[Peggy Bradfute [at or near New London, Virginia], to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie [at Pharsalia, Rose Mills,] Nelson [County, Virginia,] November 23, 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.]
November 23 1827
Dear Sally
I was agreeably surprised this morning, to have my Old Friend Mr. Massie to Breakfast with us & I soon commenced a quarrel at you; but he told me to cease for he had a Letter for me; he seemed quite astonish'd when I told him I had written you 3 Letters, & had never received a line; I wrote you about 3 Weeks ago my Mail a Melancholy Letter; which I presume as Mr. Massie knew nothing about it it has gone to the Courthouse.
[Y]ou will now admit I can assure you my heart is often with you & my inclination; but haveing [having] been 5 months from Home feel loth [loathe] to Leave it again Soon.
Grace desires her Love to you [and] thanks you kindly for your invitation; & says [it would] give her great pleausure to visit you, but the inconvenience of geting [getting] their [there] & back prevents her & is a great objection with me also.
I told Mr. Massie I had tir[e]d him out befor[e] he would not acknowled [acknowledged] it, I must give you a short letter as it is 9 O Clock; & my Eyes are very dim having had Sore Eyes Lately.
I told Mr. Massie to tell you if you wanted me to write you often; you must make ma a present of a Pair of Spectacles; & you will see by this scrall [scrawl] that is no joke so you need not expect but a Short Letter.
[P]lease present my Love to Sarah & say I searched the town for the Lace, & have sent her the best I could get; I fear it is not wide enough; could have gotten a plenty of very wide but hope that will answer; I must now conclude by saying i [I] believe it will be useless to say any thing to the Miss Tasses[?] on the Subject you mentioned; for I don't think they would seperate [separate].
[Y]or Friends are all well as far as I know. I understand poor Lucy Penn is in a thriveing [thriving] condition. Fanny L [Langhorne's] Agues are better but looks badly. I was sorry to hear your health is still delicate; no time for knews [news] yours affectionately
Peggy Bradfute
[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).
Lucy Penn = Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn (1795-1878), who married Robert Cowan Penn (1789-1854) in 1814. Their Bedford County, Virginia, estate was named "St. Helena."]
Fanny L = Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816. Their son John Scarsbrook Langhorne (1817-1896) was born on June 1, 1817 (in later years, sometimes changed to 1818 or 1819). Their son William Maurice “Wee” Langhorne (1818-1900) was born on June 30, 1818. Their only surviving daughter was Elizabeth Johnston(e) Langhorne (1821-1888). Two other brothers also lived: James (1822-1905) and Thomas (1828-1889).
November 23 1827
Dear Sally
I was agreeably surprised this morning, to have my Old Friend Mr. Massie to Breakfast with us & I soon commenced a quarrel at you; but he told me to cease for he had a Letter for me; he seemed quite astonish'd when I told him I had written you 3 Letters, & had never received a line; I wrote you about 3 Weeks ago my Mail a Melancholy Letter; which I presume as Mr. Massie knew nothing about it it has gone to the Courthouse.
[Y]ou will now admit I can assure you my heart is often with you & my inclination; but haveing [having] been 5 months from Home feel loth [loathe] to Leave it again Soon.
Grace desires her Love to you [and] thanks you kindly for your invitation; & says [it would] give her great pleausure to visit you, but the inconvenience of geting [getting] their [there] & back prevents her & is a great objection with me also.
I told Mr. Massie I had tir[e]d him out befor[e] he would not acknowled [acknowledged] it, I must give you a short letter as it is 9 O Clock; & my Eyes are very dim having had Sore Eyes Lately.
I told Mr. Massie to tell you if you wanted me to write you often; you must make ma a present of a Pair of Spectacles; & you will see by this scrall [scrawl] that is no joke so you need not expect but a Short Letter.
[P]lease present my Love to Sarah & say I searched the town for the Lace, & have sent her the best I could get; I fear it is not wide enough; could have gotten a plenty of very wide but hope that will answer; I must now conclude by saying i [I] believe it will be useless to say any thing to the Miss Tasses[?] on the Subject you mentioned; for I don't think they would seperate [separate].
[Y]or Friends are all well as far as I know. I understand poor Lucy Penn is in a thriveing [thriving] condition. Fanny L [Langhorne's] Agues are better but looks badly. I was sorry to hear your health is still delicate; no time for knews [news] yours affectionately
Peggy Bradfute
[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).
Grace = Grace Bradfute (1792-1861). She married Peyton Leftwich (1768/9-1859) at Lynchburg in 1831.
Sarah = Sarah Maria Massie (circa 1810-1844), daughter of Dr. Thomas Massie II (1782-1864) and stepdaughter of Sarah Ann Carrington Cabell Massie (1795-1831) since 1826.
Sarah = Sarah Maria Massie (circa 1810-1844), daughter of Dr. Thomas Massie II (1782-1864) and stepdaughter of Sarah Ann Carrington Cabell Massie (1795-1831) since 1826.
Lucy Penn = Lucinda “Lucy” Steptoe Penn (1795-1878), who married Robert Cowan Penn (1789-1854) in 1814. Their Bedford County, Virginia, estate was named "St. Helena."]
Fanny L = Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816. Their son John Scarsbrook Langhorne (1817-1896) was born on June 1, 1817 (in later years, sometimes changed to 1818 or 1819). Their son William Maurice “Wee” Langhorne (1818-1900) was born on June 30, 1818. Their only surviving daughter was Elizabeth Johnston(e) Langhorne (1821-1888). Two other brothers also lived: James (1822-1905) and Thomas (1828-1889).
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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