]
]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
This collection was processed with support from the sponsorship of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Preservation, Washington, D.C., 1990-1993.
This collection was microfilmed with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities and the National Historical Publications and Records Commission.
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Collection Overview
| Size | 32.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 20,000 items) |
| Abstract | The Hayes Collection documents three generations of the white Johnston family and two generations of the white Wood family who owned and managed Hayes in Chowan County, Caledonia in Halifax County, and Poplar Plains, Body, and Salem in Pasquotank County, as well as the people who were enslaved by these families and supplied the labor, knowledge, and skill at their plantations. The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, financial materials (bills of sale for enslaved people and other receipts, contracts for the hiring out of enslaved people, lists of enslaved people, account books, bonds), legal materials (wills, agreements, indentures, deeds of property and land, petitions, judgments, and suits), and photographs. Topics include politics, particularly of the colonial era, the American Revolution, and the early United States; the development and management of several plantations, as well as several fisheries, of which Greenfield in Chowan County was most prominent; the enslaved labor system, including the trafficking of enslaved people through purchase and hiring out of their labor, and enslaved people working as foremen and overseers; self-emancipation by running away, work slow-downs, and other acts of resistance by enslaved people; merchants and mercantilism; banking and finance; trade and shipping; the homefront during the Civil War; the fishing industry during the Civil War; Reconstruction and the transition to a tenant labor and sharecropping system; contemporary family life and social customs; men's education, including higher education at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina; women's education; health, mental illness, and medical treatments of white and enslaved people; travel; the economy; and the law, particularly estate administration. Pictures include photographs of portraits of Johnston and Wood family members and others, and images of the Hayes plantation house. |
| Creator | Johnston (Family : Johnston, Gabriel, 1699-1752)
Wood (Family : Wood, Edward, 1820-1872) |
| Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
| Language | English |
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Information For Users
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Processing Information
Processed by: SHC Staff, 1980
Encoded by: Devon Lee, June 2009
Updated by: Kathryn Michaelis, May 2011; Nancy Kaiser, October 2020; Dawne Howard Lucas, February 2021, April 2021; Nancy Kaiser, Rebecca Stubbs, and Saija Wilson, October 2022.
Folders renumbered in series 2, 3, and 4 in April 2022.
Conscious editing by Nancy Kaiser, October 2022: abstract, headings, biographical note, scope content note, container list. Information about enslaved people contained in the index to microfilmed part of the collection was added at the folder level.
Since August 2017, we have added ethnic and racial identities for individuals and families represented in collections. To determine identity, we rely on self-identification; other information supplied to the repository by collection creators or sources; public records, press accounts, and secondary sources; and contextual information in the collection materials. Omissions of ethnic and racial identities in finding aids created or updated after August 2017 are an indication of insufficient information to make an educated guess or an individual's preference for identity information to be excluded from description. When we have misidentified, please let us know at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.
This collection was processed with support from the sponsorship of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Preservation, Washington, D.C., 1990-1993.
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Subject Headings
The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
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Related Collections
Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
North Carolina Division of Archives and History
Rubenstein Library, Duke University
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Biographical Information
Gabriel Johnston (1699-1752) was born in Scotland, but moved to North Carolina in 1734 following his appointment as royal governor to the colony. He married Penelope Golland, step-daughter of Governor Charles Eden and widow of William Maule, John Lovick, and George Phenney. They had one daughter, Penelope, who in 1758 married John Dawson, son of the president of William and Mary College. Gabriel Johnston also had children named Polly, Caroline, Isabel, and Henry, although their mother's identity is unclear. Following his wife Penelope's death, Gabriel Johnston married Frances Button, who after Gabriel's death would later marry John Rutherford. During his political career Gabriel Johnston worked to improve the collection of quitrents and negotiated a partial settlement of the boundary dispute between North and South Carolina. He also acquired over a thousand acres of land, including the Possum Quarter and Fishing Creek plantations in Granville County, N.C.; Conahoe in Tyrell County, N.C.; and Mount Gallant in Northampton County, N.C. He lived at Eden House on the Chowan River in Bertie County, N.C., where he died in 1752.
Gabriel Johnston's brother, Samuel Johnston (1702-1757), moved to North Carolina in 1735 after having been appointed surveyor-general of the colony. At his death, he owned over 10,000 acres of land in Craven County, N.C., and Onslow County, N.C. He grew corn and indigo and made tar. Prior to leaving Scotland, Samuel Johnston married Helen Scrymsoure and with her had several children: Jean, who married George Blair, an Edenton merchant; Hannah, who married James Iredell, Edenton lawyer and later United States Supreme Court justice; and Isabella, who was engaged to Joseph Hewes, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, but died before the marriage took place.
Samuel and Helen's son, Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), a lawyer, politician, plantation owner, and enslaver, was born in Dundee, Scotland, on 15 December 1733 and came with his parents to North Carolina when he was two years old. He left the colony in 1750 to study in New Haven, Conn., and was later admitted to the law school at Yale College in 1751. He returned to Edenton in the fall of 1753 to read law under Thomas Barker. In May 1755, Johnston was appointed clerk of the Court of Oyer and Terminer and General Gaol Delivery for the Edenton district, and, on 16 October 1756, he was admitted to the bar. He was elected to the Colonial Assembly in 1759 and purchased the post of deputy naval officer of the colony in 1770. He served in both positions until 1775. During the Revolutionary War, Samuel Johnston served in a number of political capacities. He was a member of the First and Second Provincial Congresses, served as president for the Third and Fourth Provincial Congresses, and acted as treasurer of the Northern District between 1775 and 1777. Johnston was consulted in the drafting of the state constitution and served as paymaster of troops for the Edenton district. In 1779, he served as state senator for Chowan County, but left the position in 1780 to serve as one of North Carolina's delegates to the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Pa. In 1782, Johnston returned to his law practice, which he had closed prior to the war, and again served as state senator for Chowan County from 1783 to 1784. He was elected governor of North Carolina in 1787, and served in that capacity until 1789. As president of North Carolina's constitutional conventions of 1788 and 1789, he assisted in the ratification of the United States Constitution. In 1790, he moved to Philadelphia, Pa., where he served in Congress for three years. Between 1800 and 1803, he was a judge on the North Carolina Superior Court of Law and Equity. Johnston had extensive landholdings, most significant were his three plantations that were dependent on enslaved labor, knowledge, and skill: Hayes in Chowan County, Caledonia in Halifax County, and Hermitage in Martin County. He also owned acreage in Pasquotank, Currituck, Tyrell, and Bertie counties. He married Frances Cathcart, daughter of Dr. William Cathcart, in May 1770. He and his wife had nine children, only four of whom survived to adulthood: Penelope, who married John Swann; Frances; Helen; and James Cathcart.
James Cathcart Johnston (1782-1865), plantation owner, enslaver, and businessman, was born 25 June 1782, in Edenton, N.C. He studied at the College of New Jersey (later Princeton University), from which he graduated in 1799. He returned to North Carolina to read law under his father's direction, and received a license to practice on 11 April 1804. Politics and law, however, did not interest him as it did his father, and Johnston chose to work in agriculture and trade, becoming one of the wealthiest North Carolina plantation owners, using forced labor to cultivate familial lands at Hayes, Caledonia, and Poplar Plains, as well as others that he purchased over the years. His main cash crop was corn, but he also grew wheat and cotton. The first plantation that Johnston managed was Poplar Plains, his father's Pasquotank County plantation on the Pasquotank River four miles below Elizabeth City. In 1804, he began extended visits to the plantation to oversee its development, including construction of a two-story house, a kitchen, a smokehouse, and three barns. In all, he farmed 2740 acres at Poplar Plains and at adjoining Pasquotank plantations called Body and Salem, the latter purchased from Joseph Blount in 1819. The largest of Johnston's plantations was Caledonia, located in Halifax County along the Roanoke River and inherited from his father. By 1860, there were 271 enslaved people providing the labor, knowledge, and skill on 7834 acres at Caledonia. Johnston's plantations were managed by a succession of overseers, among them William B. Hathaway and Henry J. Futrell, as well as Peter, Aaron, and Ben, enslaved people who served as foremen or overseers at Poplar Plains, Hayes, and Body respectively.
James Cathcart Johnston received Hayes Plantation by deed of gift dated 29 December 1814 from his father, who in his will instructed James to build a residence there for himself and his sisters. Johnston commissioned William Nichols, an English architect living in Edenton, to design the plantation house. Construction began in the fall of 1815, with enslaved and free artisans and laborers working alongside white craftsmen and workers to build Johnston's fashionable house. The Johnstons were living in it two years later. In 1860, James C. Johnston owned 1374 acres of land at Hayes and enslaved 103 people. Johnston lived at Hayes, but spent much of his time traveling to Caledonia and Poplar Plains to oversee personally their operation. His largest money crop was corn, and he also grew cotton and wheat. He raised some livestock, mostly hogs, sheep, and cattle. The plantation products to be sold were floated downriver on his own boats to storage firms at Plymouth, Elizabeth City, or Edenton. Then they were shipped, often by James's own schooners or canal boats to markets in New York, Baltimore, Norfolk, Charleston, or Savannah. Commission merchants in these cities handled James' profits, buying supplies for the plantations or investing the money in bank stocks and treasury notes for him. Johnston was keenly interested in agricultural reform and experimented with many inventions in agricultural machinery. At Hayes, he constructed a windmill that he later dismantled and replaced with steam engine-powered saw, grist, and flour mills. These proved to be worthwhile investments, producing lumber, flour, and corn meal. He experimented with the Cornell machine that made barrel staves, bought cotton gins and steam-powered threshing machines, and used fertilizers. He supported construction of canals as inland waterways over which to ship his products to market. He also had a vested interest in the shipping and ship building industries, owning many of the boats and schooners used to move his product to market. In addition to the profits made from his plantations, he invested heavily in bank stocks and treasury notes. Johnston never married but did have four daughters, Mary Virginia (1815-1840), Caroline, Louisa, and Annie Edith (1831-1879), with Edith ("Edy") Wood (1795-1846), an enslaved woman who Johnston helped to emancipate along with their children in 1832.* Johnston's nephew of the same name, James Cathcart Johnston, and his nephew's wife lived with him at Hayes for some time, and he financially supported a number of other relatives. Johnston doubted that any of his relatives could adequately run the plantations, and therefore bequeathed his properties to three friends: Christopher W. Hollowell, Henry J. Futrell, and Edward Wood.
Edward Wood (1820-1872), a plantation owner, enslaver, and businessman, ran several steam mills and fisheries prior to inheriting Hayes Plantation. In 1843, he opened a sawmill in Gatesville, N.C., where he made barrel headings and staves in addition to shingles. In 1844, he established Montpelier, a fishery on the Albemarle Sound. A year later, he had accumulated enough capital to purchase several enslaved people, several town lots in Gatesville, and 800 acres of land belonging to his father-in-law's estate. During the 1840s, Wood moved to Greenfield Plantation in Chowan County where he grew wheat, corn, and oats, and raised cattle, hogs, and sheep. In 1850, he acquired partial ownership in a steam mill at Hertford. In 1856, he bought town lots in Edenton and became a co-partner in the mercantile firm of J. M. Cox and Company of Hertford. Wood also was president of the Albemarle Sound Navigation Company, which owned steamboats and schooners that carried freight and passengers. During the Civil War, Wood was arrested and held hostage pending the release of a Confederate prisoner. It was during this time that he met James Cathcart Johnston, who participated in negotiations to free him. Shortly thereafter, Johnston selected Wood to be one of his heirs and co-executor of his estate. Following James Cathcart Johnston's death on 9 May 1865, Wood obtained the Hayes Plantation, including its plantation house and furnishings; Johnston's stock; and all the money Johnston had at his death. Towards the end of his life, Wood managed over 5000 acres at Hayes, Belvedere, Mulberry Hill, Atholl, Greenfield, Somerset, Ashland, Winslow, and Spruill farms, and had major crops in cotton, corn, wheat, orchard fruits, and vegetables. He also owned successful fisheries at Skinner Point, Greenfield, Montpelier, Frying Pan, and Drummond Point. Wood married Caroline Moore Gilliam (1824-1886) and with her had ten children: Mary Francis (born and died in 1845), Sarah Elizabeth (1846-1876), who married Octavius Coke, a North Carolina secretary of state, in 1906; Mary Moore (1848-1893); Edward (1851-1898); John Gilliam (1853-1920); James (1856-1876); Francis (1858-1926); Annie Augusta (b. 1861); Julian Gilliam (b. 1863); and Henry Gilliam (b. 1868). He also reportedly fathered a daughter, Mariah, by an enslaved woman.
At Wood's death in 1872, his wife Caroline and his brother William C. Wood took over the management of his properties. Caroline was active in running the Hayes Farm and had extensive correspondence with the wholesalers in the northern markets. Following the death of William C. Wood, Caroline was assisted by her sons, Edward and John Gilliam, who were educated at the University of Virginia, and Frank, who attended the University of North Carolina. Edward and Frank were instrumental in running the fisheries, while John Gilliam spent most of his time administering to the farms. Upon the decline of the fishing industry in the Albemarle Sound region, John Gilliam and Frank enlarged the farms to grow cotton, peanuts, and fruits. They were involved in the establishment of the Edenton Peanut Company, the Chowan Cotton Oil and Fertilizer Company, and the Edenton Cotton Mill Company, of which Frank became the president. He also served on the Chowan County Board of Commissioners and on the North Carolina Board of Agriculture. He and John Gilliam were directors of the Bank of Edenton, founded in 1894 by their brother Julian Gilliam.
The enslaved community at the Johnston and Wood family plantations numbered in the hundreds, if not more than 1000 people, over the period of 1735-1865. As of 1860, the U.S. federal census slave schedule indicates that James Cathcart Johnston enslaved 271 individuals, and Edward Wood enslaved 46 individuals. Lists of enslaved people and bills of sale for enslaved people may help to create a census of the individuals and families enslaved by the Johnstons and Wood. Many of the enslaved individuals at Hayes were engaged in planting and harvesting cotton and food crops, fishing, raising livestock, felling and milling trees for lumber, and running the house and kitchen. Enslaved people also grew their own crops and livestock, ennabling them to trade with merchants on credit brokered through Johnston's accounts. Corrrespondence and hiring out contracts may provide insights into the occupations and health of individuals.
*Biographical information about James Cathcart Johnston was updated in July 2022 to include information about Edith Wood and her children with Johnston based on research by Mary Maillard published in "'Faithfully Drawn from Real Life': Autobiographical Elements in Frank J. Webb's The Garies and Their Friends," The Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography Vol. 137, No. 3 (July 2013), pp. 261-300.
Information about Edith Wood was updated again in July 2023 to reflect further research by Mary Maillard. See Mary Virginia Wood (Forten).
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Scope and Content
The Hayes Collection documents three generations of the white Johnston family and two generations of the white Wood family who owned and managed Hayes in Chowan County, Caledonia in Halifax County, and Poplar Plains, Body, and Salem in Pasquotank County, as well as the people who were enslaved by these families and supplied the labor, knowledge, and skill at their plantations. The collection consists of correspondence, diaries, financial materials (bills of sale for enslaved people and other receipts, contracts for the hiring out of enslaved people, lists of enslaved people, account books, bonds), legal materials (wills, agreements, indentures, deeds of property and land, petitions, judgments, and suits), and photographs. Topics include politics, particularly of the colonial era, the American Revolution, and the early United States; the development and management of several plantations, as well as several fisheries, of which Greenfield in Chowan County was most prominent; the enslaved labor system, including the trafficking of enslaved people through purchase and hiring out of their labor, and enslaved people working as foremen and overseers; self-emancipation by running away, work slow-downs, and other acts of resistance by enslaved people; merchants and mercantilism; banking and finance; trade and shipping; the homefront during the Civil War; the fishing industry before and during the Civil War; Reconstruction and the transition to a tenant labor and sharecropping system; contemporary family life and social customs; men's education, including higher education at the College of New Jersey (now Princeton University), the University of Virginia and the University of North Carolina; women's education; health, mental illness, and medical treatments of white and enslaved people; travel; the economy; and the law, particularly estate administration. Pictures include photographs of portraits of Johnston and Wood family members and others, and images of the Hayes plantation house.
Processing Notes
Parts of the collection were microfilmed in the 1980s, at which time the collection was divided into two subgroups identified as microfilmed or unmicrofilmed materials. Each subgroup is divided into Johnston or Wood family series. Materials donated after the microfilming of the collection can be found in the unmicrofilmed series.
In October 2022, information about enslaved people found in the index to the microfilmed part of this collection was added to the finding aid at the folder level. Archivists have standardized the spelling of names of enslaved people, enslavers, and others who participated in the trafficking of enslaved people wherever possible to facilitate searching within this finding aid. We recognize the complexity of this issue and welcome feedback on this decision at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.
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Series Quick Links
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Subgroup 1. Microfilmed materials.
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Series 1. Johnston Family, 1694-1865 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence and financial and legal materials documenting three generations of the white Johnston family of North Carolina and others, including the people enslaved by them. Of note are materials relating to Gabriel Johnston (1699-1752), royal governor of the colony of North Carolina; and his brother, Samuel Johnston (1702-1757), plantation owner, enslaver, and surveyor-general of the colony of North Carolina; Samuel Johnston's son, Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), lawyer, governor, United States senator, judge, plantation owner, and enslaver; and Samuel Johnston's (1733-1816) son, James Cathcart Johnston (1782-1865), plantation owner, enslaver, and businessman. Enslaved people are documented in tax lists, bills of sale, hiring out contracts, and in correspondence. There are some letters written by enslaved people, but the majority of letters that report on the lives of enslaved people are written from the perspective of white people. These letters often provide the names of enslaved people and describe the work they performed, their acts of resistance, and health concerns.
Materials provide insight into North Carolina and United States history from the colonial period through the Civil War. Researchers will find the series rich in information on government and politics at both a state and national level; antebellum plantation management, including crop production and agricultural reform, sales and trade, overseers' roles, and the slave labor system; contemporary family life and social customs; education and school life; health, mental illness, and medical treatment; law, particularly estate administration; merchants and mercantilism; and banking and finance.
This series has been divided into two subseries based on material type. The first subseries contains loose papers while the second contains bound volumes, both of which have been arranged chronologically.
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Subseries 1.1. Johnston Family Papers 1694-1865.
Arrangement: chronological.
Personal, business, and political correspondence, and financial and legal materials documenting the lives of three generations of the white Johnston family of Edenton, N.C., the people enslaved by them, and early North Carolina and United States history. Researchers will find the series rich in information on government and politics at both a state and national level during the Colonial period, the Revolutionary War, and the early United States; antebellum plantation management including crop production and agricultural reform, shipping and trade, overseers' roles, and the slave labor system; contemporary family life and social customs; education and school life; health, mental illness, and medical treatment; law, particularly estate administration; merchants and mercantilism; and banking and finance. Legal and financial materials include indentures, deeds, surveys, wills, judgments and suits, bills of lading, receipts, bills of sale for enslaved people, account sheets and ledgers, and inventories.
Enslaved people are documented in tax lists, bills of sale, hiring out contracts, and in correspondence. There are some letters written by enslaved people, but the majority of letters that report on the lives of enslaved people are written from the perspective of white people. These letters often provide the names of enslaved people and describe the work they performed, their acts of resistance, and health concerns.
The series has been divided into three descriptive sections based on significant shifts that signal a change in the cast of characters and/or the subjects treated during a specific time span.
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Subseries 1.1.1. Johnston Family Papers, 1694-1759.
Arrangement: chronological.
Financial papers and legal documents include agreements and indentures, deeds of land, legal suits, and wills that relate to Gabriel Johnston and his wife Penelope, step-daughter of Governor Charles Eden and the widow of William Maule, John Lovick, and George Phenney. The bulk of the materials relate to estate settlements for all of Penelope's previous husbands. However, there are a few land surveys that may have been prepared by Samuel Johnston (1705-1757). Materials relating to Gabriel Johnston's political career are few, although there are papers relating to the collection of quitrents, the dispute over the North and South Carolina border, and a 1748 address to the House of Burgesses. Some land grants date from the 1850s.
Materials documenting enslaved people include a list of enslaved people and a deed.
| Folder 1 |
1694 |
| Folder 2 |
1709 |
| Folder 3 |
1712Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 003: 1712. |
| Folder 4 |
1713 |
| Folder 5 |
1714 |
| Folder 6 |
1715 |
| Folder 7 |
1716 |
| Folder 8 |
1717 |
| Folder 9 |
1718 |
| Folder 10 |
1720 |
| Folder 11 |
1721 |
| Folder 12 |
1722 |
| Folder 13 |
1723 |
| Folder 14 |
1725-1726 |
| Folder 15 |
1727 |
| Folder 16 |
1729 |
| Folder 17 |
1730 |
| Folder 18 |
1735 |
| Folder 19 |
1736Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 019: 1736. June 23: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 20 |
1737 |
| Folder 21 |
1738 |
| Folder 22 |
1739 |
| Folder 23 |
1740November 18: Deed, in which Dinah, an enslaved girl, was transferred as property from Stephen Williams of Currituck County, N.C., to Thomas Williams. |
| Folder 24 |
1741 |
| Folder 25 |
1742 |
| Folder 26 |
1743 |
| Folder 27 |
1744 |
| Folder 28 |
1745 |
| Folder 29 |
1746 |
| Folder 30 |
1747 |
| Folder 31 |
1748 |
| Folder 32 |
1749 |
| Oversize Paper Folder OPF-324/1 |
Land grants, 1721-1759 |
| Extra Oversize Paper Folder XOPF-324/1 |
Miscellaneous papersIncludes land grants, 18th century; plats; a diploma; printed advertisements; and other materials. |
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Subseries 1.1.2. Johnston Family Papers, 1750-1810.
Arrangement: chronological.
Papers relating chiefly to Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), including personal, business, and political correspondence; financial papers, including account sheets, bills and receipts, inventories, and merchandise ledgers; and legal documents, such as judgments and suits, agreements and indentures, deeds of land and property, and wills. Papers highlight a broad spectrum of subjects, including early North Carolina and United States politics and government; social, economic, and military developments during wartime; law, especially estate administration; family life and social customs; health; education and school life; plantation administration, including slavery; and mercantilism.
From 1750 to 1757, letters from Samuel Johnston (1702-1757) to his son Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), deal with the younger Johnston's financial situation, his law education, and his procurement of a superior court clerkship. A 1757 letter concerns the death of Helen, the older Johnston's wife, in child birth.
Following Governor Gabriel Johnston's death in 1752, there is extensive correspondence, legal notes and petitions, receipts, and land surveys and deeds pertaining to the settlement of his estate. Starting in 1756, there was a long series of court disputes over the settlement of the estate. In the first one, his executors brought Gabriel's widow Frances Rutherford to court for having failed to release Gabriel's land and personal effects to his daughter and Frances' stepdaughter Penelope. Penelope lived with her stepmother until 1854, when Frances married John Rutherford. Shortly thereafter, Penelope was removed from the guardianship of the Rutherfords and sent to live with Dr. William Cathcart. Later she lived with Governor Robert Dinwiddie in Williamsburg, Va., where she met John Dawson, whom she married in 1758. These events are well documented in the correspondence of this series.
The remainder of the settlement disputes involve the distribution of money that Gabriel left to his relatives. Henry Laurens was extensively involved in obtaining the money for the executors, and his letters reveal the difficulties in fulfilling the stipulations of Gabriel's will. Other individuals involved in the settlement were Gabriel Johnston's other daughter, Isabel Johnston, and members of the Ferrier (sometimes spelled Ferriar) family in Largo, Scotland.
Correspondence with the Ferrier family, chiefly Elizabeth "Eliza" Ferrier, Gabriel Johnston's sister, her husband John Ferrier, and their sons James Ferrier and Robert Ferrier, begins in 1757. Although many of the letters refer to developments in the Gabriel Johnston estate settlement, a broad range of topics also are discussed, including Ferrier/Ferriar and Johnston family genealogy, local politics and social attitudes towards government, economic concerns, business and trade, and health issues, including a letter describing the death of Gabriel Johnston's son Henry from the "bloody flux" in Edinburgh on 6 December 1771.
Correspondence with Penelope Johnston Dawson, Samuel Johnston's (1733-1816) cousin, begins in the late 1750s and continues throughout this subseries. Her letters detail family and social life, social customs such as marriage and courtship, education of children, and health concerns, particularly the ague fever and an outbreak of small pox at Hayes in 1773. Following the death of her husband, Penelope also sought Johnston's advice in regards to plantation business, such as the selling of tar and livestock and the purchase of sundry goods. In 1772, she wrote several letters criticizing an overseer's treatment of enslaved people and asked Johnston to intercede.
Correspondence with business partners and friends also discuss plantation management. Letters provide insight into the functioning of Samuel Johnston's three major plantations--Hayes in Chowan County, Caledonia in Halifax County, and Hermitage in Martin County--and mention trafficking of enslaved people through selling, purchasing, and hiring-out; overseer recommendations; and general concerns regarding livestock and planting. Samuel Johnston's personal financial materials, including account sheets, receipts, inventories, and surveys for his various plantations, are also a rich source of information on plantation management. Beginning in the early 1780s there are annual statements of taxable property for Johnston's land holdings, which often include lists of enslaved people. Other materials documenting enslaved people include bills of sale and receipts for medical treatment for enslaved people and hiring out of enslaved labor.
Political and military developments of the 18th century are frequently discussed in the correspondence. Several letters mention events surrounding the French and Indian War. Also included are a description of a bill for the protection of the colonies against the French (October 1755) and Henry Johnston's recount of Major James Grant's battle at Fort Duquesne, Pa. (20 September 1758).
Later correspondence documents events leading up to the American Revolution and include a letter regarding the repeal of the Stamp Act (1765) and a 10 June 1771 account of an engagement during the War of the Regulation (possibly the Battle of Alamance). Additionally, correspondence, particularly that with Thomas Barker, Samuel Johnston's agent in England during the 1760s and 1770s, discuss the escalating tension between Great Britain and the colonies and provide insight into how the general population, both in America and Great Britain, viewed the declining relations.
During the Revolutionary War period, letters document the establishment and training of militia troops, particularly the Independent Company of Edenton and the activities of Colonel Andrew Knox; the procurement of gun powder, turpentine, tar, arms and other supplies, particularly drums and fifes and a flag with the words "Liberty or Death" (29 June 1775); and covert intelligence activities. Letters also describe events in North Carolina, such as resistance from the Regulators and others living in the western part of the state, defense of the coast and port closures, and public backlash against individuals who were not friendly to the American cause, including several instances of tar and feathering.
Political developments of this era are documented, including the election of officials to the Provincial Congress and the General Congress in Philadelphia, Pa., and the drafting of the Constitution. Following the war, correspondence provides insight into Johnston's activities while acting as the governor, and later, senator of North Carolina.
Following his term in the Senate, Johnston returned to Hermitage Plantation in Martin County, N.C. He continued to correspond with Joseph Anthony and John Maybin, his business contacts in Philadelphia, and their letters give accounts of the plantation products sold for Johnston; of commodities, foodstuffs, and bank stock bought for him; and of political and economic developments throughout the nation. Similar letters also were received from the merchant and investor Robert Lenox and his philanthropist son, John Lenox, both of New York City. Materials related to George Blair and Hindley and Needham, a large mercantile firm, reveal much about merchants and trade at that time.
After the war, Johnston's correspondence with relatives and business agents in Great Britain, particularly Alexander Elmsley and Peter Elmsley of England, discuss foreign market news, the growing conflict between England and France, the French Revolution, and American anxiety over the Louisiana Territory (14 August 1802).
Also of note are estate and bankruptcy settlements handled by Johnston. Of particular interest are those materials related to Sir Nathaniel Duckenfield and his mother Margaret Pearson, for whom Samuel tried to recover land confiscated during the Revolutionary War.
Materials of James Cathcart Johnston (1782-1865) begin around 1793 and consist of letters written to his father while attending the College of New Jersey. Between 1799 and 1805, correspondence between James Cathcart Johnston and his classmates touches on such topics as business, courtship, dueling, and suicide.
| Folder 33 |
1750 |
| Folder 34 |
1751 |
| Folder 35 |
1752 |
| Folder 36 |
1753 |
| Folder 37 |
1754 |
| Folder 38 |
1755 |
| Folder 39 |
1756Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 039: 1756. February 20: List of enslaved people. November 30: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 40 |
January-June 1757 |
| Folder 41 |
July-December 1757December (undated): List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 42 |
January-June 1758Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 042: January-June 1758. March 28: Letter from Caroline Johnson in Roanoke to Samuel Johnston, concerning Titus, an enslaved person, and the conditions required for him to be hired out. |
| Folder 43 |
July-December 1758 |
| Folder 44 |
1759Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 044: 1759. October 24: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 45 |
1760 |
| Folder 46 |
1761Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 046: 1761. |
| Folder 47 |
January-August 1762 |
| Folder 48 |
September-December 1762Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 048: September-December 1762. September (undated): List of enslaved people. |
| Oversize Paper Folder OPF-324/2 |
Financial and legal papers, 1762-1781Includes lists of enslaved people; land grants; and miscellaneous other legal documents. |
| Folder 49 |
1763April 25: Bill of Sale for Rose and her infant child, enslaved people who were sold by Susannah Fullerton and the estate of her deceased husband Matthew Fullerton to Samuel Johnston. September (undated): List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 50 |
1764October 31: Bill of sale for Dinah, an enslaved person, and Jack, Charles, and Edsy, enslaved children, who were sold by William Williams in Currituck County, N.C., to Samuel Johnston in Chowan County, N.C. |
| Folder 51 |
1765 |
| Folder 52 |
1766August 15: Bill of sale for Charles, an enslaved boy who was sold by George Wells, a physic surgery practitioner in Edenton, to William Meredith of Chowan County, N.C. Meredith then trafficked Charles to Samuel Johnston. December 3: Letter from Samuel Johnston, in which he mentioned Tom, an enslaved person who he intended to sell. |
| Folder 53 |
January-June 1767 |
| Folder 54 |
July-December 1767 |
| Folder 55 |
January-June 1768 |
| Folder 56 |
August-December 1768 |
| Folder 57 |
January-April 1769Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 057: January-April 1769. March 6: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 58 |
May-August 1769 |
| Folder 59 |
September-December 1769November 6: Bill of sale for Esther, an enslaved woman, and her enslaved children Mary-Anne, Milly, and Lucy, who were sold by Anne Swift and the estate of her deceased husband Samuel Swift in Edenton, N.C., to Samuel Johnston. November 21: Legal opinion on slavery and the leasehold estate. |
| Folder 60 |
January-April 1770 |
| Folder 61 |
May-August 1770May 28: Bill of sale for Kate and Dinah, enslaved people who were sold by N. Buchanan through Thomas Gilchrist, who brokered the trafficking of Kate and Dinah up the James River. July 1: Letter from Will Cathcart, who may have been formerly enslaved, to Samuel Johnston. Cathcart sent greetings. July 6: Letter from Will Cathcart, who may have been formerly enslaved, acknowledging Peggy, who was enslaved to Samuel Johnston, as the carrier of the letter. Cathcart sent greetings. July 6: Letter from Penelope Dawson to her cousin Samuel Johnston at Hayes, concerning accusations by the enslaved people that the overseer was withholding provisions. |
| Folder 62 |
September-December 1770December 24: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 63 |
January-February 1771January 21: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 64 |
March-April 1771April 24: List of enslaved people. April 29: List of enslaved people. April 30: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 65 |
May-June 1771May 31: Bill of sale for Joe, an enslaved person who was sold by Richard Bond of Chowan County, N.C., to Samuel Johnston. |
| Folder 66 |
July-August 1771July 19: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 67 |
September-October 1771 |
| Folder 68 |
November-December 1771 |
| Folder 69 |
January-February 1772January 9: Bill of sale for Dick, an enslaved man who was sold by J. W. Campbell to Samuel Johnston. Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 70 |
March-April 1772March 18: Bill of sale for Teeny, an enslaved woman who was sold by William Houghton to Samuel Johnston. April 24: Letter from Will Cathcart to Samuel Johnston, acknowledging Homer, an enslaved person, as the carrier of the letter. The letter also reports that Rose, an enslaved woman, had eloped toward Edenton, N.C. |
| Folder 71 |
May-June 1772June 10: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 72 |
July-August 1772July 17: Letter from Penelope Dawson to Samuel Johnston, reporting that Jack and an unnamed younger person, both of whom were enslaved, had reported harsh treatment by the overseer to her. |
| Folder 73 |
September-October 1772 |
| Folder 74 |
November-December 1772 |
| Folder 75 |
January-April 1773January 8: Bill of sale for Molly, an enslaved woman who was sold by Joseph Hewit(?) to Samuel Johnston . April 2: Bill of sale for Tom, Cato, and Jack, enslaved people who were sold by the estate of the father of Thomas Stevenson in Perquimons County, N.C., to Ambrose Knox. |
| Folder 76 |
May-August 1773May 27: Bill of sale for Dick, an enslaved man sold by Lowther, Hardy & Little to Samuel Johnston. |
| Folder 77 |
September-December 1773September 11: Bill of sale for Major, an enslaved man sold by William Lowther to Samuel Johnston. The receipt is witnessed by Andrew Little in Edenboro. |
| Folder 78 |
January-April 1774Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 79 |
May-August 1774 |
| Folder 80 |
September-December 1774October 31: Bill of sale for Pill (Philip), an enslaved child sold by the estate of John Baker to Samuel Johnston. November 28: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. December 17: Letter from Penelope Dawson at Eden House to Mr. Johnston, in which she wrote that Callum, who was enslaved by Johnston, requested that his wife who had been hired out be returned to the plantation. |
| Folder 81 |
January-February 1775Undated: List of enslaved people. January 29: Letter to S. Dickinson in which Nathaniel Dukenfield expressed a preference against the sale of enslaved people to pay debts. |
| Folder 82 |
March-April 1775 |
| Folder 83 |
May-June 1775May 23: Letter from Robert Smith in Edenton to Joseph Hewes, reporting that enslaved people were rumored to be planning rebellion. |
| Folder 84 |
July-August 1775 |
| Folder 85 |
September-October 1775Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 085: September-October 1775. September 26: Bill of sale for Will, an enslaved person sold by Lawrence Lipley to Andrew Knox. Payment was made through Thomas Newby. October undated: Letter (unsigned) from a financial agent to Elizabeth Tunstall, reporting that 100 or more people were known to be enslaved by her father. |
| Folder 86 |
November-December 1775 |
| Folder 87 |
January-February 1776 |
| Folder 88 |
March-April 1776April 17: Correspondence describing insurrection by enslaved people. |
| Folder 89 |
May-June 1776June 16: Bill of sale for two unnamed enslaved people who were purchased by Samuel Johnston for Hannah Johnston Iredell on the day of her wedding. The purchase of the enslaved people was in fulfillment of Gabriel Johnston's will. |
| Folder 90 |
July-August 1776 |
| Folder 91 |
September-December 1776 |
| Folder 92 |
1777August 10: Bill of sale for Robin, an enslaved man who was sold by Abner Eason to P. Travers, and then trafficked by Travers to W. James Sumner. |
| Folder 93 |
1778 |
| Folder 94 |
1779 |
| Folder 95 |
1780Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 96 |
1781 |
| Folder 97 |
1782 |
| Folder 98 |
January-July 1783February 1: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 99 |
August-December 1783 |
| Folder 100 |
January-April 1784 |
| Folder 101 |
May-August 1784June (undated): List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 102 |
September-December 1784 |
| Folder 103 |
January-March 1785January (undated): List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 104 |
April-June 1785 |
| Folder 105 |
July-September 1785 |
| Folder 106 |
October-December 1785October 14: Bill of sale for Plato, an enslaved child who was sold by Samuel Hall to Samuel Johnston. November 2: Bill of sale for Phebe, an enslaved person who was sold by the estate of Aaron Moon to Zebulon Snowden. November 29: Bill of sale for Hardy, an enslaved child who was sold by Thomas Jarman of Onslow County, N.C., to Samuel Johnston. Hardy was the son of Sarah, an enslaved woman. |
| Oversize Paper Folder OPF-324/3 |
Financial and legal papers, 1785-1820 and undatedIncludes wills; lists of land prices; a diploma; and miscellaneous other materials. |
| Folder 107 |
January-June 1786Undated: Samuel Johnston's Taxable Property, including 46 enslaved people between 12 and 50 years of age; additionally, Johnston reported 13 enslaved people between the ages of 13 and 50 who were the property of Margaret Pearson (deceased). January 12: Bill of sale for Phebe, an enslaved woman who was sold by Zebulon Snowden to Samuel Johnston. Phebe had previously been enslaved by the estate of Aaron Moon. |
| Folder 108 |
July-December 1786October 16: List of enslaved people. December 13: Letter from Nathaniel Duckenfield to Samuel Johnston, mentioning Duckenfield's distress at the sale of Johnston's enslaved people. Suckey, an enslaved woman at the plantation that had been sold to Ryan, reportedly had attempted suicide but was being treated by a physician. |
| Folder 109 |
January-June 1787 |
| Folder 110 |
July-December 1787 |
| Folder 111 |
January-June 1788 |
| Folder 112 |
July-December 1788 |
| Folder 113 |
January-May 1789Undated: List of enslaved people. January 29: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 114 |
June-December 1789June 30: Letter from Nathaniel Duckenfield to Samuel Johnston, reporting that London, Bet, and Suckey, who were enslaved people, were purchased by him. Duckenfield also mentioned Toney, an enslaved person, and that Mers (?) and his wife and children, enslaved people, had been purchased by William Dawson. |
| Folder 115 |
January-May 1790 |
| Folder 116 |
June-December 1790 |
| Folder 117 |
January-March 1791 |
| Folder 118 |
April-December 1791July 16: Census of the people, including a category for enslaved people, living in Edenton, New Bern, Wilmington, Fayette, Halifax, Hillsborough, Salisbury, and Morgan. |
| Folder 119 |
January-April 1792March 23: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 120 |
May-August 1792 |
| Folder 121 |
September-December 1792 |
| Folder 122 |
January-June 17931793 Undated: List of enslaved people. May 16: Receipt for clothing, mending, and services provided by John Watts for George, Cato, Helen, Rose, George, and Betty, who were enslaved by Samuel Johnston. June 11: Record documenting Penny, an enslaved girl, who was sold by William Jordan to John Swann. |
| Folder 123 |
July-December 1793December 20: Receipt documenting payment from the estate of John Swann to Thomas Nichols for a midwife fee for Dolley, an enslaved woman, for services she provided to Violet, an enslaved woman, to deliver her baby. |
| Folder 124 |
January-April 1794Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 125 |
May-August 1794August 23: Record of hiring out of Mark and Bob, enslaved people whose labor had been purchased from the estate of W. John Swann by Samuel Johnston. Mark and Bob had been in the possession of Mary Blount, presumably because she previously had hired their labor. |
| Folder 126 |
September-December 1794 |
| Folder 127 |
January-April 1795April 15: Record of hiring out of George, an enslaved person whose labor had been purchased from the estate of John Swann by Samuel Johnston. |
| Folder 128 |
May-July 1795 |
| Folder 129 |
September-December 1795 |
| Folder 130 |
James C. Johnston's essays written at Woodbury School, 1793-1796 |
| Folder 131 |
January-April 1796Undated: List of enslaved people. February 21: Letter from Nathaniel Duckenfield at Williamston to "Madam," discussing disposition of the W. Pollock's estate, which included enslaved people. |
| Folder 132 |
May-December 1796October 29: Record of hiring out of Milley and her children, enslaved people whose labor had been purchased from the estate of John Swann by Samuel Johnston. |
| Folder 133 |
January-June 1797 |
| Folder 134 |
July-December 1797 |
| Folder 135 |
January-April 1798Undated: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 136 |
May-August 1798May 14: Legal document certifying that Anthony Darlet, at his death in 1798, enslaved 8 people, 1 of whom had been sold by Darlet in his lifetime but there had been no bill of sale until after his death. |
| Folder 137 |
September-December 1798 |
| Folder 138 |
James C. Johnston's essays written at Princeton College, 1796-1799 |
| Folder 139 |
James C. Johnston's essays written at Princeton College, 1796-1799 |
| Folder 140 |
January-February 1799Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 141 |
March-April 1799 |
| Folder 142 |
May-June 1799 |
| Folder 143 |
July-August 1799August 17: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 144 |
September-October 1799 |
| Folder 145 |
November-December 1799 |
| Folder 146 |
January-February 1800Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 147 |
March-April 1800 |
| Folder 148 |
May-June 1800 |
| Folder 149 |
July-August 1800 |
| Folder 150 |
September-October 1800 |
| Folder 151 |
November-December 1800 |
| Folder 152 |
January-March 1801Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 153 |
April-June 1801 |
| Folder 154 |
July-September 1801 |
| Folder 155 |
October-December 1801December 1: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 156 |
January-March 1802Undated: Tax receipt indicating Samuel Johnston enslaved 63 people in different counties and owned 567 acres in Martin County, N.C. March 2: Bill of sale for Patt, an enslaved woman who was sold by William Blunt through Jonas Crump to William McIntyre. |
| Folder 157 |
April-June 1802June 10: Correspondence describing insurrection by enslaved people. |
| Folder 158 |
July-September 1802 |
| Folder 159 |
October-December 1802November 2: Record of James, who was enslaved by Samuel Johnston, in account with Josiah Relfe. |
| Folder 160 |
January-March 1803January 25: Bill of sale for Solomon, an enslaved man of about 22 years of age who was sold by Edmund Chancy of Pasquotank County, N.C., to Samuel Johnston in Martin County, N.C. |
| Folder 161 |
April-June 1803 |
| Folder 162 |
July-September 1803 |
| Folder 163 |
October-December 1803 |
| Folder 164 |
January-March 1804Undated: List of enslaved people. January 3: Record of hiring out of Bowden, an enslaved person whose labor had been purchased from the estate of Henry Joyner through the executor Benjamin Pope by Samuel Johnston. January 7: Bill of sale for Hannah, an enslaved person sold by the estate of Abraham Wiley through its executor William T. Muse of Pasquotank County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston in Martin County, N.C. January 24: Record of hiring out of an enslaved person whose labor was purchased through Kenneth Clark by W. Smith for William McKenzie. The enslaver may have been Thomas Rhodes. February 1: Record of hiring out of Sue, an enslaved woman whose labor had been purchased from Edward Byrd by William McKenzie. February 14: Letter from John Beasley in Edenton concerning the hiring out of Ronden, who was enslaved to the estate of D. Dickinson. |
| Folder 165 |
April-June 1804 |
| Folder 166 |
July-September 1804 |
| Folder 167 |
October-December 1804 |
| Folder 168 |
January-February 1805 |
| Folder 169 |
March-April 1805 |
| Folder 170 |
May-June 1805 |
| Folder 171 |
July 1805 |
| Folder 172 |
September-October 1805 |
| Folder 173 |
November-December 1805 |
| Folder 174 |
January-March 1806 |
| Folder 175 |
April-June 1806 |
| Folder 176 |
July-September 1806 |
| Folder 177 |
October-December 1806October 15: Bill of sale for Tom, an enslaved person who was sold by John McDonald of Pasquotank County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston of Martin County, N.C. |
| Folder 178 |
January-March 1807Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 179 |
April-June 1807 |
| Folder 180 |
July-September 1807 |
| Folder 181 |
October-December 1807October (undated): List of articles purchased for James Cathcart Johnston in New York, including blankets for enslaved people. October 3: Receipt indicating that William M. Clark had received 100 dollars belonging to John Butler, a free person of color, to keep for him. William McKenzie transferred Butler's money to Clark. |
| Folder 182 |
January-April 1808February 3: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 183 |
May-August 1808 |
| Folder 184 |
September-December 1808 |
| Folder 185 |
January-April 1809 |
| Folder 186 |
May-August 1809August 11: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. August 14: Account record documenting hiring out of Cancer, an enslaved person whose labor was purchased from William Smith by James Cathcart Johnston. August 22: Record of hiring out of Mike, an enslaved person whose labor was purchased from Dr. A. Knox by William McKenzie. William Clark brokered the trafficking of Mike. |
| Folder 187 |
September-December 1809November 7: Bill of sale for Mingo, an enslaved person who was purchased from Thomas Bennett of Martin County, N.C., by Samuel Johnston of Martin County, N.C. December 9: Bill of sale for Jacob, an enslaved person who was purchased from R. Whitaker by William McKenzie. The sale originally took place 1 March 1809. December 26: Letter of contract from Josiah White, Abraham Symons, and H. P. Redding to Penelope Swan, in which they pledged to serve as guarantors for Hannibal, an enslaved person who was purchasing his freedom from Swan. December 27: Bill of sale for Davis, an enslaved blacksmith who was purchased from William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C., by Samuel Johnston of Martin County, N.C. |
| Folder 188 |
January-March 1810Unedited transcriptions are available for some of the digitized versions of items in this folder at From the Page: Hayes Collection: folder 188: January-March 1810. Undated: List of enslaved people. Undated: List of enslaved people. January 2: Letter from a lawyer in Williamston to W. J. Muse, providing legal counsel as to how to transfer ownership of Hannibal from Penelope Swann to Josiah White, Abraham Symons, and H. P. Redding so that they might emancipate him. January 2: Receipt for purchase of shoes for enslaved people by James Johnston from William Watts. |
| Folder 189 |
April-June 1810 |
| Folder 190 |
July-September 1810 |
| Folder 191 |
October-December 1810December 6: List of enslaved people. December 10: Promissory note related to the sale of Dinah, who was enslaved to the estate of John B. Hunter in Martin County, N.C., and sold to Margaret McKenzie. James Cathcart Johnston and Winifred W. Hunter brokered the trafficking of Dinah. December 14: Bill of sale for Sarah and her four children, an enslaved family who were sold by the estate of John B. Hunter in Martin County, N.C., by Margaret McKenzie. December 15: Bill of sale for Dinah, an enslaved person who was sold by the estate of John B. Hunter in Martin County, N.C., to Margaret McKenzie. Winifred W. Hunter brokered the trafficking of Dinah. December 17: Promissory note related to the sale of Sarah and her four children, an enslaved family who were sold by the estate of John B. Hunter in Martin County, N.C., by Margaret McKenzie. James Cathcart Johnston and Winifred W. Hunter brokered the trafficking of Sarah and her children. |
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Subseries 1.1.3. Johnston Family Papers, 1811-1865.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly business and personal correspondence and financial and legal papers concerning the operation of James Cathcart Johnston's plantations and his involvement in the shipping industry. Financial materials include account sheets; inventories; bills of sale for enslaved people; bills of lading; receipts for overseers wages and medical treatments for both Johnston's family and the people he enslaved; hiring out contracts for the labor of enslaved people; and tax information, including lists of enslaved people. Legal documents include land surveys and deeds, agreements and indentures, judgments and suits, and wills.
Letters of overseers, shippers, and merchants to Johnston reveal many details of plantation administration, such as farming procedures, planting and harvesting of crops, the volume of production each season, delivery of crops to various local storage firms, payments of accounts, and the supplies needed to run the plantation. Materials also document individual enslaved people and give some insights into the lived experience of enslaved people at Johnston's plantations, although chiefly from the perspective of white people. Enslaved people, for example, were permitted to raise and sell crops from their own garden plots, and often were supervised by an enslaved foreman while Johnston vacationed or took trips to his other plantations. Records also document the provision of shoes, hats, blankets, and medical care. There are also some letters and bills that indicate that enslaved people engaged in acts of resistance, including theft and self-emancipation by running away, that sometimes ended in jail time or acts of violence against them. There are some letters written by the enslaved people who were working as foremen and overseers for Johnston. Correspondence between Johnston and foremen and overseers frequently include the names of enslaved people and describe the work they performed.
Johnston's letters also discuss the successes and failures of many of his agricultural and machinery experiments. Construction projects, such as buildings at Poplar Plains (1811-1815), a new residence at Hayes, and a windmill at Hayes that was later dismantled and replaced with steam engine-powered saw, grist and flour mills, are also well documented.
Letters document the hiring of trading vessels and shipping contracts, insurance and compensation for damaged goods, interruptions in trade, market conditions and prices, and investment of profits. Other financial concerns include Johnston's investments in bank stock and treasury notes, the decline of banks and currency during the 1820s and 1830s, and the success of Johnston's lumber mill and the sale of timber.
Notable business correspondents include the following people and firms: John Wilkes, Zachariah Howell, William B. Hathaway, Henry J. Futrell, James Palmer, John Spears, and C. W. Hollowell, all overseers or managers on the plantations; Aaron, Nixon, Ben, and Peter, who were enslaved by Johnston and who acted as foremen and overseers; Angelo Garibaldo, Johnston's private river captain and shipper; Clark, Carnal and Co., John Popelston, John C. Ehringhaus, Clark, Cox and Co., James Gordon and Jacob N. Gordon, Bryan & Clark Co., J. and O. Fearing, Samuel Kissam, Bryan & Maitland Co., all wholesale houses in Plymouth, Elizabeth City and Edenton, N.C., that stored and shipped products to market; Hardy Brothers, Maitland, Kennedy and Co., commission merchants in Norfolk, Va.; Whedbee & Dickinson, commission merchants in Baltimore, M; Robert Lenox & Son, Blount & Jackson Co., Bryan & Maitland Co., Sawyer & Whedbee Co., Hicks and Smith Co., Brown and DeRosset Co., Williams, Bee and Co., John S. Bryan and Co., J. G. Hicks Co., commission merchants in New York City.
Johnston's family life is most evident in letters relating to the financial support and education provided for various relatives. Johnston paid for the education of many relatives and friends, particularly the Iredell grandchildren of his aunt Hannah Iredell and the Alston and Johnston grandchildren of his uncle John Johnston. Letters from Thomas Johnston detail the life of a student at the University of North Carolina between 1819 and 1821 and his apprenticeship to study medicine in Hillsborough. In 1820, Wooton Wright Hawkes wrote about his education and his impression of the people in Paris. Annie Iredell wrote several letters in 1831 describing her courses of study while in Philadelphia, Pa.
Beginning in 1838 correspondence focuses on Joseph Blount, who suffered from mental illness. Letters provide insight into the medical treatment of and social attitudes towards mental illness during this period. Charles Evans of the Friends Asylum in Philadelphia, Pa., detailed Blount's mental health and treatments, and provided recommendations for his future well-being. Blount wrote many letters concerning his health and daily activities, and Johnston received reports from family members and friends that expressed concern regarding Blount's outward behavior.
Other notable personal correspondents include members of the Alston and John T. Johnston families, who migrated to Tennessee and Mississippi in the 1830s and wrote of their experiences; Ebenezer Pettigrew and William S. Pettigrew, who often wrote of their opinions on local politics, plantation management, and slavery; and James Johnston Pettigrew, who gave detailed accounts of his European tour and his opinions on antebellum Charleston society.
During his leisure hours, Johnston traveled a great deal. He frequently journeyed to New York City and Saratoga Springs to visit friends. In 1845, he leased a cabin at White Sulphur Springs in Greenbrier County, Va., and thereafter became a regular summer and fall visitor to this and other fashionable mountain resorts in Virginia. In 1859, he bought a farm at Cedar Creek in Bath County, Va., built a house and log cabins, and began planting crops. However, the outbreak of the Civil War curtailed his plans to create a mountain retreat.
Beginning in 1860, correspondence documents the social unrest caused by political tensions between the North and the South. As early as June, James Johnston Pettigrew wrote of his fear that this discord would eventually erupt in war. Letters from correspondents in New York and Baltimore reflect the state of politics and the disruptions in trade as early as November. Johnston's letters to friends and business partners are highly critical of the Secession Movement of 1860-1861.
In 1861, letters concern banks and banking, stocks and bonds, and the fluctuations in the value of currency. Frequent letters from Captain Angelo Gariboldo document the state of trade and shipping during the early years of the war.
Letters from overseers continue to document the management of Johnston's various plantations throughout the war, with references to acts of resistance by enslaved people, including self-emancipation and work reductions. Later correspondence mentions the drafting of enslaved people to fight in the Confederate States Army. Johnston's correspondence with Henry Futrell and C. W. Hollowell share opinions on the war and slavery.
There are very few letters from soldiers, but letters from business associates and family members describe military engagements and reflect on the effects of the war on society. Letters from William Hardy of Norfolk, Va., document the burning of the Naval yard, blockade of the harbor, and arrival of troops in 1861. Letters from women, particularly of the Iredell family, often relay news received from sons on the battlefield.
Throughout the Civil War, James C. Johnston lived at Hayes with his cousin, James Cathcart Johnston Jr., and his wife, who helped with the management of the plantation. Edenton, like many other southern towns, suffered from pillaging by "Buffaloes" (civilians with Union allegiances), Union soldiers, and Confederate guerrillas, and fear of these attacks lead James Cathcart Johnston Jr. and his wife to flee the plantation on three separate occasions. In 1863, following the third such incident, Johnston hired a man to help him manage his mills, farmed with the help of friends, and bought small lots of land to get rid of his worthless paper securities. He also wrote his will, in which he gave his real and personal property to three friends and made them co-executors of his estate. Edward Wood, an Edenton businessman, received his Chowan County property, including Hayes. Christopher W. Hollowell, a resident of Pasquotank County who had managed Johnston's farms in that area was given Poplar Plains and the other Pasquotank properties. Caledonia's manager, Henry J. Futrell, inherited the property in Halifax and Northampton counties.
In the summer of 1864, Union forces raided Hayes. Johnston subsequently demanded protection and the military government issued him a safeguard. It stated that Johnston was a "loyal and well disposed citizen" and that the Union forces were to respect his person and property. At the end of the war, most of Johnston's properties emerged relatively unscathed.
Johnston died in 1865. His cousins challenged the legitimacy of his will and its accompanying letters of instruction written to the executors, claiming that Johnston had been mentally unstable when he had written the will and the letters. The will was finally established as legal in 1867, but the estate was not settled until 1871 because additional suits were brought against its executors. For more information on the settling of the Johnston estate see the Wood family papers (Series 2.1.1).
| Folder 192 |
January 1811January 5: Bill of sale for Jerry, Priscilla (otherwise "Silla") and her children James and Ferebee, enslaved people who were sold by William T. Muse of Pasquotank County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston of Martin County. Muse had purchased Jerry, Priscilla, James, and Ferebee from the estate of Frederick Davis. Undated: List of enslaved people with amounts of credit next to names. |
| Folder 193 |
February 1811 |
| Folder 194 |
March 1811March 2: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 195 |
April 1811 |
| Folder 196 |
May 1811 |
| Folder 197 |
June 1811June 16: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston in Williamston, N.C., to Abel Hines Jr., a hatter in New Milford, Conn., requesting a supply of wool hats for enslaved people. Verso of the letter includes a list of 40 enslaved people; 1 of the females is noted to have 3 children; 4 other females are noted with either an age or the number of children they have. June 29: List of enslaved people, with names; for some individuals, work skills, number of children, and disability are noted. |
| Folder 198 |
July 1811 |
| Folder 199 |
August 1811August 7: Letter from Abel Hine Jr., a hatter in New Millford, Conn., to James Cathcart Johnston in Williamston, N.C., confirming that he will send 12 dozen wool hats for enslaved people. |
| Folder 200 |
September 1811September 9: Receipt for labor of Pompy and bricks that James Cathcart Johnston bought from James Cunningham, a free Black businessman in Edenton. |
| Folder 201 |
October 1811 |
| Folder 202 |
November 1811November 20: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 203 |
December 1811 |
| Folder 204 |
January 1812Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 205 |
February 1812Undated: List of enslaved people. February 13: Letter from John B. Blount in Edenton to James Cathcart Johnston at Hermitage near Williamston, regarding Miller, an enslaved person who was sold by Dr. Knox through Mr. Bush of Halifax County, N.C. and J. Clark, to Mrs. W. Kinzer. The letter also states that Miller was mortgaged by Dr. Knox to Mr. Muse. February 23: Letter from William J. Muse at Pasquotonk to James Cathcart Johnston at Williamston, regarding refusal of Penelope Swann to accept the bill of sale for Hannibal, an enslaved person, and the resulting complications to his emancipation. February 24: Receipt for interest paid on the purchase of enslaved people by James Cathcart Johnston from Penelope Swann. February 28: Bill of sale for Robin, Tom, Charles, York, Cancer, George, Levi, Ishmael, Sam, Isaiah, James, Edmound, Stephen, Tamer and six children, Milly and three children, Lemon and three children, Julia, Mary, Penny and two children, Betsy, "Old" Cancer, John Violet, Patima, Currituck, James, Isaac, Reuben, Dick, Moses, and Jerry, all of whom were enslaved people who were sold by Penelope Swann in Martin County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston in Martin County, N.C. |
| Folder 206 |
March 1812 |
| Folder 207 |
April 1812 |
| Folder 208 |
May 1812May 9: Receipt for court fees related to the emancipation of Hannibal that were payed by James Cathcart Johnston to H. B. Hunter. May 23: List of people enslaved by Will Blair, including Geof, Ben, Pomp, Jacob, Will, Atlas, Edmund, Jude, Pat and her three children (George, Marianne, and Serena), and Suk and her two children (Abraham and Maria). Blair noted that one of the people enslaved by him was not listed as he had self-emancipated. |
| Folder 209 |
June 1812 |
| Folder 210 |
July 1812 |
| Folder 211 |
August 1812 |
| Folder 212 |
September 1812September 8: Record of James Cathcart Johnston in account with Booz Barrod for purchases of shoes and shoe repairs for enslaved people who are listed by name. |
| Folder 213 |
November 1812 |
| Folder 214 |
December 1812December 28: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 215 |
January-March 1813January 25: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. January 27: Record of hiring out of Cato, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston, to Benjamin Folks and to Richard Poindexter. |
| Folder 216 |
April-June 1813April 19: Letter from George Blair in Edenton to James Cathcart Johnston, mentioning George and Sam, who were enslaved by Johnston, and that some of the enslaved people there had been sick. George also described the work done on the plantation. April 20: Letter from George Blair in Edenton to James Cathcart Johnston, asking for further communication, and mentioning an enclosed memorandum from Sam, who was enslaved by Johnston. April 26: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 217 |
July-September 1813July 8: Letter from Sam to his enslaver James Cathcart Johnston in Williamston, discussing communications with the bricklayer who would work on the chimney and the poor condition of the crops due to drought. September 22: Letter from Robert H. Smith to James Cathcart Johnston, mentioning Field, an enslaved person who was married to Penney. Smith inquired about purchasing Penney and her youngest child. |
| Folder 218 |
October-December 1813October 9: Letter from Peter B. Martin in Cedar Landing to James Cathcart Johnston in Edenton, regarding the hiring of Cato, who was enslaved to Johnston, by Mrs. Folks. Cato was hired as a builder. |
| Folder 219 |
January-March 1814February 16: List of enslaved people. March (undated): List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 220 |
April-June 1814 |
| Folder 221 |
July-September 1814July 1: Bill of sale for James, an enslaved person who was sold by Myles Davis of Pasquotank County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston in Martin County, N.C. |
| Folder 222 |
October-December 1814November 4: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 223 |
January-March 1815 |
| Folder 224 |
April-June 1815May (undated): List of enslaved people. May 4: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 225 |
July-September 1815 |
| Folder 226 |
October-December 1815 |
| Folder 227 |
January-April 1816Undated: John Parker's receipt for payment for protection of people enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston. Undated: 3 lists of enslaved people and amount of corn harvested by each. |
| Folder 228 |
May-August 1816 |
| Folder 229 |
September-December 1816November (undated): List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 230 |
January-February 1817Undated: Tax list documenting that James Cathcart Johnston enslaved 42 people in Halifax County, and Margaret McKenzie enslaved 20 people. January 6: Record of provisions provided to Hanah, Milley, and Pegey(?), who were enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston. January 7: Record of hiring out of Dave, an enslaved person whose labor was purchased from Reuban Cavnal (?) by James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 231 |
March-April 1817March 19: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. April 7: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 232 |
May-June 1817June 5: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 233 |
July-August 1817 |
| Folder 234 |
September-October 1817October 27: Bill of sale for Tom, an enslaved person sold by Durham Davis of Martin County, N.C., to Penelope Swann. James Cathcart Johnston brokered the trafficking of Tom. |
| Folder 235 |
November-December 1817November 10: Receipt for the hiring out of London and Hannibal, enslaved people whose labor was purchased from D. McDonald by James Cathcart Johnston. November 11: Bill of sale for Shaderick, an enslaved boy who was sold by Maragret McKenzie to James Cathcart Johnston. November 24: Message from James Cathcart Johnston to James R. Creery, requesting flannel be sent with Mingo, an enslaved person who carried messages and goods for Johnston. |
| Folder 236 |
January 1818January 1: Record of hiring out of Harry, an enslaved person whose labor was purchased from Edmond Hoskins by James Cathcart Johnston. January 29: Bill of sale for Dick, an enslaved boy who was sold by John W. Littlejohn and John Little, executors of the estate of William Littlejohn, to James Cathcart Johnston. Undated: Letter (fragment), that mentions that the will, possibly that of Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), intended for the plantations and enslaved people to be kept together. Undated: List of enslaved people and corn made and delivered by each. |
| Folder 237 |
February 1818 |
| Folder 238 |
March 1818 |
| Folder 239 |
April 1818 |
| Folder 240 |
May 1818 |
| Folder 241 |
June 1818 |
| Folder 242 |
July 1818July 22: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 243 |
August 1818 |
| Folder 244 |
September 1818 |
| Folder 245 |
October 1818October 6: Letter from William LesGray to James Catchart Johnston, reporting that a woman enslaved by Amos Ragner wished to be purchased by Johnston or LesGray in order to be closer to her husband. |
| Folder 246 |
November 1818November 21: Letter from Charlton Y. Mowby in Northampton County to James Cathcart Johnston in Edenton, concerning Jim, Isaac, and Frank, enslaved people who had self-emancipated but had been captured and returned to Northampton County, N.C. Frank was enslaved by Johnston and was found at Connoconary Swamp. It is not clear to whom Jim and Isaac were enslaved. At the time of this letter, two enslaved women who also had self-emancipated remained at liberty. |
| Folder 247 |
December 1818 |
| Folder 248 |
January 1819 |
| Folder 249 |
February 1819February 16: a receipt for prison charges for a woman enslaved by James C. Johnston. The fee was paid to Joshua Daffin by Charlton Yellowby. |
| Folder 250 |
March 1819 |
| Folder 251 |
April 1819 |
| Folder 252 |
May 1819 |
| Folder 253 |
June 1819 |
| Folder 254 |
July 1819 |
| Folder 255 |
August 1819 |
| Folder 256 |
September 1819 |
| Folder 257 |
October 1819October 10: Record of clothing and household furnishings for enslaved people. October 15: Bill for medical care provided by Dr. Griffith to Stephen, who was enslaved by James Cathcart Johnson, while Stephen was jailed at Norfolk County, N.C. October 15: Bill from William Barnard of Norfolk County for expenses relating to advertising, apprehension, and jailing of Stephen, who was enslaved by James Cathcart Johnstson. |
| Folder 258 |
November 1819 |
| Folder 259 |
December 1819December 4: Letter from Thomas B. Littlejohn in Oxford, N.C., to James Johnston at Hayes, requesting information about hiring out of Guy, a sawyer who was enslaved to Mrs. Alston in Edenton. At the time Guy's labor was already hired out to Moses Watkins, a free Black person. December 26: Record with terms of hiring out of enslaved people from the estate of Samuel Johnston by William Britton. December 26: Record of clothing and household furnishings for enslaved people. |
| Folder 260 |
January 1820 |
| Folder 261 |
February 1820 |
| Folder 262 |
March 1820March 18: Bill of sale for Jinny, an enslaved woman sold by Mary R. Hardison of Washington County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston of Chowan County, N.C. |
| Folder 263 |
April 1820April 24: Receipt for expenses related to ferriage of an enslaved boy to Plymouth, N.C. |
| Folder 264 |
May 1820May 4: Bill for supporting Poll and her three children, who were enslaved to the orphaned heirs of Samuel W. Johnston. May 27: Letter from John Johnston at Plymouth to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, discussing hiring terms for a person enslaved to his father's estate who suffered from a cancer on his foot. The enslaved person's labor had been hired out to Benjamin T. Slade. |
| Folder 265 |
June 1820June 17: Letter from Joseph Bount to James C. Johnston, concerning Stephen, an enslaved person who had self-emancipated but had been captured and jailed at Norfolk. The letter explains the terms of gaining Stephen's release from the jail. |
| Folder 266 |
July 1820 |
| Folder 267 |
August 1820August (undated): List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 268 |
September 1820 |
| Folder 269 |
October 1820October 30: Letter from John Hollowell at Poplar Plains to James Cathcart Johnston near Edenton, reporting that Sam, who was enslaved by Johnston, apparently had engaged in acts of resistance and was thought to be intending to self-emancipate by running away to Juniper Swamp until Hollowell had him jailed. The letter was carried to Johnston by London, who was enslaved by Johnston. |
| Folder 270 |
November 1820 |
| Folder 271 |
December 1820December 25: List of enslaved people; record of clothing and household furnishings for enslaved people. |
| Folder 272 |
January 1821 |
| Folder 273 |
February 1821February 27: Letter from John Hollowell at Poplar Plains to James Cathcart Johnston in Chowan County, concerning Jack, an enslaved person at Salem, who reportedly self-emancipated on February 10, possibly to Edenton to see Lucy, who already was in a romantic relationship with Abraham. Jack, presumably another person enslaved by Johnston, and George, who was enslaved by Mrs. Blount, are also mentioned. |
| Folder 274 |
March 1821 |
| Folder 275 |
April 1821 |
| Folder 276 |
May 1821May 3: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 277 |
June 1821June 22: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 278 |
July 1821 |
| Folder 279 |
August 1821 |
| Folder 280 |
September 1821 |
| Folder 281 |
October 1821 |
| Folder 282 |
November 1821 |
| Folder 283 |
December 1821 |
| Folder 284 |
1-15 January 1822January 5: Record of terms of hiring out of labor of people enslaved to the estate of Samuel Johnston to various individuals. January 10: Inventory documenting that James Cathcart Johnston enslaved 145 people on the Roanoke River in Halifax County: 47 enslaved people were at the upper plantation; 60 enslaved people were at the middle plantation; and 38 enslaved people were at the lower plantation. |
| Folder 285 |
16-31 January 1822 |
| Folder 286 |
February 1822 |
| Folder 287 |
March 1822March 11: Record of clothing and household furnishings for enslaved people. |
| Folder 288 |
April 1822 |
| Folder 289 |
May 1822 |
| Folder 290 |
June 1822June 27: List of enslaved people related to taxes paid in Pasquotank County. |
| Folder 291 |
July 1822 |
| Folder 292 |
August 1822 |
| Folder 293 |
September 1822 |
| Folder 294 |
October 1822 |
| Folder 295 |
November 1822 |
| Folder 296 |
December 1822 |
| Folder 297 |
January-February 1823 |
| Folder 298 |
March-April 1823March 20: Letter from John C. Ehringhaus in Elizabeth City to James Cathcart Johnston at Edenton, describing a trial that occurred as a result of an encounter between Barnes Jackson, the son of Malachi Jackson, and four enslaved people, including Jim, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston, on a road between the Hollowell's house and the slave quarters at Poplar Plains. Jim allegedly fought Barnes Jackson when Jackson attempted to take the enslaved woman into his custody and then allegedly stole the saddle from Jackson's horse. Includes discussion of legal considerations of jailing and bail for an enslaved person. March 24: Letter from Lemuel Long to James Cathcart Johnston, advising that Jim, an enslaved person who was sold by William McKenzie to Long's father, had sued for his freedom in the high court of chancery in Richmond district. March 25: Letter from John Hollowell at Poplar Plains to James Cathcart Johnston, with further discussion of the case, or lack thereof, against Jim, who was enslaved to Johnston. Hollowell also reported that he had sent equipment by Jim, presumably a different person who was enslaved to Johnston. April 7: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 299 |
May-June 1823 |
| Folder 300 |
July-August 1823July 16: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 301 |
September-October 1823 |
| Folder 302 |
November-December 1823 |
| Folder 303 |
1-15 January 1824 |
| Folder 304 |
16-31 January 1824 |
| Folder 305 |
February 1824 |
| Folder 306 |
March 1824 |
| Folder 307 |
April 1824 |
| Folder 308 |
May 1824 |
| Folder 309 |
1-15 June 1824 |
| Folder 310 |
16-30 June 1824 |
| Folder 311 |
July 1824 |
| Folder 312 |
August 1824 |
| Folder 313 |
September 1824 |
| Folder 314 |
October 1824 |
| Folder 315 |
November 1824 |
| Folder 316 |
December 1824 |
| Folder 317 |
January 1825Undated: List of enslaved people. January 13: Bill of sale for Jacob, an enslaved person who was sold from the estate of William T. Muse in Pasquotank County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston in Chowan County, N.C. William Gregory, the sheriff, brokered the trafficking of Jacob through a public auction. |
| Folder 318 |
1-15 February 1825 |
| Folder 319 |
16-28 February 1825 |
| Folder 320 |
March 1825 |
| Folder 321 |
April 1825April 11: Bill of sale for Jacob, an enslaved person who was sold by the estate of William J. Muse at auction to James Cathcart Johnston. William Gregory, the sheriff of Pasquotank County, N.C., brokered the trafficking of Jacob. |
| Folder 322 |
May 1825 |
| Folder 323 |
June 1825 |
| Folder 324 |
July 1825 |
| Folder 325 |
August 1825 |
| Folder 326 |
September 1825 |
| Folder 327 |
October 1825 |
| Folder 328 |
November 1825 |
| Folder 329 |
December 1825 |
| Folder 330 |
January-February 1826January 23: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston to John Branch, defending the institution of slavery and decrying the corrupting influence of manufacturing. |
| Folder 331 |
March-April 1826 |
| Folder 332 |
May-June 1826June 2: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 333 |
July-August 1826 |
| Folder 334 |
September-October 1826October 22: Bill of sale for Davis, an enslaved man sold by Sarah Knox from the estate of Andrew Knox, to James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 335 |
November-December 1826 |
| Folder 336 |
January 1827 |
| Folder 337 |
February 1827 |
| Folder 338 |
March 1827 |
| Folder 339 |
April 1827 |
| Folder 340 |
May 1827 |
| Folder 341 |
June 1827 |
| Folder 342 |
July 1827 |
| Folder 343 |
August 1827 |
| Folder 344 |
September 1827 |
| Folder 345 |
October 1827 |
| Folder 346 |
November 1827 |
| Folder 347 |
December 1827December 15: Letter from Samuel Hyman to James Cathcart Johnston, concerning expenses for Dinah, an enslaved person whose labor had been hired out by Johnston to Hyman in Williamston. The letter mentiones that Dinah's husband was a recently freed Black person. December 18: David Perry, a Black man who captained a ferry, received payment for transporting pine timber near Plymouth, N.C. December 20: An account sheet of James Cathcart Johnston with John S. Bryan that includes names of enslaved people and amounts paid to them in merchandise. |
| Folder 348 |
January 1828 |
| Folder 349 |
February 1828February 10: Copies of letters from James Cathcart Johnston to Ebenezar Pettigrew and James Iredell regarding purchase of enslaved people from Tredwell through Iredell. James Cathcart Johnston offered to advance the cash for the purchase. |
| Folder 350 |
March 1828 |
| Folder 351 |
April 1828 |
| Folder 352 |
May 1828 |
| Folder 353 |
June 1828 |
| Folder 354 |
July 1828July 21: Letter from James Cathacart Johnston to Robert Lenox in which he defended slavery against the ills of manufacturing. |
| Folder 355 |
August 1828 |
| Folder 356 |
September 1828 |
| Folder 357 |
October 1828 |
| Folder 358 |
November 1828 |
| Folder 359 |
December 1828 |
| Folder 360 |
1-15 January 1829Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 361 |
16-31 January 1829 |
| Folder 362 |
February 1829 |
| Folder 363 |
March 1829 |
| Folder 364 |
April 1829 |
| Folder 365 |
May 1829 |
| Folder 366 |
June 1829 |
| Folder 367 |
July 1829 |
| Folder 368 |
August 1829August 4: Letter from James Iredell in Raleigh, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston in Halifax County, N.C., discussing sale of some of the enslaved people from the Tredwell family to Johnston and the possibility of selling other enslaved people to a speculator. August 12: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Caledonia to James Iredell confirming that he would purchase the enslaved people who had been from the Tredwell family and settle them near Edenton. He also mentioned that Peggy, who was enslaved by him, had two sons that she wanted to learn a trade. Johnston discussed training them as house carpenters and millwrights, and doing the same for the sons of Mariam, another woman enslaved by him. August 18: Letter from James Simmons to James Cathcart Johnston, documenting that Allen, Rose, Hailey, and Henry, all enslaved children, were purchased for Johnston and sent to Long's by Simmons. |
| Folder 369 |
September 1829September 21: Bill of sale for Maryann, Tom, and Allen, who were enslaved people sold by James Iredell of Chowan County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 370 |
October 1829 |
| Folder 371 |
November 1829 |
| Folder 372 |
December 1829 |
| Folder 373 |
January-February 1830January 14: Bill of sale for Dempsey and Jacob, enslaved boys who were sold by Josiah McKist to James Cathcart Johnston. Undated: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 374 |
March-April 1830April 25: Bill of sale for Abraham and Sam, enslaved people who were sold by Samuel Long(?) through James Simmons at the court in Halifax County to James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 375 |
May-June 1830 |
| Folder 376 |
July-August 1830July 3: Bill of sale for Cromwell, an enslaved person who was sold by John Cox in Chowan County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston. July 4: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to Robert Lenox, complaining about slavery. |
| Folder 377 |
September-October 1830 |
| Folder 378 |
November-December 1830December 13: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to Robert Lenox, complaining about northern firebrands who would instigate rebellion among enslaved people. Johnston mentioned the "Salem murder," a reference to the murder of Captain Joseph White, who had been involved in the trafficking of enslaved people. |
| Folder 379 |
January-February 1831January 4: Bill of sale for Jerry, an enslaved person who was sold by William R. Norcom to James Cathcart Johnston. February 26: Letter from Thomas Haughton to James Cathcart Johnston, indicating that he had purchased Sarah, an enslaved woman who was the mother of Lucy, a girl who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston and the carrier of the letter. |
| Folder 380 |
March-April 1831April 14: Bill from George Sam, a jailor, for fees for the jailing of a person enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 381 |
May-June 1831 |
| Folder 382 |
July-August 1831 |
| Folder 383 |
September-October 1831 |
| Folder 384 |
November-December 1831 |
| Folder 385 |
January-February 1832 |
| Folder 386 |
March-April 1832 |
| Folder 387 |
May-June 1832 |
| Folder 388 |
July-August 1832 |
| Folder 389 |
September-October 1832 |
| Folder 390 |
November-December 1832 |
| Folder 391 |
January-February 1833February 11: Receipt, indicating that Jack, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston, had been jailed. John Gatlin, F. E. White, and Miles Elliot are mentioned on the receipt. |
| Folder 392 |
March-April 1833 |
| Folder 393 |
May-June 1833June 22: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 394 |
July-August 1833July 5: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. July 8: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to Hicks & Smith, seeking their procurement of blankets and wool hats for enslaved people. July 14: Legal record witnessing that Sam, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnson, appeared in court for being at liberty without a permit. July 15: Letter, probably from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, mentioning dismissal of white overseers and relying on Black overseers to save on expenses. July 22: Letter from Ebenezer Pettigrew at Lake Phelps to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, explaining his reticence to increasing the number of enslaved people on his land. |
| Folder 395 |
September-October 1833October 7: Record of hiring out of George, Daniel, Dundee, Tom, Allen, and Rachel, enslaved people whose labor was purchased from Helen Iredell by James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 396 |
November-December 1833December 16: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to Robert Lenox, acknowledging that most of his land and some of the people enslaved by him had been inherited from his grandfather William Cathcart. |
| Folder 397 |
January-March 1834 |
| Folder 398 |
April-June 1834May 9: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 399 |
July-September 1834 |
| Folder 400 |
October-December 1834October 27: Receipt for payment of fees associated with jailing of Lidia, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston. Payment was made for food, blankets, and release from jail to William D. Roscoe, sheriff, in Edenton. November 7: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 401 |
January 1835 |
| Folder 402 |
February 1835 |
| Folder 403 |
March 1835 |
| Folder 404 |
April 1835April 1: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 405 |
May 1835 |
| Folder 406 |
June 1835 |
| Folder 407 |
July 1835 |
| Folder 408 |
August 1835August 8: Letter from John T. Johnston in Hillsborough, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, commenting on the insurrection by enslaved people in Mississippi. August 31: Receipt for payment of fees associated with jailing of Harvey, who was enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston. Payment was received by James Pruden. |
| Folder 409 |
September 1835 |
| Folder 410 |
October 1835 |
| Folder 411 |
November 1835 |
| Folder 412 |
December 1835December 29: Bill of sale for Sarah and her children Harry and Penelope, enslaved people who were sold by the estate of William B. Roberts in Chowan County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston of Chowan County, N.C. William D. Roscoe and James Wills as executors of the estate brokered the trafficking of Sarah and her children. |
| Folder 413 |
January 1836 |
| Folder 414 |
February 1836 |
| Folder 415 |
March 1836 |
| Folder 416 |
1-15 April 1836 |
| Folder 417 |
16-30 April 1836April 24: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 418 |
1-15 May 1836 |
| Folder 419 |
16-31 May 1836 |
| Folder 420 |
June 1836 |
| Folder 421 |
July 1836July 16: List of names of enslaved people is written on a letter from Bryan Marlton in Plymouth to James Cathcart Johnston in Edenton. |
| Folder 422 |
August 1836 |
| Folder 423 |
September 1836September 8: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to John I. Bryan and Co., seeking procurement of 12 dozen hats and 16 dozen blankets for enslaved people, as well as other goods. |
| Folder 424 |
October 1836 |
| Folder 425 |
November 1836 |
| Folder 426 |
December 1836 |
| Folder 427 |
January 1837 |
| Folder 428 |
February 1837 |
| Folder 429 |
March 1837March 28: Record of the hiring out and then the sale of Ned, who was enslaved to the estate of Ann Clark, to James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 430 |
April 1837 |
| Folder 431 |
May 1837May 22: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 432 |
June 1837 |
| Folder 433 |
July 1837 |
| Folder 434 |
1-15 August 1837August 3: Letter from Michael Ferrall at Halifax to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, reporting that Mr. Garris and people enslaved by Johnston had been in town making purchases for the summer. Ferrall reported on what he observed of the enslaved people and what he heard from Garris, including that Peggy, an enslaved woman, had absented herself from work, but turned herself in to Ferrall, who had returned her to Caledonia. August 8: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 435 |
16-31 August 1837 |
| Folder 436 |
September 1837 |
| Folder 437 |
October 1837 |
| Folder 438 |
November 1837 |
| Folder 439 |
December 1837 |
| Folder 440 |
January 1838 |
| Folder 441 |
February 1838 |
| Folder 442 |
March 1838 |
| Folder 443 |
April 1838 |
| Folder 444 |
May 1838 |
| Folder 445 |
June 1838 |
| Folder 446 |
July 1838July 16: Letter from Ebenezer Pettigrew at Lake Phelps to James Cathcart Johnston, discussing his perspective on the effect of religion on the conduct of enslaved people at the Lake. |
| Folder 447 |
August 1838August 23: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 448 |
September 1838 |
| Folder 449 |
October 1838 |
| Folder 450 |
November 1838November 21: Bill of sale of Jack, an enslaved person who was sold by William J. Muse of Chowan County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 451 |
December 1838 |
| Folder 452 |
January-February 1839 |
| Folder 453 |
March-April 1839 |
| Folder 454 |
May-June 1839 |
| Folder 455 |
July-August 1839August 6: Letter from James Blount Cheshire in Flat Rock to James Cathcart Johnston, reporting that he would bring the Christian faith to the enslaved people at Deveraux's plantation. |
| Folder 456 |
September-October 1839 |
| Folder 457 |
November-December 1839 |
| Folder 458 |
January-March 1840 |
| Folder 459 |
April-June 1840May 9: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 460 |
July-September 1840 |
| Folder 461 |
October-December 1840 |
| Folder 462 |
January-March 1841 |
| Folder 463 |
April-June 1841 |
| Folder 464 |
July-September 1841 |
| Folder 465 |
October-December 1841 |
| Folder 466 |
January-February 1842 |
| Folder 467 |
March-April 1842 |
| Folder 468 |
May-June 1842 |
| Folder 469 |
July-August 1842 |
| Folder 470 |
September-October 1842 |
| Folder 471 |
November-December 1842 |
| Folder 472 |
January-March 1843January 25: Letter from Charles Evans in Philadelphia to James Cathcart Johnston in Edenton, discussing resettlement conditions for free Black people in Liberia, Trinidad, and Jamaica. Fred Hinton, a free Black man, is mentioned as leading an agency discontinued for lack of interest in emigration among the Black population of the city. Other resettlement communities mentioned include Wilberforce, Canada; Mercer County, Ohio; Grand River, Michigan; and a settlement near to Cincinnati, Ohio. |
| Folder 473 |
April-June 1843 |
| Folder 474 |
July-September 1843 |
| Folder 475 |
October-December 1843November 3: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 476 |
January-February 1844January 5: List of enslaved people, with amount of credit available to them to purchase goods from J. and O. Fearing in Elizabeth City. January 22: Letter from Charles Evans in Philadelphia to James Cathcart Johnston in Edenton, discussing resettlement conditions for Black people in Cape Palmas, Liberia. |
| Folder 477 |
March-April 1844 |
| Folder 478 |
May-June 1844May 20: Letter from Ebenezer Pettigrew at Magnolia to James Cathcart Johnston, mentioning that there were enslaved and white people who were confirmed at the chapel at Lake Scuppernong. |
| Folder 479 |
July-August 1844July 12: List of enslaved people with itemized purchases from Barney Tisdale in Elizabeth City. |
| Folder 480 |
September-October 1844 |
| Folder 481 |
November-December 1844 |
| Folder 482 |
January 1845Undated: List of enslaved people on Chowan County, N.C., tax receipt for 1844. |
| Folder 483 |
February 1845 |
| Folder 484 |
March 1845 |
| Folder 485 |
April 1845 |
| Folder 486 |
May 1845 |
| Folder 487 |
June 1845 |
| Folder 488 |
July 1845 |
| Folder 489 |
August 1845 |
| Folder 490 |
September 1845September 11: Letter from Hardy & Rioche at Norfolk to James Cathcart Johnston at Barnum's Hotel in Baltimore, responding to Johnston's request for blankets for enslaved people. Description of the blanket is provided. |
| Folder 491 |
October 1845 |
| Folder 492 |
November 1845 |
| Folder 493 |
December 1845December 31: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgradia to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, mentioning Peter, who was enslaved by Johnston and worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. |
| Folder 494 |
January-February 1846 |
| Folder 495 |
March-April 1846 |
| Folder 496 |
May-June 1846May 21: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgradia to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, commenting on the community of enslaved people at Pasquotank. |
| Folder 497 |
July-August 1846July 25: Record of James Cathcart Johnston in account with R. Howell & Son, for clothing purchased for enslaved people. Hanible, Mary, Sophy, Pinkey, Allen, London, Silvey, Billy, Nancy, Cat, Davy, Solomon, Alfred, Alphus, Astin, Wiley, Peter, Tom, George, Jim, Ned, and Nixon, all of whom were enslaved by Johnston, are mentioned. |
| Folder 498 |
September-October 1846 |
| Folder 499 |
November-December 1846 |
| Folder 500 |
January 1847January 24: Letter from W. J. Hardy in Norfolk to James Cathcart Johnston, mentioning Peter, who was enslaved by Johnston and worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. |
| Folder 501 |
February 1847 |
| Folder 502 |
March 1847 |
| Folder 503 |
April 1847 |
| Folder 504 |
May 1847 |
| Folder 505 |
June 1847 |
| Folder 506 |
July 1847July 5: Letter from W. J. Hardy in Norfolk to James Cathcart Johnston, mentioning Peter, who was enslaved by Johnston and worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank. July 24: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and the goods acquired on Johnston's credit at Howell & Son. |
| Folder 507 |
August 1847 |
| Folder 508 |
September 1847 |
| Folder 509 |
October 1847 |
| Folder 510 |
November 1847 |
| Folder 511 |
December 1847 |
| Folder 512 |
January-February 1848 |
| Folder 513 |
March-April 1848 |
| Folder 514 |
May-June 1848June 18: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. His letter reports on work at the plantation and mentions Osbourne, Nixon, Bithy(?), and Hannah, who also were enslaved by Johnston. |
| Folder 515 |
July-August 1848 |
| Folder 516 |
September-October 1848September 21: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Magnolia to James Cathcart Johnston at Norfolk explaining his intention of becoming better acquainted with the community of enslaved people after his father had died. Pettigrew also reported on the terms of his father's estate. |
| Folder 517 |
November-December 1848December 7: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, mentioning Henry, an enslaved overseer at Magnolia, and Moses, an enslaved overseer at Belgrade. Pettigrew also explained his preference for not hiring white overseers. |
| Folder 518 |
January 1849January 2: Account sheet for Jack Johnson, a free Black person, with Dr. James Norcom. January 6: Account sheet for Jack Johnston, a free Black person, with R. Howell & Son. January 6: List of enslaved people with credit at R. Howell & Son. January 8: Record of medical treatment by William C. Warren of people enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 519 |
February 1849 |
| Folder 520 |
March 1849 |
| Folder 521 |
April 1849April 7: Letter from Peter to his enslaver James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. His letter reports on work at the plantation and mentions Prince, Daniel, and Nixon, who were also enslaved by Johnston. April 16: Letter from James Johnston Pettigrew at Charleston to James Cathcart Johnston, mentioning slavery meetings and disunion speeches, wine, armed guards to protect against a Black-led resistance, and repercussions for Black people caught out without a pass. |
| Folder 522 |
May 1849May 13: Letter from W. B. Hathaway to James Cathcart Johnston at Edenton, mentioning Duke and his son Tom, and Betsy, who were enslaved people. |
| Folder 523 |
June 1849 |
| Folder 524 |
July 1849July 30: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and the goods acquired on Johnston's credit at Howell & Son. July 29: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 525 |
August 1849 |
| Folder 526 |
September 1849September 1: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Magnolia to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes in which Jim, who was enslaved by William S. Pettigrew, is identified as a carpenter. Pettigrew reported on cholera and plans to build more housing for enslaved people, and commented on the impact of climate on plantation management. |
| Folder 527 |
October 1849October 10: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. October 27: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. His letter describes work on the plantation and also mentions Ben, who was enslaved by Johnston. |
| Folder 528 |
November 1849November 6: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter reported on slavery patrollers who had harrassed him after violently attacking Solomon and Moses, who were enslaved people. He named Martin Cochrane and James Cartwright as the patrollers. Dinah, an enslaved person, is also mentioned in the letter. |
| Folder 529 |
December 1849 |
| Folder 530 |
January 1850 |
| Folder 531 |
February 1850 |
| Folder 532 |
March 1850March 7: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 533 |
April 1850April 5: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston from Poplar Plains. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter wrote about the illness of fellow enslaved persons and the conditions on the plantation. |
| Folder 534 |
May 1850 |
| Folder 535 |
June 1850June 1: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. His letter reports on conditions at the plantation and also mentions Dinah, who was enslaved to Johnston. June 15: Letter from James to his cousin James Cathcart Johnston, seemingly in the place of a customary letter from Peter, an enlsaved person who worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. James mentioned that many enslaved people were experiencing bowel complaints and noted the conditions on the plantation. June 22: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter wrote about the improving health of his fellow enslaved people, the conditions on the plantation (including the Sawyer field) and a Mr. Watkins who borrowed his horse. June 29: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter wrote about the sickness of his fellow enslaved persons and the conditions on the plantation (including the Sawyer field). Peter also mentioned his own crops of corn and oats. June 29: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Magnolia to James Cathcart Johnston at Edenton describing work on his plantation by enslaved people. |
| Folder 536 |
1-15 July 1850July 13: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. His letter reports on conditions at the plantation. July 13: Letter from James Sawyer at Poplar Plains to James Cathcart Johnston at White Sulphur Springs, Greenbriar County, Va., in which many enslaved people are identified and the work they performed July 6-12 is described. July 15: Letter from S. J. Johnston in Edenton to James Cathcart Johnston at White Sulphur Springs in Green Brier County, Va., reporting that Joe and Betty, who were enslaved to W. Bockover, had been accused of stealing 12,000 dollars from their enslaver. George Lowther, who was enslaved to W. Lowther, was accused of being an accomplice. |
| Folder 537 |
16-31 July 1850July 23: Letter from Aaron at Hayes near Edenton to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Aaron worked as a foreman or overseer at Hayes. Aaron wrote about the health of his fellow enslaved people, including that of Mother, Polly, Mary, Eliza and his father. He also noted the conditions on the plantation and mentioned Margaret Johnston. July 27: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County, N.C. Peter wrote that he and his fellow enslaved people were sick. He mentioned his own crop of corn, which he was packing and shipping. Peter also wrote about his oats and peas, and that the wet weather, though impeding planting, gave him time to get better. July 28: Letter from Margaret Ann Johnston at Hayes to her enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Margaret wrote that her mother was sick and that her sister Betsy who was at Nags Head wished to come see her. Margaret also noted the conditions her Uncle Jacob was facing after a storm and that Elizabeth had received a piece of cloth after getting married. Betty, Maria, Aaron, Elizabeth, Eliza, Lida, Jacob, and Osbourne are also mentioned. Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter wrote to clarify an issue that had arisen between Mr. Sawyer and himself. He noted that Sawyer was giving Manuel, an enslaved person, and himself trouble. However, Peter assured Johnston that he could manage the problem until Johnston's return. Peter included a letter to Hardy Brothers about his corn shipment bound for Norfolk. Peter mentioned visiting Mr. Hollowell who was recently sick but since recovered. |
| Folder 538 |
August 1850August 3: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County, N.C. Peter wrote about the conditions on the plantation and his work with six other unnamed enslaved people to plough a field. Peter noted that some of his fellow enslaved people were sick but had since recovered. He mentioned his own crop of corn, oats and peas and recounted using his hogs in the oat patch after harvest. August 8: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. August 11: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter wrote about labor, crops, and conditions at the plantation. August 18: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter wrote about labor, crops, and conditions at the plantation. August 18: Letter from John C. Ehringhaus to James Cathcart Johnston at Bath, mentioning Peter. August 18: Letter from James Sawyer to James Cathcart Johnston at Bath, Va., in which many enslaved people are identified and the work they performed at Poplar Plains is described. August 25: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter wrote about work completed and planned at the plantation. Andrew, Washington, Hannibal, and Tom are mentioned. August 28: Letter from Aaron at Hayes near Edenton to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Aaron worked as a foreman or overseer at Hayes. Aaron wrote about the conditions on the plantation and the health of the enslaved people there, including that of Nixon, Nancy and her grandchild. Aaron also mentioned the work Nixon and his father had been doing. |
| Folder 539 |
1-15 September 1850September 1: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as the foreman at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter wrote about labor, crops, and conditions at the plantation. September 14: Plantation journal entry in which enslaved people (and possibly free Black people) are identified and the work they performed, probably at Poplar Plains. The entry was written by James Sawyer. September 15: Letter from Sam I. Johnston in Edenton to James Cathcart Johnston. Osbourne, Aaron, and Maria, who were enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston, are mentioned as providing nursing care to Sam I. Johnston while he was sick. September 15: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter wrote about the work, crops, and conditions at Poplar Plains plantation. He also reported that Miles, an enslaved person, had been jailed and punished with physical violence for fighting with his wife and another man who was enslaved to Mr. Lee. |
| Folder 540 |
16-30 September 1850September 16: Letter from Aaron at Hayes to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Aaron worked as a foreman or overseer at Hayes. Aaron wrote about the work, crops, and conditions at the plantation. September 22: Letter and plantation journal entry from James Sawyer at Poplar Plains to James Cathcart Johnston in New York, in which enslaved people are identified and the work they perfomed at the plantation is described. September 22: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County, N.C. Peter discussed a project to build a barn and said that he and Osbourne, an enslaved person, could complete the work together. He also mentioned that Osbourne, Hendersen and Charles had arrived Monday evening. Peter wrote that Handsome, Anthony, and Ann were sick but had recovered. September 25: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter wrote about the work, crops, and conditions at the plantation and mentioned Handsome, Anthony, and Aaron, who also were enslaved to Johnston. September 28: Letter from Aaron at Hayes, to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Aaron worked as a foreman or overseer at Hayes. Aaron wrote about the work, crops, and conditions at the plantation. September 29: Letter from James Sawyer at Poplar Plains to James Cathcart Johnston in New York, in which enslaved people are identified and the work they perfomed at the plantation is described. September 29: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter wrote about the work, crops, and conditions at the plantation. |
| Folder 541 |
1-10 October 1850October 1: Letter from Margaret Johnston to her enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston, in Baltimore. Margaret wrote about conditions and mentioned Peter, Osbourne, and Aaron. October 4: Letter from Eliza Johnston, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston, reporting on the health of the enslaved people at Hayes. October 5: Letter from Aaron at Hayes to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Aaron worked as a foreman or overseer at Hayes. Aaron mentioned the death of one of Sally's children and that other children, including Mother Polly's son Hanibal, were sick. Aaron mentioned Nixon, Maria, Margaret, his father and his brother. Aaron also described the conditions on the plantation and the outbreak of fever in Edenton. October 6: Letter from Aaron at Hayes, to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Aaron wrote about the work, crops, and conditions at the plantation. October 6: Letter from Peter to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. He wrote about the work, crops, and conditions at the plantation and mentioned Josiah and Mathias, who were also enslaved to Johnston. |
| Folder 542 |
11-31 October 1850October 11: Letter from Peter to his enslaver James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. He wrote about the work, crops, and conditions at the plantation. October 11: Letter from W. B. Hathaway to James Cathcart Johnston at Baltimore, reporting on sickness and death in the enslaved community at the plantation. October 13: Letter from James Sawyer at Poplar Plains to James Cathcart Johnston at Baltimore. The letter identifies enslaved people and the work they performed at the plantation. October 14: Letter from Aaron at Hayes to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston, in Baltimore. Aaron worked as a foreman or overseer at Hayes. Aaron wrote about work performed at the plantation. October 15: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. October 23: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. October 24: Letter from Hardy & Brothers in Norfolk, Va., to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, including a list documenting the purchase of 500 blankets for enslaved people and wool hats for Peter. |
| Folder 543 |
November 1850 |
| Folder 544 |
December 1850December 12: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 545 |
January 1851January 4: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter mentioned that his fellow enslaved people had been sick, including Ben and Manuel who were away from Poplar Plains. Peter described the conditions on the plantation, including harvesting his and Ben's hogs. |
| Folder 546 |
February 1851February 27: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 547 |
March 1851 |
| Folder 548 |
April 1851 |
| Folder 549 |
May 1851May 3: Receipt indicating that James Cathcart Johnston had paid 1000 dollars for the resettlement of Betty Johnson, the widow of Jack Johnson, and their five children, in Ohio. |
| Folder 550 |
June 1851 |
| Folder 551 |
July 1851July 4: Letter from Aaron at Hayes to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Aaron worked as a foreman or overseer at Hayes. Aaron mentioned that he had been sick and that Osbourne had gone to Nags Head. Nixon is also mentioned. |
| Folder 552 |
August 1851August 4: Record of sale of Miles, who was a carpenter, Joe, and Jim (James), all of whom were enslaved to the estate of Margaret P. Tredwell, to James Cathcart Johnston. John Thompson and T. S. Hoskins, a sheriff, brokered the trafficking of Miles, Joe, and Jim. |
| Folder 553 |
September 1851 |
| Folder 554 |
October 1851October 12: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter mentioned that some enslaved spinners and children had been sick. Peter also wrote about Ben, a person enslaved by Johnston, and described getting leather to make shoes for his fellow enslaved people. |
| Folder 555 |
November 1851 |
| Folder 556 |
December 1851Undated: List of enslaved people with amounts credited for pork and fodder. December 3: Shipping and Commercial list with handwritten list of enslaved people and credits on verso. December 13: Letter from Peter to his enslaver James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter mentioned Ben and Mathias, who were enslaved to Johnston. December 22: List of enslaved people with weight of hogs. |
| Folder 557 |
January 1852January 18: Letter from Betty Johnston in Columbus, Ohio, to her former enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston in Chowan County, N.C. Betty wrote about her traveling expenses and purchasing a house and lot. She mentioned Martha as a dressmaker, Mary as a tailor, and that Noah had been hired to dray wood. January 19: List of expenses related to Betty Johnston's travel from Edenton, N.C., to Columbus, Ohio. January 31: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter mentioned Ben, a person enslaved by Johnston, and described the conditions on the plantation, including having his hogs butchered. |
| Folder 558 |
February 1852 |
| Folder 559 |
March 1852 |
| Folder 560 |
April 1852 |
| Folder 561 |
May 1852 |
| Folder 562 |
June 1852June 16: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and the goods acquired on Johnston's credit with Cleveland Sawyer. June 26: Letter from an enslaved person (NOTE: This item is missing as of October 2022.) |
| Folder 563 |
July 1852 |
| Folder 564 |
August 1852 |
| Folder 565 |
September 1852 |
| Folder 566 |
October 1852 |
| Folder 567 |
November 1852November 12: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and the goods acquired on Johnston's credit with Cleveland Sawyer. |
| Folder 568 |
December 1852December 23: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to James Cathcart Johnston, describing a rumored insurrection by enslaved people against their enslavers, Williams S. and Charles Pettigrew, and public acts of rebellion in Plymouth by people enslaved by Josiah Collins. Jim, who was enslaved by William S. Pettigrew, is mentioned as someone who should be regarded as capable of acts of rebellion against white people. |
| Folder 569 |
January 1853Undated: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and goods by order. January 27: Letter from William S. Pettigrew to James Cathcart Johnston, denying the rumor that people enslaved by him had killed his father, Ebenezer Pettigrew, by poison. There is some discussion of the enslaved community at Magnolia and Belgrade from the perspective of the white enslaver. The motivations of the overseer, "Mr. C.," are also discussed. Jim, who was enslaved to William S. Pettigrew, is mentioned as someone who should be regarded as capable of acts of rebellion against white people. |
| Folder 570 |
February 1853 |
| Folder 571 |
March 1853March 10: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and the goods acquired on Johnston's credit with Cleveland Sawyer. |
| Folder 572 |
April 1853 |
| Folder 573 |
May 1853 |
| Folder 574 |
June 1853 |
| Folder 575 |
July 1853 |
| Folder 576 |
August 1853 |
| Folder 577 |
September 1853 |
| Folder 578 |
October 1853October 27: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Magnolia to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, in which he described a foot injury and dog bite that made him very sick. October 27: Letter from James Johnston Pettigrew in Charleston, S.C., in which he commented on a captain of his acquaintance who trafficked in the slave trade on the Coast of Africa. Pettigrew noted the captain's perspective on the middle passage, which was at odds with the prevailing understanding of it. He also mentioned attending a dramatization of Uncle Tom's Cabin in Philadelphia. |
| Folder 579 |
November 1853 |
| Folder 580 |
December 1853 |
| Folder 581 |
January-April 1854 |
| Folder 582 |
May-August 1854June 1: List of people enslaved as of 28 December 1853. June 1: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and the goods acquired on Johnston's credit with Cleveland Sawyer. June 3: Receipt for jail fees paid to Joseph Godphry for Wiley, who was enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston. June 10: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Magnolia to James Cathcart Johnston at Elizabeth City, N.C., in which Pettigrew mentioned purchasing five enslaved women to be wives for men already enslaved by him, in an attempt to keep them from finding wives away from his plantations. August 12: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to James Cathcart Johnston, describing the circumstances in which Wilson, who worked in the house and was enslaved to Pettigrew at Magnolia, allegedly stole money from him. |
| Folder 583 |
September-December 1854September 2: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to James Cathcart Johnston, discussing further the robbery allegedly committed by Wilson, who was enslaved to Pettigrew at Magnolia. October 3: Letter from Hardy Rioche in Norfolk, Va., to James Cathcart Johnston in Baltimore, mentioning Peter, who was enslaved to Johnston, in his role as foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. October 30: Accounting sheet for Aaron Johnston, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston, with the goods acquired on credit with Cleveland Sawyer. December (undated): Accounting sheet with names of people enslaved at Hayes and amount of orders for trade for cash, pork, fodder. |
| Folder 584 |
January-February 1855January 1: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. January 1: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and the goods acquired on Johnston's credit with Cleveland Sawyer. |
| Folder 585 |
March-April 1855 |
| Folder 586 |
May-June 1855 |
| Folder 587 |
July-August 1855August 11: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, commenting on behavior of enslaved people and expectations of enslavers. |
| Folder 588 |
September-October 1855 |
| Folder 589 |
November-December 1855November 7: Letter from Joseph G. Godfrey in Edenton, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston, seeking payment for jailing London, who was enslaved to Johnston. London reportedly had engaged in conflict with his wife at Mr. Howell's. Godfrey also charged Johnston for policing people enslaved by him in town, except for when they were permitted to attend church on Sunday. |
| Folder 590 |
January 1856January 5: Bill of sale for Anthony, a 28 year old enslaved person who was sold by the estate of Joshua Skinner in Chowan County, to James Cathcart Johnston in Chowan County, N.C. T. L. Skinner as executor of the estate brokered the trafficking of Anthony. |
| Folder 591 |
February 1856 |
| Folder 592 |
March 1856March 14: Letter from James Johnston Pettigrew in Charleston, S.C., to James Johnston Pettigrew, discussing the controversy over slavery. |
| Folder 593 |
April 1856 |
| Folder 594 |
May 1856May 11: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to James Cathcart Johnston, describing the conduct of the people he enslaved at Magnolia and Belgrade. Moses, an enslaved man working as the overseer, is mentioned. |
| Folder 595 |
June 1856 |
| Folder 596 |
July 1856July 4: Letter from James C. Johnston Jr. at Hayes to his uncle James Cathcart Johnston, who was visiting the Pettigrews, mentioning Nixon and Osbourne, who were enslaved to the elder Johnston, and the work they performed. |
| Folder 597 |
August 1856 |
| Folder 598 |
September 1856 |
| Folder 599 |
October 1856 |
| Folder 600 |
November 1856November 13: Letter from John Williams in Baltimore (?) to James Cathcart Johnston, regarding the transfer of money, possibly in relation to indentured labor. |
| Folder 601 |
December 1856 |
| Folder 602 |
January 1857January 1: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. January 1: Accounting sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with names of enslaved people and the goods acquired on Johnston's credit with Cleveland Sawyer. January 1: Accounting sheet for Nixon Johnston, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston, with Cleveland Sawyer and Bro. January 1: Accounting sheet of James Cathcart Johnston with W. C. Warren and Son, with entries for medical care provided to enslaved people who are listed by name. Some enslaved family relationships are noted. |
| Folder 603 |
February 1857 |
| Folder 604 |
March 1857 |
| Folder 605 |
April 1857 |
| Folder 606 |
May 1857May 30: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter described the conditions on the plantation, including that of his own crops. |
| Folder 607 |
June 1857June 2: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as the foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter mentioned that he had taken a trip to Salem and his own health issues. Peter also described the conditions on the plantation, including the personal crops of him and Ben, a person enslaved by Johnston. |
| Folder 608 |
July 1857 |
| Folder 609 |
August 1857 |
| Folder 610 |
September 1857 |
| Folder 611 |
October 1857 |
| Folder 612 |
November 1857 |
| Folder 613 |
December 1857December 26: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Caledonia to William Hollowell, in which he reported on setting up a loom, carding machine, and spinning jenny so that enslaved people could make their own clothing at the plantation; the exhaustion of the enslaved community from all of the work on the plantation; and a meeting house for enslaved people to use for worship. Peter, an enslaved man who worked as a foreman or overseer for James Cathcart Johnston, is also mentioned. |
| Folder 614 |
January 1858 |
| Folder 615 |
February 1858 |
| Folder 616 |
March 1858March 27: Account sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with Sawyer Bro. & Co., with orders on credit for enslaved people. |
| Folder 617 |
April 1858 |
| Folder 618 |
May 1858 |
| Folder 619 |
June 1858June (undated): Letter from Richard McMorine (previously known as Richard Blount) in Buchanan City, Palm Grove Station, Bassa County, Liberia, to James Cathcart Johnston, discussing difficult conditions for people who had resettled to this place. McMorine wrote about acquiring land, farming, missionary work, and the need for financial assistance to build a house. |
| Folder 620 |
July 1858 |
| Folder 621 |
August 1858August 25: Account sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with Sawyer Bro. & Co., with orders on credit for enslaved people. |
| Folder 622 |
September 1858 |
| Folder 623 |
October 1858 |
| Folder 624 |
November 1858 |
| Folder 625 |
December 1858 |
| Folder 626 |
January 1859 |
| Folder 627 |
February 1859 |
| Folder 628 |
1-15 March 1859March 5: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter mentioned that Myles, a person enslaved by Johnston, had arrived at Poplar Plains. Peter also described the conditions on the plantation. |
| Folder 629 |
16-31 March 1859 |
| Folder 630 |
April 1859April 9: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter mentioned that Smith and Tom, people enslaved by Johnston, had been injured and that Myles, a person enslaved by Johnston, had gone to and returned from Salem plantation. Peter also described the conditions on the plantation. |
| Folder 631 |
May 1859 |
| Folder 632 |
June 1859June 26: Letter from Nixon Johnston at Hayes to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Nixon mentioned that some of his fellow enslaved people had been sick, including Betty. Nixon also mentioned his mother and father, London, Maria, and Hannibal. Nixon shared that Osbourne had left Hayes to go to Peter's with Jo (?) Irsom (?) and Madoson(?). |
| Folder 633 |
July 1859July 17: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter mentioned Aaron and Phillip, people enslaved by Johnston, and a letter he received from Ben, who also was enslaved by Johnston. Peter described the conditions on the plantation, including that of his and Ben's personal crops. |
| Folder 634 |
August 1859 |
| Folder 635 |
September 1859 |
| Folder 636 |
October 1859 |
| Folder 637 |
November 1859 |
| Folder 638 |
December 1859December 6: Letter from C. W. Hollowell at Elizabeth City, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston, reporting that Hannah, whose husband Major was already enslaved by Johnston, had been purchased for Johnston. |
| Folder 639 |
1-15 January 1860Undated: Letter from G. J. Cherry to James Cathcart Johnston, reporting that a canoe was missing, as well as "Old" America, Mariah, George, and Nelly, enslaved people who probably had gone to Plymouth. Undated: List of enslaved people and their ages for the census. Some family relationships are noted. January 2: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 640 |
16-31 January 1860 |
| Folder 641 |
February 1860 |
| Folder 642 |
1-15 March 1860 |
| Folder 643 |
16-31 March 1860 |
| Folder 644 |
April 1860April 10: Bill of sale for Henderson, an enslaved ships carpenter who was sold by Robert T. Paine in Chowan County, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston in Chowan County, N.C. |
| Folder 645 |
May 1860 |
| Folder 646 |
June 1860June 10: Letter possibly from Ben Johnston at the Body plantation, to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben mentioned the health of his fellow enslaved people and described the conditions at Body and Salem, as relayed to him by his father when he visited. June 11: Letter from C. W. Hollowell at Bay Side to James Cathcart Johnston, reporting that he had a tax list of the 178 people enslaved by Johnston, under the care of Peter and Ben, both of whom were enslaved and working as foreman or overseers. June 17: Letter from Young Ben at Body plantation, on behalf of Old Ben to their enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Young Ben mentioned that Old Ben's father had visited. Young Ben also described the conditions on the plantation, including that of Old Ben and his father's personal crops. June 24: Letter from Ben at Body plantation on behalf of "Old" Ben to their enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. The younger Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben mentioned that the people enslaved at Body were working with his father elsewhere. Ben also described the conditions on the plantation. |
| Folder 647 |
July 1860July 7: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter described the conditions on the plantation. July 8: Letter from Ben Johnston at Body plantation to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben requested that a park house be built for him and described the conditions at Body and at Salem plantation where his father was. July 15: Letter from Ben Johnston at Body plantation to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben noted that the people enslaved at Body had been working with his father at Salem. Ben also described the conditions at Salem. July 15: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter mentioned an enclosed list of trade. Peter also described the conditions on the plantation, including that of his own crops. July 22: Letter from Ben Johnston at Body plantation to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben wrote that a few of his fellow enslaved people had been sick and that his father and the people enslaved at Body had been working at Salem. Ben described the conditions at Body and at Salem. |
| Folder 648 |
August 1860 |
| Folder 649 |
September 1860September 9: Letter from Ben Johnston at Body plantation to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben wrote that his father had visited and that a few of the people enslaved at Body who worked with his father were sick. Ben also described the conditions on the plantation. September 16: Letter from Ben Johnston at Body plantation to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben wrote that Clarke, a person enslaved by Johnston, had been sick and that he had heard that his own father was also sick. Ben also described the conditions on the plantation. September 30: Letter from Peter at Poplar Plains to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Peter worked as a foreman or overseer at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. Peter described the conditions on the plantation. |
| Folder 650 |
October 1860October 21: Letter from Ben Johnston at Body plantation to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben wrote that the people enslaved at Body had been working with his father and described the conditions there. October 25: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Magnolia to James Cathcart Johnston, describing an uprising planned for Plymouth by people enslaved by Baker of Norfolk, and the slavery patrols initiated in response to white fears of violence against them. |
| Folder 651 |
November 1860 |
| Folder 652 |
December 1860December 10: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Caledonia to C. W. Hollowell, requesting the usual 6 month allowances be given to people enslaved by Johnston, and according discretion to Peter and Ben, who were enslaved by Johnston and worked as his foreman or overseers, to alter the amounts. December 27: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Magnolia to James Cathcart Johnston, giving a character recommendation for Richard Barfield, a free Black man who worked as a painter. Barfield sought to marry one of the daughters of Peter, who was enslaved to Johnston and worked as a foreman at Poplar Plains in Pasquotank County. |
| Folder 653 |
1-15 January 1861Undated: List of enslaved people. January 1: List of enslaved people. |
| Folder 654 |
16-31 January 1861 |
| Folder 655 |
February 1861 |
| Folder 656 |
March 1861 |
| Folder 657 |
1-15 April 1861April 5: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston describing the circumstances that led up to the self-emancipation by Harry, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston at Caledonia. Mack, who was enslaved by Johnston, is mentioned as someone who led groups of enslaved laborers. April 10: Letter from Henry J. Futrell to James Cathcart Johnston providing further news about Harry's escape; Milly, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston at Caledonia, was reported as being sick. Mack is mentioned as someone who led groups of enslaved laborers. April 15: Letter from Henry J. Futrell to James Cathcart Johnston providing further news of Harry's escape and other acts he allegedly committed against the overseer. Mack is mentioned as someone who led groups of enslaved laborers. |
| Folder 658 |
16-30 April 1861 |
| Folder 659 |
May 1861May 5: Letter from Henry J. Furtrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston regarding policing of enslaved people to make sure they did not rebel. Futrell also described work on the plantation, including that of Nat, who was enslaved by Johnston. May 13: Letter from H. J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston regarding policing of enslaved people. Futrell described violence used against Charity, an enslaved girl, to force her to identify who she had been with and seen while out. Jack, Godfrey, and Gunness(?), were implicated. Futrell also reported on work performed by Mack, Mat and Andrew. May 27: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston describing the labor assigned to Mat, Luke, and Andrew, who were enslaved by Johnston. He also mentioned not paying for medical care for the enslaved people. May 31: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston reporting that Luke, who was enslaved to James Cathcart Johnston, allegedly had stolen money from him and distributed it among other enslaved people. Futrell also reported on labor performed by Milly, Andrew, Godfrey, Mack, Baccus, and Anthony, all of whom were enslaved at Caledonia. |
| Folder 660 |
June 1861June 12: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston, reporting that Luke, a young adult who was a field worker enslaved to Johnston, had been caught stealing a chest of money and was at risk of being sold away as punishment. Harry was also mentioned, as he remained at liberty without a permit. Luke's labor, as well as that of Rodger, Godfrey, Mat, and Andrew is also described. |
| Folder 661 |
July 1861 |
| Folder 662 |
August 1861August 19: Record documenting illnesses and medical treatment of enslaved people. |
| Folder 663 |
September 1861 |
| Folder 664 |
October 1861 |
| Folder 665 |
November 1861November 8: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston, describing work done on the plantation. Mack and Ben, who were enslaved by Johnston, are mentioned. November 11: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston, describing work done on the plantation. Nat, Mack, and Charity, who were enslaved by Johnston, are mentioned. November 18: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston, describing work done on the plantation. Nat and Jacob, who were enslaved by Johnston, are mentioned. |
| Folder 666 |
December 1861December 7: Letter from Ben Johnston at Body plantation to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben wrote about the health of his fellow enslaved people, specifically the death of Liddy's child at Salem where Ben's father worked, and Primus who had been sick. Ben also described the conditions on the plantation. December 23: Letter from H. J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston reporting that enslaved people had been to town to trade the previous week. Tom, Nelly, and Old Nancy, a nurse, are mentioned. December 23: List of enslaved people with amount of credit available for trade with Mr. Sawyer. |
| Folder 667 |
January-February 1862 |
| Folder 668 |
March-April 1862 |
| Folder 669 |
May-June 1862 |
| Folder 670 |
July-August 1862July 22: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell at Bay Side, responding to reports on Peter, an enslaved person who worked as a foreman or overseer for Johnston at Poplar Plains. Johnston asked for assistance in getting Peter and his family to the Union Army in Norfolk in order to be rid of him. Ben is also mentioned and there is a list of names of enslaved people. August 7: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston Jr. at Hayes to Colonel Howard, concerning Alfred Manning, an enslaved person who had self-emancipated, then given a pass by Howard, and then allegedly plundered Johnston's plantation. Another self-emancipated woman is also mentioned as being on board Captain Gerard's steamer. August 21: Letter from W. I. Hardy in Norfolk to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, reporting that Peter and his family had made it to freedom in Columbus, Ohio, by way of Baltimore. Hardy also mentioned that several enslaved people had self-emancipated from Hayes. |
| Folder 671 |
September-October 1862September 15: Bill of sale for Alfred and Allen, enslaved people who were sold by Helen Iredell to James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 672 |
November-December 1862November 17: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston Jr. at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell at Bay Side, reporting that Henderson, who was enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston, had been sent to Hollowell with 11 pairs of shoes. |
| Folder 673 |
January 1863January 2: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to Hollowell, reporting that the Emancipation Proclamation had not had much impact on the enslaved people who remained in the area. January 20: Letter from the military governor to James C. Johnston, reporting that General Foster had ordered the arrest of Matthew, who was previously enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston but was freed by the January 1, 1863 Emancipation Proclamation, for undescribed crimes committed against the property of James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 674 |
February 1863February 8: Letter from C. W. Hollowell at Bay Side to James Cathcart Johnston, reporting on deteriorating control over the local enslaved population. Bill, Julio, and Ben, who were enslaved, are mentioned. February 12: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell, describing lawlessness in Edenton, including the presence of "Buffaloes" (civilians with Union allegiances) and Confederate guerrillas, and a rumored oath of neutrality. America, an enslaved person, is identified as the carrier of the letter; Aaron and Bill are also mentioned. February 12: Letter from C. W. Hollowell at Bayside to James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, describing a violent attack by Confederate guerrillas, and the desperate conditions at Poplar Plains. Jeffrey, Charles, Isaac, Little Major, and Harry, who were all enslaved by Johnston, are mentioned as being pressed into service and held by Captain Saunders and the federal troops. America, an enslaved person, is identified as the carrier of the letter; Julia, Bill, and Major, all of whom were enslaved, are also mentioned. |
| Folder 675 |
March 1863March 1: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell at Bay Side near Elizabeth City, N.C., expressing relief that things stolen by enslaved people and "Buffaloes" (civilians with Union allegiances) had been recovered. Johnston wrote that he believed the enslaved people at Poplar Plains were demoralized. He mentioned putting Major, an enslaved person, into Peter's old house and in charge of things; having Old Lawrence's widow, who was Major's mother-in-law, move in with Major if he would take care of her; giving Josiah a piece of land to grow corn, some of which he could keep for himself; moving enslaved people to Roanoke Island if they wanted work because otherwise they might starve if they stayed at Poplar Plains. March 13: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes, mentioning Major, who was enslaved by Johnston, as an assistant. Johnston also described violence by the Confederate guerrillas, including th murder of two enslaved people and abduction of ten others, and his anger at the enslaved people who had self-emancipated from him. Matthias, Jeff, Old Ben, and Little Ben, all of whom were enslaved, are mentioned. March 13: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to W. Futrell mentioning an incident in which Confederate guerrillas killed two enslaved people and took 10 prisoners. Johnston mentioned Matthias and Jeff, who were enslaved by him. March 18: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell, describing at length his feelings about his nephew and the enslaved people who left the plantation. Noah and Aaron, enslaved people, are mentioned as still being at Hayes. March 21: Bill of sale for Myles, an enslaved man who was sold by Francis I. Iredell, Helen B. Iredell, and Margaret T. Iredell, in Raleigh, N.C., to James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 676 |
April 1863April 11: Account sheet for James Cathcart Johnston with C & L Sawyer, with orders on credit for enslaved people. April 12: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to Henry I. Futrell, letting him know that he had included him in his will and his directives regarding the people enslaved by him. He mentioned Frank, Tom, and Solomon, enslaved people who worked with Angelo Garibaldi, and Nat, Mack, and Dolly, who were also enslaved. April 17: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell, complaining about the conduct of enslaved people in the care of Captain Saunders of the federal army. Major and Jeff, who are enslaved people, are mentioned; Davy, an enslaved person, is identified as the carrier of the letter. |
| Folder 677 |
May 1863May 5: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to W. Futrell commenting on his relationship with the enslaved people. Johnston also described punishment he imposed on a young enslaved woman whom he thought was faking illness. May 6: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell at Bay Side mentioning Jeff, an enslaved person who apparently engaged with the "Buffaloes" (civilians with Union allegiances) and Union soldiers as acts of resistance, and "Old Ben," an enslaved carriage driver. Johnston commented on the condition of the plantation and the acts of resistance offered by enslaved people who no longer worked as efficiently for him as they had in the past. May 11: Letter from Thomas D. Warren to James Carthcart Johnston regarding a mortgage held on America, who was enslaved by Johnston. Warren mentioned that America had a wife. May 25: List of enslaved people, with names and ages. May 27: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Hayes, reporting that Mack, John, America and his wife Maria, George and his wife Nelly, and Jerry, all enslaved people, had left the plantation for Edenton or Plymouth. Patricia, an enslaved person is also mentioned, but she may have stayed at the plantation. |
| Folder 678 |
June 1863 |
| Folder 679 |
July 1863July 13: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell at Bayside near Elizabeth City, N.C., in which he mentioned Prince, an enslaved person who blew a horn at 3:30 every morning to call the enslaved people to work. July 20: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell, describing conditons at the plantation. He mentioned that Prince, his enslaved assistant ("factotum"), had been sick with bilious fever, and Aaron's sister, who was a cook whom Johnston had given to Dr. Edward Warren when he married, and an unnamed small boy who was her assistant, had self-emancipated with a field hand. July 31: Letter from Ben Johnston at Body plantation to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben mentioned speaking with Bill and Sam, people enslaved by Johnston, and that his brother John had visited, though he had not seen Jim or his dad in a while. Ben also described the conditions on the plantation and that his mother had gotten Johnston's suit of linen. |
| Folder 680 |
August 1863 |
| Folder 681 |
September 1863September 22: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell, describing conditons at the plantation. He also reported that Bill had self-emancipated and mentioned work done by London. |
| Folder 682 |
October 1863October 9: Letter from Richard Barfield, a free Black person, seeking a letter attesting to his freedom from James Cathcart Johnston so that he might travel to meet his wife in Columbus, Ohio. October 11: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston to C. W. Hollowell, commenting on the departure of enslaved people from plantations. October 21: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to W. Futrell, reporting that many of the people he had enslaved had left. Aaron remained. |
| Folder 683 |
November 1863November 5: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell at Bayside near Elizabeth City, commenting on the departure of enslaved people from plantations. Anthony, an enslaved blacksmith, and Taylor, an enslaved person, are mentioned as being with Hollowell. Johnston wished that Anthony would stay and promised that he would pay more for his blacksmithing services than the Yankees would. |
| Folder 684 |
December 1863 |
| Folder 685 |
January-April 1864March 9: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to C. W. Hollowell, describing conditons at the plantation. "Old" Ben and Jim, who were enslaved, are mentioned. March 16: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to James Futrell, discussing flour and corn prices. Johnston noted that Anthony, an enslaved person, had carried last letter from Futrell and would be sent home with flour. Major, an enslaved person, is also mentioned. March 16: Letter from James Cathcart Johnston at Hayes to Henry J. Futrell, mentioning Dinah, "Old" Jack, and "Old" George, all of whom were enslaved by Johnston. Oscar, a free person of color, is mentioned as having property. Johnston instructed Futrell to offer Oscar whatever assistance he needed. Oscar had been to see his children in Ohio but according to Johnston was not an abolitionist. April 7: Letter from Ben Johnston at the Body to his enslaver, James Cathcart Johnston. Ben worked as a foreman or overseer at Body. Ben mentioned his mother, his father and Jim, people enslaved by Johnston. Ben described the conditions on the plantation during the Civil War, including his livestock being stolen. |
| Folder 686 |
May-August 1864July 27: List of enslaved people with names and ages. August 9: Letter from William S. Pettigrew near Tarboro to James Cathcart Johnson, reporting on damages by Union soldiers and "Buffaloes" (civilians with Union allegiances) and that Henry and his wife Polly, who were enslaved, had gone to the Yankees at Plymouth in August 1863, and the rest of the people enslaved by him in January 1864. Pettigrew also reported that several old women who were enslaved had died, including a nurse who had been married to Virgil, who was enslaved at Belgrade; and the expectation of both Henry and Virgil that they would be murdered by hostile white people in the neighborhood. |
| Folder 687 |
September-December 1864 |
| Folder 688 |
January-February 1865January 23: Letter from C. W. Hollowell at Bayside to James Cathcart Johnston, describing resistance by enslaved people who had self-emancipated themselves from labor but had not left the plantation. Ben, Anthony, Primus, Major, Myles, Tayler (?), Jerry, and Jim, all of whom were enslaved, are mentioned. February 9: Legal document indicating that Maggy, "Old" Sam and his wife Flora, Sam the son of Juda, Jack and Diner who were the children of Sam and Flora, were sold by John H. Leary to James Cathcart Johnston in December 1863. February 26: Letter from Henry J. Futrell at Caledonia to James Cathcart Johnston in which he described work done by Nat, Godfrey, Andrew, and Rodger, all of whom were enslaved. Futrell mentioned that Frank, an enslaved person, had gone to see his wife and had not returned, possibly having taken up with other enslaved people who participated in acts of resistance against their enslavers while the Union Army occupied the area. Futrell also reported on a conversation he had with Mack and other members of the enslaved community about rumors of enslaved people being pressed into military service and what the enslaved people would do if that happened. |
| Folder 689 |
March-May 1865 |
Expand/collapse
Subseries 1.2. Johnston Family Volumes, 1732-1859, and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Volumes include Gabriel Johnston's estate and plantation account; Samuel Johnston's (1702-1757) account books and ledgers containing personal and family finances, as well as some public accounts from when he served as public treasurer (1745-1751); an anonymous surveyor's journal, which is attributed to Samuel Johnston (1702-1757); Samuel Johnston's (1733-1816) legal fees and personal expense memoranda; merchandise ledgers and accounts for George Blair, Samuel Johnston's (1733-1816) brother-in-law, and Hindley and Needham, for whom Samuel Johnston (1733-1816) worked as an attorney; expense accounts related to Samuel Johnston's (1733-1816) public service during the American Revolution, including accounts for Andrew Knox & Co.; James Cathcart Johnston's personal and plantation accounts; and several catalogs for the library at Hayes Plantation. The institution of slavery is documented throughout the plantation ledgers; individual enslaved people can be found in lists and accounting ledgers.
| Reel M-324/17 |
Volume 1 (J): Samuel Johnston (1702-1757), 1732-1734 and 1752-1757Merchandise daybook; North Carolina treasury, personal, and family accounts. Microfilm only. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/2j |
Volume 2 (J): Samuel Johnston (1702-1757), 1732 and 1735-1753Merchant ledger and public treasurer's accounts. |
| Folder 692 |
Volume 3 (J): Anonymous, 1735-1740Surveyor's journal: description of trip to survey 60,000 acres of land around the northern branches of the Neuse and Cape Fear rivers, which might have been conducted by Samuel Johnston when he was surveyor-general of North Carolina. (Includes transcription and copy of a published article.) |
| Folder 693 |
Volume 4 (J): Gabriel Johnston, 1752-1756Ledger containing accounts of Gabriel Johnston's estate and plantation accounts for Eden House, Mount Gallant, Fishing Creek, etc. Expenses related to slavery are included, as well as the number of enslaved people employed by Mr. Rutherford, and at Eden House. |
| Folder 694 |
Volume 5 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1755-1761Ledger recording his legal fees and personal expenses of Johnston family members. |
| Folder 695 |
Volume 6 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1757-1758Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 696 |
Volume 7 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1758-1761Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/8j |
Volume 8 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1758-1778Ledger: inside cover includes a list of enslaved people with names, birth month and year, and mother's name; record of legal fees and personal expenses of Johnston family members. |
| Folder 698 |
Volume 9 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1759-1763Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 699 |
Volume 10 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1761Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 700 |
Volume 11 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1761-1762Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 701 |
Volume 12 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1761 and 1767Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 702 |
Volume 13 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1762-1763Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 703 |
Volume 14 (J): George Blair, 1762-1767Merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 704 |
Volume 15 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1764Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 705 |
Volume 16 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1764-1765Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 706 |
Volume 17 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1765-1767Legal fee memorandum. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/18j |
Volume 18 (J): Hindley and Needham, 1765-1770Merchandise accounts. |
| Folder 708 |
Volume 19 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1766Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 709 |
Volume 20 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1768-1772Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/21j |
Volume 21 (J): George Blair, 1769-1773Merchandise ledger. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/22j |
Volume 22 (J): George Blair, 1770 and 1773Fragment of merchandise ledger. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/23j |
Volume 23 (J): George Blair, 1770Fragment of merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 713 |
Volume 24 (J): Hindley and Needham, 1770-1772Ledger of shipping accounts with Thomas Taylor & Son. |
| Folder 714 |
Volume 25 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1771 and 1773-1774Legal fee and personal expense memorandum, including charges for provisions, such as cutting cloth for enslaved people (p.5). Peggy, an enslaved person, is mentioned. |
| Folder 715 |
Volume 26 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1772-1773Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 716 |
Volume 27 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1772-1774Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 717a |
Volume 28 (J): Andrew Knox & Co., 1772-1774 (pp. 1-58)Merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 717b |
Volume 28 (J): Andrew Knox & Co., 1772-1774 (pp. 58-118)Merchandise ledger. Page 69: Accounts for Harry, Tom, and Henry, who were free people of color. |
| Folder 717c |
Volume 28 (J): Andrew Knox & Co., 1772-1774 (pp. 118-178)Merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 717d |
Volume 28 (J): Andrew Knox & Co., 1772-1774 (pp. 178-238)Merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 717e |
Volume 28 (J): Andrew Knox & Co., 1772-1774 (pp. 238-281)Merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 718 |
Volume 29 (J): Andrew Knox & Co., 1774-1775Merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 719 |
Volume 30 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1774-1777"Publick of North Carolina" expense account |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/31j |
Volume 31 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1774-1777Ledger of accounts related to a public office. |
| Folder 721 |
Volume 32 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1775Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/33j |
Volume 33 (J): Andrew Knox & Co., 1775-1776Merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 723 |
Volume 34 (J): Gray and McKenzie, 1775-1780Merchandise ledger. |
| Reel M-324/19 |
Volume 35 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1778-1802Account book of personal and family expenses and of the expenses of the "Publick of North Carolina"; account of James C. Johnston (1782-1865) with William McKenzie. |
| Folder 725 |
Volume 36 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1776Personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 726 |
Volume 37 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1776-1777Personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 727 |
Volume 38 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1777-1778Personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 728 |
Volume 39 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1778-1780Personal expense memorandum. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/40j |
Volume 40 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816) and James C. Johnston, 1778-1817Merchandise ledger including accounts for Caledonia and Poplar Plains. (Separate index enclosed.) |
| Folder 730 |
Volume 41 (J): Gray and McKenzie, 1780-1783Merchandise daybook recording daily transactions to be transferred into ledger. |
| Folder 731 |
Volume 42 (J): Gray and McKenzie, 1780-1783Merchandise daybook. |
| Folder 732 |
Volume 43 (J): Gray and McKenzie, 1780-1783Merchandise ledger. |
| Folder 733 |
Volume 44 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1781-1783Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 734 |
Volume 45 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1781-1784Caledonia plantation account book recording account with William McKenzie. |
| Folder 735 |
Volume 46 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1783Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 736 |
Volume 47 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1783-1785Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 737 |
Volume 48 (J): Margaret McKenzie, 1784-1817Personal account book, includes early legal notes of Samuel Johnston (1733-1816). |
| Folder 738 |
Volume 49 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1785Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 739 |
Volume 50 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1785-1786Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 740 |
Volume 51 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1786Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 741 |
Volume 52 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1786-1787Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 742 |
Volume 53 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1787-1790Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 743 |
Volume 54 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1790-1791Bank account book with Bank of North America. |
| Folder 744 |
Volume 55 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1790-1791Personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 745 |
Volume 56 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1790-1795Memorandum of traveling expenses and personal accounts with James Iredell, Robert Lennox, and William McKenzie. |
| Folder 746 |
Volume 57 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816) and James C. Johnston, 1790-1821"Account of Transactions in Philadelphia": personal expense accounts and bank accounts including records of stocks and certificates. |
| Folder 747 |
Volume 58 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1791-1792Legal fee and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 748 |
Volume 59 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1792-1793Travel account and personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 749 |
Volume 60 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1794, 1796, and 1798Travel account, personal and household expense memorandum. |
| Folder 750 |
Volume 61 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1794-1800Personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 751 |
Volume 62 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1797-1806Memorandum with Caledonia plantation accounts; legal notes. |
| Folder 752 |
Volume 63 (J): James C. Johnston, 1799-1800Personal expense memorandum. |
| Folder 753 |
Volume 64 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1800-1804Legal fee and personal expense memorandum, including some legal notes. |
| Folder 754 |
Volume 65 (J): James C. Johnston, 1803-1806Personal and plantation expense memorandum. |
| Folder 755 |
Volume 66 (J): James C. Johnston, 1803-1813Personal and plantation account book consisting primarily of accounts for Poplar Plains and Hermitage. |
| Folder 756 |
Volume 67 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1804-1809Legal fee, personal expense, and plantation account memorandum. |
| Folder 757 |
Volume 68 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1804-1811Legal fee and personal and plantation expense memorandum. |
| Folder 758 |
Volume 69 (J): James C. Johnston, 1806-1808Personal and plantation expense memorandum. Includes names of people enslaved by James Cathcart Johnston. |
| Folder 759 |
Volume 70 (J): James C. Johnston, 1806-1840Plantation account book with accounts for Caledonia, Hermitage, and Hayes, chiefly dealing with corn and hogs. |
| Folder 760 |
Volume 71 (J): James C. Johnston, 1809-1810Personal and plantation expense memorandum. |
| Reel M-324/21 |
Volume 72 (J): James C. Johnston, 1810-1813Ledger including William McKenzie estate settlement, Poplar Plains account, and list of enslaved people. |
| Folder 762 |
Volume 73 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1811-1813Legal notes and personal and plantation expense memorandum. |
| Folder 763 |
Volume 74 (J): James C. Johnston, 1813-1816Personal and plantation expense memorandum for Hermitage. |
| Folder 764 |
Volume 75 (J): James C. Johnston, 1816-1818Personal and plantation expense memorandum; family obituaries on the first page. |
| Folder 765 |
Volume 76 (J): James C. Johnston, 1818-1821Personal and plantation expense memorandum. |
| Folder 766 |
Volume 77 (J): Joseph Blount, 1823-1827Account of Joseph Blount's estate with Gavin Hogg. |
| Reel M-324/21 |
Volume 78 (J): James C. Johnston, 1827-1841Account book of Joseph Blount estate settlement and of guardianship of Blount's son, Joseph Blount. |
Volume 79 (J): James C. Johnston, 1827-1843Account book of Joseph Blount estate settlement and of guardianship of Blount's son, Joseph Blount. |
|
| Folder 769 |
Volume 80 (J): Philip W. Alston, 1830"Catalogue of Books Contained in the Library at Hayes Exclusive of Law-Books" (alphabetically arranged). |
| Folder 770 |
Volume 81 (J): James C. Johnston, 1855Brief plantation account memorandum. |
| Folder 771 |
Volume 82 (J): James C. Johnston, 1859Memorandum of expenses in building a house and cabins at Cedar Creek, Va. |
| Folder 772 |
Volume 83 (J): Benjamin H. Alston, undatedCatalogue of books at Hayes (arranged by subject). |
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Series 2. Wood family, 1810-1928.
Arrangement: chronological.
Personal and business correspondence and financial and legal materials documenting two generations of the Wood family and others, including Edward Wood, (1820-1872), plantation owner, enslaver, and businessman; his wife Caroline Moore Gilliam Wood; and their sons Edward Wood and John Gilliam Wood.
Materials provide insight into antebellum and postbellum North Carolina and southern history, especially plantation and fishery administration based on enslaved labor, agriculture, and the transition from an economy based on enslaved labor, knowledge, and skill, to tenant farming after the Civil War. The enslaved people at the Wood family farms and fisheries are found in bills of sale, hiring out contracts, correspondence, and account books and memoranda detailing employment information and labor inventories. Other topics include trade and shipping, the settlement of the estate of James Cathcart Johnston, contemporary family and social life, education and school life, and health and medical treatment, including mental health.
This series has been divided into two subseries based on material type. The first subseries contains loose papers while the second contains bound volumes, both of which have been arranged chronologically.
Processing note: folders were renumbered in April 2022.
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Subseries 2.1. Wood Family Papers, 1810-1922.
Arrangement: chronological.
Personal and business correspondence and financial and legal materials, documenting two generations of the Wood family, as well as people enslaved by them. Wood family members included Edward Wood, (1820-1872), plantation owner, enslaver, and businessman; his wife Caroline Moore Gilliam Wood; and their sons Edward Wood and John Gilliam Wood. Materials provide insight into antebellum and postbellum North Carolina history, especially plantation administration, agriculture, the transition from an economy based on enslaved labor, knowledge, and skill, to tenant farming after the Civil War, trade and shipping, settlement of the estate of James Cathcart Johnston, contemporary family and social life, education and school life, and health and medical treatment, including mental illness. Financial and legal materials include indentures, deeds, surveys, wills, judgments and suits, bills of lading, receipts, bills of sale for enslaved people, account sheets and ledgers, and inventories.
The series has been divided into two descriptive subseries based on significant shifts that signal a change in the cast of characters and/or the subjects treated during a specific time span.
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Subseries 2.1.1. Wood Family Papers, 1810-1872.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly business and financial papers of Edward Wood (1820-1872), plantation owner, enslaver, and businessman, that document his farming and fishery businesses, as well as enslaved people and freed people. Materials include letters from commission merchants, business agents, and land and fishery managers; legal documents such as land surveys, indentures, wills, deeds, and insurance contracts; and financial materials such as receipts, bills of sale for enslaved people, hiring out contracts for the labor of enslaved people, bills of lading, account sheets, inventories, and stock, bond, and other investment materials. These materials provide insight into the economy of the South during Reconstruction and document political tensions between North and South. Other materials pertain to the Albemarle Steam Navigation Co., for which Wood served as president, and the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad Co. and Albemarle and Chesapeake Canal Co., firms in which he had a vital interest because he used their services to ship his fish and crops to market. These materials relate chiefly to company stock information, business administration, and ship repairs and building. Materials of a more personal nature document the education of Wood's children, family life, social conditions and customs, travel, health, and the settling of lawsuits. Materials prior to 1860 consist chiefly of financial and legal documents; the bulk of the correspondence begins in 1860.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, Wood was invested in the building of a steamer ship known as the Virginia Dare. Materials for 1861 are chiefly concerned with this endeavor. Included are correspondence regarding the design of the vessel, blueprints, and receipts for Virginia Dare stock.
There is relatively little information about Civil War soldiers and battles. In the later part of 1862, Julian Wood wrote several letters from Camp French describing camp life and fortifications. Letters from Julian's relatives to Wood describe information received from Julian in his letters and relay news of his death in 1863.
The majority of letters from the Civil War period document southern sentiments regarding the Confederate cause and the failing economy. An "Appeal to the North," 8 December 1862, discusses the economy of free labor, defends the institution of slavery, and calls for an end to the war. Letters from politically and financially influential landholders discuss the interruption of agriculture and trade. Materials also document activities of enslaved people during this period and include a 22 April 1862 order to intercept and capture a group of enslaved people who had self-emancipated by running away, and a 23 April 1862 letter warning Wood to "watch his boats" since other boats in the area had been used to assist enslaved people to escape.
Wood's business routines were interrupted with the occupation of North Carolina by Federal forces. Fearing that fishermen would cross Federal lines in the Albemarle Sound to trade with Confederate supporters, the military government forbade fishing. In 1863, Wood petitioned Federal forces, particularly Captain Flusser, for the right to fish for the benefit of the poor. He was granted permission to fish on a limited scale, but was soon after taken prisoner and held hostage pending the release of a prisoner held by Confederate forces. James Cathcart Johnston (1782-1865) was a supporter of Wood and worked to procure his release. It was at this time that Johnston began to express his desire that his "relations not have anything to do with [his] affairs" and he made Wood and two others the executors and heirs of his estate.
Immediately following the war, materials document the legal dispute to pardon Wood for his alleged Confederate involvement. Another major legal matter was the settlement of James Cathcart Johnston's estate following his death on 9 May 1865. Johnston's cousins challenged the legitimacy of Johnston's will, stating that he had been mentally unstable at the time the will and accompanying letters of instruction were written. The will was established as legal in 1867, upholding Wood and the other executors as rightful heirs with the responsibility of carrying out its terms. However, new suits were brought against Wood, as executor, and the estate was not completely settled until 1871.
Letters often provide insight into legal preparations for the Johnston estate case, including hiring attorneys, appointing judges, and assessing attitudes of citizens in jurisdictions where the case could be tried. Letters from C. W. Hollowell, another executor, describe his experiences during the court proceedings and provide insight into the difficulties of reaching a settlement. Other related materials include account sheets, appeals for loans from members of the Johnston family, legal notes, subpoenas, and court rulings.
At the conclusion of the Civil War, Wood resumed his farming and fishing businesses. Correspondence describes the economy and industry during Reconstruction. Letters received from northern commission merchants discuss the consignment of fish and crops, market and economic conditions, hire of trading vessels and shipping contracts, assessment of goods, investment of profits, and the purchase of goods such as barrels and kegs, cork, ice, salt, whiskey, molasses, and netting for the fishing trade. Merchants with whom Wood did the majority of his business include James Bond and Whedbee & Dickinson in Baltimore; C. W. Grandy Co. & Sons in Norfolk; John N. Shriver in Philadelphia; and C. E. Morrison and Co. in Boston.
Letters from William Stowe, of the American Net & Twine Co. in Boston, detail developments in the net and twine industry. In the years immediately following the Civil War, Stowe expressed views on the economy of free labor in the South, Reconstruction, suffrage, and politics. Stowe also advised Wood to abandon his cotton crops since they would not be profitable.
Other materials reflect the changing economic structures and racial interactions in the South during Reconstruction. In 1865, Wood worked with agents to procure indentured laborers from England, Germany, and Sweden to work as household servants and farm hands. Materials include letters from John Williams of the American Emigration Co. in New York, receipts for passage from Europe, and a contract of indenture dated December 1865.
Beginning in the late 1860s, Wood received letters from individuals offering their skills as coopers, fishing hands, farmers, and land managers. They often stated wage expectations and mentioned wage offers from other landowners. Other individuals sought employment on Wood's various ships as clerks and captains.
Despite these appeals from interested laborers, letters from Daniel Valentine, who appears to have worked as a recruiter for Wood's fisheries, often document the lack of labor in certain areas or the competitive nature of wage labor following the war. Letters between land owners often lamented the fact that they could not find enough hired labor to work their land.
Sharecropping materials include advertisements, in the form of broadsides and newspaper articles; rental contracts; and letters from land managers that often complain of the poor profits attained in such work. Springs Brady and Davy M. Lee, who worked at Greenfield in the years following the war, were two of the tenants.
Wood's brother, William C. Wood, wrote many letters in 1867 that detail the management of Wood's fisheries. Letters from Caroline Moore Gilliam Wood to Edward Wood often provide updates on the activities of the farm, business issues, and family.
There are various materials pertaining to Wood's involvement with the Albemarle Steam Navigation Co, the Blackwater Steam Boat Co., and the Seaboard and Roanoke Railroad Co. Letters from the cessation of the war through the early 1870s refer to the purchase and repairs of ships, requests for free passage, scheduling of routes, and business contracts. Of interest are the letters from R. J. Powell in regards to the North Carolina Mail Service.
Following the war, Wood was involved in many charitable acts, and he received letters from friends, family, and community groups for financial assistance. Margaret Johnston, widow of Samuel Iredell Johnston (d. 1865), wrote letters beginning in 1866, requesting funds to provide for her children. Throughout the years, James Cathcart Johnston Jr. sought advances on his monetary allowances from the Johnston estate. Letters often recount his failed business endeavors, and an 1870 letter from his wife to Wood describes their destitution. In late 1869, Sarah Elliot wrote to attain a loan for the cost of publishing her book, Mrs. Elliot's Housewife: containing practical receipts in cookery.
The education of Edward Wood's children is well documented in letters, tuition receipts, and report cards. Beginning in 1862, Mary Wood was educated at the Patapsco Female School in Raleigh, N.C. Wood received reports on her progress from the director of the school. Letters from Edward Wood (1851-1898) begin in 1868 while he attended J. H. Horner's school in Oxford and relay his feelings about school, his education, requests for money, information about the family, and his expulsion from school in 1869. It appears that he witnessed a fight between a white shop keeper and a Black customer, and that he would be summoned as a witness in court. Such a summons proved that he was out past curfew, an infraction that lead to expulsion. His 13 May 1871 letter to his mother suggests that he also was later expelled from the University of Virginia.
Letters from business and personal correspondents throughout the series speak to Wood's poor health. It appears that he suffered from dyspepsia, and he considered many remedies, including eating oysters and maintaining a food and whiskey diet, over the years. His health apparently began to decline rapidly in 1871, when he began traveling to Asheville in the hopes of making a recovery. In 1872, he seemed to be preparing for death, and he began arranging his financial papers and drew up a will.
| Folder 773 |
1810 |
| Folder 774 |
1829 |
| Folder 775 |
1830 |
| Folder 776 |
1833 |
| Folder 777 |
1838 |
| Folder 778 |
1839 |
| Folder 779 |
1841 |
| Folder 780 |
1843 |
| Folder 781 |
1844 |
| Folder 782 |
1845January 11: Bill of sale for Atlas, Henry, Lydia, Adaline, and children Mike and Sam, enslaved people who were sold by Elizabeth Gilliam from the estate of H. Gilliam, to Edward Wood of Gates County, N.C. Registered in Gates County 10 September 1845. |
| Folder 783 |
1846May 7: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to Edward Wood in Gatesville, requesting help in finding free Black people or enslaved people with experience using a cradle to harvest wheat to teach the people enslaved by him how to use the tool. May 21: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to Edward Wood in Gatesville, following up on the terms agreed upon for hiring out of the labor, skills, and knowledge of enslaved people from Henry L. Eure (?) to lead the wheat harvest at Belgrade. |
| Folder 784 |
1847April 29: Letter from William S. Pettigrew at Belgrade to Edward Wood in Gatesville, concerning Arthur, an enslaved person whose labor, skills, and knowledge as a cradler had been hired out from his enslaver Henry L. Eure (?) to Pettigrew during the 1846 harvest. Another cradler, Mark, is also mentioned. |
| Folder 785 |
1849 |
| Folder 786 |
1850June 26: Bill of sale for Trucy and Squires, enslaved people who were sold in Perquimmons County, N.C., to Edward Wood. Trucy and Squires were sold at public auction by Sheriff Willis H. Bagby, but previously may have been enslaved to John S. Woods. |
| Folder 787 |
1852November 1: Bill of sale for Jim, an enslaved person who was sold by Jacob White in Chowan County, N.C., to Trecy White in Chowan County, N.C. November 13: Bill of sale for Silas, an enslaved person about 32 years old, who was sold by Rich Paxton in Edenton, N.C., to Edward Wood. December 1: Bill of sale for Jim, an enslaved person about 27 years old who was sold by Trecy White of Chowan County, N.C., to Edward Wood of Chowan County, N.C. Jim was previously enslaved by Jacob White. |
| Folder 788 |
1853 |
| Folder 789 |
1854Undated: Bill of sale for Fany, an enslaved person who was sold by James D. Wynn to Edward Wood. John Cox and G. C. Moore signed as trustees. July 25: Bill of sale for Washington, an enslaved person about 25 years old who was sold by Trotman H. Ward to Edward Wood. August 25: Bill of sale for James, an enslaved person who was sold in Richmond to Edward Wood. August 25: Bill of sale for William Plummer, an enslaved person who was sold by Benjamin Davis in Richmond to Edward Wood. August 25: Bill of sale for Sally and her child William, enslaved people who were sold by Benjamin Davis in Richmond to Edward Wood. |
| Folder 790 |
1856January 5: Bill of sale for a family of 4 enslaved people (Ned, about 32 years old; Harriet, about 32 years old; Stirling, about 7 years old; Turner, about 5 years old), who were sold by A. Dixon to Edward Wood. January 8: Bill of sale for Henry, an enslaved person about 32 years old who was sold from the estate of Joshua Skinner to Edward Wood. T. L. Skinner brokered the trafficking of Henry. January 16: Insurance policies for Henry and Edward, who were enslaved by Edward Wood. December 8: Bill of sale for Henry, an enslaved person about 33 years old who was sold from the estate of John Cox to Edward Wood. John Thompson brokered the trafficking of Henry. December 29: Bill of sale for Richard, an enslaved person who was sold from the estate of John Cox to Edward Wood. John Thompson brokered the trafficking of Henry. |
| Folder 791 |
1857January 13: Insurance policy fo Richard, who was enslaved by Edward Wood. November 12: Bill of sale for Delila and children Harriet, Dick, Mary Ann, Eliza, Emily, Edward, and Dick, enslaved people who were sold by C. W. Skinner to Edward Wood. |
| Folder 792 |
1858January 1: Bill of sale for Malvina, an enslaved person 25 years old; Louisa, an enslaved child 4 years old; and Mills, an enslaved child 8 years old, who were sold from the estate of William R. Nixon to Edward Wood. W. C. Warren brokered the trafficking of Malvina, Louisa, and Mills at public auction. January 25: Bill of sale for Penny, an enslaved person about 32 years old, who was sold by James L. Bunch to Edward Wood. |
| Folder 793 |
1859January 8: Bill of sale for Isum, an enslaved person about 63 years old, who was sold by William D. Lowther to Edward Wood. |
| Folder 794 |
January-March 1860January 3: Record of hiring out of Aleck, an enslaved person whose labor, skills, and knowledge had been purchased from B. B. Hoskins by Edward Wood and Julian Gilliam. |
| Folder 795 |
April-June 1860 |
| Folder 796 |
July-September 1860 |
| Folder 797 |
October-December 1860 |
| Folder 798 |
January 1861January 1: Record of hiring out of Frances, an enslaved person whose labor, skills, and knowledge had been purchased from Rachel Starrey by Julian Gilliam and Edward Wood. |
| Folder 799 |
February 1861 |
| Folder 800 |
March 1861 |
| Folder 801 |
1-15 April 1861 |
| Folder 802 |
16-30 April 1861 |
| Folder 803 |
May 1861 |
| Folder 804 |
June 1861 |
| Folder 805 |
July 1861 |
| Folder 806 |
August 1861 |
| Folder 807 |
September 1861 |
| Folder 808 |
October 1861 |
| Folder 809 |
November 1861 |
| Folder 810 |
December 1861 |
| Folder 811 |
1862January 1: Record of hiring out of George Rumboldt, an enslaved person whose labor, skills, and knowledge had been purchased from Ann C. Blount by William C. Wood and Edward Wood. January 1: Record of hiring out of Mingo, an enslaved person whose labor, skills, and knowledge had been purchased from Henry A. Skinner, probably by William C. Wood and Edward Wood. February 6: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed.. April 23: Letter from W. C. Wood to Ned at Edenton, reporting that enslaved people had fled from Thompson, Heath, Henry Bond, and John Bond. Arnold, who was enslaved by Henry Bond, was one of the people who had self-emancipated. There may also have been an enslaved person named Miles who escaped from an enslaver named Foxwell. November 17: Letter from H. Gilliam at Warrenton to Captain J. Gilliam, counseling his brother to move the enslaved people he claimed as property to a safer location so that they would not try to self-emancipate on their own. Jim, who was enslaved by H. Gilliam, is also mentioned. November 17: Letter from H. A. Gilliam at Warrenton to Captain J. Gilliam, mentioning Jim, who was enslaved to H. A. Gilliam and may have been a carriage driver. He also entreated J. Gilliam to write to their brother Ned Gilliam to remove the people enslaved by him to a different location or sell them. November 20: Letter from J. Gilliam counseling another Gilliam brother to remove the people enslaved by him to an area more safe from the war. Jim and Godfrey, who were enslaved people, are mentioned as message carriers. Henry, a young person enslaved to J. Gilliam, is mentioned as having escaped from slavery with his father. December 8: Correspondence in which the controversy over slavery is discussed. |
| Folder 812 |
1863Undated: letter to Ned Gilliam (?) recommending that people enslaved by him be moved to a safer location. Undated: Hiring contract for Hester and four children, enslaved people whose labor was purchased from Elizabeth Jackson by Charles G. Britt. |
| Folder 813 |
1864February 10: Letter from Benjamin Batten of the 18th Army Corps, Department of Virginia and North Carolina, with answers to questions from citizens, including how enslaved people who had left the area but sought to return would be treated. |
| Folder 814 |
January 1865 |
| Folder 815 |
February 1865 |
| Folder 816 |
March 1865 |
| Folder 817 |
April 1865 |
| Folder 818 |
May 1865 |
| Folder 819 |
June 1865 |
| Folder 820 |
July 1865July 9: Letter from H. A. Gilliam to Ned (Gilliam?), describing an incident in which a group of freed Black people were discovered to have been practicing military drills twice a week in the middle of the night, led by a freed Black person who previously had been enslaved to a Confederate officer. Emma, who was formerly enslaved to H. A. Gilliam, is mentioned. |
| Folder 821 |
August 1865 |
| Folder 822 |
September 1865September 4: Reconstruction era record. September 8: Reconstruction era record. September 19: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 823 |
October 1865 |
| Folder 824 |
November 1865November 10: Reconstruction era record. November 17: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 825 |
December 1865December 26: Reconstruction era record. December 27: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 826 |
1-15 January 1866Undated: Reconstruction era record. January 3: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 827 |
16-31 January 1866 |
| Folder 828 |
1-15 February 1866 |
| Folder 829 |
16-28 February 1866 |
| Folder 830 |
1-10 March 1866 |
| Folder 831 |
11-20 March 1866March 15: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 832 |
21-31 March 1866 |
| Folder 833 |
1-15 April 1866April 10: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 834 |
16-30 April 1866 |
| Folder 835 |
1-5 May 1866 |
| Folder 836 |
6-10 May 1866 |
| Folder 837 |
11-15 May 1866May 15: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 838 |
16-20 May 1866 |
| Folder 839 |
21-25 May 1866 |
| Folder 840 |
26-31 May 1866 |
| Folder 841 |
1-10 June 1866June 1: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 842 |
11-20 June 1866 |
| Folder 843 |
21-30 June 1866 |
| Folder 844 |
July 1866July 4: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 845 |
1-15 August 1866August 3: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 846 |
16-31 August 1866 |
| Folder 847 |
September 1866September 15: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 848 |
1-15 October 1866 |
| Folder 849 |
16-31 October 1866October 22: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 850 |
November 1866 |
| Folder 851 |
1-15 December 1866 |
| Folder 852 |
16-31 December 1866 |
| Folder 853 |
1-15 January 1867 |
| Folder 854 |
16-31 January 1867January 29: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 855 |
Legal notes related to James Cathcart Johnson estate case, February 1867 |
| Folder 856 |
February 1867 |
| Folder 857 |
1-15 March 1867 |
| Folder 858 |
16-31 March 1867 |
| Folder 859 |
1-10 April 1867 |
| Folder 860 |
11-20 April 1867 |
| Folder 861 |
21-30 April 1867 |
| Folder 862 |
1-10 May 1867 |
| Folder 863 |
11-20 May 1867 |
| Folder 864 |
21-31 May 1867 |
| Folder 865 |
1-15 June 1867 |
| Folder 866 |
16-30 June 1867 |
| Folder 867 |
1-15 July 1867 |
| Folder 868 |
16-31 July 1867July 22: Reconstruction era record. July 29: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 869 |
1-15 August 1867Undated: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 870 |
16-31 August 1867 |
| Folder 871 |
1-15 September 1867 |
| Folder 872 |
16-30 September 1867 |
| Folder 873 |
1-15 October 1867 |
| Folder 874 |
16-31 October 1867 |
| Folder 875 |
1-15 November 1867November 11: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 876 |
16-30 November 1867November 27: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 877 |
1-15 December 1867December 1: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 878 |
16-31 December 1867 |
| Folder 879 |
1-10 January 1868January 1: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 880 |
11-20 January 1868 |
| Folder 881 |
21-30 January 1868 |
| Folder 882 |
1-15 February 1868 |
| Folder 883 |
16-28 February 1868 |
| Folder 884 |
1-10 March 1868 |
| Folder 885 |
11-20 March 1868 |
| Folder 886 |
21-31 March 1868 |
| Folder 887 |
1-10 April 1868 |
| Folder 888 |
11-20 April 1868 |
| Folder 889 |
21-30 April 1868 |
| Folder 890 |
1-10 May 1868 |
| Folder 891 |
11-20 May 1868 |
| Folder 892 |
21-31 May 1868 |
| Folder 893 |
1-15 June 1868 |
| Folder 894 |
16-30 June 1868 |
| Folder 895 |
1-15 July 1868 |
| Folder 896 |
16-31 July 1868 |
| Folder 897 |
August 1868 |
| Folder 898 |
September 1868 |
| Folder 899 |
1-15 October 1868 |
| Folder 900 |
16-31 October 1868October 25: Reconstruction era record. October 30: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 901 |
1-15 November 1868 |
| Folder 902 |
16-30 November 1868 |
| Folder 903 |
1-10 December 1868 |
| Folder 904 |
11-20 December 1868 |
| Folder 905 |
21-31 December 1868 |
| Oversize Paper Folder OPF-324/4 |
Miscellaneous papers, 1868, 1892, and undatedAdvertisement for "Winter Seed Wheat," 1868; land grant, 1892; a musical score titled "Hercules Waltz," undated; and an advertisement for mill equipment, undated. |
| Folder 906 |
1-10 January 1869January 4: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 907 |
11-20 January 1869 |
| Folder 908 |
21-31 January 1869 |
| Folder 909 |
1-15 February 1869 |
| Folder 910 |
16-28 February 1869 |
| Folder 911 |
1-15 March 1869 |
| Folder 912 |
16-31 March 1869 |
| Folder 913 |
1-10 April 1869 |
| Folder 914 |
11-20 April 1869April 19: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 915 |
21-30 April 1869 |
| Folder 916 |
1-15 May 1869 |
| Folder 917 |
16-31 May 1869 |
| Folder 918 |
1-15 June 1869 |
| Folder 919 |
16-30 June 1869 |
| Folder 920 |
1-15 July 1869 |
| Folder 921 |
16-31 July 1869 |
| Folder 922 |
August 1869 |
| Folder 923 |
September 1869 |
| Folder 924 |
1-10 October 1869 |
| Folder 925 |
11-20 October 1869 |
| Folder 926 |
21-31 October 1869 |
| Folder 927 |
1-15 November 1869 |
| Folder 928 |
16-31 November 1869 |
| Folder 929 |
1-10 December 1869 |
| Folder 930 |
11-20 December 1869December 11: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 931 |
21-31 December 1869 |
| Folder 932 |
1-5 January 1870 |
| Folder 933 |
6-10 January 1870 |
| Folder 934 |
11-15 January 1870 |
| Folder 935 |
16-20 January 1870 |
| Folder 936 |
21-25 January 1870 |
| Folder 937 |
26-31 January 1870 |
| Folder 938 |
1-10 February 1870 |
| Folder 939 |
11-20 February 1870 |
| Folder 940 |
21-28 February 1870 |
| Folder 941 |
1-10 March 1870 |
| Folder 942 |
11-20 March 1870 |
| Folder 943 |
21-31 March 1870 |
| Folder 944 |
1-10 April 1870 |
| Folder 945 |
11-20 April 1870 |
| Folder 946 |
21-31 April 1870 |
| Folder 947 |
1-10 May 1870 |
| Folder 948 |
11-20 May 1870 |
| Folder 949 |
21-31 May 1870 |
| Folder 950 |
1-15 June 1870 |
| Folder 951 |
16-30 June 1870 |
| Folder 952 |
1-15 July 1870 |
| Folder 953 |
16-31 July 1870 |
| Folder 954 |
August 1870August 12: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 955 |
September 1870 |
| Folder 956 |
1-10 October 1870 |
| Folder 957 |
11-20 October 1870 |
| Folder 958 |
21-31 October 1870 |
| Folder 959 |
1-15 November 1870 |
| Folder 960 |
16-30 November 1870 |
| Folder 961 |
1-15 December 1870December 7: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 962 |
16-31 December 1870 |
| Folder 963 |
1-10 January 1871 |
| Folder 964 |
11-20 January 1871 |
| Folder 965 |
21-31 January 1871January 30: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 966 |
1-15 February 1871 |
| Folder 967 |
16-28 February 1871 |
| Folder 968 |
1-10 March 1871 |
| Folder 969 |
11-20 March 1871 |
| Folder 970 |
21-31 March 1871 |
| Folder 971 |
1-10 April 1871 |
| Folder 972 |
11-20 April 1871 |
| Folder 973 |
21-30 April 1871 |
| Folder 974 |
1-10 May 1871 |
| Folder 975 |
11-20 May 1871 |
| Folder 976 |
21-31 May 1871 |
| Folder 977 |
June 1871 |
| Folder 978 |
July 1871 |
| Folder 979 |
August 1871August 9: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 980 |
September 1871 |
| Folder 981 |
October 1871 |
| Folder 982 |
November 1871 |
| Folder 983 |
December 1871 |
| Folder 984 |
1-15 January 1872 |
| Folder 985 |
16-31 January 1872 |
| Folder 986 |
February 1872 |
| Folder 987 |
March 1872 |
| Folder 988 |
1-15 April 1872 |
| Folder 989 |
16-30 April 1872 |
| Folder 990 |
1-10 May 1872 |
| Folder 991 |
11-20 May 1872 |
| Folder 992 |
21-31 May 1872 |
| Folder 993 |
1-15 June 1872 |
| Folder 994 |
16-30 June 1872June 17: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 995 |
1-15 July 1872 |
| Folder 996 |
16-31 July 1872 |
| Folder 997 |
August 1872 |
| Folder 998 |
September 1872 |
| Folder 999 |
1-15 October 1872 |
| Folder 1000 |
16-31 October 1872 |
| Folder 1001 |
November 1872 |
| Folder 1002 |
December 1872 |
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Subseries 2.1.2. Wood Family Papers, 1873-1921.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly correspondence and financial materials relating to the administration of the Wood family farms and fisheries. Following Edward Wood's death in 1872, Caroline Moore Gilliam Wood (1851-1898) began to manage the family's business affairs with the help of her brother-in-law, William C. Wood, and, after his death in 1876, with her sons, Edward Wood (851-1898), John Wood, and Frank Wood. Correspondence details the administration of the fisheries and comments on the industry and market changes from season to season, including the decline in profits from the fishing and cotton trades beginning in 1878. Caroline's letters in March and April of 1877 to her son, Frank, who was studying at the University of North Carolina, often express her disappointment in Edward's management of the fisheries. Major business correspondents include C. W. Skinner, Whedbee & Dickinson in Baltimore, and C. W. Grandy Co. & Sons in Norfolk. Other financial materials include receipts, invoices, bills of lading, labor inventories, and account sheets.
This subseries also provides comprehensive insight into the personal lives of the Wood family members. Letters between Caroline and her children increase in frequency after 1874 and detail family life; health concerns; social life and customs; college life, particularly at the University of Virginia and at the University of North Carolina; travel; politics; and business. Caroline's extensive letters to her children describe the success of various business endeavors, recount financial information, and often advise frugality with allowances, especially after 1877. Caroline comments on the activities of members of the community, providing background information on social life and interactions within North Carolina. Letters also relay information received in correspondence with her other children; report on the health of family members, particularly Bettie, who suffered from a lengthy illness; and encourage diligence in all academic pursuits. Her letters to son James Wood express concern over his physical health and foreshadow his untimely death in October 1876. The Wood siblings also corresponded with each other. In a 27 February 1876 letter to his brother, James Wood described the student festivities following the passing of a bill by the Virginia State Legislature to appropriate $30,000 a year to the University of Virginia.
In addition to letters from family members, John Wood received notes from friends while studying bookkeeping at the Eastman Business School in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., in 1874. Letters concern a variety of topics including politics and elections, student life, and social events. A 17 October 1874 letter from a classmate at the University of Virginia describes several fraternities and the activities of many of their mutual friends.
Annie wrote several letters while attending Salem Female Institute, and later, Saint Mary's in Raleigh (circa 1876), in which she discussed her courses of study and social activities. Her later letters are a rich source of information on social life and customs of the people of eastern North Carolina.
In 1878, John traveled to Europe from whence he wrote two lengthy letters describing the cities and people that he visited, having particularly strong opinions on England, Switzerland, and Italy. In October of 1883, Annie wrote to her brother Julian about her northern tour. She described her trip to the Exposition and expressed her pride in the North Carolina exhibit. She also gave her impressions of Boston, Cambridge, and Washington D.C.
Following Caroline's death, personal correspondence among Wood family members is infrequent. Julian's 1889 letters, addressed to John and written while he was studying law at the University of North Carolina, discuss college life and inquire about the family crops. Mary Hall also wrote regarding crops and farming profits and gave information about family health and activities. A 28 September 1901 letter informs John of his brother Hal's diagnosis with tuberculosis.
Between 1905 and 1910 materials document negotiations between John and the Norfolk & Southern Railway Co. to purchase part of the Hayes farm for railway development.
John received letters from Charles De F. Burnes, a well-known collector of autograph letters, with regard to family correspondence dating to the American Revolutionary War period. Additionally, there are materials pertaining to the assessment and preservation of select materials from the Wood library.
| Folder 1003 |
1-15 January 1873 |
| Folder 1004 |
16-31 January 1873 |
| Folder 1005 |
1-15 February 1873 |
| Folder 1006 |
16-28 February 1873 |
| Folder 1007 |
1-10 March 1873 |
| Folder 1008 |
11-20 March 1873 |
| Folder 1009 |
21-31 March 1873 |
| Folder 1010 |
1-15 April 1873 |
| Folder 1011 |
16-30 April 1873 |
| Folder 1012 |
1-15 May 1873 |
| Folder 1013 |
16-31 May 1873 |
| Folder 1014 |
1-15 June 1873 |
| Folder 1015 |
16-30 June 1873 |
| Folder 1016 |
1-15 July 1873 |
| Folder 1017 |
16-31 July 1873 |
| Folder 1018 |
August 1873 |
| Folder 1019 |
September 1873 |
| Folder 1020 |
October 1873 |
| Folder 1021 |
1-15 November 1873 |
| Folder 1022 |
16-30 November 1873 |
| Folder 1023 |
December 1873 |
| Folder 1024 |
1-10 January 1874 |
| Folder 1025 |
11-20 January 1874 |
| Folder 1026 |
21-31 January 1874 |
| Folder 1027 |
1-15 February 1874 |
| Folder 1028 |
16-28 February 1874 |
| Folder 1029 |
1-10 March 1874 |
| Folder 1030 |
11-20 March 1874 |
| Folder 1031 |
21-31 March 1874 |
| Folder 1032 |
1-5 April 1874 |
| Folder 1033 |
6-10 April 1874 |
| Folder 1034 |
11-15 April 1874 |
| Folder 1035 |
16-20 April 1874 |
| Folder 1036 |
21-25 April 1874 |
| Folder 1037 |
26-30 April 1874 |
| Folder 1038 |
1-5 May 1874 |
| Folder 1039 |
6-8 May 1874 |
| Folder 1040 |
9 May 1874 |
| Folder 1041 |
11-15 May 1874 |
| Folder 1042 |
16-20 May 1874 |
| Folder 1043 |
21-25 May 1874 |
| Folder 1044 |
26-31 May 1874 |
| Folder 1045 |
June 1874 |
| Folder 1046 |
1-15 July 1874 |
| Folder 1047 |
16-31 July 1874 |
| Folder 1048 |
August 1874 |
| Folder 1049 |
September 1874 |
| Folder 1050 |
October 1874 |
| Folder 1051 |
November 1874 |
| Folder 1052 |
December 1874 |
| Folder 1053 |
1-15 January 1875 |
| Folder 1054 |
16-31 January 1875 |
| Folder 1055 |
February 1875 |
| Folder 1056 |
1-10 March 1875 |
| Folder 1057 |
11-20 March 1875 |
| Folder 1058 |
21-31 March 1875 |
| Folder 1059 |
1-10 April 1875 |
| Folder 1060 |
11-20 April 1875 |
| Folder 1061 |
21-30 April 1875 |
| Folder 1062 |
1-10 May 1875 |
| Folder 1063 |
11-20 May 1875 |
| Folder 1064 |
21-31 May 1875 |
| Folder 1065 |
June 1875 |
| Folder 1066 |
July 1875 |
| Folder 1067 |
August 1875 |
| Folder 1068 |
September 1875 |
| Folder 1069 |
October 1875October 20: Reconstruction era record. October 22: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 1070 |
November 1875November 3: Reconstruction era record. |
| Folder 1071 |
December 1875 |
| Folder 1072 |
January 1876 |
| Folder 1073 |
February 1876 |
| Folder 1074 |
March 1876 |
| Folder 1075 |
1-10 April 1876 |
| Folder 1076 |
11-20 April 1876 |
| Folder 1077 |
21-30 April 1876 |
| Folder 1078 |
1-10 May 1876 |
| Folder 1079 |
11-20 May 1876 |
| Folder 1080 |
21-31 May 1876 |
| Folder 1081 |
1-15 June 1876 |
| Folder 1082 |
16-30 June 1876 |
| Folder 1083 |
1-15 July 1876 |
| Folder 1084 |
16-31 July 1876 |
| Folder 1085 |
August 1876 |
| Folder 1086 |
September 1876 |
| Folder 1087 |
October 1876 |
| Folder 1088 |
November 1876 |
| Folder 1089 |
December 1876 |
| Folder 1090 |
1-15 January 1877 |
| Folder 1091 |
16-31 January 1877 |
| Folder 1092 |
1-15 February 1877 |
| Folder 1093 |
16-28 February 1877 |
| Folder 1094 |
1-10 March 1877 |
| Folder 1095 |
11-20 March 1877 |
| Folder 1096 |
21-31 March 1877 |
| Folder 1097 |
1-15 April 1877 |
| Folder 1098 |
16-30 April 1877 |
| Folder 1099 |
1-15 May 1877 |
| Folder 1100 |
16-31 May 1877 |
| Folder 1101 |
June 1877 |
| Folder 1102 |
July 1877 |
| Folder 1103 |
August 1877 |
| Folder 1104 |
September 1877 |
| Folder 1105 |
October 1877 |
| Folder 1106 |
November 1877 |
| Folder 1107 |
December 1877 |
| Folder 1108 |
January 1878 |
| Folder 1109 |
February 1878 |
| Folder 1110 |
March 1878 |
| Folder 1111 |
April 1878 |
| Folder 1112 |
1-15 May 1878 |
| Folder 1113 |
16-31 May 1878 |
| Folder 1114 |
June 1878 |
| Folder 1115 |
July 1878 |
| Folder 1116 |
August 1878 |
| Folder 1117 |
September 1878 |
| Folder 1118 |
October 1878 |
| Folder 1119 |
November 1878 |
| Folder 1120 |
December 1878 |
| Folder 1121 |
Janunary 1879 |
| Folder 1122 |
February 1879 |
| Folder 1123 |
March 1879 |
| Folder 1124 |
April 1879 |
| Folder 1125 |
May 1879 |
| Folder 1126 |
June 1879 |
| Folder 1127 |
July 1879 |
| Folder 1128 |
August 1879 |
| Folder 1129 |
September 1879 |
| Folder 1130 |
October 1879 |
| Folder 1131 |
November 1879 |
| Folder 1132 |
December 1879 |
| Folder 1133 |
January 1880 |
| Folder 1134 |
February-June 1880 |
| Folder 1135 |
July-December 1880 |
| Folder 1136 |
January-February 1881 |
| Folder 1137 |
March-May 1881 |
| Folder 1138 |
June 1881 |
| Folder 1139 |
July 1881 |
| Folder 1140 |
August-October 1881 |
| Folder 1141 |
November-December 1881 |
| Folder 1142 |
January 1882 |
| Folder 1143 |
February 1882 |
| Folder 1144 |
March 1882 |
| Folder 1145 |
April 1882 |
| Folder 1146 |
May-June 1882 |
| Folder 1147 |
July-August 1882 |
| Folder 1148 |
September-December 1882 |
| Folder 1149 |
January 1883 |
| Folder 1150 |
February 1883 |
| Folder 1151 |
March 1883 |
| Folder 1152 |
April 1883 |
| Folder 1153 |
May 1883 |
| Folder 1154 |
June 1883 |
| Folder 1155 |
July 1883 |
| Folder 1156 |
August-September 1883 |
| Folder 1157 |
October-December 1883 |
| Folder 1158 |
January 1884 |
| Folder 1159 |
February-April 1884 |
| Folder 1160 |
May 1884 |
| Folder 1161 |
June 1884 |
| Folder 1162 |
July 1884 |
| Folder 1163 |
August-November 1884 |
| Folder 1164 |
December 1884 |
| Folder 1165 |
January 1885 |
| Folder 1166 |
February-March 1885 |
| Folder 1167 |
April 1885 |
| Folder 1168 |
May 1885 |
| Folder 1169 |
June-July 1885 |
| Folder 1170 |
August-October 1885 |
| Folder 1171 |
November-December 1885 |
| Folder 1172 |
January-April 1886 |
| Folder 1173 |
May 1886 |
| Folder 1174 |
June-July 1886 |
| Folder 1175 |
October-December |
| Folder 1176 |
January-March 1887 |
| Folder 1177 |
April-June 1887 |
| Folder 1178 |
July-August 1887 |
| Folder 1179 |
October-December 1887 |
| Folder 1180 |
January-March 1888 |
| Folder 1181 |
April-June 1888 |
| Folder 1182 |
July-December 1888 |
| Folder 1183 |
January-April 1889 |
| Folder 1184 |
May-August 1889 |
| Folder 1185 |
September-December 1889 |
| Folder 1186 |
January-April 1890 |
| Folder 1187 |
May-December 1890 |
| Folder 1188 |
January-June 1891 |
| Folder 1189 |
July-December 1891 |
| Folder 1190 |
January-April 1892 |
| Folder 1191 |
May-June 1892 |
| Folder 1192 |
July-December 1892 |
| Folder 1193 |
January-May 1893 |
| Folder 1194 |
June-December 1893 |
| Folder 1195 |
1894 |
| Folder 1196 |
1895 |
| Folder 1197 |
January-May 1896 |
| Folder 1198 |
June-December 1896 |
| Folder 1199 |
1897 |
| Folder 1200 |
1898 |
| Folder 1201 |
January-April 1899 |
| Folder 1202 |
May-December 1899 |
| Folder 1203 |
January-April 1900 |
| Folder 1204 |
May-December 1900 |
| Folder 1205 |
1901 |
| Folder 1206 |
January-April 1902 |
| Folder 1207 |
May-December 1902 |
| Folder 1208 |
1903 |
| Folder 1209 |
1904 |
| Folder 1210 |
1905 |
| Folder 1211 |
1906 |
| Folder 1212 |
1907 |
| Folder 1213 |
1908 |
| Folder 1214 |
1909 |
| Folder 1215 |
1910 |
| Folder 1216 |
1911 |
| Folder 1217 |
1912 |
| Folder 1218 |
1913 |
| Folder 1219 |
1914 |
| Folder 1220 |
1915 |
| Folder 1221 |
1917 |
| Folder 1222 |
1918 |
| Folder 1223 |
1919 |
| Folder 1224 |
1920 |
| Folder 1225 |
1921 |
Expand/collapse
Subseries 2.2. Wood Family Volumes, 1820-1928.
Arrangement: chronological.
Volumes primarily document the activities at the Wood family farms and fisheries and include account books and memoranda detailing production, sales, and expenses at the various properties; employment information and labor inventories, including enslaved people who were hired out by their enslavers, free Black people, and white people; and property inventories. Other materials include merchandise ledgers and account books for the general store and an eulogy for Dr. John R. Gilliam.
| Folder 1226 |
Volume 1 (W): Henry Gilliam, 1820-1837Large merchandise ledger. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/2w |
Volume 2 (W): Gilliam and Pipkin; Edward Wood, 1842-1858Gilliam and Pipkin fishery account book; Wood's accounts of Greenfield Fishery employees. |
| Folder 1228 |
Volume 3 (W): Edward Wood, 1843-1847Ledger recording labor production of staves, shingles, pipe heading and payment of laborers; also account of pork purchased by Thomas Riddick and Edward Wood. |
| Folder 1229 |
Volume 4 (W): Edward Wood, 1844-1851; 1862-1864; 1866Account book of Montpelier Fishery, including records of fish caught, shipped, and sold; lists of cutters and number of fish each cut. |
| Folder 1230 |
Volume 5 (W): Edward Wood, 1848-1852Memorandum of fishery management, including records of workers, expenses, supplies, and sales. |
| Folder 1231 |
Volume 6 (W): Edward Wood, 1849-1853Memorandum of fishery management, including records of workers, expenses, supplies, and sales. |
| Folder 1232 |
Volume 7 (W): Edward Wood, 1850-1851Personal and fishery expense memorandum. |
| Folder 1233 |
Volume 8 (W): Edward Wood, 1852-1861; 1866-1867Account book of Greenfield Fishery, including records of fish caught, shipped, and sold. |
| Folder 1234 |
Volume 9 (W): Reverend Hoskins, 1853Sermon text, a eulogy to Dr. John R. Gilliam. |
| Folder 1235 |
Volume 10 (W): Edward Wood, 1857-1860Memorandum of fishery management, including records of workers, expenses, supplies, and sales. |
| Folder 1236 |
Volume 11 (W): Edward Wood, 1859-1861Account book of fish sales. |
| Folder 1237 |
Volume 12 (W): Edward Wood, 1860-1866Personal and fishery expense memorandum. |
| Folder 1238 |
Volume 13 (W): Edward Wood, 1861; 1868Personal and fishery expense memorandum. |
| Folder 1239 |
Volume 14 (W): Hayes Plantation, 1865Inventory of equipment and furnishings at Hayes. |
| Folder 1240 |
Volume 15 (W): Edward Wood, 1865-1870Account book of expenses for Atholl, Hayes, Mulberry Hill, and Greenfield farms; includes records of cotton sales, fishery expenses, and expenses for building a boat. |
| Folder 1241 |
Volume 16 (W): Edward Wood and John Gilliam Wood, 1868-1872; 1880; 1883; 1885-1890Account book of Greenfield and Montpelier Fisheries, including records of fish caught, shipped, and sold. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/17w |
Volume 17 (W): Edward Wood and William C. Wood, 1869-1874Account book of Montpelier Fishery, including records of fish caught, shipped, and sold. |
| Folder 1243 |
Volume 18 (W): Hathaway & Wood, 1871Merchandise ledger of accounts with fishery employees. |
| Folder 1244 |
Volume 19 (W): Edward Wood, 1871-1872Account book of cotton shipped from Mulberry Hills, Hayes, and Greenfield farms. |
| Folder 1245 |
Volume 20 (W): Edward Wood, Edward Wood, Frank Wood, and John Gilliam Wood, 1871-1878; 1890Account book of Greenfield Fishery, including records of fish caught, shipped, and sold. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/21w |
Volume 21 (W): William C. Wood, 1872-1874Merchandise accounts of Montpelier fishery employees. |
| Folder 1247 |
Volume 22 (W): William C. Wood, 1874Account book of fishery workers describing type of work done and time spent. |
| Folder 1248 |
Volume 23 (W): John Gilliam Wood, 1874-1881Account book of cotton shipped from Wood farms. |
| Folder 1249 |
Volume 24 (W): Edward Wood, Frank Wood, John Gilliam Wood, 1879-1897Account book of Greenfield Fishery, including records of fish caught, shipped, and sold. |
| Folder 1250 |
Volume 25 (W): Frank Wood, 1898-1920Account book of Greenfield Fishery, including records of fish caught, shipped, and sold. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/26w |
Volume 26 (W): John Gilliam Wood, 1912-1920.Personal account ledger, including bank and Hayes accounts. |
| Folder 1252 |
Volume 27 (W): Frank Wood and George C. Wood, 1912-1914; 1920Fishery account book. |
| Folder 1253 |
Volume 28 (W): Frank Wood and George C. Wood, 1924-1926; 1928Fishery account book. |
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Microfilm: Johnston and Wood Families.
| Reel M-324/1 |
Microfilm: Guide and index to the microfilm edition of the Hayes Collection |
Reel M-324/2-21
M-324/2M-324/3M-324/4M-324/5M-324/6M-324/7M-324/8M-324/9M-324/10M-324/11M-324/12M-324/13M-324/14M-324/15M-324/16M-324/17M-324/18M-324/19M-324/20M-324/21 |
Microfilm: Johnston series
|
Reel M-324/22-35
M-324/22M-324/23M-324/24M-324/25M-324/26M-324/27M-324/28M-324/29M-324/30M-324/31M-324/32M-324/33M-324/34M-324/35 |
Microfilm: Wood series
|
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Subgroup 2. Unfilmed materials.
Expand/collapse
Series 3. Johnston Family, 1718-1865 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly financial materials documenting Johnston family personal and business expenditures, Samuel Johnston's (1733-1816) legal education and practice, and Dr. William Cathcart's medical practice and farm. The people enslaved by Johnston family members are documented in lists and notes about their labor in some of these volumes.
This series has been divided into two subseries based on material type. The first subseries contains loose papers while the second contains bound volumes, both of which have been arranged chronologically.
Processing note: Folders were renumbered in April 2022.
Expand/collapse
Subseries 3.1. Johnston Family Papers, 1718-1865 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly financial materials consisting of bills and receipts for sundry goods, clothing, freight and shipping, medical treatments, taxes, and journal subscriptions. Also included are bank checks; promissory notes; account sheets, particularly for James Cathcart Johnston's timber sales; and inventories. Other materials include notes from law books and from legal cases, notes from books and college classes, and miscellaneous printed flyers and pamphlets.
There are few letters in this series. Of note is a 29 June 1775 letter from John Ashe of Wilmington, imploring Samuel Johnston (1733-1816) to "call a Provincial Congress."
Materials prior to 1800 relate chiefly to Samuel Johnston (1733-1816) and his business partner William McKenzie. After 1800, materials relate chiefly to James Cathcart Johnston.
| Folder 1254 |
1718 |
| Folder 1255 |
1746; 1748 |
| Folder 1256 |
1765; 1769; undated 1760s |
| Folder 1257 |
1770-1772; 1774-1775; undated 1770s |
| Folder 1258 |
1780-1782; 1786-1787; 1789 |
| Folder 1259 |
1790 |
| Folder 1260 |
1791 |
| Folder 1261 |
1792-1793 |
| Folder 1262 |
1794-1796 |
| Folder 1263 |
Notes on English constitution and history by J. C. Johnston, 1797 |
| Folder 1264 |
1797-1798 |
| Folder 1265 |
1799 |
| Folder 1266 |
1800-1809 and undated |
| Folder 1267 |
1800-1805 |
| Folder 1268 |
1800-1805 |
| Folder 1269 |
1806-1809 |
| Folder 1270 |
1806-1809 |
| Folder 1271 |
1810-1829 and undated |
| Folder 1272 |
1810-1811 |
| Folder 1273 |
1810-1811 |
| Folder 1274 |
1812-1813 |
| Folder 1275 |
1812-1813 |
| Folder 1276 |
1814-1815 |
| Folder 1277 |
1814-1815 |
| Folder 1278 |
1816-1819 |
| Folder 1279 |
1816-1819 |
| Folder 1280 |
1816-1819 |
| Folder 1281 |
1820-1829 and undated |
| Folder 1282 |
1820-1821 |
| Folder 1283 |
1822-1823 |
| Folder 1284 |
1822-1823 |
| Folder 1285 |
1824-1825 |
| Folder 1286 |
1824-1825 |
| Folder 1287 |
1826 |
| Folder 1288 |
1827 |
| Folder 1289 |
1828 |
| Folder 1290 |
1829 |
| Folder 1291 |
1830-1839 and undated |
| Folder 1292 |
1830 |
| Folder 1293 |
1831 |
| Folder 1294 |
1832 |
| Folder 1295 |
1833 |
| Folder 1296 |
January-September 1834 |
| Folder 1297 |
October-December 1834 |
| Folder 1298 |
January-June 1835 |
| Folder 1299 |
July-December 1835 |
| Folder 1300 |
1836 |
| Folder 1301 |
1837 |
| Folder 1302 |
January-June 1838 |
| Folder 1303 |
July-December 1838 |
| Folder 1304 |
January-June 1839 |
| Folder 1305 |
July-December 1839 |
| Folder 1306 |
January-June 1840 |
| Folder 1307 |
July-December 1840 |
| Folder 1308 |
1841 |
| Folder 1309 |
1842 |
| Folder 1310 |
1842 |
| Folder 1311 |
1843 |
| Folder 1312 |
1844 |
| Folder 1313 |
1845 |
| Folder 1314 |
1846 |
| Folder 1315 |
1847 |
| Folder 1316 |
1848 |
| Folder 1317 |
1849 |
| Folder 1318 |
1850 |
| Folder 1319 |
1851 |
| Folder 1320 |
1852 |
| Folder 1321 |
1853 |
| Folder 1322 |
1854-1855 |
| Folder 1323 |
1856 |
| Folder 1324 |
1857 |
| Folder 1325 |
1858-1859 |
| Folder 1326 |
1860-1865 |
| Folder 1327 |
Undated |
| Folder 1328 |
Unfilmed and duplicate manuscriptsDuplicate materials consist of copies of items found Series 1, such as legal notes, wills, agreements and indentures, and business letters. |
| Folder 1329 |
Unfilmed and duplicate manuscripts |
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Subseries 3.2. Volumes, 1729-1841 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Account books, daybooks and memoranda primarily of Samuel Johnston (1733-1816) and his father-in-law, Dr. William Cathcart. Samuel Johnston's materials relate to his professional activities as a lawyer. Most materials detail his legal fees, but some notes on cases and court dates are also included. William Cathcart's volumes contain information on his medical practice including fees and expenses, medical notes, and patient information, such as types of treatment and medications. Other of Cathcart's volumes relate to his farming activities and include lists of enslaved people and notes on their labor, the weather, and crop production. Other materials include a 1729 indenture between George II and seven of the eight original Lords Proprietors of Carolina, James Cathcart Johnston's legal notes and expenses, and information regarding the settlement of Robert Williams's estate.
| Folder 1330 |
Volume 1 (J): Indenture, 1729Copy of the indenture drawn up among George II and the heirs of seven of the eight original Lords Proprietors of Carolina, selling the heirs proprietary shares to the Crown. |
| Folder 1331 |
Volume 2 (J): Sermon, 1732 |
| Folder 1332 |
Volume 3 (J): William Cathcart, 1737-1738Personal and medical expense memorandum, including lists of patients treated and medicines used. |
| Folder 1333 |
Volume 4 (J): William Cathcart, 1737-1738Personal and medical expense memorandum. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/5j |
Volume 5 (J): William Cathcart, 1738-1761Daybook of physician's accounts, including treatments and medicines prescribed; some personal expense accounts. |
| Folder 1335 |
Volume 6 (J): William Cathcart, 1752-1753Diary with entries on weather conditions; includes some personal expense accounts. |
| Folder 1336 |
Volume 7 (J): William Cathcart, 1754Diary with entries on weather conditions, farming and daily activities; includes some personal expense accounts and a description of an illness of Penelope, for whom he was a guardian. |
| Folder 1337 |
Volume 8 (J): William Cathcart, 1755Diary with entries on weather conditions and farming activities; includes brief notes about enslaved people and personal expense accounts. |
| Folder 1338 |
Volume 9 (J): William Cathcart, 1756Diary with entries on weather conditions and farming activities. |
| Oversize Volume SV-324/10j |
Volume 10 (J): William Cathcart, 1756-1764Physician's account book, including detailed descriptions of treatments and medicines prescribed. |
| Folder 1340 |
Volume 11 (J): William Cathcart, 1758-1761Diary with entries on farming activities, patients visited for treatment, weather conditions, and personal expenses. |
| Folder 1341 |
Volume 12 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1759Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 1342 |
Volume 13 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1763Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 1343 |
Volume 14 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1763Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 1344 |
Volume 15 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1764Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 1345 |
Volume 16 (J): William Cathcart, 1764Diary written in the "Virginia Almanack" with entries on weather conditions and farming activities; includes drafts of letters to his brother-in-law, Robert West, and his son Gabriel Cathcart, advising him on how to manage the enslaved people, overseers, and tobacco planting. |
| Folder 1346 |
Volume 17 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1765Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 1347 |
Volume 18 (J): William Cathcart, 1765Brief diary with entries about a trip and farming activities. |
| Folder 1348 |
Volume 19 (J): William Cathcart, 1765-1767Memorandum of sundry expenses. |
| Folder 1349 |
Volume 20 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1766Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 1350 |
Volume 21 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1767Legal fee memorandum. |
| Folder 1351 |
Volume 22 (J): Gabriel Cathcart, 1767Daybook; includes records of a trip and of the settlement of his personal expenses. |
| Folder 1352 |
Volume 23 (J): William Cathcart, 1767-1768Plantation management and personal expense memorandum; includes recipe for pickling beef. |
| Folder 1353 |
Volume 24 (J): William Cathcart, 1768-1769Personal and plantation expense memorandum; includes diary entries on farming and supplies and tallies on corn shipped. |
| Folder 1354 |
Volume 25 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1768-1770"Steuart's Pocket Almanack" with Johnston's court schedule, travel itinerary, personal expenses, and record of planting apple trees. |
| Folder 1355 |
Volume 26 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1768-1770Legal fee and personal expense memorandum with an account of enslaved people who had been hired out in 1768. |
| Folder 1356 |
Volume 27 (J): William Cathcart, 1769-1770Memorandum of plantation expenses and activities; includes accounts of corn sold. |
| Folder 1357 |
Volume 28 (J): William Cathcart, 1769-1770Diary with entries on weather and farming activities; includes recipes for fine mustard and gingerbread. |
| Folder 1358 |
Volume 29 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1770sThree pages of legal notes. |
| Folder 1359 |
Volume 30 (J): William Cathcart, 1770Memorandum of labor performed by enslaved people in tobacco fields; diary entries on weather and farming; list of enslaved people who were given blankets. |
| Folder 1360 |
Volume 31 (J): William Cathcart, 1771Diary with brief entries on weather conditions and farming activities. |
| Folder 1361 |
Volume 32 (J): Robert Williams, 1771Account book of his estate settlement. |
| Folder 1362 |
Volume 33 (J): William Cathcart, 1771-1772Diary with brief entries on weather conditions and farming activities. |
| Folder 1363 |
Volume 34 (J): Unidentified, 1774Notes on physics, mathematics, philosophy, medicine, etc., interspersed with accounts for sale of corn, rum, etc. |
| Folder 1364 |
Volume 35 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1774"Rivington's Pocket Almanack" with a list of enslaved people and occasional diary entries, personal expenses. |
| Folder 1365 |
Volume 36 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1775"Rivington's Pocket Almanack" with a list of enslaved people and occasional diary entries, personal expenses. |
| Folder 1366 |
Volume 37 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816, 1776-1777Memorandum including list of drafts on the Continental Treasury. |
| Folder 1367 |
Volume 38 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1788"Poor Will's Pocket Almanack" with very few personal entries. |
| Folder 1368 |
Volume 39 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1790"Gaines New-York Pocket Almanack" with few entries on personal expenses. |
| Folder 1369 |
Volume 40 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1791"Bailey's Pocket Almanack" with few personal entries. |
| Folder 1370 |
Volume 41 (J): Samuel Johnston (1733-1816), 1792"Poor Will's Pocket Almanack" with very few personal entries. |
| Folder 1371 |
Volume 42 (J): James Cathcart Johnston, 1800-1801Notes on Robertson's Charles V. |
| Folder 1372 |
Volume 43 (J): James Cathcart Johnston, 1802-1803Law notes. |
| Folder 1373 |
Volume 44 (J): James Cathcart Johnston, 1838-1841Small account book. |
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Series 4. Wood family, 1850-1917.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly financial materials documenting the daily transactions involved in the operation of the Wood family farms and fisheries, the state of the economy, market conditions, and crop productivity levels during the second half of the 19th century. Also included are John Gilliam Wood's and James Wood's academic notes while attending the University of Virginia and the University of Chapel Hill respectively and Elizabeth Martin Wood's market book.
This series has been divided into two subseries based on material type. The first subseries contains loose papers while the second contains bound volumes, both of which have been arranged chronologically.
Folders were renumbered in April 2022.
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Subseries 4.1. Wood Family Papers, 1718-1865 and undated.
Arrangement: chronological.
Chiefly financial materials consisting of bills and receipts from various merchants for sundry goods, clothing, household items, and farming and fishing necessities. There are extensive receipts from the Albemarle Steam Navigation Co., Norfolk Southern Rail Road Co., and the Seaboard Air Line & Atlantic Coast Line document shipping costs for the transport of Wood family goods. Also included are promissory notes, cancelled checks, account sheets, wage receipts for hired labor at the various farms, and inventories.
There are a few letters written by Edward Wood and William C. Wood in the late 1860s that pertain to the management of their various fisheries. Many of the letters leading up to the 1870s discuss the consignment of fish. In 1869, there is a letter written to the North Carolina legislative body asking members to "bestow due attention" on any bill presented before them regarding fishing.
Letters from commission merchants are less detailed than those found in the microfilmed series and relate to the receipt of goods and remittance of payment.
There are a few letters to the Wood family requesting financial assistance. In 1879, John Wood received a letter on behalf of a North Carolina judge requesting money to purchase a piece of land. In 1881, James Cathcart Johnston Jr. wrote of the destruction of his Texas house and farm in a storm and requested money to make repairs.
Also of note are several North Carolina 17th Regiment rosters that date to the Civil War period.