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Preferred Citation:

Tabb Family Letters and Typescripts, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Scope and Contents

Two handwritten letters with accompanying typescripts detailing the circumstances of the death of George Tabb by gunshot wound caused by a Mr. Sovereign. The shooting was over a business transaction dispute concerning cattle. Tabb was shot at Fort Sumner in Texas and brought to Las Vegas for treatment of his wounds. Initially, his wounds were not grave, but by the time he arrived in Las Vegas to see a doctor, infection had spread and he died shortly thereafter. The letters are both accounts of the circumstances under which George's death occured and condolences for the loss to the family. The first letter is an account from W. H. Byrne and the second is from John S. Chism. The second letter is not complete. The remaining typescripts in this collection are transcriptions of letter from Thomas Tabb to his son, John. Most of them have to do with concern over John's business dealings and the debt he as accrued. Tabb also mentions a great concern over the politics of the state of Virginia concerning the opposing views of the east and the west. He suggests that a splitting of the state would be the best remedy. The typescripts are all dated 1829-1834. It is not known when these transcriptions were typed.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Cattle trade
• Death
• Debt
• Tabb, Thomas Todd, 1782-1835