• General Notes

  This stampless letter has a red circular date stamp for PERRYMANSVILLE, Md AUG 18, a red PAID, and is addressed to E.C. Turner, Esqr., Kinloch, Plains, P.O., Fauqr Cty, Va. [Fauquier county], and is a lengthy three page letter on one sheet of folded paper, written by 'your devotedly attached sister' Jane, and niece Lydia. The headline is Buttonwood, Aug 16th 1853.
  Some abstracts from Lydia:
  
  
  "It is a long time since I wrote to Aunt Sarah. I feel anxious to hear how all the dear ones are at Kinloch particularly Tom who was so sick when I left."
  "Dr. Frick from Town is now here though she [Ma] is much better, Aunt Anna is staying with us now assisting in minding Eliza who requires constant attention day and night."
  
  "Ma received an affectionate letter from uncle Henry yesterday who is now at San Francisco, but says he will be this way next winter."
  
  Although she begins 'Dear Uncle' she signs 'your devoted daughter' Lydia. 1853 in San Francisco was probably still the Gold Rush era?
  
  
  Some abstracts from Jane to 'My dear Edward':
  
  
  "I am grateful, truly grateful not only to you dear Edward but to your kind excellent wife, who has stolen Lydia's heart away from me. I think no doubt there are many to be found who would say as you have plenty of others, you could spare 'the little one', but I know a mother never feels so, and Oh! When I lost my bright little Jinny, I knew many would say we had enough left to support, and it was a bitter thought."
  I have had a most vexatious time with our wheat, the high price together with the advice of Mr. Whitridge &c induced me to use every effort to get it thrashed out as soon as possible, one field was stacked the other not. After great efforts we collected hands enough and the man came with his machine."
  
  "I felt so worn out that I came to the determination to try and rent all the place except the house and yard. I must hasten back to my poor sufferer, for as usual, when I am writing to you, I pour my griefs so fast ...."
  
  Other news and names are mentioned. Condition of the letter rates good. It would be fun to figure out the actual relationships of the people in the letter and E.C. Turner. Jane writes about prices of crops as well as any man's letter I've ever read. Possibly she was the 'head of the household'?
  
  As usual with stampless letters, after writing on one or more sides of a sheet of paper, the letter was folded several times and mailed. An interesting letter good for genealogy and history research. See my other auctions for similar items.
  
  
  
  
  
  
    

Details of Jane's family with William Fitzhugh Turner