These letters detail the continued health struggles that Bushrod and Nancy Washington dealt with, especially in the latter years of their life. Bushrod rode circuit to New Jersey and Pennsylvania multiple times a year in service of his appellate duties as a Supreme Court Justice. Such journeys, traveled even during the colder months, strained both of their health. These correspondences afford insight into how people grappled with health concerns in the Early Republic era, including the enjoyment of hot springs which were reputed for their soothing, healing qualities.
- Recipient:
I had the pleasure of receiving your letter from Baltimore my dearest Uncle some days ago, and should have written again, immediately on receiving it but waited in the hope of being able to say… Continue Reading From Jane Charlotte Blackburn Washington, 25 May 1828
Our Anxiety is in a great measure releived by the receipt of your kind considerate letter my dear Uncle, to Judy; I trust what was so welcome to us, did not cost you too much exertion, or solici… Continue Reading From Jane Charlotte Blackburn to BW and Julia Ann (Nancy) Blackburn Washington, 4 Feb. 1828
- AuthorRecipient:
Before I proceed to business, I must account for my long but involuntary silence.
- AuthorRecipient:
It has given me inexpressible pleasure to receive a letter from you; for the newspaper statement of your indisposition led me to fear that you were quite ill— I rejoice that you are so much recovered… Continue Reading From Joseph Story, 9 Dec. 1826
- AuthorRecipient:
Your friendship will induce you not only to pardon this protracted answer to your favor by Mr Bartram, but to regret the cause of it, when I inform you that I am Just recovering from a severe bi… Continue Reading To Richard Peters Jr., 21 July 1828
- AuthorRecipient:
Your favor of the 25th inst., recd today, induces me to do immediately what I had mentally arranged to do after my return from Trenton—answer your interesting letter of the 4th July.… Continue Reading To Joseph Story, 28 Sept. 1827
- AuthorRecipient:
It is about a week since I returned home, the session of the Phila. Court having been abridged by a severe rheumatic attack, which confined me to the house for many days prior to my departure.
- AuthorRecipient:
I was extremely sorry to learn from your last that you were again indisposed.
- Recipient:
It is long my dearest Uncle since we had the pleasure of receiving a letter from you, and while we learnt every other day thro.
- AuthorRecipient:
Altho much too unwell to attend to business of any intricacy or which requires a reference to papers, there can be little difficulty in making the necessary observations upon Mr Hammonds claim.… Continue Reading To Lawrence Lewis, 18 Jan. 1821
- AuthorRecipient:
I had heard with much concern, before your letter of the 21st instant was received, of your illness; and congratulate you on your recovery. Be careful in guarding against a relapse, by taking cold.
- AuthorRecipient:
Your letter of the 21st from Alexandria, gives me great pleasure, not only by its announcing your capacity to bear the Journey, but also your determination to apply yourself seriously to a radical re… Continue Reading From Richard Peters, 24 May 1822
- AuthorRecipient:
Very soon after the rect of your kind favor, whilst the Hack from Washington was here to take us to Trenton, & the night before the Journey was to commence, I was attacked by a bilious fever, whi… Continue Reading To Richard Peters, 27 Sept. 1820
- AuthorRecipient:
Your friendly Letter of the 29th of March I received on the 11th Instant.
- AuthorRecipient:
I wrote you some days ago describing the Situation of Mrs W. & myself, and expressing my anxiety (which I most sincerely felt & yet feel) to attend the Phila.… Continue Reading To Richard Peters, 3 Oct. 1820
- AuthorRecipient:
I recd your letter my dearest wife of the 15th many days after the date of it, and have been not a little puzzled to decide whether it would be best to address mine to you at Rippon Lodge or Mount Vernon, as you intended to… Continue Reading To Julia Ann Blackburn Washington, 24 April 1809
- AuthorRecipient:
Your letter of the 26 Septr never reached me until last monday, or I should have acknowledged the receipt of it before now— I am exceedingly obliged to you for the trouble you have taken respecting my advertisements, and esp… Continue Reading From Corbin Washington, 31 Oct. 1795
- Recipient:
I wrote you in the month of March but hearing you were then from home, I again take up my pen to inform you of my unhappy and deplorable situation which has distroyed my health (not having necessary Clothing and nourishing food I have not a s… Continue Reading From Elizabeth Blackburn Scott, 12 May 1829
- Recipient:
You will please accept Bushrods and my united thanks for your kind consideration of us; we were indeed anxious to hear how you and our dear Aunt were after your rough journey and the heavy rains… Continue Reading From Anna Maria Thomasina Blackburn Washington, 23 Aug. 1829
- AuthorRecipient:
It rejoices me to hear that you are recovering from your late serious illness.