[Peggy Bradfute [at or near New London/Lynchburg, Virginia], to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie [at Pharsalia, Rose Mills,] Nelson [County, Virginia,] May 17, 1827. 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 17th 1827
Derar Sally
as I am about to pay a visit to the Country I fell a disposition to give you a short scrall [scrawl]; I send you a bunch of the Perpetual flowers; I don't know the name as they wear [were] found in the Street; plant them in a box, I think they are beautiful & will try to find out the name for you; they have the smell of life Everlasting & i [I] think that a very good name.
Sister Maria & her Sisters spent a day with Frances last week. She was very well; & in fine Spirits. Mr. L [Langhorne] was in [R]ichmond, he has returned & I hope has brought Mrs. Midleton, as he had some hope of doing. Miss Endee has left them to there [their] joy.
[O]h my dear Sally I presume from the Papers you have seen the conduct of Seth Ward; was every misery like this Imagination cannot conceive; or Pen describe the unparalleled distress it has occationed [occasioned]. Poor old Father & Mother, Wife & Children Brothers & Sisters. [A]llmost [almost] a death blow; to all, I think it will shorten the Parents' days; excessive Grief has abated somewhat & at times a little chearful [cheerful]/ [H]e was arrested in this place & Proof was so positive was committed to jail. Stayed one knight [night], from thence to Bottetourt [Botetourt] * was try'd [tried' by Magistrate & was Baild [bailed] until Court went Home to his Family only stay'd two days & made his escape never to be heard of again. I hope what a depraved wretch. He is only five Hundred dollars. Ben became his bail.
Mrs. Walker is mending your Friends are well your Brother William's Family is now in Town come down to see the Circus we are all well Love to all enquiring Friends how do you like your Maid I hope well pleas'd.
[E]xcuse this short Letter as I have one to write to my Sister Haz[el?] I have not written her for twelve months nor heard from her.
yours affectionately P Bradfure
[p.s.] [Y]ou must not fail to write; don't let my being in the country prevent as i [I] shall be at Mrs. Radfords. I beg'd Mr. Massie to let you come over & see us all & I would take the rounds with you & see all your friends but he did not promise but live in hopes he intended to perform don't failt to come I never wanted to see you as much in my life.
[Sally = 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).
Your Brother William = Dr. William Steptoe (1791-1862) and family.]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
May 17th 1827
Derar Sally
as I am about to pay a visit to the Country I fell a disposition to give you a short scrall [scrawl]; I send you a bunch of the Perpetual flowers; I don't know the name as they wear [were] found in the Street; plant them in a box, I think they are beautiful & will try to find out the name for you; they have the smell of life Everlasting & i [I] think that a very good name.
Sister Maria & her Sisters spent a day with Frances last week. She was very well; & in fine Spirits. Mr. L [Langhorne] was in [R]ichmond, he has returned & I hope has brought Mrs. Midleton, as he had some hope of doing. Miss Endee has left them to there [their] joy.
[O]h my dear Sally I presume from the Papers you have seen the conduct of Seth Ward; was every misery like this Imagination cannot conceive; or Pen describe the unparalleled distress it has occationed [occasioned]. Poor old Father & Mother, Wife & Children Brothers & Sisters. [A]llmost [almost] a death blow; to all, I think it will shorten the Parents' days; excessive Grief has abated somewhat & at times a little chearful [cheerful]/ [H]e was arrested in this place & Proof was so positive was committed to jail. Stayed one knight [night], from thence to Bottetourt [Botetourt] * was try'd [tried' by Magistrate & was Baild [bailed] until Court went Home to his Family only stay'd two days & made his escape never to be heard of again. I hope what a depraved wretch. He is only five Hundred dollars. Ben became his bail.
Mrs. Walker is mending your Friends are well your Brother William's Family is now in Town come down to see the Circus we are all well Love to all enquiring Friends how do you like your Maid I hope well pleas'd.
[E]xcuse this short Letter as I have one to write to my Sister Haz[el?] I have not written her for twelve months nor heard from her.
yours affectionately P Bradfure
[p.s.] [Y]ou must not fail to write; don't let my being in the country prevent as i [I] shall be at Mrs. Radfords. I beg'd Mr. Massie to let you come over & see us all & I would take the rounds with you & see all your friends but he did not promise but live in hopes he intended to perform don't failt to come I never wanted to see you as much in my life.
[Sally = 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).
Langhorne = Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816.
Seth Ward = there was a Seth Ward from Lynchburg (1798-circa 1830), but not sure of the circumstances.
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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