Early - Everett
Early family papers, 1764–1956. 437 items. Mss1Ea765b. Microfilm reels C16 and C456–458.
The papers of this prominent Lynchburg family are primarily centered on Confederate general Jubal Anderson Early. Several of the items of African American content are accounts of Samuel H. Early. In section 9 are two 1863 bills of sale, one for William (on a Richmond printed form) and one for Marshall; 1856 and 1857 state capitation tax forms; and an account with Diuguids of Lynchburg for coffins, burials, and services for slaves, 1860–1862. In section 14 is a Diuguids account (1875) for the burial of Caesar.
An 1832 letter from William Daniel to Henry Childs Ward (section 43) concerns politics. Daniel, while serving in the legislature, describes a session in which a bill for the abolition of slavery is debated, his opinion that removing free African Americans is too time consuming, and his worries that Virginia's population is divided over slavery. Correspondence of Ruth Hairston Early appears in section 21; it contains an 1896 letter from Ellen Shearer Helm, daughter of Jane Shearer, the care giver for the children in Samuel Early's family. Ellen expresses thanks for kindnesses shown her recently deceased mother.
Early family papers, 1798–1903. 239 items. Mss1Ea765a.
This collection consists primarily of the papers of Mary Virginia (Early) Brown (1823–1864), a Methodist minister’s daughter from Lynchburg, but also includes correspondence, 1817–1856, of her mother, Elizabeth Brown (Rives) Early (1805–1857), wife of Methodist Bishop John Early. A letter of Elizabeth Early to her sister Martha Binns Susanna (Rives) Childs dated 19 April 1849 discusses the merits of slave ownership and plans for the purchase of a slave with funds from their father’s estate settlement (section 6).
Edmonds, Amanda Virginia (1839–1921), papers, 1857–1960. 28 items. Mss1C3684a.
Collection consists primarily of three diaries, 1857–1867, kept by Amanda Virginia "Tee" Edmonds as a young, single woman living with her family at Belle Grove in Fauquier County. The diary in section 2 of the collection was kept from 8 June 1857 to 12 September 1862, and contains information on the sale of Edmonds family slaves and reaction to John Brown's raid on Harpers Ferry (now W. Va.) in 1859.
Edmonds, Sheppard Randolph (b. 1900), notes, 1975. 9 pp. Mss7:1Ed586:1. Typescript. Mimeographed.
Notes compiled in 1975 concerning the career of this notable African American dramatist and educator. Included are lists of his published and unpublished works, his affiliations with various colleges and professional associations, and other autobiographical notes.
Edmunds family papers, 1826–1950. 99 items. Mss1Ed596a.
Primarily the correspondence and financial and legal records of family members at Homewood, Charlotte County. Section 8 contains a commonplace book, ca. 1825, kept by Nicholas Edmunds (1776–1863) that includes a substantial number of birth and death records of slaves. The slave births recorded in the book date back to 1768, and later additions record births to 1865.
Edmundson family papers, 1781–1949. 1,402 items. Mss1Ed598a. Microfilm reels B15 and C546–549.
Much of this collection concerns Henry Edmundson (1774–1847) and the family estate of Fotheringay in Montgomery County.
Edmundson's agreement, 1841, with James Mackey of Rockbridge County concerns the hire of Mackey's slave, Bob, at $7 per month and designates necessary clothes to be charged cheaply to Mackey (section 9). A hiring agreement, 1821, of Benjamin T. Hollins for Maria Antoinette (Radford) Edmundson's slave, Peggy, also stipulates necessary clothes (section 22). Section 10 contains a number of bills of sale for slaves; in 1828 Edmundson bought Lewis, Suckey, and an infant with a value placed on the infant; in 1813 he bought a slave boy Cain; and in 1839 he sold fourteen-year-old William to Alfred Dillars. In section 19 is an 1819 receipt for Henry Carter Drew's sale of a girl, Sally, to John Preston. (In Mss1Ed598b, a related collection, is Henry Edmundson's 1814 receipt for Harry, bought from William Rogers for $300, in section 2). Section 5 includes accounts, some of which contain charges for medical services for slaves.
Also in section 19 are notes pertaining to the estate of John Preston (1764–1827), which Edmundson administered, including lists, one grouping slaves by their family units (an 1820 deed of trust to McDowell; see items a792–796). In section 67, see an 1824 deed of trust of James and Mitchel Clay to David Hall for the slave Phoebe.
Edmundson family papers, 1812–1953. 148 items. Mss1Ed598b.
This collection primarily consists of the extensive correspondence, 1812–1847, of planter, lawyer, and legislator Henry Edmundson (1774–1847) of Fotheringay, Montgomery County. Some correspondence is with Yeatman, Woods & Co. of Nashville, Tenn., concerning slaves sent by Edmundson for sale there (section 1). Accounts include a receipt from 1814 of William A. Rogers for the purchase of a slave named Harry (section 2). Correspondence, 1853–1891, of a grandson, David Edmundson, also of Fotheringay, includes communication with William Preston Peyton concerning, in part, plans to sell the slave Bill in Richmond, where they believe they will get a better price than in western Virginia (section 5).
Edrington family papers, 1766–1967. 503 items. Mss1Ed745a. Microfilm reels C274–275 and C559–560.
Primarily consists of the personal and business papers of members of this family living at Myrtle Grove, Stafford County. Several items concern the firm of Edrington & Moncure, which operated quarries in Stafford County in the 1830s. The firm employed African American workers, some apparently free and some enslaved. In section 21, an 1897 letter of Episcopal bishop Francis M. Whittle concerns Angelina Selden Edrington as a teacher of Sunday school classes for African Americans. Section 38 contains an affidavit, 1854, of William Carter concerning Sylus Grason, an African American born free in Stafford County who wished to travel through the Commonwealth of Virginia. The affidavit provides a physical description and specific destinations.
Edwards, Weldon Nathaniel, letters, 1856–1860. 4 items. Mss2Ed986b.
Weldon Edwards of Poplar Mount, Warren County, N.C., wrote in response to queries from G. A. Barksdale, of Richmond, Va. In April 1858, Edwards provided a detailed report of the congressional vote concerning the Missouri Compromise and his view that John Randolph of Roanoke was cut off by the clerk when requesting a reconsideration. In December 1860, Edwards responded to queries concerning the fate of the Union. Edwards expected South Carolina to secede within the week and the states farther south to secede shortly thereafter. His concern is that North Carolina and Virginia will have no choice but to leave the Union. His economic predictions are bleak, but he suggests hope of avoiding war if New England and its abolitionists break away and join Canada. He states that it would be detrimental to Virginia and North Carolina to try to mediate between the sections.
Eggleston, Joseph Dupuy (1867–1953), letter, 1942. 3 pp. Mss2Eg375a3. Typescript.
Letter, 14 February 1942, to Robert Elton Berry of New York concerning Berry's book Yankee Stargazer: The Life of Nathaniel Bowditch, commenting on the difference between views of slavery in New England and in the South, especially in the Federal and early national period.
Eggleston, Joseph William (1844–1927), autobiography, 1844–1923. 80 pp. Mss5:1Eg375:1.
Concerns, primarily, Eggleston's Confederate military service in the 44th Virginia Infantry Regiment and Lamkin's Battery, Nelson Light Artillery. Pages 13, 44–45 concern African American soldiers.
Eggleston family papers, 1788–1975. 37,000 items. Mss1Eg396b.
The papers of this prominent Prince Edward County family include correspondence and notes of individuals with significant connections to education and the Presbyterian church. Joseph Dupuy Eggleston (1867–1953) served as president of Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Hampden-Sydney College, and the Virginia Historical Society and was a local historian. Among his files (section 30, box 55) is a folder labled "Slavery," containing notes collected to refute the idea that slavery was a malignant institution in Virginia. There are notes of individuals whose personal convictions led them to free their slaves, some in great masses, and to buy land for them in free states. Other notes concern the Presbyterian church's views on slavery and the encouragement to slaveholders to free their slaves for colonization in Liberia. He also collected anecdotes of free states denying opportunity to freed slaves. Much of the material is typewritten, some duplicated; citations are given in most cases. In box 54, a folder labled "Negroes" and one labled "Presbyterian Churches" contain typewritten notes pertaining to Presbyterian support for colonization, formation of a colonization auxiliary society at Hampden-Sydney College, and several Presbyterian churches that owned slaves and the conditions for hiring them out in the community. These folders also contain newspaper clippings.
Section 1 consists of a series of estate papers. The folder concerning Thomas Walton's estate includes hiring out lists for 1824–1829, indicating several family units, and hat and blanket provisions. The folder for Asa Dupuy's estate, 1858, lists about seventy slaves (of which twenty-seven are dower slaves), including two bricklayers, two carpenters, three blacksmiths, one cripple, and one diseased. Ages and values are provided.
Elcan Family Papers, 1792–1921. 1,128 items. Mss1EL183a.
Concerns the Elcan family of Buckingham County. Section 2 contains scattered financial accounts kept by Lionel Elcan (1750–1833) concerning medical care and the taxation of slaves, along with an inventory of 31 slaves belonging to Elcan's estate. Section 7 contains the correspondence of Doctor Patrick Henry Elcan (1811–1841) of Buckingham County, including a note from John T. Bocock concerning slaves in Elcan's possession to be taxed. Section 8 also contains materials of Patrick Henry Elcan, including tax receipts regarding slaves, 1834, and a receipt for the purchase of Adam; a bond concerning the hiring of five slaves, 1836; an order of the Buckingham County Court concerning the sale of slaves with a list of the slaves and prices; and a deed of sale for Adam by William W. Meredith to Joseph Williams. Section 10 contains materials of Ann Elizabeth (Baldwin) Elcan of Buckingham County. Items in this series include financial accounts concerning the care and taxation of slaves for the following years: 1838, 1842, 1844, 1847, 1850–1854, 1856–1857, 1860; an 1838 list of 8 slaves given to Elcan by her father, with ages and values; an 1844 account for making a coat for Jerry; and an 1852 account of wages paid to Charles. Also included are an 1849 bond covering the hiring out of 3 slaves; and an 1843 affidavit of Samuel Baldwin, Elcans father, concerning Jerry and Isaac. Section 12 consists of materials of Marcus Cleveland Elcan, including receipts for impressment of Ben and Peter by the Confederate States War Department in 1864. Section 16 contains two accounts of Doctor Thomas C. Armstrong (for medical care of slaves) and Albert Baldwin (concerning the sale of slaves in 1842 for Samuel Baldwin). An undated list of slaves with values, and a deed, 1842, of Albert Baldwin to Samuel Baldwin for Isaac are located in section 17.
Ellegood, Jacob, will, 1801. [6] pp. Mss2EL544a1. Photocopy.
Will, probated in New Brunswick, Canada, on 7 September 1801. It concerns, in part, the bequest of land, slaves, and other personal property in Virginia.
Ellett-St. Catherine's alumnae association, papers, 1850–1970. ca. 5,000 items. Mss3El546a.
Section 12 contains correspondence, including a letter, 30 April 1957, of Josephine Charlee Knight to Natalie Friend (McFadden) Blanton in which Knight describes a freed slave, Sara Jackson, who remained with her mistress near Franklin after the Civil War and who also wrote poetry.
Epes family papers, 1802–1984. 343 items. Mss1Ep275a.
Personal and family papers of members of the Epes family of Nottoway County, the Robinson family of Amelia County, and the Worsham family of Dinwiddie County, in part concerning agricultural operations and the payment of taxes. Among the accounts of the estate of Henry Robinson is an 1837 receipt issued by Thomas P. Bland for fees involved in the recapture of a runaway slave, Tom, and an 1844 receipt recording the payment of taxes on nineteen slaves (section 5).
Episcopal Church. Diocese of Virginia, papers, 1709–1972. ca. 8,000 items. Mss3P9465a.
The collection includes correspondence, notes, and essays, 1900–1971, written or compiled by Dr. George MacLaren Brydon and George Julius Cleaveland (section 5).
Among the topics covered are the American (and Virginia) Colonization Society, benefit of clergy, the Freedman's Commission of the Protestant Episcopal Church (including lengthy extracts from reports of the Commission on Home Missions to Colored People and other sources, 1873–1877, concerning educational activities among Virginia's African American population), and Liberia (primarily consisting of typescript copies of letters, 1834–1861, of former slaves in Liberia to John Hartwell Cocke of Bremo, Fluvanna County).
Epperson, John, account book, 1801–1802. 424–515, [16] pp. Mss5:3Ep733:1.
Kept as a merchants daybook in Buckingham County, probably at Planterstown, presumably by Epperson as a member of the firm of Epperson & Scott. Includes accounts concerning the sale and hiring out of slaves (pp. 501 and 513).
Eppes family papers, 1722–1948. 540 items. Mss1Ep734d. Microfilm reels C244–251.
The Eppes family owned several large plantations south of Richmond. Among them were Appomattox Manor at City Point (now Hopewell), Bermuda Hundred in Chesterfield County, and Eppes Island in Charles City County.
Dr. Richard Eppes (1824–1896) kept detailed diaries and closely monitored the routines of his plantations. The result is a series of diaries (items d289–308) that record a wealth of information on daily plantation life from 1851 to 1896, including minutely detailed accounts of monthly pay for farm laborers after the Civil War. Eppes recorded the condition of the slave quarters (item d289, 1 October 1851; item d291, page 63), commentary on punishments (item d291, 2 January 1853), and a number of inventories. Many of the slaves had surnames (many of the birth lists record names of both parents), received cash gifts at Christmas, and were lectured on New Year's Day on the rules and regulations of the plantation (texts are in section 69; a summary of the previous year's discipline problems, general conduct expectations, possible increase in rations, and announcement of holidays). Eppes carefully recorded weekly rations of meat, molasses, meal, and herring (figured at the beginning of each year), and these lists also designate occupation, because some specialized workers received additional rations. Skilled slaves had tools distributed to them each year, and these are also recorded. Item d296 (pages 318–323) lists those slaves who left the plantation between May and August of 1862 to join the Union forces. (Benjamin Cocke recorded information on his slaves' shoe sizes, item d129, an 1834 list.)
Additional lists are in Eppes's student notebook (section 67), an inventory of slaves at Bermuda Hundred and Eppes Island (names and birth year), and the last pages of an account book (section 61, item d343), ca. 1851–1868, which also includes numerous transactions of hiring, Christmas presents, cost of rations, and postbellum laborers' pay.
In section 82 is a list, ca. 1819, of slaves belonging to Margaret B. Cocke, containing names only of fifteen slaves, as well as an 1821 will of Patty Cocke leaving her clothes to the person who tends her in her illness and everything else to her master. In section 91, a letter of Mrs. Solomon Mopford, a slave in Aiken, S.C., tells her mother that James Lewis, their son and brother, has been sold into Florida.
Eppes family papers, 1806–1932. 389 items. Mss1Ep734a. Microfilm reels C242–243.
Papers related to the family above. Section 10 contains a brief note to Dr. Richard Eppes that ten slaves attempted escape by boat near Jamestown Island. A woman and child were seized, but the rest eluded capture. The note is not dated. (Also, Mss12:1864 May 5:1 contains a document labeled "List of private property, slaves, . . . taken at City Point." In spite of its description, the list contains no slaves, just clothes, furniture, medicine, equipment stores, livestock, and feed.)
Evans, James H., papers, 1856–1865. 6 items. Mss2Ev156b.
Include an incomplete petition, 1865, filed in Prince Edward County for compensation for the loss of the slave Elijah, a farm hand, impressed by the Confederate States Army, who died of disease in 1862 while assigned to working on fortifications near Richmond.
Everett, Edward (1794–1865), letter, 1835. 1 p. Mss2Ev265a1.
While serving Massachusetts in Congress, Everett wrote from Washington, D.C., 27 February 1835, on slavery in the District of Columbia and the influence of Maryland and Virginia on the district's slavery issue. Everett expects public opinion is such that slavery will soon be abolished in those areas.
Updated September 29, 2006