John Rodgers Goldsborough letter to his wife Mary

Descriptive Summary
Title: John Rodgers Goldsborough letter to his wife Mary
Creator: Goldsborough, J. R. (John Rodgers), 1808-1877
Inclusive Dates: 1862 April 21
Language(s): English
Extent: 1 folder(s)
Collection Number: ms3430
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

John Rodgers Goldsborough (1808-1877) was a Union Naval Commodore who commanded the U.S. Steamer, Florida off Saint Simons Island, Georgia during the Civil War.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of one letter regarding a Confederate fort on Jekyll Island, plans to make Saint Simons Island a self-supporting colony, enslaved persons, the Pierce Butler estate, the plantation of T. Butler King, the abandoned estate of James Hamilton Couper, a visit to Frederica, and orders regarding Commander Sylvanus Godon.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

John Rodgers Goldsborough letter to his wife Mary, ms3430, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2018.

General Notes

This collection has been digitized and is available online as part of America's Turning Point: Documenting the Civil War Experience in Georgia.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

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Letter, 1862 April 21 Access Online

Describes formerly enslaved people on St. Simons Island, who form a "self sustaining colony" under the control of Goldsborough. Goldsborough describes many scenes regarding formerly enslaved people on the island, or "contrabands", and many times refers to specific individuals, although these people are rarely named. Names a person, Hope, Goldsborough's "head man" of a settlement of formerly enslaved people on the island. Hope may be a formerly enslaved person.Names Columbus (14), "a bright intelligent mulatto ... son of one of my overseers," whom Goldsborough suggests bringing North to his wife.Names a formerly enslaved man, Primus (a horse coachman).