Dorothea Henry to Betsey Aylett

Letter

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Dorothea Henry to Betsey Aylett

Entry/Object ID

98.28.1

Description

Iron gall ink on laid paper. Letter from Dorothea Dandridge Henry to Elizabeth "Betsey" Aylett, telling of the death of her Patrick Henry and Anne Roane. Probably written at Red Hill in June 1799.

Collection

Patrick & Dorothea Henry Collection

Transcription

My Dear Betsey, I take up my pen but Alass, Alass, what I have to say but to wound a minde already sore. The death of your Dr. [dear] and Amiable Sister Roane will be more sencibly felt by you then any of her friends except her poor husband and children – My loss my Dr. Betsey can never be repaired in this life. But oh that I may be enabled to imitate the virtues of your Dr. and Hond. [honored] Father; and that my latter end may be like his – He met death with firmness, and in full Confidence that through the merits of A Bleeding Saviour that his sins would be pardoned. Oh, my Dr. Betsey what a scene have I been witness to – I wish the grate [sic] Jefferson & all the heroes of the Deistical party could have seen my Ever Dr. & Hond. Husband pay his last debt to nature – But I will not enlarge on this mournfull subject – I have 9 sweet dutyfull [sic] children. My Dr. Sally is a grate comfort to me. My Dr. Kitty can tell you how much I am Blesed in Mr. Winston & Dolly. I shall send Patrick to P. Edward College shortly – I trust he will be a protecttor [sic] to his little Brothers. The poor Dr. boy is much Affed. [affected] at his loss & I am shure [sic] wishes to go right but he is at a critical age. your Dr. Father used to say his Name Sake would make a Cleaver [sic] man if he was properly mannaged [sic]. Kitty can tell you all the little news of the Family – Write to me my Dr. Betsey when I am to be blessed to see you & all your Dr. Family – I shall now take it a double favour if you can come to see me. I will send for your Sister Fontaine to meet you here. Give my love to Mr. Aylette & children and beleve [sic] me my Dr. Betsey. Your Ever Affate. [Affectionate] Mother D Henry

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

12-1/2 in

Length

7-3/4 in

Provenance

Notes

This letter was written by Dorothea Spotswood Dandridge Henry (1757-1831), wife of Patrick Henry, to her step-daughter Elizabeth "Betsey" Henry Aylett (1769-1842). Although undated, the letter is written very soon after the deaths of Patrick Henry (1736-1799) and his daughter Anne Henry Roane (1767-1799) who had died shortly before in May. Dorothea commiserates with Betsey on the deaths of these two, and expresses that she hopes to die with the strength and dignity exhibited by her late husband. She states that he died in the confidence of his salvation through a "Bleeding Saviour," and she wishes that Thomas Jefferson and his fellow Deists could have witnessed the way in which he died. Dorothea then enumerates how much she loves and appreciates her nine children, and asks if Betsey might be able to visit her. In addition to Anne Roane, several other family members are mentioned: "My Dr. Sally" refers to Sarah Butler Henry (1780-1856), Dorothea's second child; "My Dr. Kitty" refers to Martha Catharina Henry (1781-1801), Dorothea's third child; "Mr. Winston & Dolly" refers to George Dabney Winston (ca. 1774-1831), husband to Dorothea Spotswood Henry (1778-1854), Dorothea's first child; and "Patrick" refers to Patrick Henry, Jr. (1783-1804), Dorothea's fourth child. Letters written by women prior to about 1820 are very scarce, and this example demonstrates excellent use of language and writing skills by its female author. Very few letters exist in Dorothea Henry's hand. This letter was donated to PHMF by Catherine Spotswood Fontaine Lawrence (1938-2015), a fourth-great-granddaughter of Patrick Henry, on December 2, 1998.