Peninah W. Thomas family papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Peninah W. Thomas family papers
Creator: Clinch, Batavia Thomas
Creator: Thomas, Stevens
Creator: Saffold, Mary Thomas
Creator: Thomas, Peninah W.
Creator: DuBose, Robert Toombs, 1859-1929
Creator: DuBose, Jeannie Stovall
Creator: Hull, Ella Thomas
Inclusive Dates: 1821-1959
Bulk Dates: 1847-1880
Language(s): English
Extent: 5.3 Linear Feet (13 document boxes, 1 oversized folder A)
Collection Number: ms1738
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Peninah Walton Thomas, widow of Stevens Thomas (d. 1837), children include daughters Ella who married Henry Hull, Batavia who married Charles Clinch, Mary who married Thomas Saffold; and sons Robert and Stevens.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of papers of Peninah W. Thomas and the Thomas family of Athens (Ga.) from 1821-1959. The papers include correspondence, bills and receipts, account books, legal documents, and sermons (1890s) written by Robert Toombs DuBose. The bills and receipts (1821-1910) contain several receipts for wages paid by Peninah W. Thomas to freedmen. The account books (1834-1845) contain bank accounts of Stevens Thomas and lists of accounts and purchases.

The correspondence includes letters (1838-1870) between Peninah W. Thomas and her daughters Ella (Hull), Batavia (Clinch), and Mary (Saffold). The letters mainly contain news of family or friends and social events, but of particular interest are letters from Batavia living in Connecticut during the Civil War. The letters discuss the fall of Ft. Sumter and northerners' inability to understand southern attitudes. Also included are letters from Thomas Reynolds and John Shannon discussing plantation management, the cotton market, and other details of Thomas' business interests. From 1870-1941 letters are between Jennie Stovall (DuBose) and Robert Toombs DuBose, mostly personal but also containing some information on Georgia land sales, his ministry, and service in the Georgia House of Representatives.

Organization and Arrangement

Arranged by record type.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Peninah W. Thomas family papers. MS 1738. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 November 13.

General Notes

Also known as DuBose family papers.

Cataloged as part of the Georgia Archives and Manuscripts Automated Access Project: A Special Collections Gateway Program of the University Center in Georgia.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Biography and Genealogy
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1	1	Inventory
1	2	Biography and Genealogy

 

2. Correspondence, 1837-1976, Undated
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1	3	Correspondence, 1837
1	4	Correspondence, 1838
1	5	Correspondence, 1840
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 March 22
			Letter from Thomas Reynolds, overseer [enslaver]. Names enslaved persons Harison, George, Sally, Milly, and Clary. Describes current state of plantation
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 July 17
			Letter from Thomas Reynolds, overseer [enslaver]. Names enslaved person Milia John [?] who is sick and recovering. Describes current crop production of plantation and mentions his wife's yarn
1	6	Correspondence, 1841
1	7	Correspondence, 1843
1	8	Correspondence, 1844
1	9	Correspondence, 1845
1	10	Correspondence, 1846
1	11	Correspondence, 1847 January-September
1	12	Correspondence, 1847 October-December
1	13	Correspondence, 1848 January
1	14	Correspondence, 1848 February-March
1	15	Correspondence, 1848 April-May
1	16	Correspondence, 1848 June-December
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1848 October 2
			Letter names enslaved perons: Henry, Little Harry, Stephen, Jery, Harry, Franky, Celia, and Simmons [?]. Desribes states of sickness of enslaved persons, and describes business of plantation
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1848 October 25
			Letter names enslaved persons Harry, Ceaser--and a possibly enslaved woman named Mary. Letter describes contents of a wagon sent to Athens and other business of the plantation
1	17	Correspondence, 1849 January-March
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 January 20
			Names enslaved persons Feebin [?], Peter, Dina [?], Mary, Sophia, and Clary. Letter is sent by way of "Pette" [possibly Peter, above, or another person named Pete]. Letter also names possibly enslaved persons Rachel and Clary, although this is unclear.Letter describes situation at plantation, inventory of goods and crops
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 February 6
			Names enslaved persons Little Feebin [?] and Peter. Describes sickness of Little Feebin. Describes general business of plantation
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 March 9
			Names enslaved persons Miles, Jery, and Franky's child [unnamed]. Describes sickness of enslaved persons and general state of plantation
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from John Shannon, 1849 March 13
			Describes death from pneumonia of an enslaved man named Miles. Describes illness in the local area generally
1	18	Correspondence, 1849 April-July
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas and Robert Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 April 18
			Names enslaved persons Feebin [?] and Phil. Describes state of crops after frost
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 April 27
			Describes the death of an enslaved man named William from illness
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 May 28
			Names enslaved persons Turner, Celia, Dilsy, Debier. Notes that letter is carried by an enslaved person named Feebin
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 July 19
			Describes general business of plantation, including sewing to be done by Thomas Reynold's wife [unnamed]. Letter carried "by Peter"
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 June 22
			Names enslaved persons: Tener [Turner ?]; Henry; and Diner. Describes death of Diner's infant child [unnamed]. It also seems clear that Henry is a woman, perhaps a contraction of Henrietta
1	19	Correspondence, 1849 August-October
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 August 8
			Names a possibly enslaved person, Mary. Although this might refer to Thomas Reynolds's wife. Letter describes general business of plantation
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 August 24
			Letter describes general business of plantation, describes work of a group of enslaved persons referred to as a "gang," with first part of phrase illegible
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 September 14
			Letter describes general business of plantation and sickness among enslaved persons on plantation
1	20	Correspondence, 1849 November-December
				Letter -- to Mr. Robert Thomas from John Shannon, 1849 December 16
			Describes death of an unnamed enslaved girl from sickness, "about 6 or 7 years old," who is described as the daughter of Betsy, herself the child of Dily
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 December 22
			Letter describes death of an unnamed enslaved girl, from "congestive chill", the daughter of Debier [or Debbie]
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1849 December 24
			Letter describes general business of plantation. Mentions that letter is carried by an enslaved man named Peter
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2	1	Correspondence, 1850 January-March
				Letter -- to Mrs. P W Thomas, 1850 January 19
			Includes name of enslaved persons
2	2	Correspondence, 1850 April-August
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from John Shannon, 1850 April 26
			Includes name of enslaved persons
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Robert Thomas, 1850 May 6
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 May
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 May 28
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from John Shannon, 1850 May 17
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 June 21
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from John Shannon, 1850 July 8
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 August 20
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 August 30
2	3	Correspondence, 1850 September-December
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 October 16
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 October 22
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 November 16
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1850 December 17
2	4	Correspondence, 1851
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from John Shannon, 1851 July 6
2	5	Correspondence, 1852
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Thomas Reynolds, 1852 March 26
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from J. S. Alman , 1852 April 23
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from J. S. Alman, 1852 May 6
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from J. S. Alman, 1852 May 26
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from John Shannon, 1852 May 27
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from Taylor Roff , 1852 May 31
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from J. S. Alman, 1852 June 9
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from J. S. Alman, 1852 June 7
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from John Shannon, 1852
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from J.S. Alman, 1852 June 15
2	6	Correspondence, 1853
2	7	Correspondence, 1854
2	8	Correspondence, 1856
2	9	Correspondence, 1857
2	10	Correspondence, 1858
2	11	Correspondence, 1859 January-July
2	12	Correspondence, 1859 August-December
2	13	Correspondence, 1860
2	14	Correspondence, 1861
2	15	Correspondence, 1862
				Letter -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas from J. S. Alman, 1862 May 21
2	16	Correspondence, 1863
2	17	Correspondence, 1864
2	18	Correspondence, 1865
2	19	Correspondence, 1866 January-May
2	20	Correspondence, 1866 June-December
2	21	Correspondence, 1867
2	22	Correspondence, 1868 January-April
2	23	Correspondence, 1868 May-December
2	24	Correspondence, 1869
2	25	Correspondence, 1870
2	26	Correspondence, 1871
2	27	Correspondence, 1872
2	28	Correspondence, 1873
2	29	Correspondence, 1876
2	30	Correspondence, 1877
2	31	Correspondence, 1878
2	32	Correspondence, 1879 January-May
2	33	Correspondence, 1879 July
2	34	Correspondence, 1879 August-September
2	35	Correspondence, 1879 October-December
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3		Correspondence, 1880 January-February
3	1	Correspondence, 1880 March-April
3	2	Correspondence, 1880 May-June
3	3	Correspondence, 1880 July-September
3	4	Correspondence, 1880 October
3	5	Correspondence, 1880 November
3	6	Correspondence, 1880 December
3	7	Correspondence, 1881
3	8	Correspondence, 1882
3	9	Correspondence, 1883
3	10	Correspondence, 1884
3	11	Correspondence, 1885
3	12	Correspondence, 1886
3	13	Correspondence, 1887
3	14	Correspondence, 1888
3	15	Correspondence, 1889
3	16	Correspondence, 1890 1893
3	17	Correspondence, 1894
3	18	Correspondence, 1895
3	19	Correspondence, 1896
3	20	Correspondence, 1897
3	21	Correspondence, 1898 January-October
3	22	Correspondence, 1898 November-December
3	23	Correspondence, 1899
3	24	Correspondence, 1901
3	25	Correspondence, 1903
3	26	Correspondence, 1904
3	27	Correspondence, 1905 1906 1907 1908
3	28	Correspondence, 1893
3	29	Correspondence, 1906
3	30	Correspondence, 1907
3	31	Correspondence, 1908
3	32	Correspondence, 1909 1910 1911
3	33	Correspondence, 1910
3	34	Correspondence, 1911
3	35	Correspondence, 1912
3	36	Correspondence, 1913
3	36	Correspondence, 1917 1914 1915 1919
3	37	Correspondence, 1914
3	38	Correspondence, 1915
3	39	Correspondence, 1917
3	40	Correspondence, 1919
3	41	Correspondence, 1920 1921
3	42	Correspondence, 1921
3	43	Correspondence, 1922
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4	1	Correspondence, 1923 1924
4	2	Correspondence, 1925
4	3	Correspondence, 1926 January-May
4	4	Correspondence, 1926 June-July
4	5	Correspondence, 1926 August-September
4	6	Correspondence, 1926 October-December
4	7	Correspondence, 1927
4	8	Correspondence, 1928
4	9	Correspondence, 1929
4	10	Correspondence, 1930
4	11	Correspondence, 1931
4	12	Correspondence, 1932
4	13	Correspondence, 1933
4	14	Correspondence, 1934
4	15	Correspondence, 1935
4	16	Correspondence, 1936
4	17	Correspondence, 1937
4	18	Correspondence, 1938
4	19	Correspondence, 1939
4	20	Correspondence, 1940 January-May
4	21	Correspondence, 1940 June-December
4	22	Correspondence, 1941
4	23	Correspondence, 1942 1943
4	24	Correspondence, 1943
4	25	Correspondence, 1944
4	26	Correspondence, 1945
4	27	Correspondence, 1946
4	28	Correspondence, 1947
4	29	Correspondence, 1948
4	30	Correspondence, 1949
4	31	Correspondence, 1950
4	32	Correspondence, 1951
4	33	Correspondence, 1952
4	34	Correspondence, 1953
4	35	Correspondence, 1954
4	36	Correspondence, 1955
4	37	Correspondence, 1956
4	38	Correspondence, 1959
4	39	Correspondence, 1960
4	40	Correspondence, 1964 1966
4	41	Correspondence, 1966
4	42	Correspondence, 1968
4	43	Correspondence, 1969
4	44	Correspondence, 1970
4	45	Correspondence, 1976
4	46	Correspondence, 1923
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5	1-29	Correspondence, Undated
5	30-31	Correspondence, Fragments
5	32-33	Correspondence, Post cards

 

3. Bills and Receipts, 1821-1910, Undated
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6	1	Bills and Receipts, 1821
6	2	Bills and Receipts, 1822
6	3	Bills and Receipts, 1823
6	4	Bills and Receipts, 1833
6	5	Bills and Receipts, 1836
6	6	Bills and Receipts, 1837
6	7	Bills and Receipts, 1838
6	8	Bills and Receipts, 1839
				Appraisement -- list of enslaved persons, 1839 August 8
			Includes names of enslaved persons
6	9	Bills and Receipts, 1842
6	10	Bills and Receipts, 1843
6	11	Bills and Receipts, 1844
6	12	Bills and Receipts, 1845
6	13	Bills and Receipts, 1846
6	14	Bills and Receipts, 1847
6	15	Bills and Receipts, 1848
6	16	Bills and Receipts, 1849
6	17-26	Bills and Receipts, 1850
			Bills and Receipts, 1850
					Receipt -- Mrs. W. Thomas, 1850 July 15
6	27-29	Bills and Receipts, 1851
6	30	Bills and Receipts, 1852
6	31-37	Bills and Receipts, 1853
			Bills and Receipts, 1853
					Receipt of payment, 1853 March
					Receipt, 1853 May 22
			Bills and Receipts, 1853
					Receipt, 1853
6	38-43	Bills and Receipts, 1854
6	44-46	Bills and Receipts, 1855
			Bills and Receipts, 1855
					Receipt -- services and goods, 1855 January 18
		Mentions enslaved person (unnamed)
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7	1-7	Bills and Receipts, 1856
			Bills and Receipts, 1856
					Receipt of payment, 1856 December 6
		Includes name of enslaved man, George
					Receipt of payment -- Mrs. P. W. Thomas to Madison Springs, 1856 August 2
		Mentions enslaved persons (unnamed), "servant and child"
			Bills and Receipts, 1856
					Receipt of payment -- Mrs. P. W. Thomas to John Shannon, 1856
		Includes names of enslaved persons
7	8-15	Bills and Receipts, 1857
			Bills and Receipts, 1857
					Receipts of payment -- Mrs. P. W. Thomas to S. S. Thomas and Batavia E. Thomas , 1857
		Includes name of enslaved man, George
			Bills and Receipts, 1857
					Receipt of payment, 1857 May 19
		Includes names of enslaved persons
7	16-17	Bills and Receipts, 1858
7	18	Bills and Receipts, 1861
7	19-21	Bills and Receipts, 1859
7	22	Bills and Receipts, 1860
7	23	Bills and Receipts, 1861
7	24-27	Bills and Receipts, 1862
			Includes invoice from Athens Manufacturing Company
7	28-30	Bills and Receipts, 1863
			Includes receipt from Athens Manufacturing Company (Athens Factory) for osnaburg fabric
7	31	Bills and Receipts, 1864
				Inventory of taxable property , 1864
			Includes names of enslaved persons
7	32-33	Bills and Receipts, 1865
			Bills and Receipts, 1865
					Contract -- wages and labor, 1865 August 14
		Includes name of enslaved persons
					Contract -- wages and labor, 1865 August 14
		Includes names of enslaved persons
7	34-36	Bills and Receipts, 1866
7	37-40	Bills and Receipts, 1867
7	41-44	Bills and Receipts, 1868
7	45	Bills and Receipts, 1869
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8	1	Bills and Receipts, 1870
8	2	Bills and Receipts, 1871
8	3	Bills and Receipts, 1872
8	4	Bills and Receipts, 1873
8	5	Bills from Crawford W Long, 1874
8	6	Bills and Receipts, 1875
8	7	Bills and Receipts, 1876
8	8	Bills and Receipts, 1877
8	9	Bills and Receipts, 1878
8	10	Bills and Receipts, 1879
8	11	Bills and Receipts, 1880
8	12	Bills and Receipts, 1881
8	13	Bills and Receipts, 1883
8	14	Bills and Receipts, 1882
8	15	Bills and Receipts, 1887
8	16	Bills and Receipts, 1888
8	17	Bills and Receipts, 1889
8	18	Bills and Receipts, 1890
8	19	Bills and Receipts, 1892
8	20	Bills and Receipts, 1910
8	21-29	Bills and Receipts, Undated
8	30	Bills and Receipts, Blank

 

4. Personal Files
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9	1	Account Book, 1843
9	2	Account Book, 1845
9	3	Clippings
9	4	Clippings
9	5	Diary, Undated
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10	1	Lucy Cobb Institute. Annual, 1908-09
10	2	Gift Album
10	3	Greeting Cards and Invitations
10	4	Inventories
10	5	Lucy Cobb Institute. Assorted Papers
10	6	Legal Documents
				Deed of sale -- to Mrs. P. W. Thomas -- and letter, 1842 June
			Includes names of enslaved persons
				Deed of personal property -- marriage agreement -- Batavia E. Thomas and Charles J. Clinch, 1857 May
			Includes name of enslaved persons
10	7	Loyalty Oath, Mrs. P.W. Thomas
10	8	Masonic Materials, Printed and Typescript
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11		Masonic Memorabilia
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1A		John J. Thomas Master Mason Certificate
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12	1	Printed Materials
12	2	Miscellaneous Papers
12	3	Notebook
12	4	Printed Materials
12	5	Printed Materials
12	6	Pictures. (1 oversize item loose with collection)
12	7	Photographs
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13	1	Scrapbook. Lucy Thomas, 1858
13	2	Sermons of Rev. Robert Toombs DuBose
13	3	Stamps
13	4	Stamps
13	5	Stock Certificates
13	6	Stock Certificates