"Edward William Johnston And Roanoke Female Seminary" (1969), Part I

Botetourt Springs early 1840s. A digital copy can be found at the Hollins University

[Notes from studying Margaret P. Scott and Rachel Wilson, "Edward William Johnston And Roanoke Female Seminary," Journal of the Roanoke Historical Society. Roanoke, Virginia. Volume 5, Number 2 (Winter 1969), pages 15-25. Scott and Wilson, Hollins Class of 1912, were emeritus professors at the time of publication.]

"Responsibility" for Bedford Female Academy in Liberty (Bedford), Virginia, was passed from the Reverend Mr. Jacob Mitchell to Edward William Johnston "we think" in 1837 (page 16). 

Johnston moved the school to Botetourt Springs in March of 1839 (page 16). He officially bought the deed from Hezekiah Daggs on April 20, 1839 (page 24). 

Students at both locations included:

Elizabeth Steptoe
and her first cousin, Frances "Fanny" Mennis

There was a Christmas party, apparently at Bedford, probably in December of 1838.

At Roanoke Female Academy, students included:

Eliza Mary Johnston, later Hughes (1825-1909)
Miss Lewis (Charleston, Kanawha)
Miss Bowyer (Fincastle)  
Miss Allen (Fincastle) [Probably Mary Jane Allen, later Watts (1825-1855)]
Miss Dabney (Lynchburg)
Sally Langhorne
Sally Steptoe (page 17).

[From other notes we know that the following were students there, also:

Mrs. Sorrel = Letitia "Letty" Gamble Watts Rives Sorrel (1829-1900), whose second husband was Dr. Francis Sorrel (1827-1916), a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Medical School. Her first husband had been Landon Rives (1825-1862). 
Mrs. Washington = [?].
Sue and Lizzie Peyton = probably related (daughters or nieces) to William Madison Peyton (1814-1868).] 

For the first 1839 term, apparently, teachers and handlers included Harvey Mitchell, Jane Mitchell, Mr. Bozzaotra, "Cousin Sue," and Edward and Estelle.

For the 1839-1840 term, Harvey and Jane departed. Estelle to continue and be joined by her mother. Mr. Bozzaotra [spelled Bozkaotra in other notes] evidently remained. Mr. Goodsicki of Richmond would be added to teach dancing in 1840. (page 17).

Picnic at Mrs. General Edward Watts of "Oaklands" on Roanoke County, drinking mint juleps (page 20).

By early 1841 the school was finished as such. So it seems there were two (or three) sessions at Bedford and two sessions at Botetourt Springs, all between 1837 and 1841.

In the endnotes on page 24, there are references to "Hollins Archives: Letters written to and by Mrs. Elizabeth Steptoe of 'Fairview,' Bedford County: 1838, two letters on the same stationary. Nov. 24th, 1839, May 8th and June 24th. These original letters were given to Joseph A. Turner of Hollins College by Annie Lowry of Bedford. Mr. Turner notes that Miss Lowry is related to the Johnston family." Also: "Copies of Letters from Students and Others Connected with the Roanoke Female Seminary at Botetourt Springs, 1931. Unpublished typescript. Unpaged."

Part 2 will follow this article's postscript about Edward's career and life after the closing of Roanoke Female Seminary, with additional documentation. 

[Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
Jacob D. Mitchell (1806-1877)
Estelle's mother = Joséphine Labarrière (1776-1858). Her first husband was Dr. Paul Valentine Costar (d. by 1805); her second, Jerome De Cressac Villagrand (1776-1845). Jerome joined them at some point, too. 
Estelle = Marie Antoinette Estelle Costar (De Cressac Villagrand) Johnston (circa 1802-1848).
Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866)
Jane = Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892)
General Edward Watts (1779-1859)
Mrs. General = Elizabeth Breckenridge Watts (1794-1862), mother of Letitia Gamble Watts (1829-1900)]

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

Edward William Johnston: 1838 Advertisement for Bedford Female Academy

[Lynchburg Virginian (September 17, 1838), Page 3.]  

BEDFORD FEMALE SEMINARY

Pupils will assemble on Monday, October 1st. 

MR. HARVEY MITCHELL, well known as a Portrait & Landscape Painter, will, for the year now commencing, take charge of a Class of Drawing and Painting.  His skill as an Artist will offer to pupils desiring a real proficiency in this accomplishment, advantages such as few schools can bestow.  Price of Tuition, 50 dollars per annum.

WINTER UNIFORM.--- Dress and Pelerine [cape] of bottle-green Circassian or Merino, with white Pantalets, and Aprons of brown French Linen; Bonnet of Cane or Chip, Nun’s pattern, trimmed with Crimson Ribbon.

Payment for Board ($50) and Tuition in the regular Studies ($25) will be expected in advance.  The fees for Music, Drawing or for other Studies, not a part of the regular course, will be payable at the end of each Session.  EDWARD WM. JOHNSTON, 

                                                   Principal

September 17                                                4t if ofts

[Note: same advertisement ran from October 8, 1838 until January 14, 1839, with tuition for Harvey Mitchell's class reduced to $15.
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866)]

[Many thanks to Mary Davy for tracking this and similar articles down, and to William Myers, Sally Young and Susan Davis for their ongoing research collaboration.]  

Edward William Johnston to Letitia Preston Floyd, May 26, 1838

[Edward William Johnston at Liberty [Bedford], Virginia, to Letitia Preston Floyd at [?], May 26, 1838, folder 80, Trigg-Floyd Collection, Special Collections, John Cook Wyllie Library, The University of Virginia's College at Wise -- formerly Clinch Valley College, Wise, Virginia. This is my rough transcription].

Dear Madam

I accept with the sincerest pleasure, the trust you have committed to me: and embrace cordially, the conditions of cordial regard, which you do me the kindness to ask. In every thing that of hereditary esteem for your race can inspire, in one delighting to maintain the transmission of honorable commissions, and in whatever of still more immediate interest this fine quality of Nicketti herself must give one, I shall not fail. As to any benefits, that my instruction can confer upon her, they shall certainly not be spared. I only wish that my power to teach was in full proportion to her seeming capacity to learn.

As yet, I can scarcely say in what particular parts of knowledge it is most necessary that she be led on. Her understanding is evidently a very fine one, and already familiar with whatever can beget elevated thoughts and a generous aim in study. She abounds in that home-bred intelligence, which your domestic habits are so fit to produce -- the early-instilled idea, that excellence in things of the mind should be the main care of one's life. With the love she has formed for all right and elegant pursuits, and with all the general knowledge she already possesses, my task with her will be, I think, an easy one -- agreeable, and certain to be covered with success.

I have, for the present, set her at French and History, with Music, and the reform of her handwriting. The initiatory parts of the first, she will have to fog in, for some months. She will, however, probably be able, by the end of our present term (the 15th Septr.) to pronounce it with correctness, and read the common style with facility. History, she is in a condition to study with great advantage; and will make a rapid progress in it. Cousin Susan says that her musical ear is excellent: I have myself had an opportunity to judge that. 

There is little danger of her being idle, I think, in the midst of studies attractively presented to her. I have no doubt that she will acquit herself as becomes her in every thing.

I trust that John & Cousin Sally are either arrived, or about to arrive. Pray tell them, that, when they shall have sufficiently rested, it will be a great pleasure to us, and the greatest possible joy to Eliza, if they will come down for a week or two. Present my sincere respects, also, to the new-married couple, with all the good-wishes, that are superfluous when such as they are united. Believe me, dear Madam, with the most affectionate respect,

very truly yours
Edward W. Johnston

[Letitia Preston Floyd (1776-1852), widow of Governor John Floyd (1783-1837) and mother of Nicketti Buchanan Floyd (1819-1908), who would later marry John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889)
Edward William Johnston (1799-1867)
John & Cousin Sally = probably John Buchanan Floyd (1806-1863) and Sarah Buchanan Preston Floyd (1802-1879), guardians of Eliza Mary Johnston (1825-1909) and her brother John Preston Johnston (1824-1847)
Susan = possibly Susanna Smith Preston Radford (1805-1857) of Greenfield Plantation.
New-married couple = not sure at this juncture
Note: Edward would move his "Female Seminary" to Botetourt Springs, Virginia, by 1839, and then disband it]