Letter from Isabelle T. Porter (Mrs. Harold L. Porter) of Salisbury, Maryland, to G. E. Valley Jr.: she has no record of Rebecca Ringgold Cummins; her mother was Matilda Cox ("Maude") Ringgold of the Ringgold (now Hynson-Ringgold) House in Chestertown. With her handwritten descent from Gideon and Julia Dick Pearce (its last two generations, living, are left out of the transcription).

[Notebook p. 77. Typed letter from Isabelle T. Porter (Mrs. Harold L. Porter) of Salisbury, Md., to GEV, pasted in. GEV's note: "rec'd 21 Aug 86". Address label left out.] 19, August, 1986

Dear Dr. Valley,

I must apologize for my delay in answering your letter. I had a severe case of the flu at the end of the winter, and it was a long, drawn out affair.

I have taken some time to do research on the Ringgold family. In the records I have, there is no mention of your great grandmother Rebecca Ringgold Cummins. Unfortunately, I have no records of the Cummins family so I cannot find out what happened to the John H. Cummins family after the Civil War.

My mother was Matilda Cox Ringgold. She was called Maude. She was born and reared in the Ringgold House (now the Hynson-Ringgold House) in Chestertown. My children and I have many pieces of furniture from that house. My mother married John M. Toulson.

My great grandmother was Matilda Cox Ringgold who married James Alfred Pearce, a U.S. senator, who was the son of Gideon and Julia Dick Pearce. Their daughter, Mary Clementine Pearce, married Josiah Ringgold.

I am sorry that I have not been able to shed any light on the Cummins family, but please let me know if I can be of further assistance. I find few people today who are interested in family history that it was a pleasure to have your letter.

I have not talked to Robin Cockey recently. He was elected to the City Council.

Sincerely yours, [signed] Isabelle Porter Isabelle T. Porter [GEV:] over

[Notebook p. 78. A handwritten descent chart on tan paper from Isabelle Porter, pasted in sideways, with GEV's faint note beside it. The chart's last two generations (her children and grandchildren) are left out of this transcription.] Gideon and Julia Dick Pearce ↓ James Alfred Pearce m. Matilda Cox Ringgold ↓ Mary Clementine Pearce m. Josiah Ringgold ↓ Matilda Cox Ringgold m. John Toulson ↓ Isabelle Toulson m. Harold Porter ↓ [two further generations] [GEV's faint note:] Josiah Ringgold - not of the Chestertown branch? Think