[Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre, December 29, 1811]

Mentioned in this letter

Historic Homes and Places: Eyre Hall
Home, Health, and Social Life: Health; Health - Disease and illness; Holidays and Observances
People: Eyre, Ann Matilda Upshur, 1780-1829; Eyre, John, 1768-1855; Kendall, George Teackle, 1788-1815; Murray, James, 1741-1819; Steele, Mary Nevett, 1769-1836; Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1836; Teackle, Littleton Dennis, 1777-1848; Upshur, Anne Billings Steele, 1791-1835; Upshur, Arthur, 1789-1830; Winder, Rider Henry, 1788-1866
Places: United States - Maryland - Baltimore City; United States - Maryland - Somerset County; United States - Maryland - Somerset County - Princess Anne; United States - Virginia; United States - Virginia - Northampton County

About this letter

Description: Letter from Elizabeth Upshur Teackle to her sister, Ann Upshur Eyre. She writes about seeing Ann in January and missing her husband, Littleton Dennis Teackle, while he is away on business in Baltimore. She also talks about the enslaved people in her house and her health.
Creator: Teackle, Elizabeth Uphsur
Creation Date: December 29, 1811
Subjects: Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1837; Eyre, Ann Upshur, 1780-1829; 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: Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Collection: Voices of the Eastern Shore
Place Names: United States - Maryland - Somerset County - Princess Anne; United States - Virginia - Northampton County

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P. Anne Dec. 29^th, 1811

My dearest sister

Your’s fav’d by Mr. Williams was handed me by that gentle man and was truly acceptable as it held out the near prospect of seeing you here very soon. As to my going down at this time, I am sorry that it is not in my power as I shall firmly depend on seeing you here in January, when if I can possibly do so, I will return with you. It is out of the question my dear girl for me to think of leaving home in Christmas or soon after. The Negroes wou’d take the land, for it is with sore toiling that I can manage them at all. You have no idea of half the trouble and fatigue I have had since my husband’s absence and for the last week I have really thought they wou’d quite run me distracted. I have not one that won’t get intoxicated more or less, and my cook is absolutely drunk 3 fourths of her time. When I look back I do indeed wonder how I have contriv’d to pass my six (now almost seven) months

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widowhood. But yet I have managed it pretty tolerably. My dear husband is very thoughtful in sending me family necessaries and money so that, except from lonliness, I do very well. I feel confident that nothing but necessity detains him in B-e; but the time has appear’d long. You must therefore feel convinced how much more essential to me is your society, and not fail to come at the appointed time. I shall expect the girls with you and should Arthur, and Ann have nothing more agreeable to do, tell them how much I shou’d be gratified to see them also. You tell me, and I knew before, that your husband’s cares must be increased, but to administer to the afflicted was, always, a task cheerfully undertaken by him. Tell him that in bringing you to see me he administers to the afflicted.

Mr. James Murray has just call’d and seeing my writing apparatus and that the letter was to you, he begs to be particularly presented to you and Mr. E. He tells me that Ann’s mother and her family are well. I shall

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be truly rejoiced when this excellent man and his family become our neighbors, which will be very soon.

Keep me in your mind my dear girl, but don’t think unkindly of my poor letters because some body will not let them go to you. I have written to you very often. Perhaps you may not receive this in a month. I regretted myself that circumstances prevented my visiting you this fall, but it cou’d not be helped. If ever it pleases God to restore me former strength I shall be enabled to ride to N- and make nothing of it. I hope (as R. Winder says) this desirable epoch is advancing, for I am certainly in some degree recovering my health, that is, my back is getting stronger, from regular living, early rising &c. I have gained a good appetite and am profiting of it. My head too has been in a dreadful state, for some time past, but is now