Correspondence from the Coatler and Bryan families, 1838-1852
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No requestable containers
Scope and Contents
The correspondence between St. George T. Coalter, his wife, his sister Mrs. Elizabeth T. Bryan, and her husband John Randolph Bryan, form the core of the material in this box. It includes letters exchanged by the cousins, five Coalter children, and nine Bryan children. The controversy over the will of John Randolph of Roanoke is mentioned in several of the letters. St. George Tucker Coalter was a nephew of John Randolph, John Randolph Bryan was his godson, and both were heirs. St. George Tucker Coalter attempts to establish a new home where his late father John Coalter forced him to move (St. George Tucker Coalter was never financially independent of his father). A doctor's prescription, 28 April 1839, for the man who has been slowly dying of lung trouble and constant fever is: salts to be taken internally, salve rubbed on externally, baths at the medicinal springs and regular exercise. Four months later St. George Tucker Coalter died. The five surviving children of Mrs. Coalter and the nine children of Mrs. Elizabeth T. Bryan add to the correspondence as the years go on, for the families are very attached to one another and there is much visiting back and forth as well as letter writing. The letters of the cousins have been combined in this collection, so that an interesting picture is given of the life of this period; see a report of a traveling entertainer who visits the great houses (23 February 1847), a description of a costume ball at Warner Hall (8 February 1851) and a list of courses studied at a Girl's school (2 February 1852). There is much discussion of diseases which were prevalent: consumption, scarlet fever, typhoid fever, cholera, and influenza. 16-year-old John Coalter copied out a cholera cure sent by his aunt for use by two local doctors (13 July 1849).
Dates
- Creation: 1838-1852
Creator
- From the Collection: Brown, Coalter, and Tucker Family (Family)
- From the Collection: Archer, William Segar, 1789-1855 (Person)
- From the Collection: Brown, Frances Bland Coalter, 1835-1894 (Person)
- From the Collection: Brown, Henry Peronneau, 1883-1942 (Person)
- From the Collection: Bryan, Elizabeth Tucker Coalter, b. 1805 (Person)
- From the Collection: Bryan, John Randolph, 1806-1887 (Person)
- From the Collection: Coalter family (Family)
- From the Collection: Coalter, John, 1769-1838 (Person)
- From the Collection: Coalter, Judith H. Tomlin, d. 1859 (Person)
- From the Collection: Coalter, Maria Rind, d. 1792 (Person)
- From the Collection: Coalter, St. George Tucker, 1809-1839 (Person)
- From the Collection: Coleman, Cynthia Beverley Tucker Washington, 1832-1908 (Person)
- From the Collection: Hoge, Moses Drury, 1818-1899 (Person)
- From the Collection: Mason, J. M. (James Murray), 1798-1871 (Person)
- From the Collection: Munford, William, 1775-1825 (Person)
- From the Collection: Pendleton, William Nelson, 1809-1883 (Person)
- From the Collection: Pleasants, John Hampden, 1797-1846 (Person)
- From the Collection: Randolph, Judith Randolph, fl. 1792-1813 (Person)
- From the Collection: Rives, William C. (William Cabell), 1793-1868 (Person)
- From the Collection: Tucker, Henry St. George, 1780-1848 (Person)
- From the Collection: Tucker, Lelia Skipwith Carter, 1767-post 1833 (Person)
- From the Collection: Tucker, St. George, 1752-1827 (Person)
- From the Collection: Tyler, John, Jr., 1819-1896 (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Extent
From the Collection: 12.50 Linear Feet
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository