Patsy Bresly

Julia Gardiner Tyler’s free Black servant, Celia Johnson, wrote about Patsy Bresly in 1864 when she returned to Sherwood Forest during the Civil War. Celia had accompanied Julia to New York, but probably returned to Charles City to be with her family. Celia reported the state of things at Sherwood Forest to Julia:

“I arrived at home on Monday the 14th last and hasten to reply according to request. I found all well at home and they were delighted to see me. I have just returned from Sherwood and have carefully looked over the house and find that everything has been destroyed,—one or two tables I think are whole—they are the ends of dining tables. Burwell’s wife says she has saved two carpets for you. Burwell says you must come on as soon as you can, as he is very anxious to see you, and says you must tell Miss Julia to bring his wife a dress. Aunt Patsy Bresly desires me to ask you to bring her two pairs of shoes at $24 a pair 5’s & 6’s and one pair low quarter shoes No. 7 and they will pay you when you arrive.” [1]

Julia Gardiner Tyler scholar, Rebecca Lallier, believes that Patsy Bresly was probably “part of the network of exchange the Gardiners [and Tylers] always had.” [2] It is unclear from Celia Johnson’s letter whether Patsy was enslaved or free.

[1] Celia Johnson to Julia Gardiner Tyler, 16 Nov. 1864, Transcripts of Tyler Family Papers, Sherwood Forest Plantation Foundation, Charles City County, Virginia.

[2] Rebecca Lallier to Frances Tyler, email message, 21 Apr. 2021.