Notes
Patrick Henry wrote this letter to his third daughter, Elizabeth "Betsey" Aylett (1769–1842), on January 1, 1798, from Red Hill. He shared "news of the Family" and compliments to his "dear Child."
Betsey Aylett was the daughter of Patrick Henry and Sarah Shelton (1738–1775). She was born at Roundabout Plantation in Louisa County, Virginia, on April 23, 1769. She married Colonel Philip Aylett (1767–1831) on October 12, 1786, at St. John's Church in King William County, Virginia. They lived at Montville, the Aylett family farm, where they had 13 children. She died on September 14, 1842, and was buried at Fairfield plantation at the Aylett family cemetery.
This letter refers to many family members, all of whom are listed below:
"Fontaine" is Betsey's older sister, Martha "Patsey" Henry Fontaine (1755–1818). She was the eldest of Patrick Henry's children and was born at Pine Slash plantation in Hanover County, Virginia. She married John Fontaine (1750–1792) on October 2, 1773, and lived with him at the Leatherwood plantation, where they had seven children. After John died in 1792 from malaria, Martha managed their plantation and the wills of her husband and brother, Edward "Neddy" Henry (1771–1794). Martha died in 1818 and was buried at Leatherwood along with her husband, John.
"West Dandridge" refers to Nathaniel West Henry (1790–1851). Born on April 7, 1790, at Pleasant Grove plantation, he was the seventh child of Patrick Henry and Dorothea Spotswood Dandridge (1757–1831). He married Virginia Ann Woodson (c.1796–1838), referred to as his wife here, in 1812. From their marriage, he inherited Saura Town lands, and had six children together. After several hardships, he taught in Leaksville, North Carolina, and later in Jacksonville, Virginia, or present-day Floyd. He died in 1851 and was buried in a pauper's grave in Floyd.
"Patrick" is Patrick Henry Jr. (1783–1804), the fourth child of Henry and Dorothea and born at Leatherwood. He inherited the house portion of his father's Long Island property in Campbell County, Virginia. On February 9, 1804, he married Elvira Ann Cabell (1783–1858) of Union Hill plantation, and they had one child together, Elvira Ann Patrick (1804–1870).
"Johnny" refers to John Henry Christian (1781–1800), Patrick Henry's nephew. He was the only son of his parents, widow Anne Henry Christian (c.1738–1790), who likely died due to tuberculosis, and Colonel William Christian (c.1743–1786), who was killed after being attacked by Native Americans while leading an expedition in Clark County, Indiana. It is believed after Anne died, Patrick Henry took on financial responsibility for all of her children and allowed John to live with him, possibly starting at Long Island. Eventually moving with them to Red Hill, John became especially close to his cousin Patrick Henry Jr., who was only two years younger. His education was paid for by his uncle, who had been requested by his sister to see to it that John received a proper, public education. After Patrick Henry died in 1799, John left Red Hill, dying near present-day Charleston, West Virginia on November 5, 1800.
"Payne" refers to Philip Payne (1760–1840), Patrick Henry's brother-in-law. He married Dorothea Dandridge's sister, Elizabeth West Dandridge (1764–1833) in 1783.
"Dolly Winston" is Dorothea "Dolly" Spotswood Henry Winston (1778–1854). She was the first child born to Henry and Dorothea and was born at the Governor's Mansion in Williamsburg, Virginia, on August 2, 1778. She married George Dabney Winston (c.1774–1831) at Red Hill on June 18, 1795, and they had nine children together. She died on July 15, 1831, in Rockingham, North Carolina, and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery in Memphis, Tennessee.
"A fine son" refers to Dolly's son, William Winston (1797–1815). He died at the age of 17 in Campbell County, Virginia.
"Sally" is Sarah "Sallie" Butler (1780-1856), the second child of Henry and Dorothea. She was born at Leatherwood plantation on January 4, 1780. She first married Robert Campbell on August 31, 1799, who died in September 1808 before the couple bore children. She then met Alexander Scott (1769–1819) during the Richmond Theater Fire on December 26, 1811, where he saved her life. They married on July 18, 1813, and had three children together, living at Clermont in Fauquier County, Virginia. After Scott's death, Sallie moved back to Seven Islands and lived there until her death on December 10, 1856. Both she and Scott were buried there.
"Kitty" is Martha Catharina Henry (1781–1801). She was born at Leatherwood and was the third child of Henry and Dorothea. She married Eugene Hugh Henry (c.1777–1815) on July 17, 1798, and had one daughter, Dorothea Dandridge (1800–1813). She died at age 19 at Fleets Bay, Virginia on May 22, 1801.
"Aylett" is Betsey's husband, Colonel Philip Aylett. He was the eldest son of Colonel William Aylett (1742–1781).
The letter also refers to St. John's Day, held on December 27 each year. It is a feast day to celebrate John the Evangelist (born c.AD 6–9, died c.AD 100), the author of the Gospel of John, one of four canonical gospels in the New Testament of the Bible. He was one of the patron saints of the Masonic Order. In both Britain and their colonies, the Masons celebrated St. John's Day by donning Masonic regalia and holding a procession from their lodgings to the local parish church. After the sermon, they held a ball and feast with their wives and friends, often organizing evening events in their homes or local taverns.
Catherine Spotswood Fontaine Lawrence (1938–2015), a fourth great-granddaughter of Patrick Henry, donated this letter and another (98.28.1) to PHMF on December 2, 1998. She reported to PHMF President James Elson that the letters were passed down through the family from Betsey Aylett, who was her great-great-grandmother.