THREE LETTERS OF ESTHER ALICE MEIKLEHAM
The following three letters by Esther Alice Meikleham (1843-1927), fourth daughter of Septimia Randolph Meikleham and great granddaughter of Mr. Jefferson, are preserved in the Association's archives.
Two of these letters were to Col. Jefferson Randolph Kean, the first President of the Association and its Historian when the correspondence was written. The other letter was to his sister, Pattie Kean Morris, who was then the Secretary of the Association. They offer insight into the charming and refreshing character of Alice Meikleham as she neared her death. References to relatives show her breadth of her concern and depth of feeling for her Randolph cousins. Unfortunately, all descendants of Septimia Randolph Meikleham are now dead.
There are two other Meikleham letters to Col. Kean in the archives which were also written to Col. Kean. One of them was from Alice's nephew, Henry Parish Meikleham, whom she calls "Harry" in her letters. He was President of the Association at his death in 1937, and is buried in the Graveyard at Monticello. His letter, written in 1929, mentions "the book" which Alice refers to in her letters, and says that he is going to send it to Col. Kean. The second letter is a note from Harry's widow, Juliet, expressing her thanks for sympathy and flowers following his death. Although they were only married II years, Juliet Meikleham maintained an interest in the Association for some years after his death.
I have assumed that the name in my
files is correct, although the notice of her death in the 1927 Annual Report calls her
Alice Scott Meikleham.
Editor's note: "I," above, is Robert T. Coolidge, Historian of the
Monticello Association, who edited these letters for this report.
LETTERS FROM THE ARCHIVES -Meikleham
Letter 1
Lindale, Floyd Co. Ga.
April 23
Dear Rannie,
My book is very deficient in dates as I found that so many people objected to their ages being known, so it was only when people volunteered to give their ages that I have them. Where I have dates they agree with yours, except that I have Gov. T. M. Randolph born in 1768, Jane Randolph married Peter Jefferson in 1739, and Aunt Cornelia was born in 1799.1 She always said that she was a year older than the century. I have few dates for my generation or beyond. I wish I could give you month and day for your mother, but Aunt Jane must have had a Bible in which she wrote the date of birth of her children, and that would give the full date of Cousin Jane's birth.2 One of Aunt Jane's descendants must have the Bible, and the person most likely to know about it, would, I think, be Mary Walker.3 I hope that Pattie returns in good health.
With my love and Harry's regards,
Your affectionate cousin,
Alice Meikleham
Letter 2
Lindale, Floyd Co. Ga. Please keep this for the archives
(IRK's hand)
April 15th (1922, from internal evidence)
Dear Pattie,
I was very glad to hear from you, and much interested in the family news. I would have written you before, but I didn't feel I could write at the time your letter came. Rannie (Alice's brother) died on the 7th, after an illness that lasted since Christmas, a gradual breaking up of his system from age, he was 81. He was unconscious for several weeks at the last. It was a peaceful death, no struggle, he just ceased to breathe.l I hope that my delay in writing has not put Rannie (Pattie's brother) to inconvenience. My book says that Uncle James2 was born on January 17th, 1806, he was the eighth child and was the first child who was born in the White House. The Page book is full of errors.3 I had not heard of Jane Burke's book. What is it about? 4 I hope that nothing will interfere with your trip, it is nice to think that it is a present from your children, and that the "in-laws" love you as well as your own. Write to me when you can, it is a great pleasure to hear from you.
Your affectionate cousin,
Alice Meikleham
I must not close my letter without telling you how thoughtful Harry has been to save me every unnecessary fatigue. He had both a day and a night nurse for his uncle, so I had none of the fatigue of nursing. (Note) Please send Cousin Alice a M.A. Year Book.
Letter 3
Lindale, Floyd Co. Ga.
March 15 (1923, post-mark on envelope)
Dear Rannie,
I enjoyed the pleasant picture you drew of your visit to Cousin Randolph Coolidge. Except my precious nephews, I have now no relations as near as my first cousins. (Sic- She means "nearer than " ) Cousin Randolph and Uncle Ben's son Robert are my only first cousins who are still living. 1 My affection goes out very warmly to all of you of the generation beyond, and, among them to your near neighbors, Julian Coolidge and his farnily2 and Robert and Lettie Randolph. I am sure that Pattie is enjoying her visit to her son3, but I was sorry that she was not at home when I was in Washington last summer. I was glad to see Nely Taylor4, but it was a disappointment that Pattie was away. I am enclosing the $1 for the Association. I have been stupid in thinking of it as an Association of the younger generations. I do not think I ever remembered to tell you how much it pleases me that your wife should have the name Cornelia. We were all so fond of Aunt Cornelia that it's good to have her name in the younger generation. I think that Nely Taylor is her only namesake. It is selfish to enjoy seeing our own infirmities reproduced in the younger ones, but I cannot help being glad that you do not get on well with the telephone. I hate it, but felt quite ashamed at being the only one who does not communicate as freely by telephone as by word of mouth. I am not rude enough to tell those confident people that I do not believe they always get things quite right. I never could carry on a really satisfactory conversation with Cousin Randolph Coolidge, because of the difficulty in making him understand me.5 I had not heard of Wilson's death.6 I have not seen him since he was a child. Harry joins me in love to your wife and yourself.
Your affectionate cousin,
Alice Meikleham
Notes, Letter 1
1. Her dates are correct. " Aunt Cornelia" was Cornelia Jefferson Randolph, 1799-1871.
2. "Aunt Jane" is Mrs. Thomas Jefferson Randolph. "Cousin Jane" is her daughter, Kean's mother.
3. Mary Walker Randolph, probably the elder (1866-1957) rather than the younger (1903-).
Notes, Letter 2
1. Thomas Mann Randolph Meikleham (1840-1922) was "deformed and sickly" all his life (Collected Papers. Vol. 11, page 175).
2. James Madison Randolph, Jefferson's grandson.
3. The Page book is probably Richard Channing Moore Page, The Page Family of Virginia; they are ancestors of Thomas Mann Randolph.
4. Jane Burke is presumably the widow of Nicholas Burke, 1611, rather than their daughter (1902-1920). I cannot identify this book.
Notes, Letter 3
1. Robert Mann Randolph (193) died in 1927, J. Randolph Coolidge in 1925. Only one of Jefferson's great-grandchildren survived Alice, her second cousin, Caroline Eppes Shine (1857-1940).
2. Col. Kean was living in Cambridge, Mass. at this time. Coolidge was Professor of Mathematics at Harvard. His wife was the sister of Jane Burke, mentioned in Letter 2. His brother, Archibald Cary Coolidge, was President of the Association (1920-1925).
3. Pattie had two sons, Robert and William Morris.
4. Cornelia Jefferson Taylor ( 1849-1937) was a founding member of the Association, and Vice-President, (1913-27).
5. Coolidge was 85, and was deaf for most of his life (Collected Papers. Vol. II page 125).
6. Wilson Cary Nicholas Randolph, her first cousin (1834-1907).