Name/Title
Sarah Syme Henry to William WinstonEntry/Object ID
01.39.1Description
One page letter from Sarah Syme Henry to her brother William "Langloo" Winston, dated February 23, 1758. Mrs. Henry writes about her trust in the Lord during difficult financial circumstances. The letter is yellowed with age. It has large stains and several holes in the body of the text and is broken along the folds. The upper left corner is missing as well as the left and center portions of the lower quarter of the letter. All the edges are ragged. It is signed "Sarah Henry" but only the last name remains.
Transcription:
February 23rd, 1758
(M)y Dear Brother,
I have been uneasy lately that we had the pleasure of a visit from you and that I did not gett an opportunity of a private chat with you both with r(espe)ct to spiritual and temporal things for (a)las I _______hen much perplexed in my mind and our circumstances are at this time very difficult which I don't doubt you hear of, and I can't but be much taken up in my mind how to do justice to my dear family and also to our creditors but I hope and trust in the Lord that he will order all things for the best and am daily endeavoring to lay hold on the many precious promises that our gracious God hath scatter'd all through this world and especially that he says all things shall work together for good to them that love him, oh that I was one of them that love the Lord with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. Then how secure should I be with respect to myself and even my children, tho' I believe that there are few in the world of my age and station that the world has fewer charms for than for me... When I look (back over) my past days I can't find one free from______ _____ guilt or disappointment. If the Lord ______ ______ _______you a visit toward the last of next month ______ _______ ______ then to have the satisfaction of a further ______ _______ _______ with you and my beloved sister. I am _______ _______ ______ sincerest regards to you both and your _______ _______ dr. brother. Yours always
Sarah HenryMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Henry, Sarah WinstonRole
WriterProvenance
Notes
This is one of only several surviving letters written by Sarah Winston Syme Henry (c.1710-1784), Patrick Henry's mother. She wrote this letter on February 23, 1758 to her brother William "Langloo" Winston. Mrs. Henry was age 48 at the time of the writing and had ten children, several of whom were grown. She writes about her reliance on God's promises during a difficult financial situation. See the attached media file for a full transcription.
The provenance of this letter is not complete. It was owned by the Patrick Henry Boy's Plantation, later Patrick Henry Family Services. It is unclear how the Plantation came by this letter but presumably a private individual donated it. The letter was at one time pasted on to a cardboard backing. Handwriting on the back suggests that it was originally owned by Mrs. A. D. Johns of Appomattox, Virginia. Supposedly Mrs. Johns gave the letter to Sallie Bowcock of the University of Virginia until she could decide what should be done with it.
In November 2001, the Patrick Henry Boy's Plantation gave the letter to the Patrick Henry Memorial Foundation on a long-term loan. The foundation had the letter conserved in March 2002. The transcription of the letter was done by an unknown person before it came to Red Hill. It contains text from the lower left section of the letter that is missing.
In January 2022, Curator Cody Youngblood contacted the Patrick Henry Boy's Plantation (now Patrick Henry Family Services) to renew the loan. Robert Day, CEO of Patrick Henry Family Services, offered to transfer the letter in full. The letter was accepted as a gift.