Memoir of John Howe Peyton Part 8

If Mr. Cochran (G. M.) has not obtained the bacon I ordered from Mr.

Hogg, you must keep up the supply on the farm from the market, and by now and again killing a mutton.

In great haste, your affectionate husband, JOHN H. PEYTON.

SAME TO SAME.

Callaghan's Tavern, Nov. 4th, 1827.

_My Dear Ann_:

I am informed by Judge Taylor that my sister, Lucy Green, of Kentucky, arrived a few days since in Montgomery county on a visit to my late brother's family, (Capt. Garnett Peyton's.) She is on her way to see my mother at Stony Hill, and will not, of course, pa.s.s us without a visit.

Though she is impatient to get on, do not let her go until I return, for nothing could give more pleasure than to see her.

I missed seeing the wedding party at Capt. Ma.s.sie's, (marriage of John Hamden Pleasants to Capt. M.'s daughter Mary.) They had gone to Fincastle on a visit to the Woodville's. They intend paying us a visit on their return. Woodville is with me and well.

Present me affectionately to the children and make my kind regards to Mrs. Talfair.

Sincerely your affectionate husband, JOHN H. PEYTON.

SAME TO SAME.

Richmond, January 19th, 1828.

_My Dear Ann_:

I had intended to leave here this morning, but the weather would not admit of it. It has been raining the whole day. I think the weather will admit of my continuing my journey tomorrow, for though I have been treated with great hospitality since my arrival, I had rather be at home with my dear wife and children than anywhere on earth.

Mary Green, of Kentucky, is here, and is an affectionate, good girl. She appears to be sincerely attached to you, and says she had a great deal rather be at Montgomery Hall with Aunt Ann, than in Richmond, with all its fas.h.i.+on and gaiety. Bernard has given me two dining parties since we have been here. We were also invited to dine at Johnson's, (Chapman,) but could not attend, owing to a previous engagement at Leigh's, (B. W.

Leigh's.) I was obliged also to decline dining at Dr. Brockenbrough's for the same reason, and I have, for the same reason, had to decline the invitation to dine with Mr. Daniel. One day I dined with Gen. Sam'l H.

Lewis at Duval's; on another, with the Triplett's; on another day was invited to dine by all the members of the Legislature at the Bell Tavern, and did so. Many distinguished strangers were present. On another occasion, I dined, by invitation, with all the members of our party. We have been well, with the exception of a cold I caught attending a book auction. I am, however, getting the better of it, and hope by the time I reach Stafford to be well. My stay in Stafford will be short. I shall stop with sister Lynn (Cochran) on my return. Cochran has a very snug, cosy establishment. I have purchased a lot of nice things for you; had them boxed and sent to Bernard's (Gen. Bernard Peyton's) commission house to be forwarded home by the first conveyance, with a number of law and miscellaneous books bought here. I am fearful these articles will not reach Staunton soon, as the condition of the roads is at present wretched.

I must conclude with the hope that I will receive a letter from you in Stafford.

Amanda, (Mrs. General Bernard Peyton) and all send their best respects and regards to you.

Kiss my little cherubs for me, and believe me, as ever your affectionate husband, JOHN H. PEYTON.

SAME TO SAME.

Stony Hill, Stafford, Feb, 24, 1828.

_My Dear Ann_:

I had the happiness to receive your letter of the 19th upon my arrival here, which gives me great pleasure indeed. My detention in Richmond will prevent my return home as soon as I expected. On Sat.u.r.day next I expect to leave here.

Rowze's wife has a fine daughter, [The present Mrs. T. R. Spenser, of Geneva, N. Y.] was born the day before our arrival. My mother, Lucy, Miss Gallagher and Rowze all send their love to you.

Your affectionate husband, JOHN H. PEYTON.

1828.

Warm Springs, 14th March, 1828.

_My Beloved Wife_:

The day I left you I reached Colonel McDowell's, (near Fairfield, Rockbridge county,) where I spent the night in the agreeable society of the family and my dear old aunt. On the next day about 12 o'clock, I arrived in Lexington and dined with Mr. Taylor.[7] I spent the evening and night with James McDowell, Jr.[8] Next day I settled my business in court, spent the afternoon and night with Taylor, and in the morning set out for Jackson River, and on Friday reached Captain Ma.s.sie's, having crossed the mountain by McGraw's gap, and after an hour's delay proceeded to my farm where I lodged. Captain Ma.s.sie and his son, Henry, dined with me next day, and the same evening my son William arrived from Pocahontas. He remained with me until Sunday when we went to Captain Ma.s.sie's to dinner. After dinner William proceeded to the Hot Springs and I returned to the farm.

[7] Hon. James Taylor, M. C. for this district and an old and intimate friend of Mr. Peyton, who served with Major Peyton in the army during the war of 1812-15 and whose friends.h.i.+p was continued up to the time of Mr. Peyton's death in 1847.

[8] Subsequently M. C. for this district and Governor of Virginia--Governor McDowell and Mrs. Taylor were both first cousins of Mrs. Peyton.

On Monday I rode to Alexander Paris', the old Morris tavern, to dinner, and thence to William McClintic's, where I remained all night. On Tuesday, I rode out in the rain to the Warm Springs. When I arrived the water streaming from my neck, arms, cuffs, and my body was wet to the skin, a warm bath, change of clothing, a good dish of roast beef by a blazing fire, washed down with a bottle of rum negus soon warmed me to life and spirits. Since then I have been busily occupied in court until this evening. Tomorrow I leave for the Supreme court of Pendleton and expect to arrive there by Tuesday evening. It distressed me to see my learned brethren of the bar returning to their families when I was doomed to another week's absence. But my wife will love me the more for this privation; when she recollects that both duty and interest demand the sacrifice. I found all well at the farm, all lazy and happy, all idle and contented. I did not disturb them, left them to enjoy life in their own way. I hope sister Sarah and cousin Susan Preston will remain with you until I get back--nothing affords me more gratification in my unavoidable absence on the circuit than the thought that you are happily consoled by the society of your friends.

Tell Ben to lose no time with the work of gardening and to transplant from the old garden near the stone spring house the currant and raspberry bushes.

Tell Dempster to keep the wagons busy getting out the manure, and to see that George and d.i.c.k are constantly engaged in rail-splitting--the fences need repairing. Give my love to Sarah Lewis and Susan Preston, to my little chicks, Susan, John and Ann.

As ever, my dear Ann, your affectionate husband, JOHN H. PEYTON.

SAME TO SAME.

Lewisburg, June 17th, 1828.

_My dear wife_:

I spent Tuesday and Wednesday after we parted at the Warm Springs. On Thursday, Mayse, Terrell, and Grattan dined with me at my plantation on Jackson's river--the same evening we rode to Callaghan's Tavern and on Friday reached this place. I have a beautiful crop of corn on Jackson's river, and indeed, the crops of all kinds look promising and the negroes are healthy, contented and happy. I am in good health and closely occupied in court. Woodville has not yet arrived, he is detained in the courts of Botetourt and Monroe, I expect him in a day or two--Col.

Andrew Lewis and Capt. John Lewis are both here attending the court. How do my little children come on? I suppose Susan is attending her school regularly and that John with his innocent and lively prattle, and Ann keep up their mother's spirits. How does Dempster get on securing the hay crop? Tell him to have the cradles prepared for the harvest. Have your wool packed and sent to Ben. Crawford's store with directions to forward it to Barr's to be carded. By doing so the rolls will be ready to be spun as soon as the women can be spared from the harvest field.

Isaac Bowyer has arrived here and tells me that the commissioners appointed to a.s.sign Mrs. Mary B. Lewis her dower in Dr. Lewises lands at the Sweet Springs, have set off to her 204 acres out of the land of your brother William, including the meadow and brick house. Your old neighbor, Susan Bowyer, near the Sweet Springs, is dead--the rest of your old friends and neighbors are well.

Tell Mrs. Baldwin that her husband [Judge Briscoe Baldwin] is in good health and spirits. He had the ill luck to have his gig broken to pieces on the road to the Warm Springs--one of the shafts of the sulky broke, this alarmed the horse--Baldwin perceived it and leaped from the gig, the horse then ran off with the gig at his heels and broke it in a dozen pieces. He had a bottle of old wine rolled up in the foot-board and though the board was kicked to atoms the bottle was not broken. Was there ever such luck! We went on to Miller's where we recounted our misfortunes over the wine which prevented undue depression of spirits.

The horse was uninjured and procuring a saddle, Baldwin mounted the reclaimed steed who was dripping wet, his eyes dull and his whole countenance dejected, and we jogged on very pleasantly, cheered by the Madeira and the reflection that things were not so bad as they might have been.

When I write again I will be able to give you more information of our friends. In the meantime be of good cheer and believe me,

Your affectionate husband.

SAME TO SAME.

Warm Springs, March 13th, 1829.

_My dear Ann_: