Letter from E. P. FitzSimons (Elizabeth Porcher FitzSimons née Stoney) to her daughter-in-law Susan — closing, with thanks for raising the grandchildren and travel plans
Book 1, Page 42
Transcription
A handwritten letter in brown ink on a single page, closely written. A two-line pencilled annotation at the lower right, in another hand, identifies the writer and recipient.
this state of things will not last much longer but that my property will become available & enable me to assist you ever should it only be a trifle. Having dear little Ellen with me has been a real comfort & pleasure. She is rather feeble [Sister Niece] I do not think what I say now is flattery (for I am not given to such things) but I think she is one of the most docile obedient children I ever had to do with — everything I have told her to do she has obeyed instantly & cheerfully. She is a dear little creature how often I have thought how happy her dear Papa would be if he could have been spared to see her gentle quiet manner. I must say I felt much uneasiness about this child of Jeanie’s, [thinking] you would have indulged her too much, but I see she is well manageable & allow me to say you have my approbation for the manner in which you are training my dear little ones. The boys are uncommonly good children, may they all be spared to you & reward your devotion to them with much respect & attention. — I regret much to leave Ellen but Aunt Hetty has twice written to ask me to make her a visit & I am anxious to do so. Gaillard says it will suit them better to fetch me tomorrow, so I have decided to go I will return on Thursday. Julien says you must not be uneasy about Ellen, she will take Good care of her until I return, she plays nicely with the children & is a great pet with them. I asked her today if she would be satisfied to stay with Julia Yeamans, she instantly replied Oh Yes, she says she likes to be there with us, but she wants to see Mama & the boys as you requested. I will send her to Mulberry on Friday. Gaillard will drive her there. — I think I will go to Back River next Saturday for a few days & return here. I have not decided yet when I will go to Charleston, but I think about the 1st or 12th of next Month. I wish to stay in C[harleston] about 10 days then return to Georgetown. — I regret much not being in Town last week, I do say it is a great privation to be without the Church Services. I have been regretting it all day. — I’m sorry to hear Eugenia is not going to Barnwell, she & the children both require a change. Do give my love to her, I will write her in a few days. — With much for the boys & yourself, I remain your Affec[tionat]t. Mother
E. P. FitzSimons
A pencilled annotation in the lower right, in a later hand:
[Pencilled annotation]: Elizabeth Porcher F. S. née Sto[ney] &
my grandmother Susan Barker F. S.
AI Notes
A handwritten letter in brown ink on a single sheet, the conclusion of a letter signed ‘E. P. FitzSimons.’ The writer is Elizabeth Porcher FitzSimons (née Stoney) (1806-1873), wife of Christopher FitzSimons (2nd) and mother of Dr. Christopher FitzSimons (3rd). She writes to her daughter-in-law Susan Milliken Barker FitzSimons about little Ellen (her granddaughter — likely Ellen Milliken FitzSimons, b. 1862), Aunt Hetty’s invitation, a planned trip to Charleston via Back River and Mulberry, and her sorrow at missing Church Services. At the foot in pencil a later hand identifies the principals: ‘Elizabeth Porcher F.S. née Stoney & / my grandmother Susan Barker F.S.’
Elizabeth Porcher FitzSimons (née Stoney, 1806–1873) writes here as a forty-year widow — her husband Christopher (2nd) died in 1832 (page 020). The “dear Papa” she wishes could see little Ellen is her son Dr. Christopher FitzSimons (3rd), who had died in May 1866 — making the recipient Susan a widow at 38 with seven small children to raise alone. The “little Ellen” she dotes on is Ellen Milliken FitzSimons (b. 1862, then ~4), the future long-serving directress of the Charleston Library Society.