[Letter to Sarah Upshur Teackle Bancker from her sister Elizabeth Dennis Teackle and her father John Teackle, February 12, 1812]

Febry 26th 1812

My dear sister,

Your communications by yesterdays mail reliev'd the anxiety of mind that I had experience on account of your children. I was fearful that some of them were in danger from the hooping cough, from our not receiving any letters for three mails past. Poor little Ann Elizabeth, how did she get through with it? The children must all have had it favorably from what you say of the time they were taken. You must feel rejoic'd that the thing is over. It sometimes, I believe, proves a very serious disorder.

I really felt quite low-spirited after reading that you doubted whether it would be in your power to come down next summer. I am sensible that it would be much of an undertaking, but I hope you would accomplish it still. Next summer circumstances may render it impracticable. You would find Accomac very much the same as you left it, I think. I don't perceive that the people make any progress in civilization, only they have moderniz'd all their old halls into drawing-rooms, simply, by changing the names. Old cousin Sally Hack takes towards N. York now and then, and returns with her head full of style. She can't associate much with the "Cockloft family,¹ I'm sure, or they would inspire her with a greater [reservation?] for antiquity. An enthusiastic fondness for every thing that was ancient and admir'd by their ancestors, was the characteristic of this family, if I forget not. It has been the misfortune of the Andua family, I fear, to fall in with the "Gibblets." I call their place, by the name it bore when you and I us'd to spend such precious moments there, for which I must beg pardon, and plead forgetfulness of

of the proclamation that has lately been issued, ordering all persons hence forward to call it Fair Retreat.

We had been daily expecting our cousins, Mrs Eyre, Retta and Eliza Teackle. A servant from E. Hall informs us that poor old Mrs. Eyre is extremely low, most probably before this in a better world. She has very little to tie her to this, and from the knowledge I have of her character, will, I'm sure meet death with calmness and resignation. Retta and Eliza have been with cousin A. for a year or more, and are now on their return to Easton.
I should indeed be rejoic'd to be with you to welcome Mr. B. as I cant do it in person, I must commission you to offer him my congratulations on his arrival, what period I trust is not very distant. Papa has requested me to leave him one page of my paper. He will write you concerning his own arrangements. Hetty and John are well, and desire to be remember'd to you all. Hetty seems quite pleas'd that papa has chang'd his plans. She wants to see you all very much I know, but still she doesn't appear anxious at all to go on to Phila. Papa writes when he will go up, in all probability, I believe it is very uncertain.

With regard to James, I was surprised to hear that he did not accompany you to St James's - I should think that sister would certainly attend to his going regularly to some church and would see the propriety of his attending the same kind of worship that his friends have profess'd to give the preference too, particularly if Mr C. has given up his pew. Children, if left to their own guidance would seldom go any where. Perhaps this is probably very much the case with James, sister having been indispos'd a good lately. On this subject, you know my dear sister, it would be dangerous for me advice. Papa open'd my letter at the store, and told me that he would mention to you what he thought on the subject. I am not surpris'd to hear that Mr Kemper is a favorite with all. Such a man is calculated to conciliate the esteem and admiration of all whose good opinion is worth having.

I am forgeting my promise to papa. I shall hope to be told by you next post that Mr B. is with you. I thank you my dear sister for your invitation for me to come and stay some time with you. It will afford me pleasure when it is inconvenient.

With affection
yrs E. D. Teackle

My dear Sarah

I have taken the little room below to say that I was much relieved by your letter to Eliza by the last mail to understand the Children were so well getting through the hooping cough and that you were well and cheerfull in the expectation of your Husband. I have given up my visit to Phila. till after my return from Washington. My business calls me there and as the badness of the road retarded my first appointment as well as the extreme cold and rainy weather to forbid me to undertake the Journey till it was too late for me to be at home [in a?] necessary time. I set out Tomorrow, and shall write you from Baltimore. I shall stay a night at P.A. and one at Robert Dennis's and afterwards [torn left side of page] Packet from Cambridge, I now inclose you [torn left side of page] [six] fifty dollar notes which will make $300 - on acct. of the 400 dr. I mentioned the other $100. I will send you either from Baltimore or Washington because I am very desirous that you should use as little as may be of your husband's stock in his absence. You will see him in all March. I trust I shall be with you as soon as I get well rested after my return. I intend to write a letter for Charles on acct of John if he gets in before I return. You will explain to him the subject of my letter [ ] last Post on that subject. My love to the children and James. I shall write to Henrietta to night. Please to offer to Mr B's family my respectfull love, I hold them very highly, I request you to write to me the mail after this gets to hand, addressed to the care of the honorable Burwell Bassett of Congress