26 April 1802

Thompson, William, fl. 1802

Document signed

Title: [Warrant to the Sheriff of Halifax County to hold Robin, a slave, until 1 May trial, and to summon two witnesses]

Warrant signed by Thompson, a justice of the peace, ordering the sheriff to safely keep Robin until the trial of Abram; both men are the property of William Smith. Abram is to be tried at the County Court of Halifax of Oyer and Terminer for his role in the Easter Plot. Thompson signs an additional two orders on verso; one directing the sheriff to summon Daniel Perkins as a witness on behalf of "the within named prisoner"; the other directing him to summon Samuel Hubboards as a witness for the "within named Abraham." An additional note, signed by [illegible]Edwards, deputy of W. Bennett (…

GLC06338.15

26 April 1802

Thompson, William, fl. 1802

Document signed

Title: [Warrant for the Sheriff of Halifax County to hold Abram, convicted of participating in the Easter Plot]

Thompson, a justice of the peace, orders the Halifax County jailer to receive into custody Abram, a slave belonging to William Smith, who has been convicted of "advising, consulting & conpsiring to rebel and make insurrection." Docket indicates this is a mittimus (a type of warrant).

GLC06338.16

20 August 1867

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Captain J. W. Francis

A passionate letter in which Tobias refuses to comply with General Sheridan's orders to act as a commissioner of elections. He claims that supporters of negro voting rights are violating the U.S. Constitution, which he believes supports a "white mans government." He argues that social peace either excludes suffrage for blacks or severely restricts it. He fears giving political power to Black people and that white people would become inferior. "I must respectfully decline to change all my school boy lessons & to adopt a faith which Consigns the land of Washington & Jefferson [3]…

GLC04501.099

December 2, 1865

Heyward, William H., 1817-1889

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William A. Williams

One letter from William Henry Heyward, enslaver and proprietor of Clay Hall plantation in Reconstruction-era South Carolina, to William A. Williams dated December 2, 1865. Discusses going to Charleston to receive a pardon and to attain ownership of Clay Hall by the Bureau of Freedmen, Refugees and Abandoned Lands. He would be contracting freedmen he had formerly enslaved into a labor contract for cash rather than offering them crops. He remarks: "It only remains for me to enter into contract with the Freedmen (formerly my own Negroes) for the ensuing year-- and although it is difficult to…

GLC00496.254.06

12 August 1844

Hibler, J.A., fl. 1844

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Bill of sale for Isaam]

A bill of sale for Isaam, an enslaved man purchased by Tobias Gibson from T. A. Hibler for $550.

GLC04501.042

25 September 1848

Gibson, Sarah, fl. 1848

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Gibson

A house slave has become less of a favorite and was sent down to the fields. She discusses plans to dig a ditch to provide drainage near the house.

GLC04501.058

February 13, 1854

Rowlands, Alfred, fl. 1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: [Receipt for purchase of Frank, an enslaved man]

One receipt belonging to Alfred A. Rowlands for the amount of $1,250 to purchase an enslaved man, Frank from Rowlands. Docket indicates Frank was sold as property by Tobias Gibson on behalf of his daughter, Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys.

GLC04501.073

8 December 1854

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Randall Lee Gibson

Writes about plantation business. He hopes Randall and Preston will write to him from New Orleans.

GLC04501.074

30 December 1855

Gibson, Hart, fl. 1855

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Sarah Gibson

The first letter is written by Hart Gibson. He informs his sister of his progress in school. He writes about the family and his displeasure with President elect Polk. He also reports that Miss Webster, Toby and Claude's old teacher, has been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for helping enslaved people seek refuge. Writes, "You recollect the young lady Claudy and Toby went to school to last sumer and (Miss Webster) she has been tried by the Court for carrying off negroes to the free States found guilty and sentenced to the Penitentiary for two years Some of the people tried to get the…

GLC04501.075

18 May 1857

Gibson, Alfred, fl. 1857

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Tobias Gibson

Hailstorms ruined some of the cotton crop. The cotton gin processes about 12 bales a day. Sickness on the plantation has taken the lives of five slaves, all under the age of four. Albert lost two slaves, one 17 years old and the other 20. A monument was erected at the grave site of Tobias Gibson, the first Methodist Preacher in Mississippi, who has been dead for 50 years. The citizens of Vicksburg are having a reception for Colonel Jeff Davis.

GLC04501.082

7 October 1858

Gibson, Tobias, fl. 1861-1865

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Sarah [Gibson] Humphreys

Writes that he has just arrived and that both the cash crop and the provision crops are doing well. He wishes he could bring surplus hands from Sumners Forest to Live Oak to help with the sugar grinding. He feels guilty about leaving Loula and Hart with her since she has children of her own. The letter is continued on October 8th.

GLC04501.087

May 6, 1857

Manuscript document signed

Title: Extract of a dispatch from Mr. Crawford to Lord Clarendon

A manuscript extract from a May 6, 1857 dispatch from British consul at Havana, Joseph T. Crawford, to Lord Clarendon, giving names and tonnage of five American vessels sent to Havana, presumably for the slave trade. The ships are the schooner "Abbot Devereaux," brig "R.B. Lawton," schooner "J.H. Record," barque "Clara B. Williams" and barque "Minetonka." This is followed by a one paragraph update, written in the same hand as the extract, and signed "G.G.," noting the August 1, 1857 capture of the "Abbot Devereaux," with 266 slaves on board, by the HMS "Frazer" and the September 2, 1857…

GLC05832.01

12 October 1857

Davidson, Hunter, 1827-1913

Autograph letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Lt. Davidson of the USS "Dale" reports on his official interview with Commodore Wise, commander of the H.M.S. "Vesuvius," regarding Wise's capture of the slaveship "Bremen" on October 10, 1857. Davidson interviewed Wise by order of the captain of the "Dale," William McBlair. Written on board the U.S.S. "Dale" off the West Coast of Africa. Davidson relays Wise's statement that he boarded the "Bremen" and told her captain that he knew she was a slaver flying an American flag without proper papers. The slaver's captain then threw the flag and papers overboard, stating that he would rather be…

GLC05832.02

October 19. 1857

Conover, Thomas A., 1794-1864

Manuscript letter signed

Title: to William McBlair

Directing McBlair to proceed to the Congo River area to suppress the illegal traffic in slaves and ordering him to cooperate with British naval forces already in the area. Sends "private instructions" (possibly related to GLC00722.04) on how to deal with foreign vessels. Tells McBlair "The slave trade appears to be centered chiefly at and near the mouth of the Congo River" and that he should patrol mostly around this area while searching for illegal slave trading ships. Written on board the U.S.S. "Cumberland" at St. Paul de Loando, now called Luanda, the capital of Angola. These orders…

GLC05832.03

13 November 1857

Burgess, George F., 1827-1860

Manuscript document

Title: [Statement regarding slave ship capture]

Clerical copy of a statement by British commander George F. Burgess recording the capture of the slave ship "Joseph H Record" by HMS "Antelope" on September 3, 1857. The vessel had "191 Slaves on board - and had a crew of Spaniards & Italians - or other foreigners - no papers or colours." The statement also excerpts the boarding book of the HMS "Hecate" regarding information received about the "Windward," a ship flying American colors, but with a Portugese crew. The original statement was written on board the HMS "Hecate" at Sharks Point, R. Congo. The schooner "Joseph H. Record" was…

GLC05832.04

17 April 1863

Wheeler, Lysander, 1837-1917

Autograph letter signed

Title: to his sister Martha

Writes that he would like to hire Welly (his nephew Wellington Spohn) at five cents a day to help with the harvest. Reports that rebels are camped nearby and that he is anxious toget rid of them. Discusses the feeling of brotherhood amongst the soldiers even though some regiments, such as the 79th Ohio are not necessarily liked. Writes that while commanding a post, a negro informed them that some rebels were cutting down telegraph poles. As a result, General Paine sent out six companies from the 70th Indiana and all of the mounted regimental scouts. Discusses another rebel raid in…

GLC07460.024

December 1839

Gerry, James T., 1797-1854

Autograph letter signed

Title: to Ann T. Gerry

Desires to be a captain, and believes he may soon attain the role, though the Commodore, whom he dislikes, is making matters difficult for him. Describes Havana, Key West and the local flora, discusses slave traders and their evil ways. Believes he already does much of the work of a captain, and believes he should be promoted to the roll soon, though the Commodore may prevent this. Written on board the U.S.S. "Warren."

GLC09099.05

20 September 1863

Tillotson, Edwin, fl. 1861-1898

Autograph letter signed

Title: To George Tillotson

Enclosed with GLC04558.122.01. Written by George Tillotson's sister Mary and her husband Edwin. Mary writes of her hard work and says Nelly [Nelson] was taken prisoner. Edwin's letter (beginning on p.2) complains of poor health (consumption) and answers GWT (punctuation regularized): "I can scarcely believe you serious in your accusation against abolitionists as the cause of the war. It was the slave masters who first made opinions on slavery [into] political tests, and demanded 'soundness on the [illegible]' of every man north or south who asked office at Washington. It was they who…

GLC04558.122.02

December 21, 1837

Sheperd, A. J., fl. 1837

Autograph document signed

Title: [Reciept for boarding a slave in jail]

A receipt to John Winn for payment of charges from the boarding of an enslaved person in jail for twenty one days. The enslaved person belonged to the estate of Thomas Winn.

GLC03434.30.01

1824

Manuscript document

Title: [List of slave names and values]

Lists the names and values of a number of enslaved people.

GLC03434.30.02

1815-1860

Manuscript document

Title: [List of slave names and values]

Lists the names and values of a number of enslaved people.

GLC03434.30.03

14 July 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes march from White House in great detail: foraging, washing clothes, giving away blanket to contraband, and more marching.

GLC04558.105

4 October 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Received pile of mail, including a letter from Edwin and Mary [abolitionist relations] which "didn't set very well on my stomach." Health of other soldiers; comments that Charleston probably will not fall right away. News reports of Rosecrans and Burnside worry him.

GLC04558.117

8 November 1863

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Describes picket duty on the north side of the island and how his thoughts roam. Expectations of assault on Fort Sumter. Promises to send Edwin's letter (mentioned in #117 and accompanies this item). He writes "Not that I have any objections to his advocating abolition but I dont acknowledge his right to 'jump to conclusions,' and call hard names. Would you? If I were to answer[,] it should to say the least have to tell him that a 'radical' of his stamp I have not found in the Union army, as yet, and that however plenty they may be in his section, they have'nt [sic] the courage, to come…

GLC04558.122.01

31 July 1864

Tillotson, George W., 1830-1918

Autograph letter signed

Title: To his wife

Written in pencil with portions of pages 1-4 traced in a darker pencil. The explosion and charge on fort along the rebel line by Burnside's 9th Corps was at first rumored to be a great success although GWT noticed Grant "appeared a little troubled." Later, GWT learned that casualties for the 9th Corps was 6,000 killed wounded and missing. GWT blamed "the disaster of yesterday" on a brigade of "negroes [who] when charged on scadaddled without fireing a volley."

GLC04558.151