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 hers and Mr. Prescott's letters three days ago by Doctor Galt who picked them up in Gloucester C[?] house; she was found attending their mutual friend Doctor Graham who has been extremely ill with a "violent, billious fever"; he (Dr. Graham) arrived there, early in May by water from Philadelphia, stayed a week with them and went on to see his sister Wiatt where he stayed too long; the third of July he had an attack of the ague and fever; on the fourth he was well...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Relates that she was given great pleasure by Doctor Graham's arrival last Friday Week to Bull Run and sent forw[ar]d his pacquets [sic]; he came here Monday Even[in]g and found Miss S. Brooke with her [MP]; Doctor Graham went to Mr. Tyler's to see [?] his Dulcenia yesterday; hopes Doctor Graham who is thin and grave will recover; her d[ea]r Jenny's happiness is upper most and hopes it will be permanent with the "man of her choice"; the Doctor dropped a hint that "a house...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Informs her dear Betsey (EW) that accounts of Mrs. Booth's death are false; she (MB) has been riding out tho it is s[ai]d that her life is despair[e]d of, this may be false also"; has been mainly at Mr. Whitings since last Wednesday, as the horses were sent home "and could not bee spared from the plough"; the horses were brought to her yesterday and she took the opportunity of dining with Nancy Mac, who is recovering her spirits after the loss of her son; she [NM] asked to...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Mr. Lewis Whiting will inform her about her mother's [Mary (Blair) Prescott] health; obliged to wirte at the last hour as he has been very busy visiting and being visited; writes from a friend's house, Mr. Beton, whose wife has just had a baby; acknowledges the large packet of eltters they recieved from "female correspondents" by Dr. Graham; asks her to tell the other nurses that thanks to them Dr. Graham is in perfect health; does not think he will be able to meet her at...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Hopes she has recovered her health; concerned about the loss to her mama [Mary (Blair) Prescott] and herself of Mr. Prescott; hopes to hear she (EW), her mama, "Polly" [Mary Blair Whiting] and her sons are doing well; heard that her mamma's deed [prenuptual contract] was never recorded; fears "disagreable consequences may ensue"; will be glad to hear her fears are unfounded; claims the promis she (EW) made by eay of her sister Bannister to write; will be glad to hear she...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Her letter came on return from "Ceeleys" [Elizabeth County, Virginia] where all were well; feels uneasy about her enquiry which seems to say Mr. Prescott's creditors who depend for satisfaction on her estate; regrets that the deed of trust made before her marriage was never recorded; discusses the legal aspects of the claims made by Mr. Prescott's creditors and whether her estate can be protected; asks for the extent of their claims; the 29th of October Jenny [(Blair)]...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Requested information from her in his last letter as to the extent of Mr. Prescott's debts; thinks that "altho Colonel Burwell's marriage conract might protect the property you had antecedent to that event", the property he "devised" to her would be exposed to the claims of Mr. Prescott's creditors; the deed executed between him [Mr. Prescott] and her [MP], and her trustees should have been recorded in the time prescribed by law; since that was not done she will not be...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Recieved her "favor" of Jan[aur]t 16th some days ago and postponed an answer [...?] "the information requested"; all that he recollects of Mr. Norton's affair is that he saw and approved of the deed; "upon expressing the approbation in writing" Mr. Blair "he supposes saw the mon[e]y"; satisfied that the deed was forwarded to Mr. Prescott; recollects giving him directions "respecting the mode of proving it as to get it recorded"; will continue his search; if he can be...

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Scope and Contents Received the letter she honored him with writing; encloses a copy of Gills Bill [missing] which is this moment received; asks her to get some "professional Gentleman" to draw her answer; asks her to send the answer together with the copy enclosed as soon as possible; reassures her she can rely on his best exertions being used for her interest. 1p. AL [signature clipped]

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Returned from a "melancholy" visit with the unfortunate Mrs. Hubard "who to add to all her woes" had her house consumed by fire"; her [MH] furniture "was saved from flames but broken to pieces"; Fanny [Hubard] was to be married to Mr. Sinclair but she is ill at Mrs. Hunt's; thier clothes were either stolen or burnt so that the inhabitants have collected 600 dollars for their relief and the ladies are to give them "necessary apparel"; indebted to her sister for writing;...

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Scope and Contents Endeavoring to get a road opened between this place and John Anderson's in Culpeper County and by his mill seat which will shorten the distance about three miles; discusses details of road; does not wish to take legal steps about road without consulting him; hopes he will have no objections so that it will take place "as soon as the Bridge is done at the mouth of Carter's run." 1p. ALS. Including a map drawn by William Horner of the proposed road. 1p.

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Grateful for the confidence she reposes in him in respect to the instruction of her two sons; the character she gives them is not the result of partiality; he has heard "favourable" opinions of them by others; happy to have them in his care; her wishes will be respectfully attended to; too busy to give her an answer to her kind invitation; "acknowledges the receipt of twenty dollars" through her son; as he keeps books, will give her credit for same; has no stamped papers...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Witnessed the death of her (EW) Aunt Cary [Sarah (Blair) Cary]; she was seized about two weeks ago with a violent "pleuricy"; discusses the details of her (SC) illness; asks her to excuse the incoherence of her melancholy letter; daughter Peachy [Polly Peachy], sister Banister [Anne (Blair) Banister] and Sally Anderson were with her when she died; "she (SC) retain[e]d her senses at the last, and prayed for all her friends"; leaves it to her prudence whether it should be...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Discusses the death of Sarah (Blair) Cary and Mr. Bracken's eulogy of her; her burial at Rich Neck; her (SC) husband's [Wilson Cary] reaction to her death; wishes she could comfort her (EW) and her [AB] sister [Mary (Blair) Prescott]; will not be able to visit them until she journeys this summer with Wilson Cary who is going to see his daughter Fairfax; asks if the neighbors assist her; hopes that thay do for their sakes because they may end up in the same situation;...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Received her niece's letter by special messenger; she and her (EW) uncle [Wilson Cary] unite in thanks for her proof of affection and desire to see them; unable to commit themselves [AB, WC] to a definite time to visit her; she and her (EW) friends applaud her devotion to her "afflicted parent" [MP]; the Father [God] will not fail her in his rewards; if she had a carriage she would have planned to visit her sooner and longer; the Colonel [Wilson Cary] is grateful for her...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents "Arrived on the 10th day of this large city a perfect stranger"; did not have a "tittle" but his cares were taken care of by the kind attentions of a family; welfare of his "Enfield" [Prince William County, Virginia] are predominant in his breast; stimulous added to his exertions by the fact that he will see his friends in the Spring; grateful acknowledgement of her last letter; answers that he did not go and see Capt[ain] Rutherford's father because he did not want to...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Was delivered of a letter by her son, who is also his friend, George [Whiting]; sorry to inform her that the rumor that he was unwell for three weeks was true; was very ill for two weeks past having "caught cold with the mumps"; Colonel Parker sent him to this place with his carriage; has now recovered "accept being very much debilitated"; gives him pain to hear of Mamma's [Mary Prescott] situation; hopes she will be relieved of her troubles in a few days; unhappy for his...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents Does not have time to answer her last letter as fully as he intended; when he was last at "Enfi[el]d" a certain gloom appeared to hover round which he could not account for in any other way but his having the Blue [Thew?] which was fully confirmed by her last letter to him; that he caused them one pleasing moment has been productive on many serious reflections; is she had known his motive she would not have blamed him; had no idea of continuing until this time in the Army...

Scope and Contents Scope and Contents To tell him she is offended with him is needless since he doesn't care about her and doesn't love her; this is the third letter she has wirtten to him and has not gotten one back from his Lordship; calls him Lieutenant Chintze and says he doesn't love "Crab Sally" now; hates one Betsey Coonrod who is in town; he must love her as she loves him "next to ..."; thanks him for Mairs and Betsey's last letter; Bet[sey] tells her she wrote by last weeks mail; asks him to enquire...