Elke Hall wrote: > > Rick, I believe that the 'old man' was John Lybrook. He died in December > 1837,on 26 Dec 1837, the Giles Co. court ordered his estate appraised and it > was probably sold in January. The way I read the letter, it seems the > Lybrooks did not like Joseph Atkins. Apparently Betsy and Sally lived in > their father's house for a while, he must have been hard to get along with > (when he went drinking with Col. Snidow?). (They lived a dreadful life > before and after his death). Joseph Atkins asked Betsy to marry him, she > got all her wedding garments ready and then he changed his mind. > After the sale of John Lybrook's estate, Sally moved in with her brother and > Betsy moved to her sister Evalina, who was married to Josiah Lumpkins. > Joseph Atkins visited Betsy there and they were married at her sister and > brother-in-law's house. The Atkins' had a big party, but the Lybrooks were > not invited. > > Do you have more info on Betsy and Joseph Atkins? Elke I kind of concluded that "the old man" must be John Lybrook - thanks for confirming that. 1) Do you think that "Betsey" is Elizabeth? All the pieces seem to fit together, but I'm hesitant to make that assumption. 2) I'm curious as to the meaning of "spent considerable time dressing Betsey". Could that mean that Betsey had a fondness for clothing and her father, John (or someone else), gave her a lot of money for clothing? Thanks again, Rick Hunter