779-1861)
Davidson Bradfute (1781-1831)
Lillias Bradfute (1781-1849)
Archibald Bradfute (1786-1865)
Margaret "Peggy" Bradfute (1788-1833)
Grace Bradfute (1792-1855)
Robert "Bob" Bradfute (1794-1861)
James Hamilton Bradfure (1803-1865).
December 28 1824
Dear Friend
I received your Letter & have executed to the best of my ability as their [there] was but little Choice all of that number coming from the Same Factory. I hope it will answer.
I now ask how you have spent your Christmas Merry or Sad.
I spent mine very agreeably at Church held by the Episcolians [Episcopalians] at our Church by the Reverent [Reverend] Mr. Smith.
Colls & Freeman of New Glasgow they had a Sacrament on Sabbath & a goodly Number of Methodist & Presbyterians Brethren united with them & we had a very solemn meeting on Saturday Doctor Davis & Abby had their Child Baptized by Mr. Smith they had their House full of kindred & Friends.
Harry & Fanny were invited but had gone up to her Father's. I write you some time ago that I was going to stay with her but Lucy Ambler being their [there] with an infectious Fever Prevented me. I was very sorry I could not see Lucy except to say howdy she has Fatten[ed] very much I saw neither of the Girls I regret very much this disappointment in visiting as expected you would be highly pleased to have seen them in that lonely Country.
[T]o change the subject I wish to know about breech I have committed to loose [lose] your Confidence I cannot conceive unless Mr. Massie told you I had mentioned what you had written about his being in a fret if that is what you allude to I will now Clear Myself before he had given me your Letter he said he had a great mind not to have Brought it as you had said so much about him he then told Sister Maria that you & him had a quarrel which lasted 3 days & that one knight [night] you did not sleep together he laid the blame on you & as usual espoused your cause.
I told him I knew he had grossly insulted you. Sister Maria told him she could hardly believe him for he was such a devoted husband & then mentioned you had said in your Letter you wished I knew what had put him in the dumps we wanted him to tell but he was ashamed we had several funny conjectures write me what it was tell him, pray for forgiveness as I am vindicating my innocence & this is a free Country you think you have a Great joke at last I will take a great deal less for it then you are willing to give.
[D]on't anticipate any pleasure in a connection of that kind for it is more than I have; should it ever happen tell the doctor I will speak a good word for him if he wishes it if I am so unlucky I need not be alarmed as I understand he is now courting a widow her name I don't recollect I thank you kindly for your good wishes on the subject I hope you esteem them such if I could be teased I should have no peace but thank[s] to my Maker they don't move me.
[Y]our Friend Mr. Johnston has been very tough in rousting me I was rather afraid to retaliate but I found their [there] was no stop[p]ing place with him he saluted me constantly with how do you Mrs.[?]
[A]t length I put him to a stand by telling him; the Widow I had been set[t]ing her Cap for him for 2 years he was dumb for 5 Minits [Minutes] at last realized he could get nothing out of me he believed he must let me alone I am sure he will never say sweetheart to me again I wish you could have seen him you would have Laught [Laughed] heartily.
[I]n great hast[e] I have not time to corrected errors or put stops or to say any thing about Catherine P. at present.
adieu my Friend
Peggy Bradfute
[p.s.] Bob is now waiting. Archibald says if you can get him a wife he will come with pleasure to see you.
[Sarah = Sarah “Sally” Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828), who married William Massie (1795-1862) in 1814.
Peggy Bradfute = 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).
Because the Bradfutes keep showing up in letters from this period, here is an additional overview. All years approximate.
Robert Bradfute (1749-1816) from Scotland, married Sarah Irvine (1757-1807).
Their children included:
Elizabeth Bradfute (1779-1861)
Davidson Bradfute (1781-1831)
Lillias Bradfute (1781-1849)
Archibald Bradfute (1786-1865)
Margaret "Peggy" Bradfute (1788-1833)
Grace Bradfute (1792-1855)
Robert "Bob" Bradfute (1794-1861)
James Hamilton Bradfure (1803-1865).
Sister Maria = Maria B. Byrd Bradfute (1786-1854), married to Davidson Bradfute listed above. Mary Cabell Bradfute (born October 1824).
Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816.
The doctor = Dr. Thomas Massie II (1782-1864). Lucy Waller Massie (1791-1822), his first wife, had died in 1822.
Mr. Johnston = Charles Johnston (1769-1833).
Lucy Ambler = Lucy Hopkins Johnston Ambler (1800-1888) married Thomas Marshall Ambler (1791-1875) on April 14, 1819. Their main abode was "Morven," Fauquier County, Virginia, from about 1820 on. For a link, see here.]
Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816.
The doctor = Dr. Thomas Massie II (1782-1864). Lucy Waller Massie (1791-1822), his first wife, had died in 1822.
Mr. Johnston = Charles Johnston (1769-1833).
Lucy Ambler = Lucy Hopkins Johnston Ambler (1800-1888) married Thomas Marshall Ambler (1791-1875) on April 14, 1819. Their main abode was "Morven," Fauquier County, Virginia, from about 1820 on. For a link, see here.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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