suppose my anxiety to hear from you is every day in-
creasing, & will continue to do so until you or some
friend [if your health will not permit you] writes me.

I am now preparing with all possible expedition
some freight here to be sent immediately to Europe, &
shall in a few days return to Maryland to transact some
business there; & as soon as I can put it in a condition
to go on with out my immediate attendance, I shall
hasten to you-it is difficult to determine what length
of time all this may require, but imagine it will not
exceed eight or ten weeks-In the meantime as I
earnestly wish you to be happy let me entreat you to
endeavor at being so with the hope that this is the last
of the many disagreeable separations that were ap-
pointed us to suffer. Remember my Love to our chil-

dren, & respectful Compliments to all friends-with
esteem & tenderest Affection

P. S. since writing the above I met Mr Davan who told
me, with the greatest expressions of pleasure, that he
had just received a Letter from Jemmy who was in
England at Bristol; & that he supposed a remittance
of fifty guineas would fetch him to America in the
course of a few months-I imagine he might be a very
worthy man if cured of a certain kind of Levity [with
Oaths] which, from the Father's account, seems hitherto,
to have been rather predominant in his Character-I

Mrs. Bancroft made a transient visit in the city of New York to her uncle's family; they having been so recently opposed to the Doctor, an introduction was not thought advisable; no unkind feeling was evinced, and a pleasing reconciliation was anticipated.

Philadelphia was their residence, while the State of Pennsylvania was carefully traveled over, and in his tour the Doctor was accompanied by a gentleman from each section of this state.

By invitation of Daniel Heath, Esq., they were nearly two months guests at his hospitable mansion in Wilmington, Del. In the meantime Mr. and Miss Vining made a visit to Mr. Heath's family, and as Dr. D. B.'s pursuits were a theme of conversation, Mr. V. became interested, and advised the Doctor, before he decided on a permanent situation, to visit Delaware. [During the war the Doctor, by reason of his connection with the army, passed through the whole South, with the exception of Delaware.]

He acquiesced, and accompanied Mr. Vining to Wilmington. These two gentlemen soon rode over the state, and his months of laborious research and

wanderings were here crowned with success. Thus we disclose the connecting

link in our chain of narrative.

In 1786 or 1787, Dr. Daniel Bancroft occupied the house on Quaker Hill, afterwards owned by Benjamin Ferris, and engaged in the exportation of the bark. His mind was too much absorbed in scientific works to bend to business, for which he had no tact. He was easily imposed on; plausible and flattering promises drew from him large sums of money, in advance, for bark, which proved a failure—not having had proper inspection, his shipments were made and condemned in England. Such remissness had to be accounted for on this side of the Atlantic, and proved a heavy loss. On the other side great profits flowed in streams to benefit the importation there.

Two daughters have been alluded to. One other was born in Wilmington. The eldest was a handsome brunette, of an elegant figure, dignified, self-possessed, and seemed fitted to encounter adverse events-and many were mingled in her cup. She married young, in the year 1795, and went to Virginia, accompanied by her sister, who, though smaller, was very fair and handsome.

The elder son of Dr. Edward Bancroft, of London, was on a visit to his uncle, and was one of the bridal party. John Vaughan, Esq.,† of Philadelphia, was his father's agent, and gave a dinner party on the evening of March 7, 1796, previous to his expected departure for Europe. He and his uncle, Dr. Bancroft, were guests, and the latter sat down to table apparently in perfect health, but ere its viands were carved, he fell in an apoplectic fit, and when he was raised from the floor his pulse had ceased to beat, and the lamp of life to burn. The following letters was sent to Mrs. Bancroft by Mr. Vaughan:

Dear Madam.

"Philadel. March 8, 1796:

Your nephew Mr. S. Bancroft will communicate to you the unfortunate event that has taken place at my house-it is an event which will require the fullest exertion of that fortitude and resignation of which you have hitherto shown so much in your past life. No measure of respect to our departed friend will be neglected. Mr. Whitehead and myself will endeavor to act as we concieve you would have wished had you been here. As soon as we concieved him in any way seriously indisposed we sent for Dr. Way, who as well as your nephew were in the house at the moment of his dissolution and if any consolation could be admitted at the present moment it would be derived from the reflection that in his last moments he was surrounded by his friends.

Yours sincerely
John Vaughan"

* Miss Montgomery.

For an account of John Vaughan, Esq., see Anna Maria Stout, article Marguerite Valleau, p. 71. Dr. Bancroft was buried in Philadelphia. Mrs. Bancroft took out Letters of Administration on her husband's estate, June 10, 1796.

§ This, and the succeeding letter were contributed by Mr. J. M. Bancroft.

The nephew referred to in the above letter was Samuel Forester Bancroft, who writes his aunt the following:

My dear aunt,

"Phil. Nov. 19, 1796.

I arrived here after having travelled the whole Extent of country from Sandusky on Lake Erie through Presque Isle [now Erie, Pa.], Buffalo Creek, the Genesee Country to Bethlehem where we hired a carriage to this place. I found two letters from my father and one from my brother who has been for the past seven months in the West Indies where he has had the good fortune to please the Commander-in-Chief beyond the other Army Physicians who he has in consequence superceded in the direction of the General Hospital as well as obtained the rank of Lieut-Col. with half pay to amount to £780. per annum. My father commands me to proceed immediately to the West Indies, where some appointment of consequence is doubtless in readiness for me. I wish much to see you as well as Eliza and Harriet, nor do I feel unconcerned about Mary Ann whom I should wish to place at Bethlehem or any other place of Education making my father responsible through the medium of Mr. Vaughn for all her expenses there. Adieu and believe me as ever dear Aunt with sincere affection and respect

Your Nephew

Samuel Bancroft."

During the winter of the Doctor's decease, Mrs. Bancroft boarded in Philadelphia. Her youngest daughter had then entered her eighth year, and was a sprightly and sensible child. A few of her witty remarks are fresh in memory.

The lady of the house had no children, and was too exacting of others. On taking leave and affectionately admonishing this one, she said "Mary, you are a sensible, and a very pretty little girl, but you have not won my affection, nor do I believe you will win the love of others, as you have so independent a spirit, and seem to care so little for the world or anything in it." On listening attentively to Mrs. D. C.'s advice, she replied, "Very true, Madam. I have read in the book mamma says was written for our instruction and guide in life, that we are not to care for this world, nor the things thereof."

On the anniversary of her ninth year, she observed, "I never saw the sun arise in such splendor as this morning. It awoke me, and shone so bright and cheering on my birthday, that I felt it to be a reproof for my disobedience, and resolved never willfully to offend any one. Then I can shine too, and cheer all around me, by being dutiful and good. And, my dear mamma, I will strive to be prepared to be your companion and friend, as my sisters were."

Being an inmate of our family for months, her good intentions were adhered to. At times she had been disagreeably wild and rude. From this day she became an exceedingly interesting and amiable little girl.

In the autumn of 1797, during the prevalence of the yellow fever in Philadelphia, the younger son of Dr. Edward Bancroft, of London, who was SurgeonGeneral to his Brittanic Majesty's forces in the West Indies, was making a tour through the United States, and visited his aunt in Wilmington, and in compliance with his father's request, invited Mrs. Bancroft and her daughters to accompany him to London, and make it their permanent abode. Her married daughter was too strong a tie to sever, and this advantageous offer was declined. However, she accompanied him to Boston, and visited their relatives.

Having long contemplated a visit to her daughter, she set off in the autumn of 1798 to Virginia, uncertain of her future destiny. Her youngest daughter then past ten years of age was her companion.

In the spring of 1800, Miss Bancroft, a beautiful girl in her seventeenth year, her second daughter, was riding with a bridal party in Virginia, and alighted with them at a gentleman's mansion, where refreshments were offered. Twelve persons partook freely of preserved plums with impunity. Miss B. grew sick and was taken home. A physician was called in, and the next day it was announced to her mother that she was poisoned. Inquiry was made as to what she had eaten. The plums were examined, and having been preserved in a copper kettle affected her stomach, previously diseased. Her sufferings were agonizing for three weeks, when she expired. She was in the bloom of youth and loveliness, and her mother's friend and companion. Of all her trials none bore so heavy or bowed Mrs. Bancroft so low, for no tears came to her relief. Her beloved Harriet Carolina was no

more.

When a few more years had gone, her youngest daughter married; from early life she had walked in religion's ways, and was an exemplary and consistent Christian, with whom her mother spent her latter years in peace and happiness; though a permanent home in the South was not in accordance with Mrs. Bancroft's wishes. But it was her fate.

Mrs. Bancroft being inimical to slavery, was conscious of prejudice. Yet she was just-and averred, that in a long sojourn in the midst of it, neither cruelty nor ill-treatment beset her way, more than was exhibited towards others in a like station in free states, where much more labor was exacted, and in general where the blacks were less cared for by the employer.

As Virginia was her future abode, this class of the human family claimed her unwearied attentions, and there was ample scope to labor for their welfare and moral improvement. In 1808, in a visit to her friends here, many interesting incidents were recounted of her efforts to do them good, and though not often successful, she continued to persevere.

Her son-in-law, Mr. Turpin, owned a plantation, with four hundred slaves, distant four miles from his residence; many of these were too old to labor, and numbers too young. Such swarms to be fed and clothed, consumed the annual crop, the failure of which incurred a heavy debt. Yet master said "old family servants could not be disposed of, while there was land to sustain them."

Mrs. Bancroft's medical knowledge was important, and her services in constant requisition, unless domestic duties had higher claims or inclement weather proved a hindrance. Every morning she rode around this farm, visited each quarter, and gave a word in season, not passing the laborer in the field.

She playfully said, in striving to impart instruction to the most ignorant of the race, she was daily learning something new. Even from the field she re

turned wiser; there she learned how to plant cotton, to raise tobacco, and to grow corn. At the quarters she learned to spin, to weave, and to make hoe cake. Yea, more, to eat a piece with a slip of bacon after her morning ride, ere returning to a late dinner. From the slaves she acquired all this useful information.

In summer time it was her delight to walk into the cornfield on Monday morning, and meet the cheerful black faces with clean white cotton garments, mingling among the green stalks two feet high or more, and to be so pleasantly greeted by the slaves, calling to each other "Our lady has come. Oh, missee look so well." In the woods on horseback, or rambling on foot in their midst, she was a stranger to fear.

A very fatal fever prevailed among the slaves in this region, one season, and many fell victims on neighboring plantations-only three of her patients died of the epidemic.

In the year 1820 the Turpin family removed to Kentucky, and in 1824 Mrs. Bancroft left Virginia, and made her future home with them. Their residence, Beech Park, six miles from Warsaw, Gallatin County, is still standing. After this removal Mrs. Bancroft continued to devote her life to works of mercy among the slaves, and extended her good offices to the poorer white neighbors often furnishing medicine as well as advice,—and it was on one of these errands that she received the fall from her horse that resulted in her death, being then eighty-one years of age. This sad event occurred in October, 1840. Mrs. Bancroft was buried in the Turpin family cemetery on their place.

Children of Mary Magdalene Valleau and Daniel Bancroft

I. Elizabeth Maria Bancroft

Born, Burlington, N. J., January 25, 1779; died April 14, 1849. Married first, James Dunlap Ross, of Virginia, October 29, 1795.* He born September, 1773; died September 6, 1800. Two children: Anna Maria Virginia, born May 25, 1797, died soon; James David, born December 5, 1799, died December 25, 1799. Married second, W. F. Barrett, lawyer, of Kentucky. No children.

2. Harriet Carolina Bancroft

Born at or near Charleston, S. C., October 18, 1783; died in Virginia, April 5, 1800; unmarried.

3. Edward Augustus Bancroft

Born April 30, 1785; died August 8, 1786.

4. Mary Ann Bancroft

Born, Wilmington, Del., July 12, 1788; married Horatio Harris Turpin,†

* Marriage recorded at Old Swedes (Trinity) Church, Wilmington, Del.

†The Turpins in France:

Turpin, Tour-du-Pin, The Pine Tower, or Castle.

Turpin, Equerry, Lord of Bellaumay, of Normandy, jurisdiction of Argentan.

Arms: de gueules à la fasce d'or accompagnée de trois pommes de pin du même, la pointe en bas. Turpin de Crissé: this name known from the time of Charlemagne, belongs to one of the most ancient Houses of the Kingdom, established in Anjou, in the Thirteenth Century, and which is as much praised in the History of France as in Savoie. We read in the former that one Turpin of the country of Dauphiny, Baron of the "Tour du Pin," was besieged in the city of this name by some Turpins of Savoie, his kinsmen, in the hope of winning him to their side; but he was faithful to his legitimate Prince, he preferred to endure all the horrors of a siege, and to lose this city of the Pine Tree Tower, which was his heritage. It is this Baron Turpin, said a Genealogical Table of the House, communicated to us, of 1768, founded upon original titles, from whom descends another Turpin, who in the time of Charlemagne, was Governor of the Province of Aste in Gascogne, served his Prince in war against the Saracens; died of his wounds, and was interred at Sainte Jean de Souriére where his tomb is. He had a brother, John Turpin, Archbishop of Reims, Chamberlain and ordinary Counsellor of Charlemagne, well known in our History. The proof that this Archbishop of Reims and his brother belonged to the House of Turpin of Crissé is