Laurens - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Elizabeth Peyre LAURENS - 1850s VA

AnneLieberman36 — 2009-11-12 15:27:59Z

Just saw this auction and thought someone on this list might have an interest.

http://www.cowanauctions.com/upcoming_dates_view_item.asp?It...

Lot # 52

ANTEBELLUM LOVE LETTERS BETWEEN A VIRGINIA PLANTATION OWNER AND A YOUNG WIDOW

Littleton Waller Tazewell Wickam and Elizabeth Peyre Laurens Love letters, 1853-1854; 27 letters. Letters 20-24 are unique in terms of postal history.

Tazewell, Peyre, Laurens, Ashby, Litteton: the names alone evoke plantation culture in the antebellum south. This collection of 27 letters comes from a courting couple in antebellum Virginia who between them sported all those names (and more!). Born in 1821 into privilege and enormous social connection, Littleton W.T. Wickham was the son of the distinguished Constitutional lawyer John Wickham and was named for one of his father's closest friends, L.W. Tazewell (who had represented Virginia in the Congress and Senate and as governor). A graduate of the University of Virginia, Wickham built a successful legal practice in New Orleans, but after the death of his first wife, Eliza, in 1850, the spent more and more time in the Old Dominion, eventually returning to live there shortly before the Civil War.

Wickham's business affairs demanded regular travel between Virginia, New Orleans, and Charleston, placing him in an odd situation when he began courting the widow Elizabeth Peyre (Ashby) Laurens in 1853. This collection includes nearly twenty letters written by the couple during their extended courtship in 1853-1854. Written in increasingly intimate style, at times joking, at times deeply longing, the letters offer wonderful insight into the rituals of courtship among two experienced courtiers. Whether joking about sending slipper through the mail -- a sign of intimacy, no doubt -- or musing about their separation, both Wickham and Laurens maintain a delicate balance between decorum and desire.

In a typical letter, Elizabeth chides Littleton for saying that she might actually prefer a letter to his visit in person: "No indeed," she writes, "but next to seeing you what could give me as much pleasure as having from you. To see before me, traced by your own hands those words so precious to woman's heart, I love you, coming from the one most dear to her. And when I feel that you are away, and I am lonely, I turn again to your letter, and my heart is cheered by the pleasure it brings. So do not deem it a foolish fancy of mine, which is not to be indulged...." [Elizabeth to Littleton, September 29, 1854]

Two weeks later, she rues the fact that without Littleton around, she has little interest in going out and socializing: "I have neither the inclination or energy to walk without you. I do go sometimes when I know that I require it, but not for pleasure. Now that you are away I would rather sit in my own room, thinking of you Darling until again I fancy myself sitting near you with your arms around me, and again, I hear the quick beating of your precious heart. And although I know alas that it is but a delusion of fancy, it is not sweeter to me than to commune with you in spirit, than to sit in the presence of others." [Elizabeth, Oct. 17, 1854]

Littleton's letters are equally passionate and he fulfills his end of the courtship in grand Victorian (and Southern) fashion: "My dear Lizzie you asked me if in your absence I should miss you. Miss you? I could enjoy nothing without you. The glorious views in the passage of the Blue Ridge were insipid because you were not their to participate in the pleasure, and this moment just arrived from my journey, my first thought is to talk to you and tell how I miss, how I love, how I long for you...."

The collection includes a small number of letters in addition to those between Wickham and Laurens. Among these is a series of five letters regarding the sale of the Richmond estate of Wickham's mother, Elizabeth Selden McClurg. In addition to a long account of bottling up and distributing the wine in the cellar of the estate, the most interesting letter is one from Wickham's oldest (half-)brother from Hanover Court House, May 1854, noting that the estate had netted nearly $56,000 at sale -- $11,000 higher than the highest estimate. In discussing the dispersal of the estate, William Wickham writes revealing about another class of profitable property: "The servants I have mostly disposed of on reasonable terms, according to their own choice, & I was glad to be able to do so. Tom I have told to look for a situation among respectable persons, & that I should require no pay for his services. His good conduct & his attention to his old master entitle him to this indulgence. Shall he be in want, from age or infirmity, he must be provided for. I would have done the same for Mary, but of her own accord she got a man named Robert to buy her for $200. I thought it best to let her decide for herself. She has probably purchased herself in his name."

One note in the collection summarizes Civil War service in the 20th Battalion Virginia Artillery, their surrender under R. S. Ewell at Sailers Creek, and six weeks imprisonment at Point Lookout; and the collection also includes a partial essay on the passing of the Old South and birth of the New South, written after about 1898. Both of these items are worn, with the latter separated into six pieces and incomplete.

A superb collection revealing the intimate practice of courtship among the plantation elite of Virginia. Well written, cultured, and insightful, the letters are in fine condition with comparatively little wear, except as noted. Most letters are folded sheets with stamps and postal markings or include the envelopes.

(EST $800-$1000)

John Laurens, c.1754 ~ 1782

BasketLady420 — 2004-10-01 01:13:17Z

Laurens, John. c.1754-1782. Continental officer (Lt. Col.), b. South Carolina.
Aide-de-camp to George Washington; fought at Brandywine, Germantown, Monmouth, Yorktown; represented the Americans in the surrender negotiations at Yorktown, 17 October 1781; killed at Combahee Ferry, C.C., 27 August 1782; son of Henry Laurens.

I am not related to this person, I am just passing on this information, which comes from a book titled "People & Events of the American Revolution" by Dupuy/Hammerman. R.R. Bowker Company, 1974. pg.357.
Joyce

Henry Laurens, 1724 ~ 1792

BasketLady420 — 2004-09-30 23:51:42Z

Laurens, Henry. 1724-1792. American statesman, merchant, planter, diplomat, b. Charleston, S.C.
Delegate to the Continental Congress, 1777; captured by the British off the coast of Newfoundland while going to Holland on a diplomatic mission, 3 September 1780; commissioner at the negotiations for peace in Paris, 1783; father of John Laurens.

I am not related to this person, I am just passing on this information, which comes from a book titled "People & Events of the American Revolution" by Dupuy/Hammerman. R.R. Bowker Company, 1974. pg.357.
Joyce

Surnames > Laurens >changes to >Laurence & Lawrence

Aldo10 — 2003-12-24 20:38:46Z

A suggestion to many researchers, the Laurens surname was diffused in Jersey, Channel Islands and spread into early New England. Searchers into Laurence and Lawrence surname with a French and / or Norman origin ought to look into the older spelling Laurens.

Surnames > Laurens, Soundex value = L652.

Aldo10 — 2003-12-24 20:38:46Z

Laurens Soundex value = M652.

Great-Grandmother Sarah-Ellen Laurens

tlm2003 — 2003-04-14 20:57:46Z

Looking for information of Sarah Ellen Laurens born 6-18-1888.
Married to John Hopkins had at least one son named John Arthur Hopkins born march 1912. With possibly 2 other sons named Hoyt and Jewel. John Arthur married Mamie Neal who was born in 1922. They had Children Barbara, Betty Ann, Wayne, Herbert, and Nancy Hopkins. Need help to complete family tree on Great Grandparents, and before, and Indian ancestry.

Laurens, France >SC >LA

triciacarol1 — 2003-03-11 05:20:22Z

Carol, I am tracking backwards to Joseph
Lawrence b 1816, 17 or 19 of New Orleans.
I understand Laurens from La Rochelle, France
and Laurent from La Rochelle, France, came to
Purrysburg, SC and Fort Toulouse, Mobile, AL
(some via Switzerland due to religion). Do you
have information that could help me connect HIM
back to THEM? Any help would be appreciated.

Augustus Laurens

2003-03-11 05:17:25Z

Have you tried SC? I believe there was an Augustus there. The Laurens family was very prominent in SC.Think I have seen the name Augustus mentioned. The SC Historical Soc. has quite a bit on the Laurens family in their collection. Try them.

Laurens, Florida

2003-03-11 05:15:57Z

Robert, unfortunately, the Laurens I am trying to trace immigrated to Florida from France. Wish you luck in your search. Carol

Laurens, Ireland

rgleonard1936 — 2003-03-11 05:15:10Z

I also am looking for immigration info on the Laurens from Ireland. My gggm lived in Warren, MA. somewhere in the period around 1870. I have a birth certificate putting her in Warren, and giving birth to a son Thomas James Higins. She was married to a James Higgins, also from Ireland and living in Warren. Any help to you? Robert

Laurens immigration to U.S.

2003-03-11 05:14:16Z

Looking for info on Peter and Frances Laurens who immigrated to U.S. mid 1800's with son's Augustus and Julias. New spelling of name LAURANCE or LAWRENCE

Edisto Island, SC

2003-03-11 05:13:12Z

Any info on SC planters by the surname of Lawrence/Laurens who live in the lowcountry, specifically, Edisto Island? Thanks

Mrs. B. Fitch Laurens, Norwich, Chenango Co, New York c1870

KOstrander0417 — 2003-03-11 05:12:19Z

I have a photo taken in Norwich NY aprox 1870 of the above named lady
Any relatives?

Judith Laurens

2003-02-16 23:23:21Z

I am looking for the parents and family of Judith Laurens. She married Peter S. Mouzon of the Santee Parish area of Charlestown Dist. SC. Judith Peter had children

I am also trying to locate the name of her daughter Judith's 2nd husband. Her first husband was Issac Lesesne who died during the Revolution. She had 2 children, names unknown from her first marriage. Her second husband was ? Audibert. Have found no other info on this younger Judith or her second marriage? Where did they go? Have not found them in census records.

Melissa Lauren from Alabama

Karlene1 — 2003-02-16 23:21:21Z

We are looking for my husbands Grandmother who was born in Alabama. She married Jesse Sullivan and had a girl Katherine Elizabeth born Dec.14 1885 in Alabama. this is all we know about her except she died about 1892, maybe in AR.

Scan the photo to you

KOstrander0417 — 2001-06-26 21:39:33Z

Hi,

Altho I have no infor on the lady, I will gladly
scan a copy of the photo to you if you send me your email address.
Thanks
Kathy
theostranders@cybertours.com

photo

2001-03-24 14:27:26Z

Did not receive the photo of Mrs. Fitch Laurens. Please resubmit.

Thank you

Francis Frank Laurens

2000-12-31 19:34:15Z

Looking for info. on my ggf, Frank Laurens born in New York State 6/29/1838, married Harriet Catherine Goodson Morehead in 1846. He had one son, Hugh, born 10/31/1884, my gf.
He disappeared in Claytonville Community, Tx in 1926. Frank is buried in Anderson County, Tx. I need a connection Texas/New York. This is not a common name, I'm sure there's a connection. Thank you for your help.