James Chesnut (1773-1866) papers, 1800-1859.

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Chesnut, James, 1773-1866. James Chesnut (1773-1866) papers, 1800-1859.

James Chesnut (1773-1866) papers, 1800-1859.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/42576034

Chiefly bills and receipts for household and plantation supplies, tax receipts and pew rentals in Bethesda Presbyterian Church and expenses at various plantations including Mulberry, Belmont, Town Creek, and Sandy Hill, estate accounts; including bill, 25 May 1812, from Julia Datty for tuition and board of [Esthur] Serena Chesnut who was a student at an academy in Charleston, S.C. "List of Negroes purchased for James Chesnut," 21 Nov.-19 Dec. 1815, documenting names and ages of African-American slaves, Peggy, Louiza, and Sarah, including price paid, and cost of shoes, blankets, cloth and thread for clothes, lodging and transportation; estate accounts, 1818-1819, of John Chesnut with Ed[ward] H. Anderson; bills, 1823-1827, re music lessons for Harriet [Serena], Emma, and "Sally' [Sarah] Chesnut; accounts, ca. 1809-1824, for purchases from estate of "Gen[era]l [Zachariah] Cantey" (1759-1822). Letter, 17 July 1834, Sandy Hill [Chesnut's summer home near Mulberry], from James Chesnut to Richard Singleton, Manchester Plantation (Sumter County, S.C.), re poor prospects for cotton and corn crops, damage and losses due to flooding from the river, "we have constant rains to force the grass upon us," speculating on migration out of S.C., "we shall be compelled to abandon our country & seek an [asylum?] in the far West. The fact is those who can now move without loss are doing so. Will you buy my lands?" and reporting a disturbing incident along the river during his return trip from Charleston, involving harassment and violence directed against [George?], an African American slave at the hands of men in Singleton's employ; Chesnut's boat was "commanded by a faithful fellow in whom I have great trust," a man who became the target of overseers identified as "Gardner & Lee" and another man who worked for "Mr. Clarkson," who accused the pilot of the boat with stealing a hog; the cruelty of the subsequent punishment confirmed rumors Chesnut had heard of the men's violent temperament, "...they committed a most violent outrage by punishing my Patroon in a barbarours manner.... the Hog, if any were lost, was not their object - to gratify a savage passion was aimed at..."; expressing hope that any pursuit of punishment for the overseers would not harm his friendship with Singleton, and re testimony of a slave, expressing faith that the the word of Charles, his African American slave, "would be credited as truth." Letter, 26 Apr. 1836, Pensacola, Fla., from John Chesnut, to his wife, Camden, S.C., re contracting measles during [second] Seminole War, and plans for returning to S.C., "Gen. [Winfield] Scott was kind and attentive...."; letter, 12 Apr. 1848, New York, N.Y., Seaman and Peck, to James Chesnut, re receipt for payment, apologizing for Chesnut's disappointment with two dogs shipped from New York [possibly for use as herding animals] , "we... immediately called on the person who sold them... [who] assures us that the pair he sent on board the ship were male & female, and that he thinks you will be satisfied better with their ages when training is commenced...." and promising to locate more suitable sheep Letter, 27 Feb. 1849, from David R. Williams, to his grandfather, James Chesnut, re instructions received from David Gregg on the construction of a seine net for fishing, wishing Chesnut luck in constructing his seine and re delivery to market of the cotton crop, Williams adds "our steam boats still have more than they can do. I can make no engagements for part of my cotton, which I still have on hand" (postmarked "Society Hill, S.C.," the letter was written from "Bellevue," Williams' plantation home in Darlington County, S.C., during the 1840s, a property he later sold to his half-brother George Frederick Williams upon his migration to Florida).

70 items.

University of South Carolina, System Library Service, University Libraries