Hollywood in St. Mary's County, Maryland — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Visitors and Correspondents
"I have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th instant which announced to us the disagreeable intelligence of Mrs. Plater's death. Mrs. Washington and myself sincerely condole you, your Lady, and the other friends of Mrs. Plater, upon this melancholy event."
Thus did George Washington express his regret to William Fitzhugh, stepfather of Elizabeth Rousby Plater, on her death in 1789. Washington was a friend of Elizabeth and George Plater III; letters between Plater and Wash-ington bear evidence of a congenial relationship.
Letters from the 18th and early 19th centuries are scarce. Literacy was far from universal and writing tools were expensive. Correspondence was exchanged mostly among upper classes. Many letter writers believed very personal letters should be destroyed after reading. What has been preserved tends to be of a formal or official nature. But even these tell us a great deal about relationships, power, and history.
In the same letter to Fitzhugh expressing condolences, Washington also told him that he had not followed Fitzhugh's recommendation on an appointment to a district court judgeship for Maryland. In a letter to George Plater III earlier that year, Washington politely deflected Plater's nominations for office, too:
"I have entered into Public life without the restraint of blood or friendship; I shall, therefore, use my best endeavors to find out such persons as are most suitable, on every account, to fill the respective offices, and such only shall I nominate."
But Washington also regarded Plater as an important political partner, writing Plater asking him to act favorably on a matter being brought before Maryland's General Assembly by a Washington relative and pressing him to support efforts to increase inland navigation. To the latter, Plater had replied:
"Since I had the Honor of visiting you I have been revolving in my Head the Subject of our Conversation respecting the opening the Potowmack, Advancing the Trade of the back & new settled Countries this these middle States & the more I consider it, the more I am impressed with the Utility & Advantages resulting therefromSo much so, that I am determined to press the Measure in our Assembly, which will soon meet "
Good manners also obliged persons of means to offer hospitality to friends and acquaintances, making their travels more comfortable and providing entertainment to pass the time on visits and journeys. Sotterley's owners were generous hosts, not only to their many distinguished guests, but to family and friends, as illustrated by this letter from Rebecca Tasker Dulany, dated Thursday, June 4, 1764. Rebecca is writing to her sisters, Molly, Peggy and Kitty, about visiting George and Elizabeth Plater.
"We all set off to Colonel Plater's in Col. Tayloe's vessel and got there to tea. After tea the young ladies played on the guitar and sung for us, and then we took a long walk in the garden, and after that, we had the guitar again." The next day, Rebecca writes, "We all rid together in Col. Plater's chariot and four. There's for you, my girls! When will any of you have such an honor?"
Elizabeth Plater to Gouverneur Morris - Feb. 25, 1782 (M)
"My good Mr. Morris's friendly letter was sent me two days ago by [Dr.] [Molahan] with some Poems which are very beautiful, and let me pray you to accept my thanks for them. I am very happy to find you are so much recovered from your dreadful fall as to be about again, but those nervous head aches which you must have produced from too close attention to business, you know how to remedy it, indeed were you to suffer as much as I do with them you would quit business and fly to any thing that would give relief. Take care of your health, be well ans happy. It would be my pleasure to see you here with Mrs. Lloyd, you on only have it in your power and why will you not make your friends so happy. There is nothing at [illegible] as you suppose that can bring to my remembrance any times that can make me happy, those pleasures we had at the dear little [Cmdxxx] will never be forgotten by me. I shall always remember them, Mrs. Lloyd I hear is paid great attenton to in Philadelphia. I am glad of it, I suppose she has left it before this. The purse I promised has given me such uneasiness not because I was unmindful of my promise, but because I could not complete it for want of gold thread. I will try again to get it. Let me beg of you to take care of yourself and always believe me."
Yours,
Eliza Plater
Correspondence depended on innkeepers, private mail services, trusted associates and friends, plus the government postal service, to carry mail for them. Sheriff's constables often delivered mail from high-ranking officials.
Erected by Maryland
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical date for this entry is June 4, 1764.
Location. 38° 22.569′ N, 76° 32.535′ W. Marker is in Hollywood, Maryland, in St. Mary's County. It can be reached from Sotterley Lane north of Sotterley Wharf Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 44300 Sotterley Ln, Hollywood MD 20636, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southern Maryland. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, in the Mid-Atlantic, in the Tidewater, and in the Chesapeake Bay Region. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once one of the original Thirteen Colonies and also the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Mabel Satterlee Ingalls (a few steps from this marker); Remembering Ancestors at the Sotterley Plantation
Credits. This page was last revised on April 19, 2026. It was originally submitted on April 19, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 19, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
