[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her husband, Littleton Dennis Teackle, June 21, 1812]

Princess Anne June 21^st 1812

My dear husband

I received your letter from Easton in due time and should have answer’d it p[e]r Fountain’s vessel which took Sarah and Ephraim to Baltimore but was so much indisposed as to render me incapable of doing so. I was bled the Sunday after you left me and went to bed; but with every precaution I was again unfortunate and again suffer’d. After being confined 4 days, I had but just got up a little when Sarah went and am now very weak and afflicted with a pain in my back.

You mention’d in your memorandum left with me, something about sending our trunk by Sarah. You did not tell me anything about it, and we search’d for a trunk, but found none but those which had your old clothes in them. Let me know where it is to be found and I will send it by another opp^ty.

Mrs. Robertson sent to me yesterday for the money for her bacon – of course

I did not pay her not having the means.

Following is a memorandum for the family—

4 lb. hops
1 lbl. flour
50 wt. loaf sugar
12 lb. fine starch
6 lb. ratan stone
2 lb. tea
2 white wash brushes
Glass for windows
Putty to put it in with
Pork for the people

I have mentioned the flour as the meal man intimates that he cannot supply me farther with flour, and I prefer buying starch as it comes cheaper than to make it of our wheat, it takes two baskets wheat to make starch enough for a year’s use. The loaf sugar and flour I am in immediate want of as the wheat will not come off and be got to market in time to purchase it.

If you see Molly Gilmor inform her that I have worked her a beautiful cap which will be sent by the first opp^ty.

I have to request that in case you cannot sell Sarah and Ephraim in this state not to sell them to a negro buyer or to anyone who will make a traffic of them. I gave her my solemn promise to that effect and shou’d feel hurt to break it. If there is no immediate sale for them you can hire them until

one occurs. I had none of Sarah’s work which I wanted to part with therefore I did not send any as a specimen, but you may inform anyone who offers for her that she is mistress of needlework, sempstress work, a good tayloress if the cloth is cut out, can not do housework and dress a lady. I have always superintended her needlework myself. She can work any pattern that is drawn for her. If there is any objection to her child, or if it shou’d be an obstacle to selling her, you had better send it home by any careful hand and I will take good care of it. Being a male child it is well worth raising it. Perhaps either Mrs. [torn page] or Mrs. Sherlock wou’d buy her.

I shall write by every mail. I suppose you’ve heard of poor old Mr. Done’s death. He died 2 days ago very suddenly and there will be no doubt many candidates for his office. I suppose Polk will get it.

If there is any interesting news of the political sort let me know it—I had no paper last mail—let me know if you are likely to succeed in the Bank charter.

God bless you!

EU Teackle