Scope and Contents Mr. Patton. Purchased 31 yards of unbleached cotton (at $1.75/yard) and will send to Mr. Pollack. Has little to do in the afternoon and will be pleased to hunt for articles for them. News from Williamsburg via Mr. W. H. Pierce who has heard it from others. Pierce is afraid to go into Williamsburg since he sells goods secretly. Pierce bought a letter from Mr. Sweeney. Sweeney took 5 mules from the Saunders property. The Yankees stole one, two to Isham for use on the farm, one to Gawian for...

Scope and Contents Received the shirts she sent by Mr. Lefebvre. Will be sending a package back via him to include white cotton for 4 shirts for Bob and a piece of linen. Met Martha Page. Mr. Sheldon had just come up from Gloucester with news that the Yankees had committed more deprivations in that county. Met Mrs. Peachy for the first time since leaving Williamsburg. Presumed that she was unhappy to see him looking well and in health. Heard that General Wise has gone down to Williamsburg and was driving the...

Scope and Contents Diphtheria epidemic. Concerned that Lucy is tired caring for the sick especially the servants who don’t know how to “attend to each other.” Sending a plate to Lelia as to replace one of Mrs. Lefebvre’s broken at the Rectory. Inventory of what box he has sent. An old towel, shirts, small quantity of Passover bread from Mrs. Heller, a doll for Lucy Page, caps for Georgy and Breck, 31 yards of unbleached cotton (at 1.75/yd), shoestrings, 20lbs sugar, 20 lbs of rice, 6lbs coffee (at $3.50 which...

Scope and Contents

Sending a sample of fabric ($5.50/yd). Sent Lelia a box of Beckwith’s Pills. Jim and Cyrus have been hired at a tobacco factory. Relieved Wilmer is free of their support. Heard accounts of deprivations of Yankees in Gloucester and of people fleeing.

Scope and Contents Happily hears of Lucy’s recovery from Mr. James Semple. Paid broker $105 for $21 in gold to purchase article for Lucy. Semple hired out his slave, Jim, in Danville. Jim had run away once and was with the Yankees. Glad Jim has not the chance to tell other slaves of his escape. Heard nothing of slaves Molly and Elia. All their servants in Williamsburg, except Sam, who was hired at the lunatic asylum, are still in place. All slaves at the farm, except Jacob, are still there. Jacob ”enticed...

Scope and Contents

Suffering with acute diarrhea. Misses Lucy terribly. Spent an evening with General (Richard Stoddart) Ewell. Ewell ’s been promoted to Lieutenant General a day or two after being married to Mrs. Brown. Ewell has gone to join General Lee’s army and take command of Gen Jackson’s old command. Mr. Botts lost his slaves.

Scope and Contents From the Collection:

This collection consists of 66 letters written by Robert Saunders of Williamsburg, Virginia to his wife Lucy Burwell Saunders (60 letters) and his daughters Lucy Page Saunders (three letters) and Roberta P. Saunders (two2 letters) from 1829-1867. There is also a letter written on May 4, 1847 to Overton Bernard, the father of College of William and Mary student Jesse Talbot Bernard.