Correspondence, 1854

Collection — Box: 1, Folder: 6

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

There are over 500 letters in the Nuckolls Collection. They tell the story of the family, the times, the conflicts among family members, especially after the father died and his will was read and monies and lands dispersed. The 1850s Cambridge letters paint a colorful image of both Cambridge and Boston when Thomas was attending Harvard Law School. The Civil War letters give more details the home front, telling of the activities and worries of the family members at home, the encouraging letters to Thomas and William, the boxes of supplies that were constantly being sent by the family to its soldiers, than the life of the soldiers themselves. The family was a warm and loving entity, usually writing each other weekly. All the sisters wrote regularly to Thomas ("Dear Bro"), praising, complaining, but staying in contact even as their families were dispersed from Columbus, Georgia and across Alabama, to Russell County, Seale, Gadsden, Cherokee and Tuskegee. Relatives moving even further westward are included in the correspondence.

A history of the family, newspaper articles and census records have been included in a separate folder from the letters to help fill in their story. The letters are in wonderful condition, many still with their envelopes. Even the paper and size of the envelopes, the return address, the postage – all tell a history of the times.

In addition to the letters there are several packets of legal and financial documents. They were left in the groupings made by Thomas J. Nuckolls, with his handwritten labels. Many of the items referred to in the letters, such as deeds, promissory notes, plat maps, receipts, vouchers and other enclosures mentioned, were placed in these bundles. There is also a small bundle of Slave Documents. The bundles have been opened and are filed in chronological order in folders of Box 4.

The letters are filed in chronological order.

Dates

Other: 1854

Extent

From the Collection: 1.5 Linear Feet : 4 boxes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

January 12, 1854 – Letter to Thomas J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from Geo. M. Dickson, Treasurer, Coweta Falls Manufacturing Co. about an unsigned letter, saying "men in love are sometimes absent in mind", about debt payments. January 17, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from Geo. M. Dickson, Treasurer of the Coweta Fall Manufacturing Co informing T. J. of a payment by Harry, please credit him and inform him he will pay it. January 18, 1854 – Letter to Thomas J. Nuckolls in Columbus, Georgia from Hugh N. Crawford in Montgomery, Alabama inviting Thomas to come visit so as to court a lady named Lizzy who seemed to admire Thomas. It also refered to Thomas' new law practice. January 21, 1854 – Letter to Thomas J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from A. Martin in Montgomery, Alabama in reference to a legal notice made in Macon County. January 24, 1854 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls from his friend Hugh N. Crawford in Montgomery, Alabama in reference to debt repayment and a certain lady Lizzy. February 9, 1854 – Letter to Thomas J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from Ivey & Ivey in Clayton, Alabama referring to a suit now in hands of the sheriff. He also sent best wishes for his success in new business. February 10, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls from the Trading and Collecting Agency in New York asking for the standing and responsibility of E. W. Toney residing at Bug Hall. February 11, 1854 – Letter to Elmon, Yancey & Nuckolls from H. Fields in Eufaula referring to case costs. February 13, 1854 – Letter to Nuckolls from O.R. Potter & Co, New York asking for the whereabouts of several people. February 14, 1854 – Letter to Nuckolls from the Trade and Collecting Agency in New York, O. R. Potter & Co asking for the standing of F. M. Mobsan of Union springs and J. F. Trentlen of Enon. February 17, 1854 – Letter to Nuckolls from the Trade and Collecting Agency in New York, O. R. Potter asking for the standing of J. A. Jones of Union Springs. February 18, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from P.F. Baypa of Tuskegee in reference to debt collection on a Mr. Osborn, overseer of Col Harold Peoples. February 25, 1854 – Letter to Henry Elmore of a law firm about a debt collection from J. J. Woodward in {Talladega? very hard to read] March 1, 1854 – Letter to Nuckolls from the Trade and Collecting Agency in New York, O. R. Potter requesting help on finding S. B. Hall in Warrior Stand and S. Truett in Notasulga, Alabama. March 8, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls from A. Martin in Montgomery, Alabama in reference to a debt payment. March 14, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from Jacob J. Moses and Harvey Hall pertaining to the collection of notes due on McElhaney, Mann and Lewis. March 15, 1854 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls from his college friend, Thos. M. Callaway in Washington, Georgia, an epistle of friendship inquiring about a Miss M. Pope. March 15, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls, Tuskegee, Alabama from the Trade and collecting Agency in New York, asking for the present standing and responsibility of Thos. Quinn and Timothy Quinn. March 18, 1854 – Letter T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from S. Thornton in Memphis, Tennessee, on letterhead from Clemons, Brown & Co, in Columbus, sellers of washing machines, cotton gins and weaving machines, about finding Johnson Thornton's post office in Mississippi. March 21, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from the Trade and Collecting Agency in New York asking for personal history and full names of M.J. Green & Phillips in Loachapoka, Alabama. March 23, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from John G. [? ] in Quincy, Florida in regard to debt collection. March 28, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from Jacob Moses in New York, in response to Thomas' inquiry about the standing and respectability of the owners of the Trade and Collecting Agency. March 30, 1854 – Letter to Thomas J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama , a two part letter, mentioning the Miss Lizzy that his friends are trying to match him with, his law deals and return to practice, and needing law books. April 10, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from O. R. Potter & Co in New York, the Trade and Collecting Agency, in response to Thomas' inquiry about business practices. April 12, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from [J.J.Moses] in Columbus, Georgia referring to debt payment of Mr. McElhaney. April 24, 1854 – Letter to firm of Elmore & Yancey & Nuckolls of Montgomery from T.J. Nuckolls about a recorded deed, taxes due and noting that this land is for sale. April 25, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from O.R. Potter & Co in New York responding that he is pleased Thomas would do some investigating for him. April 29, 1854 – Document sent to T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee from Little, Brown & Co. in Boston. This was the Law and Equity Reports with a hand-written list of titles desired by Nuckolls. May 5, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls from O.R. Potter of the Trade and Collecting Agency in New York asking for information on S.R. Padgett in Chewacklie [Chewacla?, Alabama?]. May 9, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from C. Martin in Montgomery, Alabama about a case, retaining him for George B. Nuckolls v. Allen Duberly. May 10, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from D. B. Culbins in Dadeville about a pending suit and payment involving J. Barnett and W. Ridenhour. May 30, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from [D. Bleulbisson?] in reference to court cases of Barrett v. Biden and costs. June 1, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from John G. Gunn in Quincy, Florida about his debt of Samuel Robinson. June 6, 1854 – Letter to Thomas Nuckolls ("My dear and much esteemed friend") from Thomas M. C.[Callaway]. He refered to Miss M., an object of his affections, the State Baptist convention in his town, Sabbath schools and his crops. June 8, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from the Office of the Coweta Falls Manufacturing Company in Columbus about debts not paid or papers sent. June 11, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from E & Yancey, R. Holtzclan in Montgomery in reference to selling a patent. June 15, 1854 – Indenture deed made in Dade County, Georgia between Zachariah Gordon and Paul J. Semmes & company for the north half of NE ¼ of section 27 in township 1 of range 9 in Alabama and another piece of land. The witnesses were John M. and Robert Flourney. On the back of this deed is written a note dated 30 March 1861, saying that Nathaniel Nuckolls owned 1/6, Dozier Thornton 1/6, N M Thornton 1/6,and H.A. Thornton 1/6 and the rest 1/3, signed by Paul J. Semmes. June 17, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from F. M. Dillard in Auburn, Alabama referring to payment of debts of Mason and McElhany. June 19, 1854 – Letter to T.J. Nuckolls in Tuskegee, Alabama from L.A. Elmore in Montgomery about the Walker case and possible outcomes. June 19, 1854 – Letter to Thomas J. Nuckolls from Pemberton & Ellis in Oglethorpe referring to an unpaid debt of Dr. Robert Nuckolls against Dr. Burton. June 22, 1854 – Letter to Thom [Nuckolls] in Tuskegee, Alabama from his friend Thos. M. Callaway in Washington, Georgia. This was a friendly letter, again mentioning Miss Boge and Miss Tupper and to come visit with "a determined heart and bold". Callaway wants to see his friend married. July 1, 1854 – Note to "Gentlemen" from James B. Hall of Warrior Stand, Alabama requesting 2 bales of cotton in osnaburg, one for his place and one for Society Hill. July 22, 1854 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls in Columbus, Georgia from his friend Thomas M. Callaway in Washington, Georgia referring to their summer plans and hopes of Tom's visit to them, mentioning "Miss P" again. October 20, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls from Nath. Macon Thornton in Auburn, Alabama referring to collection and payments of notes due. November 4, 1854 – Letter to Thos. J. Nuckolls at Tuskegee, Alabama from Ethildred Philips, Marianna, Florida concerning a legal collection of the family of D. Gauthier. November 5, 1854 – Letter to "Dear sister" from W.B. Cox in Jefferson, Texas apologizing for a suit against Jeremiah that his agent sent in error. December 6, 1854 – Letter to T. J. Nuckolls from Elmore Yancey enclosing a note to Geo. B. Nuckolls for him to sign and the Harris estate.