Letters As History: 1885

1885 Letter...a peek into the past!

Here is one of the envelopes  that I purchased at Packard's Stamps and Rocks some time back.  It was in my pile of very interesting envelopes . When I got home I realized that  it had a letter in it!  This was written in  a town a couple hours from where I live, Martinsville, VA.  It is nestled in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains.  The sender is the wife of Mr. Wythe M. Peyton , Esq.  He , the receiver of this pencil written letter is an attorney -at- law, in Martinsville.  Evidently there was some outbreak of infectious disease that claimed an acquaintance's  (Mr. H) children .  Mrs. Peyton, evidently had been continuous contact via the mail by her remarks.  This reminds me of the scene in Jane Austen where Marianne is sending John Willoughby several letters a day in Bath.  

Interestingly, after expressing concern for Mr. Peyton's safety and interest in him returning home as soon as possible, she switches gears to the dress that is not trimmed properly and the missing basque!

Then all the domestic goings on...all in this simple letter!  What a peek into the daily, mundane life of a family in the 1880's.  

For the philately inclined...I loved seeing  these hand canceled stamps...Does anyone see anything else that I am missing?  

These dried flowers were found it the letter...over 130 years ago.

April 4th 1885

April 4^th 1885

My dear Husband:

You can’t imagine my delight when I received your note yesterday evening but I can’t keep from feeling uneasy about you  knowing your great kindness to people who are in distress; Have you been to Mr H’s house?  And where  were his children buried?  I do feel  so sorry for the family but hope you will not expose yourself that you may without danger come to see us soon.  I hope you can come this evening if you think safe as Aunt A  has invited Annie Watkins who is at Mrs Matilda Penns to come here this evening where her sister Jennie will meet her.  Please accept many thanks for the things you sent me; but I could not wear my dress as Lucy forgot to send me the basque and the overshirt is trimmed entirely different from the model we selected and promised to trim exactly like it; please send or bring the basque this evening as tomorrow is Sunday.  The children are well and continue to wish you were here to enjoy the nice things.  Loulie was delighted to get her basket and send you many thanks for sending it.  Preston walked close to me just a minute ago and said “tell Pa  I am very much oblige to him for writing to you , but I want him to come to stay with us.”  Please excuse writing my pencil is so short.  I send  Miss Lucy A the measures for Loulie & Preston.  Aunt S sends many thanks for your messages and says you must come down when you think it is safe for the children.  (With truest love and kisses from Loulie, Preston & Your fond Wife)

G. W. Peyton

I hope you have enjoyed this letter as much as I have.  I am currently trying to reach the historian from Charlotte County Historical Society to see if they can tell me what infectious outbreak was occurring at this time.   Just a bit of detective work!

If you visit any antique stores, poke around in their envelope boxes, and ask them if they have any old letters.  We can learn much from the past.

Write Letters,

Write Often...someday someone might be blogging about your little letter a century later!

Lady Pamela

Letters As History: Brothers Get Postal

Ok.  I love what I am about to share with you.  About a year ago, my two sons began a letter writing adventure.  I'm not sure who got  the ball rolling...but I believe it was Benji. He was bored one day, and  as any good Snail Mail blogging mother would do, I told him to go write a letter to his older brother!   Now you have to understand  that Benji was only 11 (# 9 child) when he started writing his big brother Zach (who happens to be # 2 child of our 10).  Benji is a bundle of energy, so letter writing would seem to be the LAST thing he would be doing, as it would appear to be so contrary to his nature.

There is a 14 year age difference, so when Zachary moved away to attend college, Benji was only  about 3 years old.  This activity is a great way for my son to get to know his older brother who is a full- time fire fighter,  and paramedic.

 About once a month, they get a letter off in the mail to each other.  I don't know exactly what they discuss, as I haven't been privy to any of the letters, but Benji tells me that they discuss music, what Zach's little boy is up to, and a host of other things.

I asked Zach to share some of his insights  (Johnny is another older brother he refers to):

So often it can be hard to keep in touch with family after you move out of the house. Sure, you can call them up on the phone every once in awhile, but you don't always get the intimate details of every one's lives that way. I started writing Johnny while in college... it was a way we got to keep in touch. You get a chance to share more minute and intimate details in letters because you get a chance to actually sit down and think about what you say before you say them. You also feel more free to say certain things as opposed to in person because you don't feel bad/awkward like you would if you were having the same conversation in person.

From Johnny, I moved on to writing Benji. I saved everyone of Johnny's letters and I save everyone of Benji's too. I like looking back on what we talked about, to see how things have changed since the time of the letter. It's funny and sad and weird how some things change over time. We talk about everything... work, school, friends, family, chores. One major common theme from Johnny and Benji is that they both love talking about music. So every letter ends with swapping song recommendations. We will write a list of songs we are enjoying at the time and share these, and then comment on the other person's recommendations.  I like to share uplifting and encouraging songs. I also share secular selections, but I think that this is important as well because they are catchy, fun enjoyable songs but they aren't dirty or trashy.

I love getting and writing letters to Benji. I feel just a little more connected not just to him but the family by doing so.

Thanks, Zachary for sharing your letter writing relationship with your kid brother.  I hope this will encourage young men or young ladies to take an interest in another young person in their lives.  It could make all the difference in this journey of life.

One thing I observed and was surprised with is the fact that they each save their letters!  I find this fascinating and wonderful!  Yay!  One day their children may end up reading these letters...because these writers thought to: first, write a letter and secondly, to save it~ the two key elements to making Letters As History.

"The one good thing about not seeing you is that I can write you letters."

~~~Svetlana Allilyeva

Write Letters,

Write Often,

Lady Pamela

Outgoing!

Love this combo of washi...

Out going...

"Sista" Mail...vintage fits.  ;-)

More "sista" mail.

Jan loves all things Japanese <3

Kokeshi Kraziness!

Slight variation for LouAnne

I love the word stickers...but they seem to stump me for phrases...does anyone else have this problem?

I love the rebelliousness of snail mail, and I love anything that can arrive with a postage stamp.  There’s something about that person’s breath and hands on the letter.

Diane Lane

Write Letters,

Write Often

Lady Pamela