Peggy Bradfute to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie, August 1820

[Peggy Bradfute [probably at or near New London, Virginia], to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie at Pharsalia, [Nelson County, Virginia,] undated, but by contents, August 1820. Conveyed "by Robin." 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.]

Dear Sarah

I have made the best choice for you I could they are not exactly like yours though I think handsomer & the best glass I could get except the cut glass which was 3d & a half per dozen.

[Y]ou will receive by Robin 4 dollars; we arrived safe & in good time & found all well.

I am sorry to inform you that Sally Harris is no more she took the fever[?] at[?] Major Read's & survived but a few days; her Mother is expected to die was there ever such affliction; let us all prepare to meet our judge for we know not when the summons may come.

N.B. your Brother James & Lady have gown [gone] to the springs for the health of their Child.

in haste ten o'clock farewell Peggy Bradfute 

[Sarah = 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).

Major Read's = related to Major John Reid (1784-January 18, 1816), aide-de-camp to Andrew Jackson, born in or near New London, Virginia, then based in Tennessee; and Maria Frances Thompson Reid (died January 1816?). They apparently had a daughter named Sophia Reid. Jack Reid was directly related to Nathan Reid (1753-1830), who had married Sophia Thorpe in 1784. Other Reid family members lived around New London and Lynchburg, Virginia. Jack Reid was working on a biography of Andrew Jackson at the time of his death.

Sally Harris = died on or just before August 15, 1820. Not sure who this is exactly, though.

Your Brother James & Lady = James Callaway Steptoe (1781-1827) and Catherine "Kitty" Mitchell Steptoe (1780-1858). married since 1808. Two known children: Frances Callaway Steptoe (1810-1880) and Edward Dillon Steptoe (1811-1854). 

Robin = courier, mentioned in other letters.]

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