[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her husband, Littleton Dennis Teackle, December 29, 1811]

Mentioned in this letter

Business, Economy, and Travel: Hotels - Fountain Inn
Home, Health, and Social Life: Alcohol and spirits; Fashion - Cloth - Bombazine; Fashion - Shoes; Food - Grains; Food - Meat; Holidays and Observances; Jewelry - Earrings
People: Ephraim; Eyre, Ann Matilda Upshur, 1780-1829; Kendall, George Teackle, 1788-1815; Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1836; Teackle, Littleton Dennis, 1777-1848
Places: United States - Maryland - Baltimore City; United States - Maryland - Somerset County - Princess Anne; United States - Virginia - Accomack County - Kegotank

About this letter

Description: Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her husband, Littleton Dennis Teackle. She discusses their finances and purchases she has made. She talks about their enslaved persons, mentioning her disappointment with Ephraim specifically. She wishes for Littleton to sell him. She also discusses news from their acquaintances and family.
Creator: Teackle, Elizabeth Uphsur
Creation Date: December 29, 1811
Subjects: Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1837; Teackle, Littleton Dennis, 1777-1848; Enslaved persons
Item Type: letter
Identifier: MSS 2338, 2338-a, 2338-b Box 1
Publication Information: Papers of the Quinby, Teackle, and Upshur families, 1759-1968, Accession #2338, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.
Institution: ASSSC
Collection: VOESH
Place Names: United States - Maryland - Somerset County - Princess Anne; United States - Maryland - Baltimore County - Baltimore

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Decr. 29, 1811. P.A.

A thousand thanks my dear Mr. Teackle for your last letters, and kind attention to my wants; which, to be sure, were a little pressing; but I endeavor to do my best, and am fully of opinion that nothing brightens ones wits so completely as a few rubs of necessity. It acts like shark’s skin on dead metal, serving to bring out its dormant brilliancy. Or like minting, stamps it with a character and makes it pass current for the quid pro quo. The money (70 dollars) I have in part appropriated to the discharging a few debts, and shall go on to liquidate as far the notes hold out before I think of wanting any thing else. My accts have been a little augmented since I wrote, having been obliged to buy the negroes shoes, such as cou’d not be made in time for the excessive cold weather. I hated to see them barefooted,

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but you need not be uneasy. I think I shall be able to go on, as you say, decently enough. I have no company and use very little in the meat and drink way. My coffee and sugar were not gone when you sent the last, which I shall take care of, the flour and buckwheat I had wanted.

I would thank you to write me word whether I must purchase more pork or if you depend on buying bacon. I had rather buy the pork if it’s convenient, if not, as you please. I thought perhaps Mr. Dennis might let us have it. Let me know what I must do. You need not get me the bombazeen I wrote for, as there is some in Town as pretty and cheap I suppose as you can get in Baltimore, where I am told every article of the kind sells as high as here.¹ Eliz^th was pleased with her earrings and thanks your for them, as do I for mine—They are very pretty.

Poor Barnes has lost

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his wife—she died on Christmas morning.

I have much pleasure in knowing of your health and believe you would feel equally gratified in learning that mine is growing gradually better. I rise before the sun every day, sometimes 50 minutes, sometimes 25, and soon, it helps me wonderfully. I run through the ce[llar], give out breakfast and waken all the servants to their duty. I have nothing more than usual to complain of amongst them, except Ephraim, who is completely ruined and good for nothing, drunken and worthless. I mention it because I wish you either to sell him to some one in Balt. or send Mr. Brown a power of attorney enclosed to me that I may hold in terrorism, or use if I see proper. It might have some effect on him to know that I might send him away. I had rather however, you wou’d sell him in Balt. Write me if you think you can,