[Peggy Bradfute [at or near New London/Lynchburg, Virginia], to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie [at Pharsalia, Rose Mills,] Nelson [County, Virginia,] April 8, 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.]
April 8 1827
My Dear Friend
I hope you will except [accept] my most Greatful [grateful] thanks for your expected favours, as I have nothing else to offer but my earnest Prayer for your present & Future Happiness; you surprise me very much when you say you did not hear from me by Ned.
I have sent to know of your Cousin Daniel he sends me word Dr. Massie carried it; no doubt you will get it; I had only time to say a few things.
I have not seen Mr, Massie as yet; I fear he will treat me as formerly as to visiting you nothing would give me more Pleasure; but you will[?] well know my objection, I don't like to give so much trouble. I flatter myself to see you this Summer or fall as you have every convenience, & I think you ought to come to see your Poor afflicted Sister; if nothing else will induce you, it seems if misfortune never comes Single; Jack Langhorne had another fit a few days past; it being the third one it was not as violent as a former one; I have not seen any of the Family since. Miss Endee is still with them.
I wish you would come & see her; for i [I] think her an object of great pity indeed; I stayed with her several days & I cannot express my feelings; when I was coming away she seemed so loth [loath] to give me up. I was not very well & I had not seen a well day since a few days past have had the influenzy [influenza] which has taken all my Flesh; if I go to the country this Summer I shall go to see Lucy Penn; as I am under a Promise.
Do come & go with me. I was surprised to hear of the Doct[or's] Intention; I am glad that all drive on so well; I think you don't seem to have much communication.
[G]ive my love to your Mama. I have not forgotten her that is of the receipts [recipes] i [I] send her as Proof; I have been afraid to ask until a few days ago & she gave it with the Greatest Pleasure.
I regret the death of your Rose Mrs. Brown has 3 if they live; will give you one for a yellow jessamine, I have no flower seed not can't get any. [I]s your Christanthus [Chrysanthos] alive or not if not I have some growing finely will give you some in the fall.
I am so hurried I have hardly time to give you any knews [news]. I am sorry to inform you of Old Mrs. Walker's illness; she has been ill for some time & no hopes of her recovery. [I]t is very Sickly Patrick Burton Lost his Wife this Week taken one day & died the next; Leaveing [leaving] 8 Children she was a Miss Scott. I expect you knew her. Sam Harrison has been very ill for the last week & a Number of others.
I was Sorry [to] hear of Ally's[?] death & of your Maid's accident. I will not for your comfort give you a Statement of the Maid you have lately bought I have seen Mr. Whitlock & was particular in enquiring about her he said he would give me his candid opinion about her & said he thought her the best Servant he had; she is a[n] excellent Semstress [Seamstress] can make nice Ruffles Shirts Pantaloons & Waistcoating but don't cut out & one of the best nurses in a Sick Room & Chamber Maid he ever saw; but not accustomed to cleaning the House or waiting; he thinks her as good a Servant as he ever saw; as I fear they will call before I close must conclud[e] by saying I send you some Scaly Barkes [barks] & Thomas Some Cakes farewell my Dear Friend until I see you on this side of James River respects to all Friends & believe me, ever yours affectionately
Peggy Bradfute
PS the Funeral Sermon of your dear Father is at Mr. Langhorne's. I sent word last week to send it to you but they have not done so. Poor Fittilyde[?] Milly is dead a great relief to her Mother excuse this Horrid Scrall [scrawl]
[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."
Langhorne = Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816. Their son John "Jack" 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).
Your father = James Steptoe (1750-1826).]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
April 8 1827
My Dear Friend
I hope you will except [accept] my most Greatful [grateful] thanks for your expected favours, as I have nothing else to offer but my earnest Prayer for your present & Future Happiness; you surprise me very much when you say you did not hear from me by Ned.
I have sent to know of your Cousin Daniel he sends me word Dr. Massie carried it; no doubt you will get it; I had only time to say a few things.
I have not seen Mr, Massie as yet; I fear he will treat me as formerly as to visiting you nothing would give me more Pleasure; but you will[?] well know my objection, I don't like to give so much trouble. I flatter myself to see you this Summer or fall as you have every convenience, & I think you ought to come to see your Poor afflicted Sister; if nothing else will induce you, it seems if misfortune never comes Single; Jack Langhorne had another fit a few days past; it being the third one it was not as violent as a former one; I have not seen any of the Family since. Miss Endee is still with them.
I wish you would come & see her; for i [I] think her an object of great pity indeed; I stayed with her several days & I cannot express my feelings; when I was coming away she seemed so loth [loath] to give me up. I was not very well & I had not seen a well day since a few days past have had the influenzy [influenza] which has taken all my Flesh; if I go to the country this Summer I shall go to see Lucy Penn; as I am under a Promise.
Do come & go with me. I was surprised to hear of the Doct[or's] Intention; I am glad that all drive on so well; I think you don't seem to have much communication.
[G]ive my love to your Mama. I have not forgotten her that is of the receipts [recipes] i [I] send her as Proof; I have been afraid to ask until a few days ago & she gave it with the Greatest Pleasure.
I regret the death of your Rose Mrs. Brown has 3 if they live; will give you one for a yellow jessamine, I have no flower seed not can't get any. [I]s your Christanthus [Chrysanthos] alive or not if not I have some growing finely will give you some in the fall.
I am so hurried I have hardly time to give you any knews [news]. I am sorry to inform you of Old Mrs. Walker's illness; she has been ill for some time & no hopes of her recovery. [I]t is very Sickly Patrick Burton Lost his Wife this Week taken one day & died the next; Leaveing [leaving] 8 Children she was a Miss Scott. I expect you knew her. Sam Harrison has been very ill for the last week & a Number of others.
I was Sorry [to] hear of Ally's[?] death & of your Maid's accident. I will not for your comfort give you a Statement of the Maid you have lately bought I have seen Mr. Whitlock & was particular in enquiring about her he said he would give me his candid opinion about her & said he thought her the best Servant he had; she is a[n] excellent Semstress [Seamstress] can make nice Ruffles Shirts Pantaloons & Waistcoating but don't cut out & one of the best nurses in a Sick Room & Chamber Maid he ever saw; but not accustomed to cleaning the House or waiting; he thinks her as good a Servant as he ever saw; as I fear they will call before I close must conclud[e] by saying I send you some Scaly Barkes [barks] & Thomas Some Cakes farewell my Dear Friend until I see you on this side of James River respects to all Friends & believe me, ever yours affectionately
Peggy Bradfute
PS the Funeral Sermon of your dear Father is at Mr. Langhorne's. I sent word last week to send it to you but they have not done so. Poor Fittilyde[?] Milly is dead a great relief to her Mother excuse this Horrid Scrall [scrawl]
[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).
Ned = not sure who this is.
Cousin Daniel = not sure who this is.
Doc't = Dr. Thomas Massie II (1782-1864), married to Sarah Ann Carrington Cabell Massie (1795-1831) since 1826.
Cousin Daniel = not sure who this is.
Doc't = Dr. Thomas Massie II (1782-1864), married to Sarah Ann Carrington Cabell Massie (1795-1831) since 1826.
Your Mama = Sally's mother-in-law, Sarah Cocke Massie (1760-1838).
Patrick Burton = Dr. Philip Patrick Burton (1795-1875); his wife, Emily William Scott Burton (1790-1827), died on April 5, 1827, and was buried in Lynchburg.
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."
Langhorne = Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry "Harry" Scarsbrook Langhorne (1790-1854) on March 13, 1816. Their son John "Jack" 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).
Your father = James Steptoe (1750-1826).]
[Many thanks to Sue Davis, William Myers, Mary Davy and Sally Young for their ongoing research collaboration.]
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