Henrietta Lynch writes to brother-in-law, Bishop Patrick Lynch, with news about measles spreading among the family in Cheraw. She also mentions an early blockade of Charleston which the Bishop holds "little hope of being broken." January 29, 1861. 2p.
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.
Anna Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the news that the Bishop and their brother, John, will be visiting Walterboro to see their ailing sister, Julia. February 24, 1861. 1p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning plans associated with one of the Bishop's properties, writing "I did not know whether you still intended sending the negroes over." He also writes of recent news of an accidental cannon discharge fired from "Cummins" Point that struck Fort Sumter stating, "Such carelessness or tricks might lead to serious results although it may show with what accuracy the guns can be worked." March 9, 1861. 1p.
Letter from Anna Lynch in Cheraw to Madame Antonia Lynch in Baltimore with news from the family. She writes of the losses suffered by their brother, Francis, the relocation of the Ursulines and their sister, Madame Baptiste, to the Methodist College in Columbia and the return of their nephew Conlaw to Cheraw as a "paroled prisoner." June 15, 1865. 2p.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about several recent visitors to the convent, including one woman, a mother of a boarder at the academy, who has come to retrieve her daughter. The mother, Madame Baptiste writes, has been "implicated for running off negroes to the yankees" and Madame Baptiste fears that both "may be hanged." January 15, 1864. 3p.
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.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch commenting on the disappointing donations the Bishop has received while fundraising in that "great commercial emporium of the North." Madame Baptiste also takes issue with a Tribune reporter who has written disparaging comments about the Bishop during his trip to New York. March 15, 1866. 4p.
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.
Madame Baptiste writes to Sister Mary Charles Curtin about the sister's request to join the Ursuline Convent. Madame Baptiste informs her that the rules of the Ursuline Order make it difficult to accept someone who has already "professed" in another order writing that "a secular fresh from the world is preferred.....as it is more difficult to eradicate preconceived ideas of right, than to implant true ones for the first time." She also cautions the sister about the difficulty of moving from an active and worldly community to a contemplative and cloistered one. September 15, 1863. 3p.
Letter from Henrietta Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from Cheraw. Henrietta writes of sewing the Bishop some summer "drawers and under shirts" and mentions that "the people of Cheraw find fault with all the Charlestonians because they say they cannot find anything to eat." August 15, 1862. 2p.
Francis Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch offering to buy several slave "families" from him to work some newly acquired land. December 15, 1862. 1p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning a series of financial transactions he needs assistance with. In one instance he hopes to secure a shipment of leather before the 15th "when duties will be levied on imports." March 9, 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.
Short letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch requesting his presence in Cheraw and mentioning a recent order of shoes from "Col. Hatch." May 5, 1861. 1p.
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.
Letter from John Lynch to Louisa (?) concerning family news. John writes that he is tired of hearing so little news about the war and he hopes "to see the war ended without a general battle." He also wonders what congress in Washington is doing and expresses hope that they "act with a spirit of wisdom and justice, different from that of Lincoln and his advisers." July 16, 1861. 4p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch responding to his inquiry of boarding room in Cheraw for those wishing to flee Charleston. He also touches on his shoe business, mentioning paying patent rights on a tanning process, the use of fennel, salt peter and salt in the tanning process and the delivery of 1000 pairs of shoes to the Confederacy. November 16, 1861. 4p.
John Lynch writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch about the deteriorating condition of a house on one of the Bishop's plantations and that it is too dangerous for the overseer, Mr. Buff, to continue to live there. August 16, 1861. 2p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch detailing the death of a local man and the unfortunate consequences surrounding an orphan the man and his wife were taking care of. October 16, 1863. 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 the continued progress being made on the new convent and school in Tuscaloosa. October 16, 1866. 8p.
Letter from Anna Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch informing him that another woman, a Baltimore native visiting Charleston, would like to accompany the Bishop when he travels north. September 16, 1866. 2p.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch asking the Bishop to direct the bearer of his letter, Mr. Casey, to the British Consul in Charleston. Mr. Casey, an employee of Francis, seeks the protection of the Consul because, as Francis writes, he "seems to have no love for fighting, as a common labourer I have no right to apply for his exemption." December 16, 1862. 1p.
Hugh Lynch writes again to Bishop Patrick Lynch about his desire to get a position on General Beauregard's staff claiming that such an assignment would not only keep him out of the field but also help him in business after the war. September 16, 1862. 1p.
Long letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch keeping him apprised of the news from the Ursuline Convent and Academy. Madame Baptiste asks the Bishop to help them procure more lay sisters "small in person - healthy and between 18 and 21" and choir sisters aged "18 to 30". She also discusses plans with the Bishop to open a day school in Columbia but doesn't know if they will be able to secure a building before the start of the school year. 12p.
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.
Letter from Francis Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning the success of his shoe business. Francis writes that he already has orders for 2000 pairs of Brogans. June 28, 1861. 1p.
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.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch describing how the sisters are embroidering a flag for the "Kirkwood Rangers" of Camden. August 24, 1861. 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.
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.
Madame Baptiste writes to Bishop Patrick Lynch in Rome about the ongoing recovery effort after the war and the destruction of the Ursuline Convent. She is soliciting funds to rebuild and has written Washington with their case demanding reparations. The Ursulines have accepted the offer of General Preston to reside in his house while he is abroad and are using the Methodist College for additional space. July 17, 1865. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch with news from the Ursuline Convent and a proposition to house the Sisters of Mercy from Charleston if they should come to Columbia to nurse the sick soldiers hospitalized there. October 17, 1861. 4p.
Letter from Madame Baptiste to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning news at the Ursuline Convent and Academy, including a humorous anecdote of one of the local priests running through the convent to get altar breads. December 17, 1863. 2p.
Letter from John Lynch to Bishop Patrick Lynch concerning an incident with some slaves at the Bishop's plantation. John writes that the overseer, Mr. Buff, after "strapping" a young boy for idleness, was attacked with a hoe by the boy's mother. John wants word on what to do with the woman saying "if this goes unpunished and the woman remains, it will be the ruining of all the young negroes," and suggests selling the whole family. March 17, 1862. 3p.
Robert Lynch writes to his uncle, Bishop Patrick Lynch, of his success in learning the tanning trade during his employment in Rennes, France. He hopes to return to America when the Bishop does "for seven years have now passed since I saw [my parents]." April 17, 1865. 4p.
