Louisa Blain writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about Lent and news from Cheraw. Henrietta Lynch adds a postscript about a recurring issue with the slaves the Bishop has asked her husband, Francis, to find a home for. Henrietta writes that they are "city negroes" and would be "unwilling to plow... nor to eat corn bread as they do here." April 2, 1862. 3p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent and Academy and mentions a "narrow escape" the Bishop had travelling to Richmond. May 26, 1862. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news of the Ursuline Academy and Convent, including a lengthy recounting of a "Miss Jones" who is being coveted by both the Ursulines in Columbia and another religious order. October 23, 1862. 8p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bp Patrick Lynch with updates on the Bishop's plantations and news of a large contract for shoes that their brother, Francis, has been awarded by the "central association." To help fulfill the contract Francis has "purchased a negro boy (shoemaker) 16 years old for thirteen hundred dollars." November 20, 1862. 2p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the status of some rental properties and the arrangements being made to receive "Col. Northrop's negroes" from the Bishop. March 4, 1862. 1p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch describing a visit from Bishop McGill of Richmond. She also muses on the plans for the convent should the "northerners" make it to Columbia and mentions being told by a guest "that the citizens will destroy the town on the approach of the enemy." March 2, 1862. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about finances at the school and convent and wonders if "the state of the country" will alter their usual schedule. She also expresses concern for their brother Hugh, encamped with fellow soldiers on the coast, writing, "it takes some of the comfort out of the fire and bed, when I think of his exposure." January 23, 1862. 4p.
Letter from Henrietta Lynch to brother-in-law, Bishop Patrick Lynch, concerning the slaves of Col. Northrop that the Bishop has asked her husband, Francis, to find a place for. She begs the Bishop to make other arrangements for the slaves saying that her husband is already too busy and "hard on himself" and she fears he will end up taking the slaves and caring for them. She also writes of sending the Bishop some rye with instructions on how to dilute one's coffee with it. Apparently writing without her husband's knowledge, she asks the Bishop to destroy the letter. March 8, 1862. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch complaining of the high price of provisions for the Ursuline Convent and Academy. January 7, 1862. 2p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about his ongoing efforts to find a place for Col. Northrop's slaves per the Bishop's request. April 21, 1862. 1p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the sale of slaves on the Bishop's plantation. John writes that he has yet to tell the slave Emmett that he has sold him and his family to a Mr. Mullin and hopes "him willing to go quietly, as I understand he refuses to be hired quietly." January 22, 1862. 1p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch regarding her attempt to send a letter to Father Hubert, a Catholic Confederate chaplain, to ask him to preside over their annual retreat. July 28, 1862. 1p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch wishing him a happy Christmas season and informing him of news at the Ursuline Convent. December 21, 1863. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the conduct of "low, vulgar" soldiers who visited the convent and is sorry to hear that "deserters claim your attention, excepting for their souls' sake." She also writes the Bishop for advice on three controversial applicants for noviciate. One "has been by no means pious" and "read infidel works" and a second was born illegitimate. The third has had in the past "criminal intercourse" but has never had a child, though Madame Baptiste concedes, "she deserves no credit for that." March 6, 1863. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste writes about obtaining provisions for the winter and her continuing trouble with one of the sisters. October 5, 1863. 6p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news from Columbia. John mentions collecting money for the "Charleston orphans", the death of a slave boy on one of the Bishop's plantations and rumors that their brother Francis may have to go into the service. August 19, 1863. 3p.
Letter from Madame Antonia to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from her convent at Mt. Carmel in Maryland. Madame Antonia informs the Bishop that due to the departure of their prioress to start a new order in St. Louis, she has been elected the new Mother Superior of the convent. November 6, 1863. 1p.
Robert Lynch in Combree, France, writes a heartfelt letter to his parents informing them he is no longer interested in becoming a priest. November 6, 1863. 4p.
Louisa Blain writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about missing her "beloved" Charleston and prays the Bishop will not remain there should the "yankees take it." August 24, 1863. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch detailing her fears of an imminent attack on Charleston. She writes that if the Bishop "should get even a scratch" she would be at his side but later admits that "I respect too much our rule of cloister to think of going without necessity." February 19, 1863. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch recounting Easter news at the Ursuline Convent and Academy. She also writes of recent successes against the Union navy claiming, "the iron-clads are far from proving either invulnerable or even very advantageous." April 9, 1863. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him to obtain the permission of "Col. Northrop" to purchase flour from Richmond. March 7, 1863. 2p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the cheerful news of a Union ironclad recently sunk in Charleston and requests the Bishop to ask "Prof. Hume" to help him test the tanning properties of pyroligneous acid. April 9, 1863. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bp Patrick Lynch informing him that a Mrs. Cohen would like to see him regarding an issue with her husband, a recently paroled prisoner of war. Madame Baptiste also boasts of the continued numbers of boarders being welcomed to the school but notes that one of the parents believe "our school will stand a poor chance when peace is proclaimed." January 2, 1863. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about her concerns over the war. She has heard that the British Consul in Charleston intends to leave and fears it is in anticipation of a Union attack. She recounts the story of a Catholic saint who, in a time of war, was able to summon a storm of gnats to disrupt the horses of the enemy and asks the Bishop, "can you not do something like that for Charleston?" She also asks the Bishop about investments, fearing that the Confederate currency might one day be worthless. February 5, 1863. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch with updates on the number of boarders at the academy and relates how one potential boarder from Georgetown has been denied passage by the Yankees. January 26, 1863. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning news about the Bishop's properties. John writes that the Lexington plantation continues to be a financial burden and hints at turmoil at the Bishop's Lancaster farm. Several slaves have been brought to Columbia from Lancaster and John suggests to the Bishop to sell them for a profit stating that "I saw some sold here today at pretty good prices." February 2, 1863. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him to procure civilian passes to Charleston for two friends of the convent that Madame Baptiste feels indebted to. One lady wishes to visit her husband who, Madame Baptiste says, "got permission from Gen Beauregard to send us two tierces of rice, when he refused to do the same for any one else." September 23, 1863. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. She muses on the anniversary of her vows and begs the Bishop to tell her all about President Davis' visit to Charleston. She writes about obtaining a new cow for the convent "having disposed of one that was no account." November 8, 1863. 4p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from Cheraw. Francis writes that he has finished constructing a house for some of the Bishop's slaves containing "two rooms, with dbl chimney in the middle" that he hopes will be sufficient. He also writes about his recent conscription, claiming the enrolling officer does not consider Francis to be a tanner which would have exempted him from service. August 24, 1863. 1p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the Bishop's slave Daniel. The Confederate Army has been after the Bishop's overseer, Mr. Buff, to send Daniel to help on coastal defenses, but since Daniel is the "only road hand on the farm", he refuses. John asks the Bishop what course of action they should take since Daniel has been ordered to be at the depot in a few days. He also mentions the good news of the "repulse from Fort Sumter" during the late siege of the harbor commenting, "there must have been Irishmen in it." September 9, 1863. 3p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about plans to obtain winter provisions, the burgeoning number of boarders including many Protestants and the renovation of a house on the grounds to accommodate some lay sisters. September 9, 1863. 4p.
Letter (in French) from Robert Lynch in Combree, France, to Bishop Patrick Lynch. In a letter of the same date, Robert had informed his parents he was no longer interested in entering the priesthood. November 6, 1863. 4p.
