Two Letters, Barrett/Turpin/Young, 1834-1838 - Fluvanna Co. VA Letter of Eliza M. Barrett, Columbia, Virginia to Miss Mary E. J. Turpin. Eliza M. (Bancroft) Ross-Barrett was an older sister of Mary Ann Turpin. Mary E. J. Turpin, a daughter of Horatio and Mary Ann Turpin, later married Jessie D. Bright. Evidently, Elizabeth M. Barrett, like her sister, married a Virginian residing in or near Columbia, was widowed, and subsequently lived with the Turpins in Gallatin County, Kentucky. She is buried in the old Turpin graveyard at Beech Park. The letter is addressed as follows "(From) Columbia, Aug 30th, (To) Miss Mary E. J. Turpin, Beech Park PO, Gallatin County, Kentucky". Columbia is located on the north bank of James River, near the mouth of the Rivanna River and across the James from Cumberland County. The letter refers to several sons of Horatio and Mary Ann Turpin, namely, Edward Augustus, Philip Osborne ("O"), William Henry ("WH"), Powhatan Virginius Americus ("P" or "PVAT"), and "H" Horatio Harris. At the date of the letter E. A. Turpin was executor of Horatio Turpin's estate. The "lots" mentioned in the letter may refer to the 10 lots into which Horatio Turpin's 4300 acre tract was divided in May 1834. Also mentioned as "G Ma" is Mary Magdelene (Valleau) Bancroft, mother of Eliza M. Barrett and Mary Ann Turpin; she lived in the Turpin household at "Beech Park" and is also buried in the Turpin graveyard. "Eliza" is Eliza Satterwhite who married Edw. Augustus Turpin on 10 Jul 1831; they had Maurice (who died in infancy), Edw. Bancroft, Peterfield, and Sally. "Cousin Caroline" is Caroline Rose who married Dr. Philip Turpin, who lived at "Salisbury" in Chesterfield County, Virginia. "Guiandotte" is an Ohio River town in West Virginia, just upstream from Huntingdon. Friday 29th Aug 1834 My dear Mary Your very welcome favour of the 2nd Inst. came duly to hand for which I return you thanks. I am truly glad to learn that all my dear relatives were in the enjoyment of health. I hope the painful disease in and about Warsaw has subsided eer this & that Mrs Whiteside is restored to health. Remember me kindly to them, their mother and family, when you meet. Virginius has been kind enough to think of his old Aunt & wrote me on the 10th Inst. a very good & affectionate letter. Osburn's of the 9 Inst. was a week later in reaching me than V's so that on the 20th I heard about the election - nevertheless I am obliged by Osburn's writing as I am always very glad to hear from any & everyone of you. I replied to Vs letter some days since - if O comes to Virginia I think I will go down with him to see Cousin Caroline & talk about PVAT College, promises etc. Has Osburn had any letter from Powhatan telling him of the shocking circumstance of our poor old friend Mr Goode, being murdered - supposed to be done by his Son - his only Son Thomas - his throat cut in his bed with an axe & then chopt thro the clothes to his feet - the first cut was the death blow 'tis supposed. 'Tis said that a few days before Thos stabbed him & in his desk was found a shirt bloody. The murder was committed Saturday night, the 9 of the month I think. Thos Goode was committed to Jail. I have heard nothing lately. I almost wish he may be hung. There has been a great deal of preaching about. I have gone several times but have been too unwell to attend constantly. At some places it held 9 days, at others 7 & 8. We were to have had it here yester eve but the preacher is sick I expect he is broke down. There have been several Camp Meetings (Baptists, also Methodists). I attended twice only. I dont approve of Camp Meetings at all. I hope your dear Mother was well & able to attend the association at Sharon. I wish her to present me respectfully to our valued friend & Pastor & all friends & Brethern. I am glad O has been so active & that his exertions have proved successful. Industry, I fancy, he would find to be of advantage to him generally, perhaps always. I feel thankful that his health has been preserved. I felt a good deal uneasy about him during the extreme hot weather we had. Nobody here ever knew such a lengthy unbroken spell of it. For a few days past the mornings & evenings are quite cool. I have slept with all doors & windows open, but woke almost 2 weeks since with a pain under my left breast which rapidly increased. I took No. 6, got into perspiration - put on 2 mustard plasters - had a severe ague & am still unwell - tho about. I wish I was safe back in Kentuc that I might take a ride on horseback. I find it will be impossible for me to keep a saddle horse here & if I had one, to ride about alone would not be agreeable. I coud not keep a horse for less than 50 or 60$ a year after the first cost in buying & twoud be very difficult to get a suitable one and I scarcely live if confind and I am too feeble to walk. I suppose I shall have to return in the way that I came. How about Cholera in Steamboats. Write me what you hear of it. Mr. Marshall died of it at Guiandotte taken there ill from a Steamer a few days before I stopt there, but I had not before heard that it was above the falls. I am glad the little girls are at school. Does you their mother [?] not think of sending them to Shelbyville e'er long. Virginius seems to be much pleased with his situation & I hope he will improve his opportunities. V says they have no fruit which goes very hard with him, but 'tis fortunate I expect that there is no fruit this year as the Cholera prevails so much - 'tis in Richd. O requests that I will let him know about my plans etc. I wish one would let me know for really I know nothing about the matter. I had intended before the floors in my cabin were planed & fixd to have had earth hauld & fill up the cellar & ram it solid. There is so much cold air. But if you Molly woud get married & go off & give me your room in your mother's house it might be a good thing - and yet it might be a bad thing for you. I think with dread of spending such a winter as I did the last, and I see no alternative, tho if I keep as constantly sick, I cannot be too retired. I believe I woud not relinquish the use of a good Home & saddle for any priviledge merely for the good of the body. My filly, if broke, will not be gentle enough for me. Tell the boys to look out for something that will suit me. I had an invitation to spend the other eve'g with Mrs Towles Betsy Montgomery relation. Her son Dr T lives in Columbia. She has been in town several times lately but there was always so much company & I so poorly that I did not go. Today she leaves, so I shall not see her. Anna also is sick - Influenza 'tis said. I have tried to find out when the fall races commence but cannot in October, tho perhaps the first of it. If O comes in he had best come as early as he can. I shall return if it appears prudent before the time for the weather to set in cold, but if I go by stage & boat our movements will be quite independent of each other. I wish Horatio could come with O; and if he sells the ballance of my lot on Eagle I woud furnish expenses. Tell O to sell if he thinks proper and get of course as much as he can for it - twoud be worth half as much probably as the other he spoke of. None of you speak of Eliza's having another child - perhaps some letter has miscarried. I have had only one from my sister. Poor dear little Maurice - I hope his parents are recovering their spirits & feel as if they can resign him - he was only lent to them & has now gone home. I had a letter yesterday from my friend Mrs. Myers, dated the 20th Inst. Mr. Ross had got home, but Mr Hall & Ed Myers had not. Caroline Hall had buried her other son; she has now only Elizabeth the first one. She had like to have died this spring & still has one hand useless from palsy. In Oct Mrs [torn] had a more severe paralytic attack than before & in December Indianna about your age was attackd with that horrid complaint St Vitus [torn] in its most shocking form. At times she was a maniac. Her health not yet good but mending. She says Mortimer used the most energetic means with her which were blest in her restoration. The mother at the time a cripple from rhumatism also. O what a time of distress. How much cause for thankfulness have I that me & mine are spard from such suffering. Mortimer was to start as soon as H & Ed got back (and they were then daily expected) for Louisville - he means to attend the lectures & live there for a year. All this is more properly for Mother than yourself, but as I am too unwell to be able to write anything fanciful to you & have no news, I e'en [?] write to all in your letter. V says Horatio talks a good deal about the Girls - but "he pays no attention to it". How does O come on. During Electioneering tours, did he not meet with any piece of perfection - such as young men sometimes meet with in their rambles - or at least did he not meet with one whom he after wishd again to see? What is WH doing and how are you all doing. As G Ma was going to meeting, I know she was doing very well. I saw & heard a Gent at meeting calld Stockdell & attachd him - he is a painter by trade - promised to call and talk about them - says Wm Stockdell is his uncle. Adieu love to all relatives & friends; affect yours E M Barritt [In the margins.] How comes on the lots - lay them off - take a fair view & select judiciously. Your Cousin Anna desires much love to you & all her relatives. Many black brethern & Sisters send love to Sister Suky. I have not room to name them - all all. Laura sends much love to G & H & all friends. We often talk of Amilia - I almost fancy I can hear "black wench". 'Twas lucky there were no secrets in O's letter as there was no waxer - perhaps he was starting to Mr Y & so forgot it - or perhaps he left Horatio to seal it. *********************** Letter from Laura Young, Columbia, Virginia to Mary Ann TurpinAddressed to Mrs. Mary Ann Turpin, Beach Park, Gallatin Cty, Kentucky. Postmarked Columbia, 22 Aug. "Mistress" is apparently Eliza M. Barrett. "Miss Anna" is the "cousin Anna" of the E. M. Barrett's letter. "Old mistress" may be Mary Magdelene Bancroft. Columbia, August 21, 1838 Dear Madam, You will be apprised by the black seal of the melancoly event I have to communicate. Poor dear Miss Anna has left us. She expired on Saturday about 2 oclock after suffering for eight months pain severe enough to have killed her in one week one woud have thought - but altho the body was tortured, the mind seemed to be at peace and when Mistress asked her if she could rest her soul upon her Saivour she made the motion with her head for yes. She has often spoke of dying for a good wile past and told mistress she believed she should be happy. She had been verry desireous to get well as long as there seemed any reason for hope, but her agony continuing unabated she often prayed to die and tho she had a hard struggle with death her mind seemed perfectly composed. She was worn to a perfect skeleton. My mistress is not well but as composed as you might expect. She is thinking about returning to Kentucky and says she believes Master Osburn will have to build her a cabin near himself. Two days before Miss Ann died, she sent for Mrs Dunn to be with mistress (she being in the Fork [Fork Union lies a few miles west of Columbia] and she laid her out and attended to everything. Mistress sends her love to Old Mistress, yourself, and all her relations and friends, and accept the respects of your humble servant. Laura Young The following transcripts have been provided by: T.T. Bannister Dept of Biology Univ. of Rochester Rochester, NY 14627 Tel: 716-275-8716 Fax: 716-275-2070 Originally submitted to the Fluvanna County VAGenWeb page. Many thanks to Lee & Michele for providing a copy for the Archives Project. **************************************************************** USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. 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