Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy, including a lengthy description of her troubled relationship with one of the sisters at the convent. September 8, 1861. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about preparations for the upcoming school year at the Ursuline Academy. She also mentions how the Sisters of Charity in Emmitsburg, Maryland, attempting to help nurse Confederates afflicted with typhoid fever in Virginia, "were refused a passage by Lincoln's men." August 27, 1861. 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.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent and Academy. She mentions that the Bishop's slave, Isaac, who has been working at the Convent, has asked that his children be moved to Mr. Kitt's place, recently acquired by the Bishop, so that he could see them more easily. February 14, 1863. 4p.
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.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch describing an applicant for an overseer position at one of the Bishop's plantations. John appears to like the man and his qualifications but fears "he might not take a sufficient control over the negroes, if it became necessary to use harsh means." August 27, 1861. 2p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning his shoe business. Francis asks the Bishop to collect payment from Colonel Hatch, Quartermaster General, and deposit it in his account in Charleston to cover another note. The Bank of South Carolina has refused Francis' offer to use Confederate bonds to cover the note. September 19, 1861. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a tax collector seeking payment from the Convent. John is unsure of the Convent's tax liability and asks the Bishop for assistance. He hopes the Bishop can travel to Columbia from Charleston soon to attend to the matter but writes, "I fear from the stopping of the telegraph today that the war has commenced." April 12, 1861. 2p.
Letter from Madame Antonia to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking him, while he is in Europe, to speak to the General Superior of her order on the proper procedures concerning a mentally ill nun who has been taken from the convent by her mother. June 10, 1864. 6p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about affairs at the Bishop's plantation. He also writes about a "private baptism" he gave to a child he feared would die of measles unbaptised. January 18, 1862. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about an agreement with book publisher Kelly, Hedian and Piet concerning the printing plates for the Ursuline Manual. September 21, 1860. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news of the family and Ursuline Convent and comments that "Columbia is crowded" but that "the political excitement seems to cast us quite in the shade." November 13, 1860. 4p.
Letter form John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the ill health of their sister Julia in Walterboro. John describes the order of treatment for Julia he would undertake but acknowledges that "he is prescribing without knowing exactly the state of the case." October 14, 1860. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch repeating the news concerning the deterioration of the house on one of the Bishop's properties. August 24, 1861. 2p.
Letter from Robert Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning employment Robert has found with a tanner in Rennes, France. Robert has heard of the fall of Columbia in the war and fears his parents are "in the hands of the yankees." March 14, 1865. 3p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch detailing the passage of a new tax act and his subsequent appeal to the tax board over the amount he is responsible for. March 21, 1864. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning finances and provisions for the Bishop's plantations. Since Christmas nears, John asks the Bishop to send $400 more than is necessary to settle their account so he can "give the negroes something, and I think a little money will suit them better, and be cheaper just now, than anything else." He also writes of a load of "Nassau cloth" the Bishop had purchased that was ruined in transport but, despite its odor, should be kept to "clothe the negroes." December 15, 1863. 3p.
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.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a delay in weighing a load of cotton. The payment for the cotton would help Francis cover a recent draft made on the Bishop's account. January 10, 1863. 1p.
Madame Antonia writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Rome imploring him again to speak to the general superior of her order concerning issues at the Carmelite Convent in Baltimore. She mentions the evacuation of Richmond, General Sherman's stay in their hometown of Cheraw and the Ursulines' move from their burned out convent in Columbia to the Bishop's plantation two miles away. April 9, 1865. 8p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch that a load of corn and peas purchased for the one of the Bishop's plantations is at the depot awaiting a car and suggests to the Bishop that it be turned over to the local quartermaster as payment for taxes if the car should not arrive by tomorrow. He also writes of an offer for $400 to hire out one of the Bishop's slaves. January 21, 1864. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent and academy. She again mentions the property that may be available for building a new convent but is warned by her brother, John, that its location may cause the order to lose its day pupils. The Ursulines' current location is not tenable because of the proximity of "gross shops" and "beer houses" and they are frequently disturbed by "profane language" and "midnight carousals." June 21, 1859. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline convent and academy including the purchase of books for their library and her desire to rent a piano for several months. May 16, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch discussing a new candidate for the Ursuline sisterhood. According to Madame Baptiste, the 58 year old woman has changed her opinion "respecting widows and old ladies becoming nuns." July 8, 1866. 4p.
Short letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the ongoing effort to solicit funds for a new convent including writing a letter to General Sherman to "recommend our cause at Washington." May 20, 1866. 2p.
Letter from Madame Antonia in Baltimore to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of the availability of a priest for his diocese should the Bishop require one. February 26, 1866. 2p.
Letter from Mary Lynch Spann to her brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, informing him of news of her family in Washington County, Texas. September 24, 1858. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news at the Ursuline Convent in Columbia, including the potential recruitment of two lay sisters to help in housekeeping so the convent doesn't "have to pay servant's hire." She also mentions stocking up on stores and that she has ordered two tons of coal, "two thirds anthracite and one third bituminous", from Charleston. October 26, 1858. 4p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him that he has received the will (Bernard's?) and requests a copy of a letter he had previously forwarded. April 25, 1859. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him of preparations being made at the American Hotel in order to make it habitable for the opening of the academy. September 2, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning news at the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste is worried about the number of teachers she has compared to other academies claiming she is "the best English and Music teacher but am exhausted and unfit for other duties." September 1, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch touching on a variety of topics. She writes of acquiring a piano and "Erhard" harp for the community and muses at length at why there have been no attempts at peace with "Napoleon (III) mediating now." She mentions inoculating the children at the academy for smallpox and describes an awful barrel of flour the Bishop had sent to Columbia. She tells of the horrible condition of the "negroes" in Lancaster writing, "I never have patience with the yankees, except when I think of the abolition of slavery." January 28, 1863. 8p.
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 in answer to his query about boarding some of the Sisters of Mercy. At first she thinks it is a godsend to receive well trained individuals in the convent but soon realizes that they are probably "disaffected, fastidious members" and writes that "in my opinion no Religious should travel for her health." October 7, 1859. 4p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about ongoing renovations at the Ursuline Convent and his discussions with various contractors. He relates that the current night watchman wants to quit after half a month because of "(having) nothing to do, and lonesomeness" and John wants to hire in his place a Patrick Brennan, though he fears Mr. Brennan "might take in his pocket a companion." October 14, 1859. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch about court costs associated with an unspecified suit and the lack of cleanliness of the recently purchased American Hotel which John had been given possession of by the sheriff. September 1, 1859. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch discussing the Ursuline sisters' opinions on purchasing the American Hotel for their new convent versus buying another place or building from scratch. July 29, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste also requests some supplies she is unable to get in Columbia, including a specific cod liver oil (Burnett's Warranted Pure Cod Liver Oil) preferred by one of the sisters. November 23, 1859. 4p.
Letter from Madame Antonia in Baltimore to brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, asking him to say three masses for her in honor of St. Joseph. February 20, 1861. 2p.
Second letter from Anna Lynch in Cheraw to brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, in Charleston, concerning the recent illness of their mother. May 23, 1858. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to son Robert Lynch in Bermuda. John expresses surprise that his son is in Bermuda especially since his brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch, has recently arrived in Bermuda himself. Enclosed also is a note to Bishop Patrick Lynch in which John discusses Robert's decision to not enter the priesthood. June 6, 1864. 4p.
Madame Antonia writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Rome asking him to contact the general superior of the Order of the Carmelites concerning matters at her convent in Baltimore. February 21, 1865. 2p.
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.
Anna Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Europe with news about home and the war. She informs the Bishop that the blockade runner "Minnie", which he traveled on from Wilmington to Bermuda, had been captured on its return trip. June 18, 1864. 4p.
Letter from Robert Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking his advice concerning an offer of employment in Le Havre, France. Robert hopes to learn the tanning trade in Europe so that he can find gainful employment when he returns to America when the war ends. February 2, 1865. 2p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch announcing the birth of his son, James. He also mentions the movements of Confederate Generals Beauregard and Hood and the capture of Atlanta by General Sherman. In a postscript he offers the Bishop access to 100 pounds sterling while travelling in Europe. October 14, 1864. 2p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch discussing the seizure of the blockade runner "Minnie", the shipment of cotton bales to Nassau, and his hope that an ailing Pope Pius IX remains alive long enough to see the Bishop who is on his way to Rome. June 15, 1864. 2p.
Hugh Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the illness that has sent him home to Cheraw from Charleston and news of their brother, Francis, who has gone to see the governor of North Carolina concerning an embargo that has prevented him from getting supplies from his business yard there. November 24, 1862. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch about news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste writes about new boarders and students and a conversation she had with a young lady who wished to convert to Catholicism who, she later found out, was rumored to be "disreputable." November 17, 1861. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. She writes at length about a troubled sister that she does not want in the Convent, suggesting instead that they pay her board at the local asylum. October 25, 1861. 4p.
Letter from Mary Lynch Spann in Washington County, Texas, to her brother, Bishop Patrick Lynch. Mary Lynch Spann sends news of her family and comments on the news that the Bishop may visit them in the spring. March 6, 1860. 4p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about renting out one of the buildings previously used by the Ursulines prior to their move to the American Hotel. January 2, 1860. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a bill for new carpet and how $30 dollars mysteriously appeared to pay for it. December 16, 1859. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch renewing her request for advice concerning selling the copyright to the "Ursuline Manual" and asks the Bishop about two potential boarders at the school and convent. March 10, 1860. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. She writes that the Bishop's former slave, Daniel, is in a "half-starved condition" and has been visiting the convent for handouts. She mentions that she has read about former Union prisoners who praised Bishop Lynch for his kindness during the war and writes of her fears of a cholera epidemic that "will no doubt decimate the whole country this summer." April 29, 1866. 8p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch describing springtime at Valle Crucis. She writes that the sisters have created a "month of May altar" and have decorated it with a small statue saved from the convent on the night of the Columbia fire. May 16, 1866. 4p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about recent inquiries concerning the burning of Columbia and their convent during the war and asks the Bishop for permission to publish their account of the events. April 6, 1866. 4p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch detailing his plans for the season's crops. Francis informs the Bishop he is planting 650 acres in cotton and corn and writes of his plan to mix crushed bones with sulfuric acid to create his own fertilizer. May 20, 1866. 2p.
Copy of a letter sent by Madame Baptiste to Senator Manning petitioning the U.S. congress for $150,000 to rebuild their destroyed convent and academy. April 9, 1866. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste writes that several parents have sent remittances for the school year but she fears "few will be able to return if the war continues." July 6, 1861. 4p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about purchasing mules and a wagon for the Bishop's property and discusses the planting of crops. June 8, 1861. 3p.
Second letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch on this date. John describes a flag the Ursulines have made for the Emmett Guards writing, "it is the common infantry size, on one side blue, with Palmetto tree, with an Irish Harpleaning against the trunk..." He has heard the guard may be disbanding and, if so, asks the Bishop to offer it for sale to "some of your Irish Companies." He informs the Bishop that the telegraph is working again and they are being deluged with news about the attack on Fort Sumter. April 12, 1861. 3p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning preparations being made on one of the Bishop's properties. John writes that "your negroes have not yet arrived" and fears the lack of field hands and a shortage of corn may impact the season's crop. May 24, 1861. 2p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick about forming a partnership with a Mr. Murphy to expand his shoe business believing it "highly important to push the production of shoes now." May 3, 1861. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the upcoming school year at the Academy. She writes about the number of boarders, teachers, reference books, finances and provisions. She also comments on the "blockade paper" her letter is written on and mentions a deserter that the Bishop had attended to prior to his execution. August 29, 1862. 8p.
Letter from Madame Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste reports that the "Charleston refugees" do not like Rev. O'Connell, and suggests if the Bishop wanted to make a change in the priest assignments in Columbia now is the time "to break up this nest of (blank)." September 10, 1862. 4p.
