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  1. March 1870 10/06/1864 0/06/1864 9/22/1859

    Letter without a heading, date by context was March 1870, from Letitia Watts Sorrell to her Aunt [Emma W. G. Breckinridge] telling of change in the labor force as ex-slaves are seeking employment and looking for references from their old owners, ie. Paterson and Rose, with only experience in working in the fields are hoping to get her a job as a cook, but she will have to be trained for the job, and has 9 or 10 children to look after. Lettie had ...

    Record Type: Archive

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  2. letter - April 27, 1843

    Letter without a heading from Emma Gilmer Breckinridge at Fincastle, Virginia to her mother, Mary Gilmer, at Leigh, near Hardin's Tavern, Albemarle, written over several days telling of the arrival of spring, plants coming up, flowers blooming, of the settlement of the estate of Mrs. Breckinridge's, getting clothing for her children and sister Peach, of her desire for her mother to visit them this summer, deaths and marriages in the community, Co...

    Record Type: Archive

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  3. letter - June 18, 1844

    A letter headed "Smithfield, June 18th 1844" from Jane G. Preston to her cousin, Lucy Gilmer, at Fincastle, Botetourt County, Virginia telling of her experience at the recent [Episcopal] Church Convention, and how much she enjoyed being with Lucy, invited her to visit, and tells of her pleasure that Lucy has been baptized, short section on bad weather, problems with the wheat crop.

    Record Type: Archive

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  4. Letter - April 3, 1843

    Letter headed "Catawba April 3rd 1843" from Emma Breckinridge at Fincastle to her sister Lucy Gilmer at Leigh, near Hardin's Tavern, Albemarle, Virginia, telling of her hopes that Lucy and their mother will visit Catawba in near future, explaining why she cannot travel with so many small children, her husband's illnesses, and a strong desire for the family to be together every year. Tells of news about various family members, illnesses with sever...

    Record Type: Archive

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  5. Letter - April 5, 1842

    Letter headed "Catawba April 5, 1842" from Emma Breckinridge to her sister Lucy at Leigh, Hardin's Tavern, Albemarle, Virginia. This long letter tells of plans for the wedding of Lizzie Watts and encourages Lucy to plan to attend as Lizzie wants her to be a bridesmaid. Mr. B has offered to advance money for her wedding clothes. There is discussion of loans not being repaid, and Emma suggests this letter be destroyed after reading. James Watts se...

    Record Type: Archive

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  6. Letter - April 6, 1843

    Letter headed "Leigh April 6 1843" from Lucy Gilmer to her sister, Emma Breckinridge, at Catawba, near Fincastle, Botetourt County, complaining that she has to write two letters to receive one, tells of her depression with the boredom of farm life in Albemarle County, of visits by her cousins; Brother George Gilmer has announced his candidacy for the US Congress, but she hopes he will not become a "politician", and will serve only one term if ele...

    Record Type: Archive

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  7. Letter - August 16, 1843

    Letter headed "Catawba August 16th 1843" from Emma Gilmer Breckinridge to her sister, Lucy, at Leigh near Hardins Tavern, Albemarle and telling that Peach (Gilmer) and Mary (Breckinridge) left today to go to Oaklands and take music lessons for three weeks, William Watts has been ill at the Sweet Springs and has been ill all summer, "poor Miss Nancy died last Friday" and was buried at Mr. Tayloe's place next to Mrs. Dick, tells of losing their pre...

    Record Type: Archive

    letter
  8. Letter - August 28, 1843

    Letter headed "Catawba August [28th] 1843" from Emma Gilmer Breckinridge to her sister, Lucy, at Leigh near Hardins Tavern, Albemarle, telling that Mr. B had just returned home with William Watts who was still sick, but improving slowly, and about "the greatest fresh (flood) Thursday night [August 24, 1843] that has ever been here" and tells of washed out bridges, crops, and mill disabled, and expects this will be "a disastrous season for farmers...

    Record Type: Archive

    Letter, page 1
  9. Letter - August 8, 1844

    Letter dated August 8, 1844 from Mary Ann Breckinridge at Catawba, near Fincastle, to her aunt, Lucy Gilmer at Leigh near Hardins Tavern, Albemarle, Virginia, with some family news. The larger portion of the letter was written by Emma Breckinridge, Mary's mother, with an assorted listing of family news, preachers visiting, stories about her children, clothing for the children, and various visitors.

    Record Type: Archive

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  10. Letter - December 30, 1844

    Letter headed "Grove Hill Dec. 30th 1844" from Emma Gilmer Breckinridge to her sister, Lucy Gilmer, at Leigh, near Hardin's Tavern, Albemarle telling of the many visitors and guest they entertained over Christmas, much family and friends news, death of Mrs. Breckinridge, illnesses in the family, birth of her baby John Breckinridge.

    Record Type: Archive

    Letter, page 1
  11. Letter - February 4, 1845

    Letter headed "Grove Hill Feb. 4th 1845" from Emma Gilmer Breckinridge to her sister, Lucy Gilmer, at Leigh, near Hardin's Tavern, Albemarle, Virginia, telling of her desire to receive more letters, of local gossip, about church problems, her recent visit to Oaklands, persons becoming engaged, making plans for a visit to Albemarle and bringing little Cary home to be tutored at Grove Hill. She mentions Mr. Daniel Pessce(?) (gentleman of colour is ...

    Record Type: Archive

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  12. Letter - January 6, 1845

    Letter headed "Cincinnati January 6th 1845" from Anne S. Holcombe to her aunt, Emma W. Breckinridge, at Fincastle, Botetourt County, Virginia via Washington, telling of her experience since she moved to Cincinnati, gives family news, inquires about her friends in Virginia, comments that she "likes the white labour as it will be very pleasant if one of the servants don't please me just to dismiss her, there are plenty here who would gladly take he...

    Record Type: Archive

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  13. Letter - July 1, 1843

    Letter headed "Friday evening" and post marked seems to be July 1, 1843 from Emma Gilmer Breckinridge and Mary Peachy Gilmer to their sister, Lucy, at Leigh near Hardins Tavern, Albemarle and telling of her plans to have baby Lucy Breckinridge christened, looking for a stand-in Godmother, since Lucy Gilmer cannot be there, about her trip to Roanoke to visit various persons and family members, trying to arrange for Cary to return to Botetourt by s...

    Record Type: Archive

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  14. Letter - March 21, 1843

    Letter headed "Catawba March 21st 1843" from Emma Breckinridge at Fincastle to her mother, Mary Gilmer, at Leigh, near Hardin's Tavern, Albemarle, Virginia telling of the death of her mother-in-law, Ann Selden Breckinridge, of the circumstances immediately before she passed away, the funeral, and gathering afterward. She tells of the will Mrs. Breckinridge prepared just weeks before her death, items mentions in the will, other family news, and im...

    Record Type: Archive

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  15. Letter - May 12, 1847

    This letter headed "Grove Hill May 12th 1847" from Emma Breckinridge to her daughter, Mary Ann, who is visiting in Richmond, Virginia, telling of the health of the family at Grove Hill. Most have been sick, mentions visits by various friends and family, about Mary Peach's visit with her in-laws in Alexandria, Virginia, asks about Mary's social life and parties in Richmond.

    Record Type: Archive

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  16. Letter - May 25, 1843

    Letter headed "Richmond May 1843" (post mark May 25) from Lucy Gilmer to her mother, Mary Gilmer, at Leigh, near Hardins Tavern, Albemarle County, reporting on her attendance at the church convention in Richmond, the sermons she has heard, and the various persons who have visited with her. Lucy inquires about Wilson (family slave) and tells him to take good care of himself.

    Record Type: Archive

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  17. Letter - May 31, 1842

    Letter headed "Catawba May 31st 1842" from Emma Breckinridge to her Mother Mary Gilmer at Leigh near Hardin's Tavern, Albemarle, Virginia. Letter covers a range of topics, including Emma's concern for her son James and her husband who have traveled together from Fincastle to Albemarle County, the school arrangements for all her children, concern about her brother John who has been a student at the Theological High School in Alexandria, Virginia, ...

    Record Type: Archive

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  18. Letter - November 15, 1842

    Letter without heading from Emma Breckinridge at Catawba to her sister Lucy Gilmer at Leigh, near Hardin's Tavern, Albemarle, Virginia with a lot of family news, tells about the Presbyterian and Episcopal Churches are battling for new members, mentions that bishop Meade preached at Roanoke the previous week, a recent hunting expedition to Floyd County, more about Miss Kate (the children's teacher at Oaklands) and Mary Peachy's dislike of Miss Kat...

    Record Type: Archive

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  19. Letter - November 5, 1842

    Letter headed "Oak Lands Nove 5th 1842 Saturday" from Mary Ann Breckinridge to her mother Emma Breckinridge at Catawba near Fincastle, Botetourt County, telling of going to church, Sunday school (is disbanding), school, request a new pair of shoes, kid gloves and requesting more letters from home. Mary is asking for a pen knife and says that Miss Kate (teacher) blames her for losing the knife that the class uses, and going to school in their room...

    Record Type: Archive

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  20. Letter from Emma Gilmer Breckinridge to her daughter, Eliza Breckinridge, at Grove Hill - August 8, 1853

    Letter headed "Glencary August 8th [1853]" from Emma Gilmer Breckinridge to her daughter, Eliza, at Grove Hill telling of events at Glencary and the regular trips they were taking to the Springs, tells of Mr. Radford who is ill today after drinking 17 glasses of the water from the Springs in one day, baby Emma in her linen dress is quite a sight in the ballroom talking to the singers about the songs she would like to hear, and her conversation wi...

    Record Type: Archive

    Letter, page 1

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