Two family group photographs of Susan Milliken Barker, widow of Dr. Christopher FitzSimons, with her seven children; with a valentine verse to Dr. FitzSimons and a slip referencing Gen. Wade Hampton

Upper photograph (mounted at top-left)

A sepia studio group: a woman seated centre-right surrounded by seven children of varying ages, with one little girl seated on a stool at her knee. Caption in ink directly beneath the photograph:

Susan Milliken Barker — widow of Dr. Christopher Fitz Simons and her seven children. (Left to right) Theodore Stoney — Sam’l Gaillard — Gaillard Stoney — Christopher — Ellen Milliken — Mrs. Fitz Simons — William Huger — and Seaman Sinkler.

Lower photograph (mounted at bottom-left)

A later sepia group portrait of seven adults — four men standing in a back row, three men seated in front, a woman seated at centre. Caption in ink above the photograph identifies three of the figures:

Theodore Stoney F.S. — Ellen Milliken F.S. — William Huger F.S.

Initials in ink beneath the photograph (left to right, beneath the four seated/front-row figures):

G.S.F.S. C.F.S. S.G.F S.S.F.S.

A fainter pencil line below the initials expands them:

Gaillard Stoney FitzSimons — Christopher F.S. — Sam’l Gaillard F.S. — Seaman Sinkler [F.S.]

Right-hand pencil verse (in the compiler’s hand)

“Wanted by Dr. FitzSimons a wife. To be a delight and a plague of his life. But this lucky woman is just in his mind — You may search very far and yet never find. First — and foremost — from far famed St. John’s she must be — A Gaillard or Porcher with a long pedigree — Dressed neat as a Quaker — tight fitting and trim For a belle without [illegible] [illegible] never suit him — Could preside at a table in a [Causerie?] way — And she must be lively with plenty to say — Devout and sincere — but not such a saint To make her religion on him a restraint — Can perfection be found? Give the Dr. a sign — And he surely will take her for his Valentine.” (A Valentine sent to Grandfather and dictated to me by Allie — A.A.W.)

[A comic valentine ode about Dr. Christopher FitzSimons looking for a wife. Dictated to the compiler (“A.A.W.” = Amy A. Walker) by “Allie” [?], and originally sent as a valentine to “Grandfather” — i.e. Dr. Christopher FitzSimons. Light pencil throughout; two words in line 8 are genuinely illegible and one further word (“Causerie”) is the best French-loanword guess for the writer’s hand.]

Mounted slip (right side, lower)

A tribute to the memory of Dr. Christopher Fitz Simons and copy of a message from Gen’l. Wade Hampton.