Slavery

Scope and Contents November 20, 1871, letter from P. M. Senter, Court Clerk of Grainger County, Rutledge, Tenn., to Capt. Walker, U. S. A., In Charge of Freedman’s Bureau, Knoxville, Tenn. Requests assistance to bring back Manda, the daughter of former slave Alfred Easley, who went to Texas in 1854. ALS 1 pc. (2 pp.) December 9, 1871, petition of Alfred Easley, of Color (former slave of W. Easley), Rutledge, Grainger County, Tenn., to Major General O. O. Howard, Chief of the Freedman’s Bureau, Washington City,...

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Benjamin McNutt to Thomas Rodgers, both of Knox County, Tenn., bill of sale for one negro man named Philip. April 10, 1829. ADS 1 pc.

Scope and Contents Two scrapbooks of newspaper clippings, ca. 1900-1910, about William G. “Parson” Brownlow, wife Elizabeth O’Brien Brownlow, house, etc. + Sketches of the Rise, Progress, and Decline of Secession; with a Narrative of Personal Adventures among the Rebels. by W.G. Brownlow. Philadelphia: George W. Childs, 1862. + Ought American Slavery to be Perpetuated? A Debate between Rev. W.G. Brownlow and Rev. A. Pryne, Held at Philadelphia, September, 1858. Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott & Co., 1858. +...

Scope and Contents 101. Slave Transfer. Estate Will, Hawkins Co. Tenn. 1831 - 1834. Joseph Bryan, Last Will and testament. His heirs are listed as children John Bryan, Thomas Bryan, Joseph Bryan, Rachel Proffit, wife of John Proffit, Betsy Sterling, wife of Thomas Sterling and Patsy Grady, wife of Duglas Grady. Son, James Morgan Bryan is given the home place and the Negro Slaves, Cenda and William. Minor son James Morgan and mother Betsey Bryan to stay on home place with minor sisters, Insey, Lettice, Peggy...

Scope and Contents Carbon typescript transcriptions of letters. Sketch of Joseph Carson who served in the War of 1812, serving under Gen. F. L. Claiborne. + four letters, 1812 (note says should be 1813)-1813. (Written from Soldiers Retreat, Camp opposite Mobile, Mount Vernon Cantonment, Fort Madison). December 26, 1833-October 20, 1854, letters from Catherine Waller Carson, J. G. Carson (James Green Carson), and William S. Waller. Letters include family news, health, buying Negroes, daily life. Places written...

Scope and Contents Papers of Charles Freeling Welcker (1809-1861), merchant and farmer of Welcker’s Mills, Roane County, Tenn. Lived for a while in Alabama, then moved back to Roane County, Tenn. Married Caroline Virginia Mitchell. He served as commissioner for the improvement of the Clinch River. Papers include personal and business letters; account books; broadsides; legal documents; and bills of sale for slaves and goods. Topics include: farming; business; navigation and river improvement; slavery; Welcker...

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July 23, 1823 bond of David A. Deaderick, James V. Anderson and John A. Aiken to John Patton, Chairman of the (Washington) County Court. Bond for the emancipation of two slaves, Andrew and Nelly. ADS 1 p. Two receipts to Hugh White for tuition paid to East Tennessee University, Knoxville. Signed by D. A. Deaderick, treasurer, 1855, 1856. 2 pcs.

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Diary of David Fleming (May 4, 1799-1868), East Tennessee minister, May 1834-December 1845 (some gaps). Incomplete diary mentions preaching at Knoxville, Maryville, Morganton, Gallaher Creek, New Market, Dandridge, and Sevierville, Tenn.; Hopkinsianism; slavery; temperance; E. H. College; revivals; March 19-20, 1843 comet; local ministers, etc.

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September 24, 1843, letter from Elbridge G. Fuller, Nashville, Tenn., to his nephew Albert Lamberton, Massachusetts. ALS 4 pp. Mentions the city and climate of Nashville, his business there, and the difference in Southern and New England views towards slavery.

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Emancipation bond for Luke, July 11, 1831, property of John McCracken, Washington County, Tenn. ADS 1 pc. Originally collected by Seale Johnson, Jackson, Tenn.

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Carbon copies of transcripts of six letters written by Governor John Reynolds of Illinois to family members in Tennessee, 1823-1854. Mentions politics, slavery, the benefits of Illinois, family matters. + Notes on John Beaird and family.

Scope and Contents Papers of the Hall and Stakely families. William Maulsby Stakely (1804-1898), born in Hawkins County, Tenn, married Sarah Smith (1811-1857) in 1828. They lived in Madisonville, Monroe County, Tenn. He was a postmaster and merchant. Moved to Union Springs, Ala, in 1863. Two of the Stakely daughter married two Hall cousins. Martha Stakely married Judge Elijah T. Hall of Knoxville in 1860. Caroline Stakely married James Spears Hall in 1874. James Hall ran a general store in Knoxville, which...

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Decree. Isaac, a man of color who sues by his next friend Jacob Lamon vs. William Sliger and others. November 12, 1858. (Jonesboro, Tenn.). AD 3 pp. (1 pc.). Notes says document was probably written by T. A. R. Nelson, last paragraph by J.F. Deaderick. Re: freedom granted to Sliger’s slave Isaac, under work obligation to J. F. Deaderick until money is raised for Isaac to go to Africa.

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October 29, 1743, receipt / bill of sale from Joseph Coit, New London, Conn., to Elijah Hide, Norwich, Conn. Sells Negro woman and child, Sylvia and Cloea. 1 pc. (Photostat)

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December 19, 1822, deed between Joseph Jackson (and endorsers James and William Park, William Howell) and William C. Mynatt, all of Knoxville, for land in Knoxville and slaves Moses, Pinsy, and Mary. ADS 4 pp.

Scope and Contents Anti-slavery poem with note at end ‘Ballet [ballad] for Saml. Marshall, 26 May 1799.’ AD 2 pp. (1 pc.). November 29, 1854 letter from N. B. McNabb to Rev. John Nicholson and Rev. S. B. West. ALS 1 p. + on back: November 30, 1854 letter from N. B. McNab (sic.) to Bro. Legerwood (Ledgerwood). ALS 1 p. Re: religion in East Tennessee, Madisonville, prayer, revivals. April 28, 1856(?) note to Marshall from A. Crozier. ANS 1 pc. Re: cotton seed. Remainder of paper includes the name Josiah Chapman...

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Note signed by R. G. Fain and Geo. R. Powell agreeing to pay $52 dollars for 12 months services of Caroline, a slave belonging to the estate of Margaret Watterson. Agrees to keep her in Hawkins County, Tenn., to provide for medical needs and clothing. March 1, 1862. ADS 1 pc. (mounted to backing with tape by ETHS).

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Reverend Ralph David Abernathy delivers the keynote address at the "Contributions of Blacks to the Development of Tennessee History" at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville on October 22, 1975. Sponsored by UT's Black Studies department.

Video has static throughout. Audio dragging and interruptions occur throughout last 15 minutes. Tape ends aprubtly, as digital transfer could no longer continue due to tape condition.

Total time: 34 minutes

Scope and Contents The Sawyers-McBee Papers span from 1791 to 1866, including a few undated items, and pertain to the Sawyers, McBee, and Peterson families of East Tennessee. William Sawyers of Corryton, Tennessee was the Union Lieutenant Colonel of the Tennessee 3rd Infantry Regiment, Company K. Ganum McBee was a Confederate private who was married to Nancy Sawyers. Ganum received a head injury at the battle in Newtown in November 1864, and was treated at the Wayside Hospital in Bristol, Tennessee between...

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Information compiled by Edward M. Steel, Jr., from going through family papers re: the slaves of Frederick S. Heiskell at Fruit Hill (aka Statesview, States View), 10 miles from Knoxville. Information from ca. 1860s. Computer TS. 4 pp. + letter from donor.

Scope and Contents Papers of Thomas Amis Rogers Nelson (1812-1873), a lawyer, judge, congressman, and defense counsel for President Andrew Johnson in his impeachment trial of 1868. Nelson began law practice in Washington County, Tenn, in 1832, served two terms as attorney general of the 1st judicial circuit, and was presidential elector on the Whig ticket in 1844 and 1848. Strong Unionist, elected to the 36th Congress in 1859 and 1861; was captured by Confederate forces and imprisoned in Richmond, Va.. He...

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January 6, 1856, letter from W. Fain, Dandridge, to “Cousin George.” ALS 3 pp. Mentions Kansas, Texas, Negro stealing.

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(December 25, 1837) letter from William C. Benton, Washington, D. C., to “Dear Sir.” ALS 3 pp. Re: copy of speech given at Faneuil Hall (Boston) by the recipient of the letter, thanking the speaker for his remarks on interference of slavery in Southern states. Says “there is no constant feeling of alarm among us.” Letter may have been written to Mr. Austin (James T. Austin, Attorney General of Massachusetts, Boston). Handwritten annotation by C. M. McClung.