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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Southampton County, Va. Letters and Papers 1798- 1897, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Scope and Contents
Contains letters, bills, receipts, business accounts, and miscellaneous personal writings of the Laine and Travis families of Southampton County, Va. The bulk of the collection concerns the business and general financial affairs of the Laine family, particularly Jeremy and Miles Laine. It also contains several short personal writings of the Travis family, who were the final owners of Nat Turner prior to his rebellion. This includes the names and birthdays of many members of the family shortly before 1831. Also featured is a letter discussing an enslaved girl asking to be resold to her previous owner as well as the business agreements of several "Free Negroes," including the apprenticeship indenture of a boy who was involved in Virginia's placement program for illegitimate children. This collection also contains correspondence with the United States Pension Agency and various nineteenth century advertisements.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Correspondence
- Financial records
- Free blacks
- Indentured servants--United States
- Slavery--Virginia--19th century
- Southampton County (Va.)--History
- Virginia--Genealogy
Container List
Document with the names and birthdays of several members of the Travis family, as well as a song/poem possibly written by someone in the family.
Various receipts, correspondences, appraisals, and writs of debt involving Peter Laine, Jeremiah Laine, and Benjamin Cooper, including a letter discussing an enslaved girl's request to be sold from Peter Laine back to John Wilson.
Records regarding Jeremiah Laine's execution of Peter Laine's estate.
Correspondence and numerous other records surrounding the business and personal accounts of Jeremiah Laine.
A collection of writs of debt and promissory notes, as well as an apprenticeship indenture for "free negro" Alfred Diggs as part of an assistance program for illegitimate children.
A draft for the beginning of a property appraisal for Thomas Shands.
Several letters to and from Miles Laine as well as receipts and other documents regarding his personal and business accounts.
A payment agreement and a property tax receipt for Matilda Laine.
The correspondence of John Kitchen with his aunt Mary "Polly" Laine. Also advertisements for the United States Pension Agency and a letter from them to Mary Laine.
Numerous Laine family payment receipts, accounts, and agreements including a segment of an indenture, as well as miscellaneous personal family writings.
Family journals and memorandum books from the 1880s, including one advertising an 1888 medical practice and one describing a series of 1889 church services. Also several county obituaries from after 1940.