Dorthula A Sproul – Letters to Mary Sproul · Dorthula A. Sproul – Four Letters to Mary Sproul...

Dorthula Letters to Mary - 1822-28.doc 10/04/09

Dorthula A. Sproul – Four Letters to Mary Sproul

1822-1828

Documents appear to be early 1900s typewritten transcription, perhaps by Fannie. Many errors seem to have been introduced in the transcription. Punctuation, capitalization, grammer, and some spelling corrections have been made to the first and second letters as feasible. All early typed transcriptions are included. wws...

These letters of Dorthula mention about 66 different persons, mostly family members, including 16, or most of the then-living, children and their spouses of Settler William. Dorthula A. Sproul b.c.1803, daughter of Oliver Sproul and Mary Davis Oliver and his brother Joseph went to Kentucky and married Davis sisters

First letter is from Dorthula’s home in Kentucky. Later letters are from the area near Brownsburg, Virginia.

Mary Sproul daughter of Joseph Sproul and Rachael Davis Mary addressed at Stanford Post Office, Lincoln County, Kentucky

Ages: Dorthula 19 or 20 b.1803 Mary 19 b.1803 Oliver 42 b.1780

April 28, 1822 Letter – In this letter, Dorthula is in Kentucky and talks mostly of going to Virginia. She mentions about 12 persons. Mary is also in Kentucky.

June 22, 1822 Letter – Dorthula writes from the Augusta/Rockbridge area. Letter addressed to Mary Sproul, Lincoln County, KY. About 24 persons are mentioned.

April 2, 1825 Letter – Dorthula writing from Squire Billy’s, Esther has just died. - mentions 32 persons.

August 26, 1828 Letter - Dorthula now teaching in Brownsburg, Virginia. Mentions her sisters back in Kentucky. - mentions 17 persons, April 28, 1822 Letter – In this letter, Dorthula is in Kentucky and talks mostly of going to Virginia. She mentions some dozen persons. Mary is also in Kentucky.

April the 28, 1822

My Dear Friend1

I own you have a good cause to think I was offended from the length of time it has been since I wrote to you. However I hope you will excuse me when you hear my reason for not writing sooner. I did not know Cousin Thomas2 was going till about the time he came home and Uncle Sam3 was up last Sunday night and I heard of it on Monday morning about breakfast time and was in a great hurry to write to you then but as I was about to begin, Mother4 came from there and said he had gone home.

I have been working very busy since you left here to try to get fixed to start away, but I never get much further forward. I have been abroad a good part of time since you were here. I intended to have gone to Mr. Ewins5 last Friday but could not take time. I expect to go one day this week and then I will know whether Miss Sally6 will go down at the time you have appointed, but it is very probable I will know before I send this


letter, for I am only writing this to have it ready when I hear of any person going so that I may not be disappointed as I was when Uncle Sam3 went home.

As to going to Virginia, I am determined to go if I can get the chance but I don’t know what to make of my father7, for one day when I ask him about it, he will say, ‘Get ready,’ and the next some person else will (as everyone does that comes), ‘Well, Mr. S or Uncle, have you concluded to take Darthula8 with you? Oh, indeed? I can’t tell you for she is fearful. She won’t go out of one room to another by herself’. ‘How would she do to sleep in a room by herself? If there was any person going to keep her company, I would be very glad to take her. I am very sorry indeed’.

This I began last Sunday and will finish it today in hopes that you will have it by this hour next week.

That we can’t go to Virginia together. Oh, dear Cousin1, if you loved as I do you would not have so much objection to going with me, for it appears like a great pleasure opening before me to think of riding to Virginia with one who I would take to be my comforter, my pattern, my most beloved friend. So some along, my love, as soonas you get this, or rather, send your brother and by then Papa7 will know the very day he will start if nothing happens, and then you mustcome up and we will ride in that lovely month called bright and merry June, for I expect it will be about the first of June before he will start. He told me last Friday, since I began this letter to you, that there need be no more uneasinessabout it for he would take me if he went. Your father9 will surely let you go I think, if you are in the notion, for you would not eat much of Uncle John10 and you have what clothing would do you eight or ten months, and now I hope (as you will also) that I am done writing about Virginia.

I went to Mr. Irvins5 on Friday evening and came home this morning. Miss Irvin6 sends you her love and said to tell you she would come down to the sacrament if she could make it convenient.

I would write much more if had paper for I would not have sent this red scribled stuff had any more paper but this borrowed half sheet.

My love to my dear S11 and h12. I want Cousin Harriet12 to be sure and come to see me before I start.

Do excuse this writing. I own you could not do it with a good grace for there are so many things running in my mind that I can’t write. An immediate answer is required to this.

Your loving friend, Darthula Sproul8

And at the bottom of the page:

Soft as the dew from Heaven descends, her gentle accents felt the grateful stranger


June 22, 1822 Letter – Dorthula writes from the Augusta/Rockbridge area. Letter addressed to Mary Sproul, Lincoln County, KY. About two dozen persons are mentioned.

June 22, 1822

Dear Cousin1,

I want to writeyou a few lines but I don’t know hardly where to begin. Perhaps you would be willing to hear that I am in good health at this time and have been ever since I left home and am highly pleased with my visit. Our relations here are the most stylish people. Uncle John10 lives in the most elegant house I ever was in and Uncle Thompson13 has completed one larger than Uncle Johns10 but not handsomer.

And now I intend to be brief as possible, I will tell you of some weddings you have not heard of. Miss Nancy McMutt14 is married a widower, Mr. Mack15___? Your Cousin Susan Beard16 to Mr. Secrite17. Your Cousin Polly Weir18 has been married these three years to Son Wilson19. She is a lovely woman and has a fine looking man for her husband. I saw them both at preaching last Sunday. There Cousin Nancy Sproul20 gave me an introduction to them and Susan Weir21, Miss Peggie Beard22, Miss Jane Minret/Minet23, (whom I have since been to see) Susan Secrite16, Cousin John24, and Uncle John Weir25 who I went home with from the preaching and stayed till Tuesday. Your Cousin John24 is a fine young man indeed and is as much like William Cabell26 as if they were brothers. Susan16 is a handsome girl and quite an agreeable companion.

Perhaps I will surprise you when I tell you that Uncle John10 was married last fall to Miss Matilda K Scott27 (Sept 13, 1821 at Bethel), daughter of Parson Scott28. Yes, indeed. And Mary29 was gone to Monroe when we came and has not yet returned. She could not stand Aunt Matilda27 nor, in fact, none of the rest of her friends for she went off with them all but Uncle Will Sprouls30 family. Matilda27 is a fine woman and has been brought up in the highest style. She has spent a summer in Georgia, has a gold watch, has some elegant pictures framed of her own drawings and so forth.

Tell Harriet12 I told Uncle John10 about getting her a frock. He won’t give me an answer whether he will do it or not. I can’t tell for I left there on Thursday evening and this is Saturday.

I came to Uncle Wm Sprouls30 where I have been ever since the evening I left Papa there then and have not seen him since. The time is coming full near when he will start which is Monday morning, I think rather the most of Aunt Fanny31 of any of...

I could write much mot had I time, but it is getting late and I have wrote six letters today and you may know I am tired if you have not wrote yet. I want you to do it soon. Give my best love to Aund and your sisters.

Your most affectionate friend,

Dorthula Sproul9

I got a very handsome leghorn hat for seven dollars.


Ordered Listing of persons mentioned in Dorthula Letters 7 children of Settler William Sproul

- About 62 different persons are mentioned in these letters 9 spouses of Settler Williiam’s children April 28, 1822 Letter * - 1st generation children of Settler William and their spouses

1 My Dear Friend Cousin Mary Sproul, daughter of Joseph Sproul* 2 Cousin Thomas This would probably be a cousin Thomas in Davis family in KY. 3 Uncle Sam Samuel Davis 4 Mother Mary Davis*, Dorthula’s mother was dead. Oliver remarried

Nancy Michell in 1818. This must refer to stepmother. 5 Mr. Ewins, Mr. Irvins Dorthula’s grandmother Susanna was a Ewing, but what Ewing

relatives were in Ky? 6 Miss Sally (Ewins), Miss Irvin 7 My father, Papa Oliver Sproul* 8 Darthula, Darthula Sproul Daughter of Oliver Sproul* 9 Your father Joseph Sproul*

10 Uncle John John Sproul* 11 Dear S Probably Samuel Sproul, brother of Mary 12 and h, Cousin Harriet Harriet Sproul, sister of Mary

June 22, 1822 Letter 1 Dear Cousin Cousin Mary Sproul, daughter of Joseph Sproul*

10 Uncle John John Sproul* 13 Uncle Thompson Thomas Thompson*, husband of Fannie Sproul* 14 Miss Nancy McNutt Daughter of Nancy Sproul* 15 Mr. Mack___? Widower who married Nancy McNutt 16 Your Cousin Susan Beard, Susan Secrite Daughter of Sidney Sproul* 17 Mr. Secrite 18 Your Cousin Polly Weir Daughter of Jean Sproul* 19 Son Wilson. Married to Polly Weir 20 Cousin Nancy Sproul Daughter of William Sproul* 21 Susan Weir, Susan Daughter of Jean Sproul* 22 Miss Peggie Beard three of Settler’s children married Beards, so a lot of them were

about 23 Miss Jane Minret/Minet 24 Cousin John, Your Cousin John Cousin John Weir, Jr 25 Uncle John Weir John Weir*, husband of Jean Sproul* 26 William Cabell 27 Miss Matilda K Scott, Aunt Matilda , Matilda Matilda Scott*, wife of John Sproul*, m. Sept 13, 1821 28 Parson Scott. Father of Matilda*, minister of Bethel Church 29 Mary Mary Sproul* 30 Uncle Will Sprouls family, Uncle Wm

Sprouls William Sproul*, Esq “Squire Billy”

12 Harriet Harriet Sproul, sister of Mary 7 Papa Oliver Sproul*

31 Aunt Fanny Fannie Sproul*, wife of Thomas Thompson 8 Dorthula Sproul Daughter of Oliver Sproul*

April 2, 1825 Letter 30 Uncle William Sproul William Sproul*, Esq “Squire Billy” 1 My Dear Respected Cousin Cousin Mary Sproul, daughter of Joseph Sproul*

32 Aunt Esther Sproul 33 Three children Samuel, Nancy Jane, William – children of William* 20 Cousin Nancy Jane, Nancy S Daughter of William* 29 Aunt Mary Mary Sproul* 13 Uncle Thompson Thomas Thompson*, husband of Fannie Sproul* 10 Uncle John John Sproul* 34 Mr. C. Linsay A Tuckahoe teacher 35 Cunningham 36 Mr. Trimbler 7 Pa Oliver Sproul*


37 My Stepmother Nancy Mitchell*, 2nd wife of Oliver Sproul* 38 Mr. Price 39 Miss Walker 40 Aunt Hutcheson, Aunt MH Martha Sproul*, wife of Robert Hutcheson* 31 Aunt Thompson Fannie Sproul*, wife of Thomas Thompson* 27 Aunt Matilda Matilda Scott*, wife of John Sproul* 21 Cousin Susan Weir Daughter of Jean Sproul* 16 Miss Beard 41 Trimble Walker 42 Miss Withrow correspondent in Brownsburg (Samuel Brown married a

Winthrow in 1834) 43 Aunt Jane Sproul Jane Beard*, wife of Alexander Sproul* - in KY 3 Uncle Sam Davis and his family - in KY

44 Aunt B - in KY 45 My dear little sister - in KY 46 Aunt Vaugh - in KY 47 Cousin P. Wood - in KY 49 Aunt Rachel Rachael Davis Sproul*, wife of Joseph Sproul* 50 Your sisters - in KY 8 Dorthula A. Sproul Daughter of Oliver Sproul*

August 26, 1828 Letter 1 Miss Mary Sproul, my dear Cousin, my own

cousin Polly Cousin Mary Sproul, daughter of Joseph Sproul*

8 Dorthula Sproul Daughter of Oliver Sproul* 13 Uncle Thompson Thomas Thompson*, husband of Fannie Sproul* 51 Capt. Jones Merchant who started school in Brownsburg 31 Aunt Thompson Fannie Sproul*, wife of Thomas Thompson* 52 James Beard 53 Mr. McNutt 54 Miss Sally Winthrow, Mrs. Jones Wife of Capt. Jones 55 Miss Caroline Matilda Jones Sister of Capt. Jones (a Tuckahoe) 56 Mrs. J Neighbor in Brownsburg 57 William and Walker Store boys in Brownsburg 58 Uncle Hutcheson Robert Hutcheson*, husband of Martha Sproul* 59 Janice Hutcheson child died at 10 in 1828 60 Joseph Youngest Hutcheson child died within week of Janice 61 John Ewing 62 My dear sister - in KY 12 Cousin Harriet Harriet Sproul, sister of Mary

Dorthula A Sproul – Letters to Mary Sproul · Dorthula A. Sproul – Four Letters to Mary Sproul...

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