Mary Louisa Michel Binckley Memoir, 1906 (and 1899): Part II

Mont Calm (aka Montcalm), Virginia Department of Historic Resources*

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley Memoir, 1906 (and 1899), Part II. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.

 

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

When a young girl Mother was invited there to a tea-party. There was in those days much ceremony in all social matters. Everything had a right way, and every man woman and child had a holy horror of doing it the wrong way.

At Mrs. Campbell's infrequent entertainments a more than usual strictness prevailed, so you can imagine all these outwardly prim young folks seated around the great square parlor trying to curb their high spirits into due decorum and keep up convention during the stiff hour before tea was brought in.

It was always a relief when the servants began a noiseless distribution around the room of certain small polished tables (they came in sets of four, fitting in to each other), and there was a gentle stir and rustle as the company settled into groups around the slender-legged bits of rosewood while young men maneuvered and young girls managed to make room for a favorite.

A moment of pleasant suspense, and the door was thrown open to the black waiters, (solemn with a profound sense of the occasion) who brought in the great silver salvers laden with the priceless china and delicious confections of that by-gone-day. 

The ceremonious serving, the subdued mirth, and the rather stately wit and manners was all of a piece with the mahogany furniture, fine and solid.

At Mrs. C.'s that night, conversation had dragged even more heavily than usual. The usual constraint was added to it by the wonderful new thing on the floor -- a velvet carpet -- so precious to its owner that it was rumored she never let a broom touch it, but overlooked a servant, on his knees, sweep it with a bunch of turkey feathers. So the guests hardly dared put a foot to the floor, & nothing was genial but the great open fire of hickory logs.

When, at last, the door was thrown open, a sigh of relief breathed thro' the room. But -- instead of the table-laden darkey appeared a tall waiter in white gloves & apron bearing aloft a huge silver salver heaped high with something white. To the horror of the guests he walked to the hearth and threw the contents into the glowing fire! Mrs. C. had had her hickory chips scoured! And it required the softening influences of the delicious supper when it did come to calm the nerves of the hungry after such a shock. 

In Abingdon circles the story was told of Mrs. C. that she had just completed arrangements for one of her semi-annual entertainments when news came of a near relative. Immediately recalling all invitations, she had the cake carefully put away, & one year from that day had her party, using the cake. Of course it was not popular, and one venerable frosted sponge did duty for months afterwards as the cake handed with wine to callers. It was so well known no one would cut it -- a glass of wine would be accepted, but no one cared for (that) cake. 

At last a party of young folks on their way to call, resolved to end the days of that hoary patriarch. When asked to have refreshments, to Mrs. C.'s horror they accepted cake; it was your uncle Bev who stuck the knife in, & the cake flew into a thousand pieces.

Years after the day she made me eat my peach over the railing, I was in Abingdon for the summer, and her property was being divided among distant kin. She had lived to extreme old age, miserly and unloved. When the place was sold for division, in the garret were found boxes and trunks by the dozen filled with the clothes she had been buying for sixty years. Rather than give, she had hoarded, & there, moth eaten and yellowed, was a collection unique and enormous -- but entirely without value to heirs who were accustomed to relics -- and so all were scattered. 

Negroes helped themselves, & many an old silk that had rustled down the church aisle fifty years before was altered by awkward black fingers into a "Sunday meetin'" gown. Driving out one afternoon we met a little darkey trotting leisurely along the shaded road stride an old mule on his way to mill. Dressed in the usual scant tow-linen shirt & trousers, his woolley head was crowned by a great fine Dunstable straw bonnet of the early 20s [1820s]  -- this shape [small sketch inserted] which in its prime, must have cost $30.00  [worth perhaps $250 in 2018].

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930).
First memories are of "Lilliput" See 1841 letter from Jane (Mother), link here.  This part refers entirely to Mont Calm / Montcalm, the Campbell residence.
Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Campbells = David Campbell (1779-1859) and Mary Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859). Virginia Campbell, a niece, and David H.R. Campbell, a nephew, also lived there for a time.
Bev = Beverly Randolph Johnston (1803-1873).
*Photographic link here.] 

Mary Louisa Michel Binckley Memoir, 1906 (and 1899): Part I

Mont Calm (aka Montcalm), Campbell house, Abingdon, Virginia. Source: Duke University*

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley Memoir, 1906 (and 1899), Part I. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.

 

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]                                                
                                                                December 19 20  1906

(The original was written in Saucilido [Sausalito, California] 7 years ago [1899]) 

To look back fifty sixty years or more must always be more or less painful to the average man or woman, for few lives of three-score but have had their griefs, cares and adventures that seem to start out sharply when age begins to dim the background of remembered pleasure. But I have promised to look back, and whether the fulfilling of a promise be hard or not, it must be done.

I must close my eyes on this landscape and recall the one I first remember with a child's queer distinctness of recollection for some salient points, while all the rest of life is misty.

A white house with veranda -- a green grassy yard and the shade of trees. An old apple tree under which I played with a baby brother. The faces of one or two negro servants, that of my nurse being clearest. My father's gay voice I can hear now, and even the memory of the strings in my heart faintly the delicious thrill that sound always brought me.

I can see mother as she was then with her fresh color and quiet ways, and I again stand and watch fascinated while Amy brushes out the great masses of mother's long fair hair, and can see it shine in the morning sunlight. 

This same Amy, by the way, was the one who was generally sent on errands into town (our cottage was in the western part of Abingdon, near what is now the dépot [aka dépôt].) and was sometimes allowed to take me out to walks. Once walking in a dark wood, she showed me a lonely cabin, and on my solemn promise not to tell "Miss Jane" if she told of its mysteries, in a tragic whisper informed me that in that lonely spot the doctors brought the bodies of '"bad [plural of n-word]" & boiled 'em into castor oil.'

Children then were required to take the vilest medicine without protest, but no earthly power ever succeeded in making me take castor oil.

Amy was also allowed sometimes the felicity of dressing me in my best (red morocco slippers I remember as one bit of grandeur) and taking me visiting. 

Once in a highly decorated condition I was taken up a long hill to Gov. Campbell's old mansion that stood among great trees. A severely stately old lady made polite enquiries as to the health of my family, and then bestowed upon me a large peach. But the bliss of possession was at once destroyed when I was made to go out on the veranda and eat it with my neck painfully stretched over the railing, so that no drop of juice could stain that spotless floor. 

This old lady (Gov. Campbell's wife) was noted in Abingdon for her stinginess (a very unusual trait then), her love of stately display where it could be done economically, and her excessive cleanliness. Having no children and a staff of well-trained servants, her ruling passions were easily carried to absurd lengths. 

Source: Find a Grave under "David Campbell (1779-1859)" 

[Mary Louisa/Louise Mitchell/Michel Binckley (1838-1930).
First memories are of "Lilliput." See 1841 letter from Jane (Mother), link here. 
Father = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866).
Mother = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Amy = enslaved servant. There are two Amys listed in the estate (dated 1832) of Peter Johnston, Jr. (1753-1831), and we may suppose that this Amy is one of them. Link here.
Campbells = David Campbell (1779-1859) and Mary Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859). Virginia Campbell, a niece, and David H.R. Campbell, a nephew, also lived there for a time.
*Linked to  Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University; photo from the collection of Professor Norma Taylor Mitchell. Link here.]

A Brief Account of the Richmond Theatre Fire of December 26, 1811

A copy of this can be found in Alexander W. Weddell, Richmond, Virginia, in Old Prints. 1737-1887 (Richmond, 1932), plate 12.

[John Campbell at Richmond to David Campbell at Abingdon, Virginia, December 27, 1811, Box 1, Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. This is my rough transcription. Use of the long 's' modernized; extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]

Dear Brother

The happiness of Richmond is destroy'd forever. Last night I witness'd a scene more pictur'd with horror & distress than any of which I have ever heard or read! Yes, it is without a parallel in the annals of the world!

A number of the brightest ornaments of Richmond have been consum'd in the flames!

The Theatre took fire last night about 11 O'clock when were in it about 800 people one hundred of whom have been burnt up!

Governor Smith Mr Abram Venable Mr Botts and his Wife Miss Luisa Mayo Miss Conyers Mrs Galigo Mrs Wilson Miss Nelson Miss Robison & Mrs Greenbow are among the number!!! 

Allen Taylor and Mr Standard of our house have been nearly kill'd. They will both recover it is thought.

The scenery of the stage caught fire from a candle and, such were the rapidity of the flames that in a few minutes the whole Theatre was in a conflagration. And so great was the alarm and confusion, hundreds pressing forward to the same door, that numbers were . . . down & suffocated with the smoak [smoke]. Others were kill'd by jumping from the windows.

I was sitting reading in my room when I heard the alarm. I ran down stairs & saw it was the Theatre. I mov'd on as rapidly as I could to the awful scene! I enquir'd as I ran if the people were saved. The answer was No hundreds of them are burning up!!

When I arrived I was told that the windows on the opposite side of the Theatre were full of persons expiring in the flames!! 

My ears were stunn'd with cries & shrieks and screams! My heart sank within me I could approach no farther. I saw numbers that were carried away half burnt up.

The husband supporting his wife and the child his dying parent. . .

Don't suppose the picture is too highly colour'd. O! My God I wish it was.

The whole City is bath'd in tears. Almost every person having lost either a Father a mother a child a Wife or a sister.

The Legislature will adjourn for several days. For years will Richmond hear nothing but the cries of sorrow, the moans of the widow & the lamentations of the friend.

I write in great haste. Shew this letter to all my friends. Farther particulars you will hear in a short time. 

May heaven preserve you all from the woes & calamities which are now seen here in every part of the place.

                                                                         Adieu affectionately
                                                                                John Campbell

[John Campbell (1789-1866). Later became Secretary of the Treasury under Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.
David Campbell (1779-1859)
George William Smith (1762-December 26, 1811) 
Abraham Bedford Venable (1758-1811) had been President of the Bank of Virginia and a trustee of Hamden-Sydney College.
Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831) had, fortunately for his family, removed to Abingdon earlier in the year. 
Allen Taylor = possibly related to John Taylor (1753-1824).]
     
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 Campbell Family Papers (1731-1969), here's a link to the guide.     

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

Maria Hamilton Campbell to David Campbell, September 26, 1812 (Part 2)

[Maria Hamilton Campbell at Abingdon, Virginia, to David Campbell at Fort Niagara, New York, September 26, 1812, part 2 (post-marked October 1, 1812), Box 2, Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. This is my rough transcription. Extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]

After all my hurry I did not finish writing before the mail was closed. I do not kow [know] that I ought to say any thing to you about my domestic affairs unless I was confident your mind was as calm to all trivial things of that kind as my own, but as it is the character of a soldier to triumph over ever[y] difficulty, I will venture to tell my soldier a few of the evils that the object of his Dearest care triumphs over without apparent effort, such is our situation when we have greater things to occupy our minds.

For five or six weeks [M]illy has been thaking merkery [taking mercury] of Doctor Clap. I sent her out last week to his house to stay a month longer.

[O]n serch [search] being made for stolen goods after the fire some were found in our kitchen for which [S]am was put in jail. [M]illy was supposed to be too sick. I was for tow [two] weeks without my servent [servant] but little [S]arah accept [except] when Mrs. Jonston [Johnston] would send hers which she [indecipherable word] did when I was sick. 

Cousin David and [J]efferson my tree [three] Brothers in heart made every exertion to precure [procure] me servents [servants] either by hire or purchis [purchase]. [A]fter fore [four] or five aplications [applications] the[y] have hired Mrs. [T]amberly's [W]inny, how long the cros[s] old thing will let her stay I don't know.

I had allmost [almost] bought Captain Craig's [J]acob, but from the undue influence of [H]enderson and Captain Smith over the boy, I was prevented from completing any longer, and the purchesed [purchased] hire. [S]am ran off a few days after he was let out of jail and has not yet returned, Captain Smith has the conscience to say he will give three hundred dollars for him, the[y] gave five hundred and fifty for [J]acob, I will hire servents [servants] untill [until] I can perches [purchase] good ones.

Uncle Campbell's family are exceedingly friendly to me, if it was not for the girls of the family, I should be lonesome indeed uncle acts quite like a feather [father] to me, I shall complain of none but I cannot forbade mentioning my real friends as I have now learnt who the[y] are.

It is jennerally [generally] thought here that Edward and Rhody will be married, it is very prabable [probable] he is quite devoted to the family. I suspect very strongly that [A]rthur and [S]ally Greenway will make a match, as for the rest the[y] are in status [quo?]

Do my Dear Husband have your likeness taken and the ring with your [?], and have you a breast pin made with mine so you can look on it and think of me. My heart and prayers are ever with you.

Do my Husband write me what to do with myself this winter if you don't send for me. Write particularly your situation and health don't disseve [deceive] me in any thing, is the country around [N]iagara inhabited with sivilised [civilized] people or saviges [savages]. I fear very much you will have to sivilize [civilize] [I]ndians or be stationed in their country. I dead [dread] th[e] horred [horrid] retches [wretches], but not on my own account. I should fear nothing with yo[u].

Write to uncle Campbell and [J]efferson and tell me what you have done with my gray horse, did you give [S]am any mony [money] when he left [W]inchester he has had some then he could come home honestly by since he has this won't come home.

You never saw so miserable a look[ing] place as this in your life every thing appears to be going to decay, the people have lost all spirits the[y] ever had, even the[ir] actively groveling dispositions gave them has diminished in a grate [great] measure, I fear if the[y] deginurate [degenerate] much more the[y] all [will] turn to rock goats. Col. Preston's dubble [double] head [N]ed is suspected for burning the town, he is caut [caught] and some evidence discovered against him I expect he will be convicted.

I have some idea of going down to my father's and staying a few weeks, I believe I will not lay in winter provisions till I hear from you.

We expect [J]ames home in a few days he expresses great interest for you in all his letters.

Ben Clark's daughter Mrs. Crawford has died with the jandice [jaundice] and several others in the neighborhood, most of judge jonston's [Johhnston's] family had it and recovered.

Mr. Clarke and Mr. Jankry[?] boath [both] show their attachment to you in their friendly conduct to me, my Dear Husband write every mail and lesson [lessen] my anxiety as mutch [much] as posable [possible], I will write but I fear you will not receiv[e] my letters, I must again force myself to bid you farewell.

                                                                               Maria H. Campbell

[End part two. She had intended to mail part 1 on September 26, but the letter, with new part 2 added, was not postmarked until October 1, 1812. For part 1, see previous post.]

[Edward Campbell (1781-1833)
David Campbell (1779-1859). Serving as Major, Twelfth U.S. Infantry. 
Maria Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859)
Col. Preston = William Smith Preston (1765-1835)
Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831), had recently moved with his family from Prince Edward County to Abingdon.
Rather than attempting to identify the entire cast of fascinating characters mentioned in this letter, I will leave that task for a future date. Court records would be very instructive.]

     
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 Campbell Family Papers (1731-1969), here's a link to the guide.     

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

Maria Hamilton Campbell to David Campbell, September 26, 1812

[Maria Hamilton Campbell at Abingdon, Virginia, to David Campbell at Fort Niagara, New York, September 26, 1812. Box 2, Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. This is my rough transcription. Extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]

My Dear Husband

I this morning received your two letters from Carlisle and Sunbury and last Sunday I received one of the 2 this month from Chambersburg it found me closely consumed in bed from which reason it wasn't immediately answered, you will see by this I have perfectly recovered. The day I wrote you last I was taken with the jandes [jaundice] which confined me to my bed three long weeks. I bore my sickness with great firmness without expressing in the least, except at being prevented from writing to you.

My very sickest night we had a fire in Abingdon which broak [broke] out in Colo. Preston's new brick house and took all before it on that side of the street down to William Trigg's, there its ravages was [were] stopped. I was the most active person weak as I was in carrying out and garding [guarding] our little plunder in case the house which I had no doubt of should be burnt, you would have been astonished at my composure and deliberation.

Edward has written to you since and detailed the hoal [whole] circumstances. I [?] weather [whether] his letter nor mine of the 2d of this month will reach you soon the[y] were directed to Beathleham [Bethlehem]. 

Your account of your good health delites [delights] me very much and your hardiness astonishes me, but don't my Dear Husband expose yourself unnesesarily [unnecessarily] your health may be injured when you least expect it. O how my heart longs for the joyful hours of our meating [meeting] that I might see you in perfect health, but no more of this. 

I am now become the perfect philosopher and will bare [bear] every thing with fortitude for my Husband's and my Country's sake, my tears flowed very plentifull [plentiful] when I heard of the Traitorous conduct of Hull, our belove[d] Country received a severe wound which must fill the heart of every American with the bitterest indignation. I hope it will inspire the youths of our Country with more curage [courage] to resent the injustices offered us by that perjured nation that continues to have the audacity to call itself our mother.

You see I am no coward, and if you should think proper to permit me to be situated near you I can assure you my Husband I never would be the caus[e] of disgrase [disgrace] to you, nor will I ask anything unreasonable or even wish it, but my heart would be much gratified to see you before you take the field, if it cannot be I will submit with patience.

You tell me to write Abingdon news it is such a little place and filled with such little minds that I really think the news is not worth entertaining your great mind with. I must however except Judge Jonstone's [Johnston's] family which every branch of further[?] the appithel [epithet or appraisal] I have given to the rest of the villagers, the[y] are great in my opinion, but Mr. R and his family act with more littleness than ever. God has given him a head but no heart or at least a very puny one. I could tell you a great deal but it is best to omit giving you a detail at this distance. 

The spirit of patriotism is not very high in this place. I expect there will be but few that will vollenteer [volunteer] there [their] services to thise [this] coutry [country]. 

There have been no orders for the militias of this pleace [place] yet, their Col. has not yet returned I heard that E had made a conquest of a Mr. Read from Kentucky. 

I do not know that ever our honourable Brother has even mentioned my name to any of his correspondence [correspondents], at least none of them have ever told me he has, nor have I ever been shown one of his letters tho the[y] are oftain [often] handed all round in my presence you must understand are very oftain [often] in collected bodies.  I am ignorant of the ears of "this" seclusion of me nor do I make any inquiry in to the ears my independent spirit will never be broken nor beat.

Our oald [old] father and mather [mother] are well sister Betsey has had the lump taken out of her breast and is perfectly recovered. I am so pestered with company to day I can nether [neither] write well nor help as much as I intended. I will send it with all it[s] imperfections and write more and better next mail.

I am much lower in fleash [flesh] than I was with the most affectionate heart your wife

                                                                       Maria H. Campbell

[End part one. She had intended to mail it on that date, but the letter, with new part two added, was not postmarked until October 1, 1812. For part two, see next post.]

[Edward Campbell (1781-1833)
David Campbell (1779-1859). Serving as Major, Twelfth U.S. Infantry. 
Maria Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859)
Betsey/Eliza Campbell (1787-?)
Col. Preston = William Smith Preston (1765-1835)
William Trigg (1784-1813)
William Hull  (1753-1825), for cowardice and dereliction of duty, was sentenced to death by firing squad but spared by President James Madison.
Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831), had recently moved with his family from Prince Edward County to Abingdon.
Mr. R = [not sure at this juncture to whom she is referring.]
     
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 Campbell Family Papers (1731-1969), here's a link to the guide.     

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

Edward Campbell to David Campbell, September 12, 1812

Northern front (Royal Military College of Canada)

[Edward Campbell at Abingdon, Virginia, to David Campbell in the field, September 12, 1812, Box 2, Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. This is my rough transcription. Use of the long 's' modernized; extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]

Dear Brother

I received your letter dated on the 22d of August, in which you promised to write to me again before you left Winchester. Not having received anything from you since, has led me to conclude that you have either not written, or your letter has miscarried. I had delayed writing sooner that I might receive that letter, but as our little Village has been the victim of calamity, I have forborne to wait longer.

On last Thursday night we were alarmed, about 12 O'clock with the cry of fire. I hastened to the spot and found Col. Preston's new brick house all in flames, set on fire, no doubt, by the hand of some infernal, hellish incendiary. The new Courthouse was also set on fire, but was discovered before any damage was done and extinguished.

The night was calm, the inclination of the wind, (which was astir, tho') being Westward, there was no possibility of stopping the fury of the devouring element until it arrived at William Trigg's. There we made a vigorous effort and there we succeeded in stopping its ravages.

All the houses on that side of the street, between that and the corner were laid in ruins. No lives were lost nor any injured except one or two slightly. The citizens generally saved their property or the most of it. It was an awful night you may rest assured; but there seemed to be less alarm among the citizens than I would have suppos'd.

Maria has been unwell for several days with the jaundice, a complaint which seems to be very prevalent here at this time: tho' I'm in hopes she will be well enough in a few days. She wrote to you by the last Sunday's mail and mentioned that we would not finally determine until we had heard from you again, as to the course we should adopt. 

She also mentioned the cancer which afflicts our sister Eliza. I intend having it removed as soon as possible. She seems willing to do any thing that I may advise. The doctor told me the other day that it would be nearly as large as a goose's egg.

Your maid is also down. 'Tis said with the pox, and the doctor says she must be salivated, which will require about two months.

I assure you sir I have my hands full; but go on with s much alacrity as the nature of things will permit. form the uncertainty as to the manner and time of Maria's departure, I am placed in rather an unpleasant situation. I know not on what to resolve, you will therefore be explicit on that subject, for unless you are so, there can be no concert between us. If you intend sending a carriage let me know on what I am to depend, and make my arrangements to carry Maria to any point on the Continent where she would wish to go: but I would rather have done so before the intense cold weather would set in.

Maria says nothing about going to Tennessee. Nor do I believe she will want to go that course while a hope remains of going towards the North. I have not yet got your pistols from Gilliland but will as soon as possible and bring or send them to you.

We have heard of Hull's disgrace, I can call it nothing better. [Brigadier General William Hull surrendered Detroit to the British on August 16, 1812.] Some of us here do not credit the account & I for one. For is it possible that 2 or 3,000 men, Americans too -- the sons of liberty would willingly surrender to any foe on the whole face of the earth, without a single effort, when defended by a strongly fortified garrison, unless there was the most damnable treachery in the commander[?] Yet this is [the] account we have received. I cannot, will [not] believe it until I see an official statement well authenticated.

Mr. Edmiston showed me your letter the other day but did not tell me what he intended doing. Capt. Henry marched from this place on this day week with about sixty men for Philadelphia.

I have written in haste and in the warmth of a brother's hand

                                                            Must bid you
                                                                            Adieu
                                                                                    Edward

[Edward Campbell (1781-1833)
David Campbell (1779-1859). Serving as Major, Twelfth U.S. Infantry. Edward's letter was originally addressed to Reading, Pennsylvania, scratched out and "Albany or Buffaloe" added for updated address along the way. 
Maria Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859)
Eliza Campbell (1787-?)
Col. Preston = William Smith Preston (1765-1835)
William Trigg (1784-1813)
William Hull  (1753-1825), for cowardice and dereliction of duty, was sentenced to death by firing squad but spared by President James Madison.
Mr. Edmiston = possibly Captain John Montgomery Edmiston (1764-1813), veteran of King's Mountain (1780), killed in action at River Raisin on January 22, 1813. 
Around this time, Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831), moved with his family from Prince Edward County to Abingdon.]
     
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 Campbell Family Papers (1731-1969), here's a link to the guide.     

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

John Campbell to David Campbell, February 1, 1811

[John Campbell at Richmond to David Campbell at Abingdon, Virginia, February 1, 1811, Box 1, Campbell Family Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University. This is my rough transcription. Use of the long 's' modernized; extra paragraph breaks added for easier reading.]

Dear Brother

The election for a Judge of the general Court to supply the vacancy occasioned by the promotion of Judge Brook to the Court of Appeals has just taken place. Gen Peter Johnson [Johnston] (of Prince Edward) has been appointed.

The votes by the first ballot stood thus. For Johnson [Johnston] 125 for Thos Preston 27 for Smith (the Lieutenant Governor) 27 so that Johnson [Johnston] was duly elected by the first ballot.

I have not time to amuse you with the various circumstances attending this election. I never felt more difficulty on a subject in my life. The above mention'd gentlemen were the only persons that were named who would accept of the appointment.

The characters of Johnson [Johnston]  and Preston you know. Smith is a dunce. Now who would you have chosen? Taking all the circumstances into consideration, I voted for Preston. Allen Taylor could not have been elected. He has made one or two rank federal speeches this Session in consequence of which he has become unpopular.

I acknowledge I choose between evils. I by no means felt satisfied with the choice yet I expect it was as good as I could have made. Johnson [Johnston] was represented to the House by a number of gentlemen as an excellent judge of law as an old revolutionary soldier as a man of fine natural understanding expanded & improved by great literary information.

I will amuse you when I see you. This Session may be justly call'd the celebrated Session of Appointments.

Such maneuvering & intriguing you have no idea of. State in testick's[?] paper that Gen Johnson [Johnston] has been appointed. Say nothing about the other Candidates.

Tell Sister Maria I was last night at a Levee at Geo Hay's where I saw all the great folks of the place that I there received an invitation from a charming girl to spend this evening at her Father's whether I shall repair so soon as I can put on clean clothes.

Excuse me dear brother for my brevity. I shall see you again.

Tomorrow I will write to Sister Maria.

Vale et Salve [take care and greetings]
John Campbell

[John Campbell (1789-1866). Later became Secretary of the Treasury under Andrew Jackson and Martin Van Buren.
David Campbell (1779-1859)
Maria Hamilton Campbell (1783-1859)
Francis Taliaferro Brooke (1763-1851). There is a portrait of him here that may been painted by Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866).
George William Smith (1762-December 26, 1811) died in the Richmond Theatre Fire at the end of the year.
Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831)
Thomas Preston = probably Thomas Lewis Preston (1781-1812), Virginia House of Delegates (Rockbridge County).
Allen Taylor = possibly related to John Taylor (1753-1824).]
     
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 Campbell Family Papers (1731-1969), here's a link to the guide.     

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