> "Dear" and "My Dear" are used whether we are writing our mother,
> or the dishwasher repairman.  And  "Yours truly" and particularly
> "Sincerely" likewise, in a letter, imply a heck of a lot more
> intimacy than I have with most people.  I am about as far from
> anybody's "obedient servant" as one can get but did this phrase
> in 19thC Virginia serve much as "Yours truly" and "Sincerely" do today?

Cousin Randy,

Yes, indeed the phrase "obedient servant" was very common in 18th & 19th
century correspondence. My research, as you know, requires that I read
countless
Revolutionary War letters. Most all of them end in this manner. I have also
seen
the phrase "Your most humble and obedient servant" used frequently.

These phrases usually come after the words "as I remain" in the last
paragraph.
This is how I write most of my letters today, and I recall that Governor
Allen
signed his letters in a similar fashion.

I look forward to seeing you at VMI next week, as I remain,

Your Servant,

W. Scott Breckinridge Smith
Lynchburg

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