Correspondence, 1867

Collection — Box: 2, Folder: 10

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: 1867

Extent

From the Collection: 1.5 Linear Feet : 4 boxes

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

General

January 14, 1867 – Letter to father Nathaniel Nuckolls from G.W. Freeman, postmarked Rome, Georgia written from at home, asking for $600 from him as the purchases have exceeded the estimate. Added she saw Nat Thornton. The negroes they took with them were delighted with their new home. Spoke of Mr. Richardson. February 4, 1867 – Letter to Bro Tom Nuckolls in Columbus, Georgia from G.W. Freeman, a brother-in-law, in Cherokee Co, Alabama, concerning land and a valuable plantation named Woods' Estate and his money troubles. He expressed his delight with his negroes. [Processor's note – There seems to be a page missing.] February 17, 1867 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls from brother N. A. Nuckolls, postmarked Union Springs, Alabama telling the status of the shipment of corn and meat that Tom sent. Mentioned having Bedell to check on it. Said cotton is too low in price. Mentioned Redd and the Coggins account. Ordered 4 mules, needs to pay for them, and wanted 4 more plows from Ennis. February 18, 1867 – Indenture Deed from John B. Coleman, Macon County, Alabama to Thomas Swift, dated Jan. 28,1865 [Processor's note – very faint and almost illegible.] February 19, 1867 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls (whose office was over Ennis' Hardware Store) from brother N.A. Nuckolls, at home, asking Tom to get him 4 more plows and to send him the bill. February 20, 1867 – Deed from Thomas Swift to Thas. J. Cox for property near Union Springs, Alabama. February 26, 1867 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls in Columbus, Georgia from brother N.A. Nuckolls, at home, postmarked Union Springs, Alabama referring to a letter that Tom wrote in return but neglected to tell him the prices he was looking for. He should have paid Kyle $600. Would send 5 or 6 bales of cotton this week. Asked for $60 to buy seed corn. Walker, his manager, will probably sue them over negroes' wages for last year. April 22, 1867 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls from brother N.A Nuckolls [Nate], at home, telling Tom that he charged meat to him from Abe Miles and will order more. He further informed him that J.L. Walker, his last manager, might sue him to pay the hirelings of last year. Advice needed from Tom. April 22, 1867 – Letter fragment from Columbus, Georgia to Hon. E.A. Rollins, Commissioner Int Rev in Washington about the question of cotton being liable to 2 taxes. The letter is torn away at bottom. June 26, 1867 – Letter to Tom Nuckolls in Columbus, Georgia from T. J. Cox, brother-in-law, in Gadsden, Alabama written on "R.B. Kyle Dealer in General Merchandise" letterhead. He thanked Tom for sending money by boat. Emma wrote of his coming to visit and could be her escort to Rome, Georgia. July 1, 1867 – Letter to T.J. Nuckolls from S. Huntington of the Court of Claims of Washington concerning the legality of taking an oath to support the constitution in 1856. July 15, 1867 – Letter to Thos. Nuckolls Esq from S. B. Law of the L. Haiman & Bro firm of Commission Merchants asking him and his father to call at his office on unspecified important business. July 28, 1867 – Letter to the Hon. Thos. J. Nuckolls from Thos. B. Stubbs of the Attorney General's Office in Montgomery, Alabama thanking him first for sending a synopsis of Georgia law and further asking for court information, meeting date and time, in Columbus, Georgia. August 18, 1867 – Letter to Mrs. L.H. Nuckolls (Louisiana) from N. Nuckolls in Gadsden, Alabama. The letter, written in pencil, refers to a letter of Col. Hawkins, visits to Adelle, the Freemans, Thornton, the Kyles (Mollie delivered a 12 lb. boy), possibly buying/investing in a 900 acre farm for Emma, warned "show this to no one except Thomas and Jimmy", and to write what Jimmy intends to do.