"Funeral of Dr. W. M. Michel" (1908)

["Funeral of Dr. W. M. Michel," June 1908 newspaper clipping, Ferndale, Califorinia, June 1908 (The Ferndale Enterprise).  

Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing a scan of the original document, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

FUNERAL OF DR. W. M. MICHEL

The funeral of the late Dr W M Michel, who died Monday evening at his home in Ferndale and mentioned in Tuesday's Enterprise, occurred Wednesday afternoon from the family residence on Rose avenue. 

In compliance with the often expressed wishes of the deceased, the services were simple and unostentatious -- in keeping with  the honest, simple life he led.

Rev. A. B. Roberts of the Congregation church conducted the services at the grave, and a quartette composed of Messrs Duck and Weaver, Mrs O Halgestead and Miss Elsie Simpson assisted at the burial service. A great production of floral offerings testified to the esteem and respect in the which the decedant was held by all who knew him. The pall bearers were Silva Comisto, I B Barnes W W Barnes, J A Swett, Chris Eskesen and E Hopkins.

Dr Michel was a genuine type of the old southern gentleman one sees so little of these days. Kindness and courtesy bespoke his every word and action -- a thorough friend in the fullest sense of the word, making no idle pretensions, ever in readiness to extend a helping hand to those around him. To him the boasted chivalry of the southerner for womanhood was a scared precept, which he practiced daily in his bearing toward the sex and in his devotion to his wife and daughters.

He came of a distinguished family, his mother being a daughter of Judge Peter Johnston of Toswell [sic] county, Virginia, where he was born in 1840. Dr. Michel was also the sole nephew [incorrect] of General Joseph E. Johnston, a distinguished Confederate officer.

He studied medicine at Georgetown Medical College, from which institution he graduated in 1861. In 1866 he was married to Miss Lucy Dennis. Shortly afterward he received his appointment as U S ship's surgeon where he spent 18 months along this and the China coast. At the expiration of  his appointment he was joined in San Francisco by Mrs. Michel and they have since made their home on this coast.

Dr. Michel also served the government at Round Valley and Hoopa reservations, being in the latter place about five years. He practiced a year in Blocksburg and settled in Ferndale about 17 years ago with his wife and family. Shortly after coming to Ferndale he purchased what is now Alford's drug store and gave up the practrie of medicine to conduct the business. Since disposing of the business Dr Michel lived a retired life.

He is survived by his widow, four daughters and two sons, Mrs. Robert Porter, of Eureka, Mrs Wm Smiley, of Ferndale, Miss Miriam Michel of Eureka, Mrs. John McClellan, of the Bridgeville section, Maynard Michel, of Rohnerville, and William Michel, of Scotia.

The family have the deepest sympathy of the entire community in their affliction. 

[William Manning Mitchell/Michel (born Tuesday, October 1, 1839, at Maiden Spring, Tazewell County, Virginia-died  Monday, June 15, 1908, in Ferndale, Humboldt County, California).
Judge Peter Johnston (1763-1831).
Gen. Joseph E. Johnston (1807-1891)
Lucy Dennis = Lucu "Lulie" Maynard Dennie (1845-1923).] 

Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part VI

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part VI. My rough transcription. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.

 
Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

My grandfather Johnston had, as I said before, four sons, & a daughter who died in infancy. Of the eldest, my father, I gave already spoken.

The second son, Andrew, married Miss Nancy Nash, of Prince Edward. He died rather young, leaving three sons, John Nash, Peter, & Edward: and one daughter, Betsey, now Mrs. Brown. 

John Nash became quite eminent as a Baptist preacher. Peter chose the vocation of school-master. Edward, receiving a finished education, became a lawyer, & was made a Judge when unusually young.

Charles, the third son, engaged early in mercantile business. When he was about twenty, he, with three others, set out in a flat boat on a trading voyage down the Ohio river. On approaching the spot where Maysville now stands, they were induced by the piteous cries & entreaties of a white man on the bank of the river, to row to the shore. He told them a sad tale of his being captured by Indians, & having made his escape from their hands – said he was in immediate danger of being recaptured, & pled earnestly to be taken into their boat. 

The young men were in great terror of Indians, who were said to be lurking on the bank in wait for whites – but, moved by the urgent entreaties of the poor fugitive, they at last determined to push hastily to the shore & rescue him. No sooner had they touched land, than a dozen Indians, springing from concealment, leaped into their boat, & made prisoners of the party!

The white man, they then discovered, was a decoy, employed by the Indians to entrap others.

One of the companions of my uncle, Mr. May, was put to death on the spot – the town afterwards built their received his name.

After taking possession of the valuable contents of the boat, the savages left the river with their captives & struck across the country. After a day or two, the white men resolved to make an effort to escape. Two of them succeeded in getting out of the camp by night – one was caught, brought back, tomahawked by the chief. The other, after extraordinary risks, finally saved himself from their hands.

Uncle Charles was so closely watched after this, that he found it impossible to elude the vigilance of his guard. To his surprise, however, he was treated with levity, & liberally supplied with food. This, as he was told by [an] old squaw who took a liking to him, was done for the purpose of getting him fat, so they designed to have a grand feast at the close of their march, at which he was to form the dainty dish.

Of course, this information took away his appetite: and the Indians, finding he refused food, began to treat him with great cruelty. One of the chiefs, however, interfered on his behalf, & the rest of the journey was comparatively free from suffering.

At length they reached Sandusky, & found another portion of their tribe rejoicing over a victory they had just obtained. To give splendor to their festivities, it was resolved to have a roast of the white man.

Uncle Charles was accordingly bound to a tree, all the preparations were finished, & one of the savages stepped forward with lighted torch, to set fire to the faggots. At that moment, proceedings were arrested by the opportune arrival of a young French trader named Francis Duchoquet, who was a favorite with the tribe. He persuaded the Indians to desist from their frightful purpose, & to give up their prisoner in consideration of a ransom – a hundred silver broaches.   

[page 26 – ends here.]

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
My grandfather = Peter Johnston, Sr. (1710-1786).
My father = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
Andrew Johnston (1767-1811).
Nancy Nash = (Nancy) Anne Owen Nash (1775-1851).
John Nash Johnston (1799-1850).
Peter = Peter Butler Johnston (1802-1886).
Edward Johnston (1807-1853).
Betsey Johnston = Elizabeth Fisher Johnston (1809-1883) married Rev. Mr. Thomas B. Brown (1809-1890) in 1838.
Charles Johnston (1769-1833).
Mr. May = John May (d. 1790).
Francis Duchouquet (circa 1751-1831).]

Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part IV

From John B. Jackson Map of Columbia, ca. 1850, copied in 1931.*

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part IV. My rough transcription. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.

 
Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

Benjamin was a most singular child – so silent, so shy, so reserved that even Mother did not understand or appreciate him. He showed such an utter aversion to learning, & gave so little indication of mind, that the parents feared he was absolutely deficient & made no effort to force him to learn.

He spent his days in quiet rambles, in silent reverie, or, more frequently, in hanging over the great deep spring with a pin hook, fishing for minnows, & richly rewarded for his trouble, if he got a single little fish in a day. All at once, however, when he was a lad of twelve, he awoke from his mental slumber – began, under Mother’s instruction, to acquire the rudiments of education, & made astonishing progress. In a couple of years, he was at the [Abingdon] Academy, side by side in his studies with Joe, who had been attending school several years, and had made good progress.

From that time, Benjamin was a devoted and successful student. His perseverance was unyielding. One winter, not being able to find any one to teach him Greek, he resolved to learn it without assistance – he got somebody to give him the sound of the letters, & with that aid only, he soon became proficient in the language. 

When quite young, he was sent to South Carolina College, then one of the very finest institutions in the country. There, after three years’ study, he took the first honor. He then went to teaching, & at the same time studies Law under the direction of cousin William Preston. As soon as he was licensed to practice, he was taken into cousin William’s office as a partner, and became an intimate of his household. He rose rapidly at the Bar, and attracted notice as an eloquent public speaker while yet very young.

At the time of the Nullification movement, he took a zealous part in favor of State rights and made political speeches which were much admired for rigor & clearness. The most eminent men of the State looked upon him as one destined to the highest distinction. But alas! He died of “country fever” before he had completed his 26^th year – died calmly, with his finger on his pulse.

Benjamin Johnston had talents of the highest order. In addition to mental endowments of exceeding excellence, he possessed an extraordinary capacity for sculpture and painting, which was evinced in childhood. Without ever having seen any person attempt to draw, he, by dint of persevering effort, learned to draw exquisitely, & to paint in water color. Had he devoted himself to that, he might surely have attained high eminence.

He was the best, the purest boy I ever knew. I never saw him hurt any creature, & never heard him speak ill of any person.     

When we would, as children be strolling about the fields, I have often seen him turn out of the road to avoid frightening a bird, or step carefully aside to spare the little ants’ nests. As to a vulgar or profane word, such never passed his lips as long as I knew him -- & I can’t recall any instance of his deserving correction. 

It was the boast of “our boys” that not one of them was ever whipped at school, though they sometimes were under teachers who were noted disciplinarians.

My father was extremely strict in the exercise of his authority, having been brought up after the Scottish fashion, and also taught in the army the virtue of subordination. He inculcated the highest sense of truth & honor: & taught us all to endure pain or privation without complaint.

In our early days, he had abundant means: yet we were never pampered or allowed to be waited on. The boys went barefoot: in all kinds of weather they were out of doors: and they hunted deer over hill, mountain & “knob” on foot, often walking as much as twenty miles in a day over a wild & rugged country. These early habits made them universally athletic and healthy – and to Joseph, in his military career, they were invaluable.

Of all my father’s eight sons, but one has handed down the name – the son & only child of brother John. He has eight children, two of whom are sons. William, his oldest son, was drowned in the river at Wheeling, when he was about 18 years of age [in 1869]. He was all that is most loveable in a youth, & gave promise of uncommon excellence. Dear Willie! [H]ow many fond hopes were laid in his grave!

[Above: pages 21-23; skips original page 24.]

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Benjamin Franklin Johnston November 18, 1808-November 5, 1834).
Mother = Mary Valentine Wood Johnston (1769-1825).
Joe = Joseph Eggleston Johnston (1807-1891).
Cousin William Preston = William Campbell Preston (1794-1860). 
My father = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
Brother John = Dr. John Warfield Johnston (1790-1818).
John = Senator John Warfield Johnston (1818-1889).
William/Willie = William Floyd Johnston (1852-June 3, 1869).

*Red circles indicate possible locations of E. W. & A. S. Johnston's store(s). A clickable version of the full map can be found here, at NOVA NUMISMATICS. ]

Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part II

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part II. My rough transcription. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.
 
Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

Lucy Henry, my grandmother, was the wife of Col: Valentine Wood, who held, for forty years, the office of Clerk of Goochland. He, his father & his grandfather, were each only sons. His parents were both English, & came of a good family. He was a wealthy & influential man. 

Unfortunately, his sons were not worthy descendants of an honorable pair. They squandered the large estate he left, & brought my grandmother, in her old age, to comparative poverty & neglect. They prevented her, by their unworthy insinuations & their crafty deceit, from coming to live with my parents, who were most anxious to have her in their care.

At last, she who had been the centre of attraction in a wide circle, and the possessor of large wealth, was removed by her sons to a miserable old dwelling in the midst of deep woods, far away from friends & society. There the last years of her life were spent in uncomplaining endurance.

She had an original, rigorous mind, well stored with knowledge – a cheerful, serene temper & earnest piety. These sustained her in her lone old age.

I must not omit, however, to mention one comfort that was left her -- & a truly remarkable one it was.

She had a servant, a woman named Sukey, whose faithful & affectionate attentions did much to soothe her years of helpless infirmity. Sukey was not only a most devoted attendant, but quite an interesting companion: being remarkably intelligent for one of her color, & having always lived in the family. She stayed beside her beloved mistress day & night, with a tender fidelity that was never worn out. So did her niece towards my mother.

Elizabeth Henry, the only one of my mother’s aunts that I ever saw, married first Gen. William Campbell, the hero of the battle of King’s Mountain. He was a most gallant officer, & a devoted patriot. Died early in life, leaving a son who died in early youth; & one daughter, Sally Campbell, who was an heiress, & a celebrated beauty. Surrounded by lovers before she was well grown, she chose Francis Preston & was married to him while two others of her suitors had gone off to N. Carolina to fight a duel on her account. She was a wife at the age of fourteen, & reared ten children, of whom the eldest was my beloved cousin William Campbell Preston. 

One of the daughters is known to you as Mrs. Floyd. These relatives of my mother being the only ones within her reach (their usual abode being in Abingdon) were always most intimately associated with our family, and the friendship remained unbroken till dissolved by death.

Of all my kindred, none outside my own immediate family was so loved and admired as William Preston. I wish I could describe him so truly as to give a just conception of his character. But no words of mine can tell what he was. As an orator, he was considered equal if not superior to Henry: excelling the latter, no doubt, in cultivation & exquisite polish – while he possessed all the fire, the force, and the genius of his illustrious kinsman. He had the advantage of a splendid person, & a fine face, with a manner all grace & elegance.  

I have heard some of the most noted orators of America, but none, with the exception of Henry Clay, could compare with Preston. Yet it is not as a statesman or an eloquent speaker that I would praise him. These were the least of his excellences. It was that large, loving heart, that governs noble nature, which won the fervent affection of all who knew him.

He was my ideal of a man. I could see no imperfection in him, though I was admitted to the closest intimacy in his household, of which I was a privileged member. He offered me a home in his house on the death of my father, & he and his charming wife did all they could to induce me to take there the place of an elder daughter.

His first wife gave him seven children, of whom one only survived. The last wife lost her only child in early infancy – but they lived to see the last one laid in the grave. I was able, at one time, to be a real comfort to them; and they never forgot me.

Penelope Davis, cousin William’s second wife, was the most brilliant and interesting woman I ever knew in society. “Grace was in all her steps” – her manners irresistibly winning. She was as charming at home, in the quiet of her sick room (she was long a great sufferer) as she had been when the most admired of all her circle, she shone the brightest star. She was full of all womanly qualities – sweet, gentle, tender. Finally sunk, a willing victim to her wifely devotion by devoting herself too assiduously to tending her sick husband.

Dear cousin William! [B]est and kindest of friends! Let his loved name be a household word, earnestly, tenderly spoken by my children.

My aunt Elizabeth becoming a widow while still young, formed a second marriage with General Russell. By this marriage she had two daughters, Mrs. Frank Smith, & Mrs. William Thompson, both of whom died early. Gen: Russell was a harsh, tyrannical man, & the second marriage was probably not a happy one. He, however, died in a few years; & from that time she lived mostly in a small house near the Washington Salt Works.

She was a great enthusiast in religion, a Methodist of the Whitefield stamp. She made her house the home of all the travelling preachers, and an established place of worship. One of her two lower rooms being fitted up with a pulpit and seats, was constantly used for public services. She herself often led these services, praying with a fervor & an eloquence worthy of a Henry. It was her habit, whenever a friend called to see her, to call on him or her to join in prayer.

On one occasion, the late Thomas Benton turned from the road to pay her a brief visit. According to her custom, she invited him in to unite with her in prayer. He, though not delighting in such exercises, knelt down; and the old lady poured forth such a stream of earnest, pathetic supplication, as melted his heart completely, and he burst into a passion of tears.

She considered it wrong to have any luxuries, & made it a point to live in the plainest way, although she had ample means. Her peculiar dress & her stately, grave manner made a lasting impression on my young mind. I looked upon her with awe.

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel (1811-1892).
Lucy Henry = Lucy Winston Henry (1743-1826).
Valentine Wood (1724-1781).
Sukey = possibly the same person named in Peter Johnston, Jr.'s will as "Suckeye." Link here.
Her niece = not sure of her name.
Elizabeth Henry = Elizabeth Anne "Betsy" Henry (1749-1825).
William Campbell (1745-1781).
Sally Campbell = Sarah Buchanan "Sally" Campbell (1778-1846).
William Campbell Preston (1794-1860).
Francis Preston (1765-1836).
Mrs. Floyd = Sarah Buchanan Preston (1802-1879), who married JOhn Buachanan Floyd (1806-1863).
Henry Clay (1777-1852).

His first wife = Maria Eliza Coalter (1792-1829).
Penelope Davis (1805-1853).
General Russell = William Washington Russell (1735-1793).
Mrs. Frank Smith = Elizabeth Henry Russell (1785-1804), who married Francis "Frank" Smith (circa 1782-1851?) in 1804.
Mrs. William Thompson = Jane Roberston Russell (1788-1816), who married Dr. William Preston Thompson (1788-1848) in 1805.
Whitefield stamp = George Whitefield (1714-1770). 
Thomas Benton = Thomas Hart Benton (1782-1858).

Portrait of Elizabeth Anne "Betsy" Henry Campbell Russell from George Morgan, The True Patrick Henry, Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1907, between pages 236 and 237.]  

Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part I

Patrick Henry (from Sully)

[Jane Mary Wood Johnston Mitchell/Michel: Notes on Family (1870+), Part I. My rough transcription. Additional paragraph breaks inserted for easier reading.
 
Many thanks to William Myers, Mary Davy, Sally Young and Sue Davis for their ongoing research collaboration; specifically to William for providing scans of the original documents, and in turn many thanks to Peter Johnston Binckley and Patricia D'Arcy "Trish" Binckley (1951-2007), at the source.]

My mother was Mary Winston Wood, daughter of M[?] Valentine Wood, who was [the] only son of James Wood, an Englishman of a highly respectable family who came to Virginia early in life, & settled in Buck Island in [left blank].

The said James Wood is known to us only as a worthy gentleman. Mr. Valentine Wood married Lucy Henry, a sister of the famous Patrick Henry. She was a woman of unusually fine mind, highly improved by constant reading of the best English authors. The ladies of the Henry family, as well as their celebrated brother, were noted for their conversational powers – and, my grandmother’s abilities in that line were said to be most remarkable. She was handsome in her youth – tall & stately, an elegant gentlewoman of the old school. She lived to be upwards of seventy, having survived her husband [by] more than thirty years.

They had four sons & four daughters. The sons were William (never married), John, married Miss Garrett of Charlottesville & had but one child, a daughter who married & went North. Henry, who went out to Kanawha when young & was lost sight of by his family. Valentine, the one worthy son, died just as he reached manhood.

Of the daughters, the eldest, Martha, was twice married. Her first husband, Mr. Southall, was a gentleman of talents & great worth. The second, Mons. Stras, a Frenchman, won her regard by his pleasing manners & person. He was a professional gambler. She was a handsome woman, much admired for showy qualities, but was worldly and ambitious of wealth. Her Southall children were Philip, an excellent man, a physician, lived and died in Prince Edward. 

Valentine, an eminent lawyer and an admirable gentleman. He lived in Charlottesville, & left a large family. Mrs. Lucy Cutts, Mrs. Martha Van Zandt, & Jane, who died single. The Stras children were Emily & Joseph.

My mother was next in age to Aunt Patsy. She was married at the age of twenty, & died in her fifty-seventh year, of lingering consumption.

Next to her was Lucy, who married Edward Carter of Amherst – left three children, Champe, Peter & Mary. Aunt Lucy was a lovely woman – amiable, sensible – the favorite sister of my mother, who always spoke of her with great tenderness.

The youngest daughter was Jane Robertson, who never married, as I have heard it said, because she could never find her equal. She was a woman undoubtedly of superior abilities & much culture: excelled especially in music, a rather rare accomplishment in her day. She was handsome, & extremely dignified. Most of her life was spent in my father’s house. He was enthusiastically fond of her, looking upon her as his eldest daughter, and my older brothers regarded her with a romantic sort of admiration, as well as most tender affection. She died early – I don’t know at what age – but I have heard them say she was in the perfection of womanly loveliness, when she was taken from the household of which she was the ornament and the chief delight. 

My great-grandfather was named John. Of him and his wife I only know that they were worthy and intelligent and gentlefolk.

The first ancestor of the name in America was an Englishman a Clergyman of the Episcopal Church. He had a parish in Hanover county, which was the residence of his descendants. He was grandfather to my grandmother. Here I must remark, and I wish my children to remember it well, that all of my ancestors on both sides were Episcopalians, and were among the most respectable, nay honorable people in a section of country which was noted for the high character & the refinement of its inhabitants.

Mr. Wirt, in his “Life of Patrick Henry” deviated widely from truth in representing him as the son of an obscure family, & as having been destitute of education. Mr. Wirt, himself a man of low origin, must have been influenced by a desire to bring down the mighty orator & statesman to his own original level, or else to enhance Henry’s glory by making him appear a self-taught genius. 

Whatever may have been the motive, the statement was an utter falsehood, as I have heard from the lips of those who were thoroughly cognisant [cognizant] of all the circumstances attending Mr. Henry’s family and his education. I have often heard my father speak with indignation of this misrepresentation, and characterized the whole book as a fiction. It was called by those who knew the facts, the Romance of Patrick Henry. 

My husband, when at Hampden Sydney, used the same copy of Virgil which had been studied by P. Henry, with his name in it, and numerous notes in his handwriting. This book had passed into the hands of his nephew, Patrick Winston. It was in itself a sufficient refutation of Wirt’s assertion.

My grandmother had but one brother, Patrick & seven sisters, all of whom married. 

Susan, Mrs. Madison, who left numerous descendants. Her husband was brother to Bishop Madison, the first Bishop of Virginia. 

Mary, Mrs. Christian, who also had a large family – her descendants are to be found for the most part in Kentucky, the State to which she removed in middle life. 

Agatha, Mrs. Thomas, who died young and childless. 

Jane, Mrs. Bowyer, of whom I can only make the same brief record. 

Sally, Mrs. Meredith, who had two daughters – one married Col: Armistead & was remarkable only for her eccentricities. She did not live long with her husband. Took such violent offence at his telling her a falsehood about her horse, that she separated from him, & lived for the rest of her life alone: with no companions but her dogs, which were her delight. Her end was a terrible one – her house took fire one night & she, with all her pets, was consumed. 

The other Miss Meredith married a gentleman of great worth, David S. Garland. They had several children, one of whom you know as Mrs. Mary Cabell. One of the sons is noted as a man of great learning, and has been connected (as Professor) with the University of Alabama. Dolly, Mrs. Winston, was mother of a large number of children, of whom I know but little.

[Mary Winston Wood = aka Mary Valentine Wood (May 8, 1769-June 25, 1825).
Valentine Wood (1724-1781).
James Wood = Henry Wood (1696-1757).
Lucy (Winston) Wood (1743-1826).
Patrick Henry (1736-1799).
William Wood (1765-1824).
John Wood = John Henry Wood (1776-1850).
Miss Garrett = Mary A. Garrett (1796-?).
Henry Wood (1765-1814).
Valentine Wood, Jr. (1777-1790s?).

Martha Henry "Patsy" Wood (1768-1834).
Southall = Stephen Turner Southall (1757-1791).
Stras = George Frederick Stras (1746-1811).
Philip Southall = Philip Turner Southall (1791-1857).
Valentine Southall = Valentine Wood Southall (1789-1861).
Mrs. Lucy Cutts = Lucy Henry Southall (1790-1868), married Charles Cutts (1769-1846).
Mrs. Martha Van Zandt = Maria Martha Wood Southall (1787-1862), who married Nicholas Biddle Van Zandt (1777-1863).
Jane = Louisa Jane Southall (1784-1807).
Emily Stas = Emily Catherine Stas (1803-1872).
Joseph Stas = Joseph Henry Stas (1808-1885).
Lucy = Lucy Henry Wood (1774-1837), who married Edward Champe Carter, Jr. (1768-1825).
Champe Carter (1815-1873).
Peter = Peter Johnston Carter (1809-1862).
Mary = Mary Champe Wood Carter (1805-1879).
John Henry (1704-1773)

Jane Roberston Wood (1776-1810).
Mr. Wirt = William Wirt (1772-1834).
My father = Peter Johnston, Jr. (1763-1831).
My husband = Harvey Mitchell/Michel (1799-1866).

Henry sisters (years approximate in some cases) = Sarah Winston Henry (1710-1784) was first married to John Syme (1690-1732) and secondly to John Henry. John Syme, Jr. (1729-1805) was a son from the first marriage. Daughters from the second marriage included Anne Henry (1738-1790), Mary Jane Henry (1738-1819), Sarah "Sally" Henry (1738-1819), Susannah Henry (1742-1831), Lucy Winston Henry (1743-1826), and Elizabeth Ann "Betsy" Henry (1749-1825). Agatha Henry, according to Jane, was another daughter.  

Jane's listing of Henry sister marriages may conflate somewhat, matching sisters with the wrong husband. I will not attempt to untangle them all here.]

Martha Butler Johnston to Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie, April 30, 1827

Morven in 2007. Near Markham, Fauquier, Virginia. Photo by Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD via Wiki Commons.

[Martha Butler Johnston at Morven, about three miles south of Markham, Fauquier County, Virginia, to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie at [Pharsalia,] Tye River Mill post office, [Nelson, Virginia,] April 30, 1827. Postmarked Farrowsville, Virginia, May 12, 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.] 

Dear Aunt,

I will now comply with your request that I should write to you when I arrived at this place. 

Mary & Papa started from here on Friday as they expected. I suppose they have reach'd their place of destination by this time. 

I have spent my time very agreeably since I have been here, amusing my self with reading, and playing with the children which is very fine amusement I can assure you. Mr. Ambler has some delightful books. 

Mrs. Brooks I suppose you have heard us speak of very often, was here yesterday. [S]he is visiting about in the neighborhood and when she returns home, she intends conveying me with here and from there I shall go to the Convention in Fredericksburg. I am very much pleased with the idea as you may expect. 

I have been to only one place since I have been here, I am not acquainted with any person in the neighborhood; there are no other persons in this neighborhood but Marshalls, and all that I have seen are as ugly as sin but they are very kind and hospitable people.

We called at the University as we expected, and were very much pleased with it, particularly the Rotunda, which I think is a very fine building, we stayed there about 2 hours. 

We were at a great Play the night-before we reached this place it was at Culpeper Ct. House, we arrived there about 4 o'clock in the evening, at a very good tavern, and we ascertained after we got there that there was no public house nearer that 15 miles so we thought it best to stay there all night and in the meantime go to the Play acted by a Party of Thesbians.

We met with a relation (at C. Ct. house) that we had never seen before. His name was Slaughter.

My Dear Aunt I think my little stock is now exhausted so with this, this brief and uninteresting epistle.

I must conclude with my love to Mr. Massie and Thomas and receive a share for yourself. Farewell and believe me ever your affectionate Neice.
                                                        MarB Johnston
                                                           Martha

NB I expect you will laugh heartily at this both at the writing and composition.  MBJ

[Martha = Martha Butler Johnston (1814-1836) later died on the Mrs. E.R. Tucker plantation near Natchez, Mississippi, aged twenty-one. She was twelve when she wrote this letter. 

Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-July 28, 1828) was married to William Massie (1795-1862) and was the daughter of James Steptoe (1750-1826). Their son Thomas James Massie (1817-1877) was born on March 23, 1817.There is a massive Massie collection at the University of Texas here.

Mary = Mary Morris Johnston (1810-1884). 

Papa = Charles Johnston (1769-1833). 

Mr. Ambler = Major Thomas Marshall Ambler (1791-1875), husband of Lucy Hopkins Johnston Ambler (1800-1888). They had four young <children> by this time, with a son on the way. 

Mrs. Brooks = family friend. 

Marshalls = relatives of Major Ambler's.  

Slaughter = Judith Steptoe Pickett (1772-1805) had married a Slaughter. The person they met in Culpeper was probably Arthur Slaughter (1798-1875) or one of Judith's other children.] 

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

Lucy Hopkins Johnston Ambler to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie, December 11, 1824

[Lucy Hopkins Johnston Ambler at Oakly, at or near Lynchburg, Virginia, to Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie at [Pharsalia,] Roses Mills, Nelson, Virginia, December 11, 1824. Postmarked Lynchburg, December 18, 1824. 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.]

                                                             Oakly December 11^th 1824

My dear Sally

We arrived at grandpapa’s on the last of November and the day after poor Fanny was taken very sick it turned out that she had the scarlet fever which is very infectious. I was in hopes that we would escape but last night Mary and James were both seized with the symptoms of the disease and this morning James is very ill but Mary thank heaven is much better and broke out all over which always produces relief.

Frances Langhorne and myself had both intended to have set off to day to pay you a visit but the sickness of James and Mary puts it entirely out of my power to visit you at all as I am in daily expectation of my children taking it and it is a most dangerous disorder for children of the age of mine.

Another thing is I would give it to all the children under your care. You cannot think what uneasiness it gives me to think of my children having it. The first symptom is a violent sore throat which you know is always dangerous for children.

Fanny has not been down here yet as she still has fever so that their visit to their grandpapa and aunts will give them but little satisfaction. I am afraid we will have a complete hospital at poor Frances.’

I am very sorry that I shall not be able to visit you as it would be most unreasonable in me to carry my family to your house to be sick.

Mr. Ambler has returned home and I do not expect him until January.

With my love to Mr. Massie and Tom I must bid you farewell and believe me to be yours most affectionately

                                                           L. H. Ambler

   

[L. H. Ambler = Lucy Hopkins Johnston (1800-1888) married Thomas Marshall Ambler (1791-1875) on April 14, 1819. Their main abode was "Morven," Fauquier County, Virginia, from about 1820 on. For a link, see here. 

Three children = Lucy Letitia Ambler (1820-1853), John C. Ambler (1821-1891) and Elizabeth Steptoe Ambler (January 20, 1823-1900).

Sarah "Sally" Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828) was married to William Massie (1795-1862) and was the daughter of James Steptoe (1750-1826). Their son Thomas "Tommo" James Massie (1817-1877) was born on March 23, 1817.There is a massive Massie collection at the University of Texas here.

Grandpapa = James Steptoe (1750-1826).

Fanny = Frances “Fanny” Steptoe Johnston (1807-1850).

Mary = Mary Morris Johnston (1810-1884).

James = James Steptoe Johnston (1808-1895).

Frances Langhorne = Frances "Fanny" Callaway Steptoe Langhorne (1798-1832) married Henry 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” aka "Billy" Langhorne (1818-1900) was born on June 30, 1818.]

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