Edward Henry to Patrick Henry Fontaine

Letter

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Edward Henry to Patrick Henry Fontaine

Entry/Object ID

82.138.1

Description

An autographed letter signed by Edward "Neddy" Henry sent to Patrick Henry Fontaine in Henry County, Virginia. Two pages (front and back) from Tinker Hill, Virginia, September 3, 1792.

Transcription

Tinker Hill, Sept 3, 1792 In consequence not only, of a promise of writing, but that of sincerely wishing to hear from you and the Dr.(dear) Family, I have now for the first time, since Sandy Stewart was here, a satisfaction of writing, which is not small I do assure you. At last my leg has entirely cured up, and I am fully recovered which circumstance will induce you to expect a compliance from me before very long of the promise I made of visiting you sometime soon. This I will do so soon as (torn) -usal of Blackstone and some other cramp digests -will put it in my power, which I hope will be in six or eight weeks at farthest, which is the time, in which I have to qualify myself for practicing Attorney - Since Sandy was here I have been on [torn] (Holston?) where the people are the greatest Faneticks [sic], and the most anxiously concerned apparently, in order to get to a better World than any I have ever met with before in my entercourse with the world, they not long since (torn)-most persuaded Cousin Sally Campbell to fall in to the like Inthusism [sic], though I am hopeful they will not be able to perfect their designs in that particular what ever success they may meet within others. She will be here before long when (torn) matters will be decided finally one way or the o(torn) whether the scale of fortune will turn in my favor. I am not at present able to determine, though I think it is doubtful - I would have written to your dr. mother but for the want of time, as it is a traveling man by whom I write, though I wish to be affectionately remembered to her and the rest of the Dr. Family, and also remember me to Mr. Wm. Jennings, and all my acquaintances that you may see in your quarter of the World. I am Dr. Patrick with Esteem your Affectionate Uncle, Edwd. Henry

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

8 in

Length

10 in

Provenance

Notes

An interesting family letter with references to "Cousin Sally Campbell" and the Holston River settlement. Edward Henry was a son of Patrick Henry and Sarah Henry. Patrick Henry Fontaine (1775-c.1840) was Patrick Henry's first grandson by his first child, Martha. Letters written by Edward Henry are scarce. Possibility that Edward Henry is referencing the Second Great Awakening/Christian Revivalism (1790-1850) due to referencing "Faneticks" who "want to go to a better world" and are attempting to convince Sally to share their opinion. If so, a rather valuable piece of evidence supporting the early date of the Second Great Awakening stirring in the 1790s. This letter was originally received as an indefinite loan from the lender, Joseph Edmund Winston. In December 2022, Curator Cody Youngblood contacted Mr. Winston to request that the loan be renewed, gifted, or terminated. Mr. Winston agreed to transfer the letter as a gift to PHMF on December 14, 2022.