Scope and Contents From the Collection: Letters, chiefly 1765-1817, of the Blair, Banister, Braxton, Horner, and Whiting families. Correspondents include John Blair (1732-1800), Anne (Blair) Banister and Mary (Blair) Braxton Burwell Prescott. Many of the letters are written by women.Subjects covered in the collection include the Baron de Botetourt, William Tryon, Martha Washington, dueling, social life and customs, marriage and courtship, medicine, the Richmond theater fire, slavery, War of 1812, the College of William...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received two letters of the 30th and the 4th and conferred with Mr Beall on their subject today; Mr. Beall understands from Mr. Griffin that there is only 1200 acres of land and while he does not object to her proposals he fears it might be on the part reserved in which case it would not suit him; Mr. Beall would like to know the ages of the slaves as he plans to get the best prices by selling them as a whole; Mr. Royston who has been at Mr. Beall's house says he does not...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Hopes that her sister does not think her regardless or undmindfull [sic] for not expressing her sympathy before now; says it has never been in her power to do so before now; explains that she and Mrs. Drew's sister were sick, so that neither Mrs. Drew nor her [AB] son Lewis told her of the misfortune; explained she learned of the misfortune when Nancy [Mrs. Drew's sister] who believed she knew of the misfortune tried to console her; Mrs. Drew and Nancy made plans to meet...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received a letter from Robert Randolph answering his on the "subject of her demand"; he (JB) was delayed in Williamsburg so long he suspects his letter did not reach Robert Randolph as soon as he expected; relates that Robert Randolph was not at "Shirley" as he had thought but was at Chatham" "Mr. Fitzghugh's seat"; was asked by Robert Randolph to tell her that he paid Carter Braxton, of West Point, the money due for the horse he purchased and got a receipt for it;...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Obliged by Obediah's long stay to send again for the plow plates "for we shall be ruined for the want of them"; Obed[iah]'s stay is "impudent" if not necessary for getting them "as a day's loss at this time will be greatly felt"; fails to see a man who came on Monday and said she (EW) was well but not delivered and that Obed[iah] would be down in six day; calls him a "saucy wretch"; asks Mr. Whiting to get them together and send them immediately; says Polly runs ab[ou]t...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Receives her letter and is happy to hear her family is doing well; indulges herself with thoughts that she might see her dear "Betsey" (EW); feels that it would give all her (EW) friends joy to see her "down ye country"; was sorry to hear from her (EW) Aunt Cary [Sarah (Blair) Cary] that her (EW) mother thought herself "in a bad way"; hopes a trip "down ye county" will make her well with the "pleasure of meeting with her friends... added to the change of air"; hopes that...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Letter is dated July 24, no year. Thanks her for the first of her letters; plans to give the second to Mr. Bowling who has promised to send it to Fluvanna, and this letter to her; sorry to hear of the disagreably jaunt she experienced on her way home; knows her good sense will enable her to bear the inconveniences; thinks the inquisitiveness of the hostess regarding Mr. Barnard P. impertinent; confesses that she, like the hostess, also wishes to know if he is a humble...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received her sad letteron the 3rd of November while he was doing public business at Richmond; concerned for his niece but hopes her grief will have subsided by now and "religious reflections given calm to her troubled spirit"; discusses religion and death; sends his love to "Betsey" [Elizabeth (Braxton) Whiting] and hopes that when the weather gets better she "could take a trip down the country" to see ther friends which should make her feel better; says he should have...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Mr. Blair (JB) wrote to him some time ago on the subject to which he informed him (JB) he had Mr. Braxton's receipt for the money; had paid money to prevent dispute with the heir of Mr. George Braxton; feels it was a "fair swap" he made with Mr. Braxton for the horse he sold and did not know it was the property of Mr. Whiting; plans to inform Mr. Carter Braxton of her letter. 1p. ALS. Including ALS from Mary (Blair) Braxton Burwell to "Betsey" [Mrs. Eliza Whiting] response...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Thanks "Betsey" (EW) for her letter; happy to hear of the health of her and her children; regrets that she is not able to accept her invitation to visit; asks if she is ever going to visit friends "down the country"; sure that all her (EW) friends would be glad to have her visit at their houses; "thinks a trip of the kind would be of service" to her; says her (EW) mother (MB) promised to visit the following spring when she was down last, but she had not kapt her word; sure...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received her letter by Mr. Booth and was pleased to hear she and her "sweet little folks" were in good health; hopes they stay that way; they are all well and her father, mother, and James send their affection to her and her boys, thinks May Blair will write of herself; Mr. Booth will be accompanied by Mr. Wotherington, whose brother lately married Miss Booth; thinks that if she (EW) sees him she will want to cultivate the acquaintance of a person "whose merits intitle him...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Prepared paper to write to her last night but was prevented from doing it as she sat up late with Mr. Willis and Mr. Cocks; apologizes for her (EW) having to send Lewy with the flour again; thinks about sending Obed[iah] up with the "tumbril" but decided to wait until the water subsided; "Polly" [Mary Blair Whiting] is anxious to see her (EW) and her brothers; advises her to use flannel and rub her injured hand; tells her (EW) her (MB) complaints have not left her; was...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Sends her affection and says that she had written lately by Mrs. McClurg; suprised that letters from herself and "Polly" Peachy never reached her; relates those letters contained the accounts of "Polly's" delivery of two daughters, Elizabeth Griffin and Sarah Blair after their two grandmothers; their [EG, SB] husbands along with her [CB] and Jenny Blair acted as sponsors; complains she spent last summer in Norfolk and has experienced ill health since her return; warns her...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Thanks her for her favors by Mr. Booth and Mrs. Wormley; hopes that by disposing of her (EW) land and negroes she and her family will be able to visit the place of her nativity; plans on taking up house around Christmas and hopes that she and her mother [Mary (Blair) Braxton Burwell] will visit her; disappointed that she and her mother did not come down this summer; thinking of ways to try to get her (MB) down; relates her boys are well and have both become Collegians;...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Decides to write to her sister as she has just been informed that Mr. Booth will deliver it; thanks her for her last letter; saw Mr. Fairfax and asked if she was well and when he was planning on leaving town; he replied in the next stage; laments her sister declining to come "down the country" since her finances are so low she will not be able to comply with her promise unless her sister decides to come down; hopes she will think about it and come; did not realize it was...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Reminds her of their friendship; thanks her for her letter; glad that she and her family are well and hopes they stay well; Mr. Peachy moved his family from "Amelia" to his new purchase along the James River; stayed two months in Petersburg and arrived here the 2nd of November; doesn't think she (EW) would be pleased with all the "water prospects" although there is a convenience in the two ferrys which go to Williamsburg or Ceeleys; has been packed and waiting to leave but...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Thanks her for her letter; discusses her (SC) health; says she does not look upon "great riches as necessary to constitute happiness" but "a cheerful disposition and a contented mind"; supposes that she has rented her land and negroes which will leave her free to visit; will be pleased to see her and her children at "Ceeleys"; thinks thair family will be reduced as Cap[tai]n Nelson has written to Mr. Cary that he wishes to take Cary to King William [County] where he says...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Found the roads for 5 or 6 miles above her house so bad that she rode with the windows down for "fear of a tilt"; was sore for a week after; met Colonel Triplett [?] and her (MB) neighbors at little River; they think purchasing the revision of the land was a fortunate bargain; Colonel Triplett [?] planned on going to Richmond in 12 days and said he would do her business so she deferred writing to Mr. Norton; Colonel didn't call; fears she is "disapointed [sic] of the...

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents Explains that a perusal of the enclosed letter [missing] will explain his motives for writing it; encloses it to her as it is the surest way of its getting to her "Mama's" (MB) own hands; asks her to send it by some safe opportunity; doesn't know whether his advice will be taken; but if not feels grateful of having done what he thinks of as an act of friendship "without any possible hope of self interest". 1p. AL. [signature clipped]

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents [?] detained her servant a day; feels she will excuse him when she finds Mr. and Mrs. Whiting and Mrs. Brown expressed friendship to her and the hope to have her for a "nearer neighbour" [sic] while dining with them yesterday; explains that htey are not kept at home by bad roads and weather but by some necesssaries; if the necessaries arrive when expected they will set out this week; has no particular news or offerings to his grandson's; asks her to assure them that in him...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Being alone and tires with geography decides to amuse herself by writing to her; geography is interesting and improving but too much reading "confuses the idea, and nums [sic] the brain"; supposes Christmas was dull due to the finess of the weather, without a dance through the neighborhood; it is not too late for a deep snow to be productive of several dances; Mr. W. Stuart and Betsey Tolliafer are "to tie the nuptial kurt next month"; although this was a sudden and...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Enclosed the papers [missing] she selected for Mr. Lee and his use for her defense in a suit brought against her by Mr. [Carter] Braxton; hopes they will be sufficient "in the settling of the business"; wishes to see him as writing give her trouble because her "sight fails"; supposes he will attend the Court at Dumfries [County]; begs him to see them and if possible says she will meet him unless he "should be coming up to this neighborhood"; Mr. Prescott is not at home;...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Letter is dated October 6, no year. If he had time he w[oul]d abuse him by the hour for not coming here before this time altho[ugh] he (RL) knew it w[oul]d be conducive to his health "to breathe some of the pure air of Danby"; Cousin Little returned last night from Bath perfectly well; he [Cousin Little] left Colonel Hood at Mr. Wiley's and they are expecting him and his equipage every minute; they are both in good health; Cousin Sally is busy mending some cloth or she...