> "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 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe, please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-hist.html