12 April 1822. · Culpepper County Virginia:
by [Slave Document].
Folded letter sheet, 1pp., signed. Some creasing and edgewear, normal aging and toning; otherwise very good. William Ramlin Withers (c1756-1834) was a Revolutionary War soldier that enlisted as a sergeant, but would be promoted to Lieutenant. In 1782 he returned to Virginia with a leg injury that seems to have left him lame for the rest of his life. It is unclear how he was injured. The letter is to a Mr. Sawyer of Frankford, Kentucky. The address can be seen faintly on the overleaf. Withers who was in his sixties when he wrote this letter was trying to sell some land he was given in Ohio. However, because he was "old a very infirm man" he needed his slaves to take care of him. Since slaves were not allowed in Ohio, Withers was forced to sell the land, which he offered to Sawyer. He offered the land for one dollar per acre, he also indicated "I will take part payment, four or five young horses at a fair price. "Withers had a somewhat colorful life, and after serving in the military he was also a sheriff and had four children. Somehow he ended up in debt, and even had his ex-wife suing him for unpaid alimony. As far as his slaves were concerned it appears he gave two to his son, and the others were sold to pay off his debts. Information on Withers can be found on various Revolutionary war websites, and from some local records supplied by a previous owner. (Inventory #: 106451)