[Letter from Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle to her mother, Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, February 4, 1816]

Mentioned in this letter

Education, Religion, Literacy, and Culture: Plays
Home, Health, and Social Life: Fashion - Bonnets and Hats; Fashion - Handkerchiefs; Fashion - Shoes; Gardening - Vegetables; Health; Health - Death; Jewelry - Necklaces; Marriage
People: Bancker, Sarah Upshur Teackle, 1783-1843; Bayly, Rachel Revell Upshur, 1777-1816; Chauncey, Henrietta Teackle, 1780-1832; Chauncey, Mary, 1815-1821; Gale, Amelia; Gale, Amelia Williams, 1760-1816; Gale, John P., 1789-1840; Grelaud, Marie “Deborah” Claudine D’Espaigne, 1765-1856; Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1836; Teackle, Littleton Dennis, 1777-1848; Whittington, Mary, 1800-1815
Places: United States - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia County - Philadelphia

About this letter

Description: Letter from Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle to her mother, Elizabeth Upshur Teackle, written while Ann was attending Madam Grelaud's French School in Philadelphia. She writes about spending time with her aunt, Henrietta Teackle Chauncey. She asks about her fathers health and the weather at Princess Anne. She talks about her finances and her clothing. She mentions the death's of Rachel Bayly and Mary Whittington.
Creator: Quinby, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle
Creation Date: February 4, 1816
Subjects: Teackle, Elizabeth Upshur, 1783-1837; Quinby, Elizabeth Ann Upshur Teackle, 1801-1875
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 - Pennsylvania - Philadelphia County - Philadelphia

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This day, my dear mother, am I fifteen years of age. I am increasing in years you may depend, I wish I could say understanding too.

You say something about my being in bad spirits. Indeed my dear mother, if any seemed so, I was not conscious of it and am very really sorry to have made you uneasy. My health, also you speak of, my dear mama do not be any under any apprehensions concerning that, for I am glad to tell you it is very good. Aunt Bancker will write you, and explain everything to you. I return you a thousand thanks for the money you sent me. I will do as you direct. I bought little Mary Chauncey a coral necklace (as it was her christening) out of the other $10 you sent me.

I rejoice to hear papa has got home. I hope all in good health? It is most delightful, the idea of his coming up in April and taking me home, Aunt B seems

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to wish you to come here in the spring, but I am afraid if you come, I will not go home. Would it be so, my dear mother? Then you have planted peas, I think you are early. You say you have had a cold January, we have had an uncommonly mild winter so far, yesterday was almost like a spring day, and today is very warm for winter, but rather damp. Mother, you wish me to get a pair of boots; the ones I have are, I think, very good, but if you wish it, I will get another pair. Although the winter is nearly over my bonnet is quite good yet, aunt Chauncey thinks I have kept it very well. It has not got feathers in it: aunt Bancker thought my face was so small that they would not suit it, and concluded she would buy me a handsome flower in the spring for my hat with the feathers. The bonnet was made to go without feathers. It has a beautiful [beoux] on it, but aunt thought you wished me to have them, and told the milliner she wished it with them, and she let her have it for ten Dollars, when that was the price before, with [torn]

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brown only. I have done my handkerchiefs. You don't mention anything about paying for my frock mother, but I suppose you will think of that all in good time, Also Mrs. Grelaud’s bill. I intend to try and keep some money by me always, and to keep an account of my expenses likewise.

I think a great deal of my ruffle and you don't know how it delights me when I hear it praised, and I have heard it praised not a little each time I have it washed. I intend to have a nice piece of pink ribbon in it and make it look killing. I wore it when I went to the play and was told I looked very genteel (or something in that way:) you know it is a great deal better to look genteel than to look fine.

You know you wished me to write about Amelia and her brother. She is in good health, and him I suppose as she saw him yesterday or night. You better tell Mrs. Gale to take him home as I believe he is making sad [holes] among the young lady's hearts. They think him very handsome.

What am I saying? Please mother don't say any