Anthony Foster Letter
In this letter to David Henley, Anthony Foster reports that several days previously F. B. Sappington and Dr. May "differed and fought." Although the duel was conducted "gentlemanly" on both side, Sappington was killed. May fled to Knoxville, and Foster is now asking Henley to advance May any money that he might need. The verso contains a note indicating that the letter was to be hand delivered by May.
Dates
- 1800 March 20
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Extent
0.1 Linear Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
In this letter to David Henley, Anthony Foster reports that several days previously F. B. Sappington and Dr. May "differed and fought." Although the duel was conducted "gentlemanly" on both side, Sappington was killed. May fled to Knoxville, and Foster is now asking Henley to advance May any money that he might need. The verso contains a note indicating that the letter was to be hand delivered by May.
Biographical/Historical Note
Anthony Coleman Foster was born to Anthony Samuel and Rose Coleman Foster in April 1765 in Virginia. He was married to Eleanor Beckwith (1778-1825). Foster died in Nashville, Tennessee on April 8, 1825, and is buried in Davidson County.
Francis B. Sappington (sometimes listed as Frank Sappington) was born to Mark Brown and Rebecca Boyce Sappington in Maryland. The family moved to Nashville in 1786 where Francis eventually began practicing medicine. For reasons unknown, Francis May challenged him to a duel in early 1800. When the duel took place on March 18, May hit Sappington in the forehead, killing him.
Francis T. May was born around 1774 in Virginia to Samuel and Rosannah Boucher May. Although there is no record of May obtaining any formal medical education, he began practicing medicine in Nashville in 1790. May was forced to abandon his practice and flee to Knoxville after killing fellow physician Francis B. Sappington in a duel in 1800. Here, he married Mary McConnell White (Hugh Lawson White's sister). May returned to Nashville with his family in 1804 and later became close friends with Andrew Jackson. He eventually served as one of Jackson's personal physicians, treating him after several duels and accompanying him on military campaigns. May died in Nashville on November 26, 1817.
Arrangement
Collection consists of a single folder.
Acquisition Note
Special Collections purchased this letter in October 2000.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository