[Eliza Madison Preston Johnston at Abingdon to Gen'l John Preston at Fincastle, Virginia, February 25 (postmarked February 26), 1823. Box 25, Folder 6, Robert Morton Hughes Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Patricia W. and J. Douglas Perry Library, Old Dominion University Libraries, Norfolk, VA 23529.]
My Dear Father
It has been nearly three weeks since I have heard a single word from Greenfield; and you cannot imagine with what anxiety I await every post in hopes of hearing from my too Dear Father, the situation in which I left you has rendered me constantly uneasy since we parted. I hope however by this time you are entirely recovered and once again enjoying the blessing of good health.
We have not yet begun housekeeping but hope to do so as soon as Mr. Johns[t]on returns from court which will be the last of next week: we are both so anxious about it that we are determined to commence on what we have and not wait for our things from New York it will put us to some inconvenience but I had rather suffer that, than delay any longer; we have concluded to keep about us Dolly Claibourn and Franky the others are to be hired out.
Mr. Johns[t]on had a cook and dining room servant; those are more than I wish to keep about me but somehow or other I cannot lessen the number. We have gotten rid of one expense by reducing our establishment of horses we keep only two; with the others we paid for our grain, sideboard, tables &c. but I fear I'll tire you my dear papa with such minute details, however I flatter myself that whatever concerns me, will still interest you: Edward has gone to school today for the first time.
Mr. Johns[t]on has been attending to him ever since we arrived and advanced him so far as to enable him to begin Erasmus. We desired Mr. Holly to attend particularly to his reading and writing: tell mama he is quite a good boy the greatest difficulty I have is to make him keep himself clean.
Uncle Frank's family have all been sick since my arrival but are recovering. Sophonisba is to be married on the 8th of March all things are ready just waiting uncle's return.
My husband desires to be affectionately remembered to you and the rest of the family, and says if either of the girls will come out he will go down for them at any time. I wish most sincerely one of them could come it would be a great source of comfort to me.
[M]y best love to mama and sisters and accept my dearest present of the sincerest affection from your daughter
Eliza M. Johns[t]on
[Father = John Preston (1764-1827)
Eliza Madison Preston Johnston (1803-1828) married Charles Clement Johnston (1795-1832), probably at Greenfield, on December 29, 1822. "Our things from New York" = did they honeymoon in New York City? Was Edward William Johnston (1799-1867) boarding at the Villagrand's by that time?
Dolly Claibourn and Franky and the others = enslaved servants and workers.
Edward = Edward Carrington Preston (1812-1836). Probably as a political favor to John Preston, Andrew Jackson sent a recommendation on his behalf to John Caldwell Calhoun, for entry into the US Military Academy at West Point, when he was still fourteen! I think he ended up at Georgetown and later moved to Louisiana, where he died at age 25.
Mama = Elizabeth Ann Carrington Preston (1768-1829)
Mr. Holly - tutor and/or teacher.
Uncle Frank = Francis Smith Preston (1765-1826)
Sophinisba = Ann Sophonisba Preston (1803-1844) would marry Robert Jefferson Breckenright (1800-1871) technically on March 11, 1823.
The girls = probably Susan = Susanna Smith Preston (1805-1857) and Sarah = Sarah Radford Preston (1806-1848)]
[*Portrait possibly by Chester Harding or A. J. Miller, Kentucky Historical Society. Link here]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
My Dear Father
It has been nearly three weeks since I have heard a single word from Greenfield; and you cannot imagine with what anxiety I await every post in hopes of hearing from my too Dear Father, the situation in which I left you has rendered me constantly uneasy since we parted. I hope however by this time you are entirely recovered and once again enjoying the blessing of good health.
We have not yet begun housekeeping but hope to do so as soon as Mr. Johns[t]on returns from court which will be the last of next week: we are both so anxious about it that we are determined to commence on what we have and not wait for our things from New York it will put us to some inconvenience but I had rather suffer that, than delay any longer; we have concluded to keep about us Dolly Claibourn and Franky the others are to be hired out.
Mr. Johns[t]on had a cook and dining room servant; those are more than I wish to keep about me but somehow or other I cannot lessen the number. We have gotten rid of one expense by reducing our establishment of horses we keep only two; with the others we paid for our grain, sideboard, tables &c. but I fear I'll tire you my dear papa with such minute details, however I flatter myself that whatever concerns me, will still interest you: Edward has gone to school today for the first time.
Mr. Johns[t]on has been attending to him ever since we arrived and advanced him so far as to enable him to begin Erasmus. We desired Mr. Holly to attend particularly to his reading and writing: tell mama he is quite a good boy the greatest difficulty I have is to make him keep himself clean.
 |
| Ann Sophonisba Preston Breckinridge* |
My husband desires to be affectionately remembered to you and the rest of the family, and says if either of the girls will come out he will go down for them at any time. I wish most sincerely one of them could come it would be a great source of comfort to me.
[M]y best love to mama and sisters and accept my dearest present of the sincerest affection from your daughter
Eliza M. Johns[t]on
[Father = John Preston (1764-1827)
Eliza Madison Preston Johnston (1803-1828) married Charles Clement Johnston (1795-1832), probably at Greenfield, on December 29, 1822. "Our things from New York" = did they honeymoon in New York City? Was Edward William Johnston (1799-1867) boarding at the Villagrand's by that time?
Dolly Claibourn and Franky and the others = enslaved servants and workers.
Edward = Edward Carrington Preston (1812-1836). Probably as a political favor to John Preston, Andrew Jackson sent a recommendation on his behalf to John Caldwell Calhoun, for entry into the US Military Academy at West Point, when he was still fourteen! I think he ended up at Georgetown and later moved to Louisiana, where he died at age 25.
Mama = Elizabeth Ann Carrington Preston (1768-1829)
Mr. Holly - tutor and/or teacher.
Uncle Frank = Francis Smith Preston (1765-1826)
Sophinisba = Ann Sophonisba Preston (1803-1844) would marry Robert Jefferson Breckenright (1800-1871) technically on March 11, 1823.
The girls = probably Susan = Susanna Smith Preston (1805-1857) and Sarah = Sarah Radford Preston (1806-1848)]
[*Portrait possibly by Chester Harding or A. J. Miller, Kentucky Historical Society. Link here]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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