John Ray papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: John Ray papers
Creator: Ray, John, -1868
Inclusive Dates: 1829-1868
Language(s): English
Extent: 0.5 Linear Feet 1 box
Collection Number: ms119
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Scope and Content

The collection consists of John Ray's day book, docket book, and plantation book. The day book records debts collected from 1831-1844, and contains some notes concerning land; and the docket book contains notes of proceedings and filings in court cases in Coweta County, Georgia Superior Court from 1843-1865. The plantation book records names of enslaved people, and account of their clothes, rations, and blankets; notes on legal decisions; and recipes for various illnesses, including heart disease, measles, rheumatism, pneumonia, scarlet fever, and asthma. The collection also includes handwritten papers on heart disease; promissory notes, deeds and indentures for land in Newnan, Coweta County, Georgia, a bill of sales for two "Negroes" (named "Roland, 2 years old, and Randal, about 7 years old"); tax records; and records of White Oak Plantation (Coweta County, Ga.) and an unidentified plantation. The plantation records record how much cotton was sold (cotton made at White Oak Plantation).

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged by record type.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

John Ray papers, ms119, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by Ruby Felder Ray Thomas in 1945

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2018.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

box

folder

Request box

1

1

Day Book, 1831-1844, 1867-1868

 

1

2

Docket book, 1843-1865

 

1

3

Plantation book, 1832-1861

 

1

4

Papers on heart disease, undated

 

1

5

Papers, 1829-1862

 

1

6

White Oak Plantation records & John Ray tax records , 1854-1868

Account of money advanced, 1867

Names of free persons of color: Harry, Brutus, Floyd, Tom

Inventory of enslaved persons

Names of enslaved persons are: Randall, Anderson, Lila, Ned (and wife), Henry, Ellen, William, Caroline, George, Wash, Wiley, Henrietta (and her children), Simon, Sarah (and her children), Pennah, Ham, Hannah, Renta, Fuller, Jacob, Henry, Jess, Free Dick, Peter, John, Ann

Amount of taxable property, 1859

Mentions 72 enslaved persons (unnamed) and their perceived total value

Amount of taxable property, 1860

Mentions 89 enslaved persons (unnamed), general range of ages including infants and children, and their perceived total value

Amount of taxable property (expanded), 1860

Mentions 79 enslaved persons (unnamed) and their perceived total value

Amount of taxable property, 1861

Mentions 15 enslaved persons (unnamed) and their perceived total value

Amount of taxable property, 1862

Mentions 12 enslaved persons (unnamed)

Amount of taxable property, 1863

Mentions 90 enslaved persons (unnamed), general range of ages, and their perceived total value