Item 1: 1847 January 12 Unknown, Mathews County, Va. to Cynthia Describes the life of Mr. Saunders, the overseer of "Auburn" Mathews Co., Va. and Miss Betsy Thomas, the housekeeper; describes what Saunders owns; describes Betsy's temper and work duties; says that overseers and housekeepers are "upper servants" and have "not much more intercourse with the families of the proprietors than have the slaves themselves'. Incomplete.

Item 2: 1847 January John Marshall, Howard, to John P. Taliaferro, Gloucester Writes during class; hopes he will not get caught and how good it is to hear from John; states the winter has been bad for him except for the time in town during Christmas spent drinking eggnog, etc.; mentions that Aunt Elisabeth died; saw letter from and is afraid their Cumberland friends will not return to Fauquier, states his opinion in the Mexican War (favors completion); mentions that John's tailor, Jennison, cut his throat over a love affair and advises him to keep away from that "passion" of he may follow that "illustrious esample"; asks who the young lady John is "plighted" with is.

Item 3: 1847 March 6 John Marshall, Howard, to John P. Taliaferro, Gloucester Tells how delighted he is in the punctuality of John's letter; reports Posey Whittle's expulsion from Concord Academy and Dick Henderson's punishment by "Dr. Birch" as an "inducement" to get him to stay; invites John to Richmond to help him escort Mary and Maria Marshall to Richmond instead of Marshall coming down to Gloucester; advises John to go to the University rather than study in Williamsburg since Marshall plans to do so, if his father will let him; says he would rather be in the "black hole of Calcutta" than in his study.

Item 4: 1847 May 3 William L. Fauntleroy, Concord Academy, Caroline Co., Va., to John P. Taliaferro, Gloucester C.H., Va. Says he is taking the initative to start a correspondence with John (his old school mate); says Concord suits him well; mentions is leaving Concord in November, going to Gloucester and then probably Norfolk; says John must study medicine with him so the two can go to Philadelphia together; asks for news about the county and expresses his happiness at Gloucester for voting for the Whigs and not the Democrats.

Item 5: 1847 May 23 William Lawson Fauntleroy, Concord Academy Caroline County, Va. to John P. Taliaferro, Gloucester C.H., Va. Thanks John for the letter, reports on his trip to Richmond, and Norfolk where he stayed with Dick Baker; saw in Richmond a dance troupe (Danseuses Viennoises); comments on girl John likes and gives a description of his girl; asks for time when John is in Fredericksburg; asks about colleges; states he is going to go to the University of Virginia; asks John to do the same so they can both go to Philadelphia to study medicine; says everything is monotonous here.

Item 6: 1847 May John Marshall, Howard, to John P. Taliaferro, Gloucester C.H., Va. Describes vacation; a week in Richmond, escorted cousins from Leeds to Fauquier; stayed at Carrington, visited relations; says school is monotonous; mentions latest victory in Mexican War; mentions a book of John's that was almost lost (a gift of late Aunt Elizabeth's); says there are 36 boys at school (including Tom Ambler).

Item 7: 1847 June 14 John Marshall, Howard, to John P. Taliaferro Reports how glad he is to hear about John spending so much time with girls and how ansious he is; expresses surprise at Miss Susan McAndlish's engagement and offers condolences to John (hopes her husband will attend "to the duties of the marriage chamber"; is glad to hear William Lawson Fauntleroy plans to go to the University of Virginia as he is, too, along with Tom and Jack Ambler and James Edward; mention wedding of John Ambler to take place in August and invites John to Carrington; mentions John Chever's entering the seminary and was a student at William and Mary; mentions Mr. Abbot's new son; tells of arrangements for fourth of July party; mentions horse company being raised in Fauquier Co.

Item 8: 1847 August 19 George B. Taliaferro, Baltimore to John P. Taliaferro, Warrenton Springs, Fauquier Co., Va. Reports that he sent John's coat to urbana to be forwarded to him; says he did not tell any of John's secrets to Mr. Curtis, may have mentioned his extravagances (if he had he would have said nothing more than John is contemplating marriage); says he is enclosing some advice on matrimony; says how poor he is, is going to be hard to raise money to send him to Williamsburg and he cannot stay at the Springs; tells John again to economize.

Item 9: 1847 August 30 Chester Pomeroy Dewey, Rochester N.Y., to John P. Taliaferro, Oak Hill P.O., Fauquier Co., Va. Relates journey home from Norfolk to Pittsfield, Mass.; saw John's cousin George; visited him "Alma mater" (Williams College); saw old collegemates at the College anniversary; went to visit family; met schoolmate of Phil Taliaferro's.

Item 10: 1847 October 21 William Lawson Fauntleroy, Concord Academy Caroline County, Va. to John P. Taliaferro, William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va. Tells how happy he is to hear from John: tells of a spell of dysentery forcing him out of school; tells of his plans to become a doctor; expresses his regret that John was turned down in his marriage proposal and is happy for John that he found another girl so quickly; asks him to be in Gloucester for Christmas so they can get together.

Item 11: 1847 November 3 George B. Taliaferro, Baltimore to John P. Taliaferro, Williamsburg, Va. Says he is pleased to find John is planning to study hard at W[illia]m and Mary but hopes he will refrain from the use of ardent spirits; says he is pained to see that his mind is still on "vanities"-- love, etc.; asks how much money Cousin Warner gave him (since board was only $80); sent him clothes but cannot send him $150 until he knows what it is for; George will send books if given a list; is pleased to find John is planning to be a doctor, but warns him about drinking, gambling and "too frequent visiting"; generally tells him to be good ("lay aside all idea of love except love of information").

Item 12: 1847 November 9 Robert B. Taliaferro, Gloucester C.H. Va. to John P. Taliaferro, William and Mary College, Williamsburg, Va. Excuse short letter because business is good; sends John some handkerchiefs and shirts; mentions impending marriage of James Dabney and Miss Emmy Tabb; admonishes John to be temperate and to seek "glory and honour" to "raise the Taliaferro family"

Item 13: 1847 November 22 George B. Taliaferro, Baltimore, Md., to John P. Taliaferro, Williamsburg, Va.]. State he is startled by the amount of payments John made for supplies at school; John has asked for $150 more and George asks if he is going to pay for the next semester in advance and asks if he cannot pay in February; asks for the purpose of the $150 and tells John to economize.