Patrick Henry to Martha Fontaine

Letter

-

Patrick Henry's Red Hill

Name/Title

Patrick Henry to Martha Fontaine

Entry/Object ID

77.18

Description

Part of an original letter from Patrick Henry to his daughter Martha "Patsey" Fontaine at Leatherwood. This letter mentions the affairs of the British Debts Case, and also that Martha's sister Anne Roane has lost her second son. Written from Prince Edward, January 8, 1792. It also includes a small, square, scrap of another letter placed in the upper left-hand corner.

Collection

Patrick & Dorothea Henry Collection

Transcription

Transcription

My Dear Patsey – P. Edward Jan. 8th 1792 It is very long since I have had the pleasure of seeing you – perhaps my Affairs will able me to be your Way before long, viz. Some time in March – of this I’m not as yet certain the Affair of the British Debts in the Federal c[our]t plagues me much, & will come on again some time in the Spring – perhaps in May; ___ District Courts coming on in April leaving very little Time for my own Private affairs. For an Account of all your L[ands] This Way, I refer you to Mr. Fontaine – [Annie] Roane has lost her second son, but has another ___ Aylett ___ [Reverse] ___ to. And whatever happens to be his plantation Business is important for him to ___ Some things of – Mr. Fontaine may be so good ___ him Surveying – He must ___ ___or, then Lucky- Unless you make haste your Mama will ___ a little one before you. God Bless you my dear child, & with Love to the children. I am your affte. Father P. Henry ___ may be well to ___ impress on the evil of spending [time] in idleness. He has no vice which I know of ___ I ___ & it will [Fragment] ___ having parted with ___ I am more pushed than the( ) –ble to collect money – to take my Wife’s ___ ___ £38 on yr. accot. ___ corn fell short. I’ll ___

Language

English

Dimensions

Width

11 in

Length

5-1/2 in

Provenance

Notes

This letter from Patrick Henry to his daughter "Patsy" Martha Fontaine (1755-1818) is worn and incomplete. It also includes a square piece from a completely different unidentified letter written by Henry. The letter passed down through the family of Martha Henry Fontaine to her great-grandson the Rev. Patrick Henry Fontaine (1869-1959). The paper on which the letter is written has a watermark that strongly resembles that of the Bank of England. Fontaine donated the letter to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation in 1949.