I see mention of Beaufort, So. Carolina in this old letter that I found on another mail list. I hope that it may be of interest to some. I don't know anything more about it. ========================================== A letter written by Mary Ella (Simmons) Pusey, wife of Edward Pusey, just 11 weeks prior to her death on May 1, 1884. Mrs. Du Pont is, I believe, Sophie Du Pont, a family friend. Sophia is Ella's sister, Sophia (Simmons) Porter. Sophia's husband, William T. Porter, was born in Beaufort, South Carolina. Mary Porter is perhaps Sophia's sister-in-law or mother-in-law. Julia is unknown to me but William and Sophia named a daughter Julia so perhaps it's another Porter? Isabella Grimshaw ran a girls boarding school in Philadelphia in the early part of the 19th century. Sophie is Ella's daughter, then attending Mt. Holyoke College. ============================== "Wilmington Feb. 14th/84 Dear Mrs. DuPont How sorry I am to hear that you are not feeling well, but this long continued spell of damp weather must have a bad effect upon every one, particularly those who are not very strong: please accept my warmest thanks for those lovely flowers - such a treat in Winter - they are still looking fresh & beautiful. It is so kind in you dear Mrs. Du Pont to think of us when you have so many people & so many things to occupy your thoughts - I trust that your health may be soon restored, and that it may be the will of our dear Father in Heaven to spare you many years yet to your friends. Sophia returned about three ago, she has not been at all well, took a very severe cold, & was threatened with pneumonia, she is much better now, but has not ventured out in this damp weather; the cold in Beaufort was terrible, the houses being so open & the people so unprepared for cold weather, & many of them so poor... Sophia says the water in their room froze, & she could not kep warm but sat rolled up in a shawl, hovering over the fire, they say they had not had such weather for one hundred years; Julia will remain until March, when her Aunt Mrs. Donner (Mary Porter's sister, whom no doubt you remember) expects to return with her. I have read her letter to Sophia & should think she is a very lovely and sensible woman. I saw Kittie (or Hettie?) about three weeks ago, she was looking very well, better than she has been for some time. Went to see Miss Isabella Grimshaw and found her looking very well, and seeming very bright and cheerful, she enjoys so much having her old scholars come to see her, but at times she must feel lonely and desolate, for of course the doctor is out a great deal, & many an hour she spends alone. Sophie is doing very well at school & appears to be happy & interested in her studies, in her last letter she said, - six more Sundays and I shall be at home again; they give their Spring vacation in March, she will come home about the 28th and return the 9th of April. Hoping dear Mrs. Du Pont that you may soon be better and with love I remain yours aff. Ella Pusey"