Hezekiah Daggs: 1834 Advertisement for Botetourt Springs, Virginia

[Richmond Enquirer, Volume XXX, Issue 94 (February 22, 1834), page 1.]

BOTETOURT SPRINGS.--- The subscriber having recently purchased the above property from the executor of Charles Johnston, deceased, tenders his acknowledgement to those individuals who patronised him during the 18 years which he kept the Hot Springs, and hopes that they will favor him with a call at his new residence, where he assures them they shall find every thing calculated to promote their health and contribute to their comfort and pleasure. The buildings of the establishment are all brick -- commodious and elegant, and uniting, in a high degree, neatness and beauty with comfort and convenience.

                                                            HEZEKIAH DAGGS
February 7.                                                     88-6m

[Charles Johnston (1769-January 21, 1833)
Executor = Dr. James Townes Royall (circa 1797-1860), who had married Charles Johnston's daughter Frances Steptoe Johnston (circa 1807-after 1850), in Botetourt County on December 27, 1825. Dr. Royall graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Medical School in 1818. Charles' nephew John Warfield Johnston (1790-1818) graduated from there in 1814. Frances' mother was Charles' second wife, Elizabeth Prentiss Steptoe (1783-1820).
Hezekiah Daggs (1773-1844)]

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

John Warfield Johnston to Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston, June 22, 1834

[John Warfield Johnston at Columbia, South Carolina, to Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston via Tazewell Courthouse, Virginia, June 22, 1834,  folder 68, Trigg-Floyd Collection, Special Collections, John Cook Wyllie Library, The University of Virginia's College at Wise -- formerly Clinch Valley College -- Wise, Virginia. This is my rough transcription]. 

My dear mother

I sit down to write to you, after an interval of three weeks; a longer space than has yet intervened between any of my letters. This is not neglect. I expected to have been at home before this time: as matters now stand I can scarcely get there in less than three weeks or a month. Uncle Edward has had a long spell of sickness, from which he is just recovering, and he and aunt Estelle have gone out to the country to enjoy the cool air and water, leaving me here to keep house meanwhile. They return in a few days, intending to start, immediately, to some spring southe [sic] of this, to which I am to accompany them, and where they will stay, probably three weeks, but I don't want to go there, I had much rather come home, and will if I can get a [horse?] between this and then.

As soon as I received your last, I commissioned uncle Syd to buy a horse for me, which he did in a few days: and when I went to see it, I found an old, poor, sorebacked, hammerheaded, stiff and, I suspect, blind dray horse, which I refused to take, the instant that I saw it. Coming on horseback is a good deal cheaper than the stage, for what I would lose by buying a horse here and selling him there and my expenses on horseback would not be equal to my expenses in the stage when I would have to sell my saddle and buy a trunk.

Tell Henry I am much obliged to him for his advice but shall not take it: the weather is to [too] warm and the sand to [too] deep for that.

Give my love to all
your affectionate son
J.W. Johnston

[John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889)
Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston (1800-1873)
Uncle Edward = Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
Aunt Estelle = Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar Johnston (1802-1848)
Uncle Syd = Algernon Sidney Johnston (1801-1852)
Henry = probably Louisa's much younger brother, Henry Smith Bowen (1820-1887)]

John Warfield Johnston to Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston, October 27, 1834

[John Warfield Johnston at Columbia, South Carolina, to Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston, via Clifton Post Office, Russell County, Virginia, October 27, 1834. Box 1, John Warfield Johnston Papers, 1778-1890, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.]

My dear mother

Burns says, in his correspondence, that it is one of the most striking characteristics of the human race that a man will go on from day to day and from month to month, suffering more from leaving undone that which he ought to do than the very doing of the deed would cost him. Thus it is with me: I ought to have written to you as soon as I arrived here, but I have put of[f] untill [sic] a week has passed; what I have suffered, however, is in some measur[e] counterbalanced by the comfortable feeling that comes over me having finished, sealed, and sent my letter! and the agreeable thought that it will be some weeks before I have to write another.

I arrived here [S]unday morning after a tedious journey of nine days and found uncle Edward and aunt Estelle sick, aunt E confined to her bed and uncle just beginning to walk about he has been sick the whole summer having relapsed after I left here in the spring. Uncle Ben started off to Orangeburg the same morning and has been taken sick there and uncle Syd has gone to see him so that I am left alone. It is a most independent feeling which one has when left alone and able to walk about the house without restraint.

I saw Misses Mitchell and Melville in Jonesborough they have a good school and are just the same except that Miss Mitchell seems to have fattened in the estimation of fifty pounds.

Uncle E. will keep my horse about a month at his own expense. [H]e will be fat by that time so that I shall [make] something on his sale. He is an excellent horse and would be worth the expense of keeping especially as he only cost 20$ he could be kept here at 40$ until the middle of June only half of which I would have to pay. The last day I came 43 miles. I have got up every morning since I have been here before sunrise and rode my horse to water about a half a mile. I feel the good effects of it already. 

I have not done anything yet in the studies as every body is sick, but I will be kept busy when I do begin. The first frost fell the second morning after I got here but the weather has been so warm that I have had to resume my summer clothes. 

Write to me as soon as you receive this and inform me of the state of Rob Roy['s] health and of his proficiency in his studies. [G]ive my love to everybody.

your affectionate son
J.W. Johnston

[Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston (1800-1873)
John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889)
"Uncle Ben" = Benjamin Franklin Johnston (1808-November 5, 1834)
"Uncle Edward" = Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
"Aunt Estelle" = Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (De Cressac Villagrand) Johnston (ca. 1802-1848)
"Uncle Syd" = Algernon Sidney Johnston (1801-1852)
Rob Roy = pet dog

"I saw Misses Mitchell and Melville in Jonesborough they have a good school" = Jonesborough Female Academy (1833-1852) in Jonesborough, Tennessee. The building still stands at 205 West College Street. Not sure yet of the exact identity of "Miss Mitchell," but Miss Melville" can be identified as Catherine M. Melville (1807-January 1881 or possibly December 1880) who relocated to Washington, D.C., shortly before the American Civil War. She is buried in Oak Hill Cemetery, Lot 203 East. Jane Mary Wood Johnston (1811-1892) and her daughters are buried in the same cemetery, Lot 548]. 

For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.     


  

Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston to John Warfield Johnston, December 31, 1834

[Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston at Craborchard [Crab Orchard, Tazewell, Virginia] to Master John Warfield Johnston at Columbia, South Carolina, December 31, 1834. Hand cancelled P.O. Clifford, Russell County, Virginia, Jan'y 1st 1835. Box 1, John Warfield Johnston Papers, 1778-1890, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. Some (but not all) paragraph breaks added for easier reading].

Pardon me my own loved boy for deferring so long the pleasure of writing you. I would have written immediately on the receipt of your first letter but was prevented by company. It seems my child that you are destined to lose all of those who interest themselves most in your welfare; the death of your loved uncle has filled me with grief more than I can express. We cannot I think be too grateful to my dear brothers Edward and Joseph for all their solicitude about [us]. 

You say that if b[r]other E. should accept of a situation, at either of those places mentioned in your last letter, that it is very clear you cannot go. [N]ow my beloved boy, it is not clear to me, if brother Edward will take charge of you, wither ever he goes, I shall be willing for you to go. [I]f he takes charge of a professorship in Louisiana, Washington, or Charleston, it will suit you as well, to go to either of those places, as stay at Columbia at present, the increase of distance will be the only difference; but that will be a trifle, it will keep you on the road a week longer, so my precious boy if your uncle is not tired of you, it is my earnest advice to you  . . . to go with him: the sep[a]ration from you will be extremely painful to me, but I have made up my mind to submit to every privation for what I consider your advantage. I hope my darling you will not hesitate to take my advice.

We are busy making preparations for your uncle[']s wedding. [T]here will be no more than a dozen persons here, how much I wish that my darling could be here.

In compliance with your request I write you a most . . . particular account of Rob Roy he is indeed a most fascinating dog he is almost as large as Thomas Preston[']s Milo and he fetches very well and takes heed when we put our hands on him.

I received a letter from Jane today. [S]he expected to go to housekeeping in a few days and is very desirous for me to go there without delay. But I have no one to go with me sooner than March. Rees will go on about the 1st March to lay in goods, and has consented to take the stage that I may go with him.

Cousin Joe went about the 1st Nov to Washington City and on his return, was taken violently ill in Richmond. Mr. Hopkins wrote that there was hopes [sic] of his recovery. [H]e however has not reached home yet. 

Your likeness has been a great comfort to me. [T]hrough the day it sits on the side board and at night I take it in my room. I talk to it every day: sometimes think you look sad at other times gay.

I can tell you nothing of your [other] uncles in this country.

My love to all my relatives. May heaven guard and protect my child.

Louisa S. Johnston

[Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston (1800-1873)
John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889)
"The death of your loved uncle" = Benjamin Franklin Johnston (1808-November 5, 1834)
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
Joseph (definitely) and "Cousin Joe" (possibly) = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
"Your uncle's wedding" = Rees Tate Bowen (1809-1879) married Maria Louisa Peery (1819-1853) at Tazewell, Virginia, on January 13, 1835
Thomas Lewis Preston (1812-1903)
Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892)]

For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.     

The Death of Benjamin Franklin Johnston, November 5, 1834

[Edward William Johnston at Columbia, South Carolina, to Beverly Randolph Johnston at Abingdon, Virginia, November 12, 1834. Box 1, John Warfield Johnston Papers, 1778-1890, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University].

In the introduction, Edward recounts that he is "imperfectly recovered" from a "long malady." Of his wife Estelle: "To-morrow will make 3 weeks since your sister suffered a bilious attack, which is now subdued; but has left her in a state of extreme feebleness and of nervous irritability, verging upon continual delirium."

But the main point of the letter: "an attack of the same sort, happening only the day after Estelle's, has torn from us our poor boy -- our child, rather than brother -- for six years the companion, & lately the hope, of our fireside -- our poor Benjamin."

More details: "On his circuit, at Orangeburg, he was seized, on the 19th [of October], with a fever, that seemed, in all its stages but the last, rather serious than alarming. Your cousin William [Preston Campbell, probably] was with him, during the first 4 days of his illness; on whose return, we thought it necessary that Syd should go down to attend him: for I, meanwhile, was too feeble to attempt a 40-miles' ride by night; and, indeed, but ill-able to nurse Estelle, whose situation seemed, for the greater part, more threatening than Ben's." 

"Sydney remained with him near a week, till he reached a point of apparent recovery, at which the physicians thought he might be left for three or four days, by which point they judged it almost certain that he would be able to stand the journey up to Columbia. I judged it better, however, a few days afterwards, to send John [Warfield Johnston] to him, to watch and to beguile his recovery, until he could report him in a condition to travel. This was on Sunday last (the 2nd [of November]); about which time ill symptoms began to appear . . . of which as soon as we heard in an alarming manner, Syd again went to him, on the night of Tuesday (the 4th): reaching him, however, only twenty-six hours before his death, on Thursday morning (the 5th), about 1/2 after 9."

John returned to Columbia and reported details to Edward on the morning of November 12, 1834; Syd would see to Ben's burial in Orangeburg that same day, but Edward planned to move his remains to Columbia in the proper season.

"I have written to the Major, and am about to write to Joseph & Jane, addressing the latter at Liberty [Bedford County, Virginia] . . . as for me, I have nothing to fear, except, perhaps, an occasional visit of ague & fever; and your sister is, since yesterday, so much better, that there can now be little delay in the dissipating her only remaining symptoms -- the nervous aff[l]iction of which I have spoken . . ."

He wishes Beverly to visit for a month. "You are young, free, and must surely have some little leisure, that [you] would bestow on us."

John had brought with him news of the Major's business in Richmond, Virginia, into the winter.

Also, things were going on in Columbia, specifically regarding South Carolina College. "There are matters on foot with respect to our College, that may somewhat disagreeably set free all those connected with it, and put me on the necessity of striking out some other path of life. While I am ready to encounter any event of this sort, not only with firmness, but with a perfect self-reliance, drawn from the trial of my resources, I shall be exceedingly contented to have you & him ["the Major," if he could get away from Richmond] here, to hold counsel with."

He bids adieu with "An affectionate farewell."

Perhaps most noticeably, there are no traces of religious sentiment in this entire letter, though Edward was at least ostensibly Catholic via his marriage to Estelle. 

Maladies of South Carolina at the time included yellow fever, malaria, consumption (tuberculosis) and many more. 

Ben's death was reported in The Richmond Enquirer (November 18, 1834), page 3: "Died, on the 5th inst., at Orangeburgh [sic], S.C., (whither his professional duties had led him,) BENJAMIN FRANKLIN JOHNSTON, of this place, youngest son of the late Judge Peer Johnston, of Virginia."

[Benjamin "Ben" Franklin Johnston (1808-1834) graduated from South Carolina College in 1830 with an A.B.; apparently he was on business as a lawyer or law clerk

John Warfield Johnston [Jr.] (1818-1889) turned sixteen on September 9, 1834. He later became a U.S. Senator from Virginia

Edward William Johnston (1799-1867), married to Estelle (Also called "your sister" in this letter), Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (De Cressac Villagrand) (ca. 1802-1848); Algernon Sidney "Syd" Johnston (1801-1852), brother of both Edward and Benjamin, was also active in Columbia at the time

William Campbell Preston (1794-1860), U.S. Congressman and Senator from South Carolina, President of South Carolina College

Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1876), attorney-at-law in Abgindon, Virginia, at the time of this letter

"The Major" = Peter Carr Johnston (1793-1877)
Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)
Jane Johnston (1811-1892), who had married Harvey Mitchell (1799-1866) in 1832
Judge Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831), married to Mary Valentine Wood (1769-1825)]

For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide. 

Benjamin Franklin Johnston to Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston, August 26, 1834

[Benjamin Franklin Johnston at Columbia, South Carolina, to Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston via Clifton PO, Russell County, Virginia, August 26, 1834, Box 1, John Warfield Johnston Papers, 1778-1890, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University].

A rare letter, of any extant, from Benjamin to his sister-in-law Louisa -- "My Dear Sister"-- focusing on the education of John Warfield Johnston [Jr.], her only son and Benjamin's nephew. Benjamin would be dead in less than three months, just shy of the age of twenty-six. 

First, he gives virtually all credit regarding John's education to Edward William Johnston, who was living in Columbia at the time, and not the locale ("the South"). Edward was invested in the Columbia educational and political scene and was active in both. "The conversation he [John] has heard at Edward's & the books he has read under Edward's direction have done much more for him than any help of mine."

Benjamin notes that he himself stayed at "Cousin William's" (probably referring to William Campbell Preston) "until a short time before the commencement of the Spring Circuit. . ."  

Nonetheless, he recommends that John next stay with him at Edward's rather than attend school in Abingdon, Virginia, under the tutelage of Mr. McVicker.

". . . unless the taste [for various types of literature, etc.] be. . . cultivated & habits of study be then found little will be done in after years . . ."

He doubts any family then in Abingdon will have a suitable variety of books to draw from. "Father's was the only family, of habits at all literary, in that whole county [Washington County, Virginia] -- it is now so scattered that Beverly remains alone . . ."

Too: "Here he can learn much from conversation -- there nothing . . . Even the journey here and back will learn him something . . ."

Edward "is better fitted than any . . . I know to attend to the education of a youth."

Finally, he sends his best to her father's family, "& to Rees & Joe when you see them next."  

[Benjamin Franklin Johnston (1808-1834) graduated from South Carolina College in 1830 with an A.B.; apparently he was a lawyer or law clerk at the time of this letter.
Louisa Smith Bowen Johnston (1800-1873)
John Warfield Johnston [Jr.] (1818-1889) would turn sixteen on September 9, 1834. He later became a U.S. Senator from Virginia.
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867), married to Estelle, Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (De Cressac Villagrand) (ca. 1802-1848); Algernon Sidney Johnston (1801-1852), brother of both Edward and Benjamin, was also active in Columbia at the time
Father = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831), married to Mary Valentine Wood (1769-1825)
William Campbell Preston (1794-1860), U.S. Congressman and Senator from South Carolina, President of South Carolina College
Beverly = Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1876), another of Benjamin's brothers
Rees = Rees Tate Bowen (1809-1879), Louisa's brother
Joe = probably yet another brother of Benjamin's, Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891)]

For their help and assistance, many thanks to the staff of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina. For more information about the John Warfield Johnston Papers, here's a link to the guide.