Timeline extended for launch of Wilson Library facilities work.

Collection Number: 00359

Collection Title: Howerton Family Papers (#359) 1817-1901

This collection has access restrictions. For details, please see the restrictions.

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


expand/collapse Expand/collapse Collection Overview

Size 4.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 2000 items)
Abstract The Howerton family of Halifax County, Va., included Philip Howerton (1793-1879), tobacco planter and sheriff; his son-in-law Rufus H. Owen (fl. 1870-1890), tobacco planter and merchant of South Boston, Va.; and Howerton's children, Susannah Catharine (1824-1870); William Matthew (1826-1874); Judith Anne Purkins (1828-1874); Eliza Jane Owen (1830-1917); and Louisa Dresser (1833-1882). The collection includes business and family correspondence, financial and legal papers, and other materials relating to the Howerton family. Business correspondence, 1822-1901, includes letters relating to Philip Howerton's position as sheriff of Halifax County, Va.; slaves; accounts, many having to do with the tobacco industry; and other topics. Family correspondence includes letters relating to education, travel, and news of the Howerton, Purkins, Owen, Cabaniss, and other related families. There are also letters, 1844-1851, that Sally J. Brodnax in North Carolina wrote to Eliza J. Howerton. Financial and legal materials are both loose papers and volumes. Loose papers, 1817-1869, pertain chiefly to Philip Howerton and document his sheriff activities. Many items relate to slaves. Loose papers, 1870-1896, relate primarily to family members and to tobacco merchants in South Boston, Va. Volumes, 1819-1881, are account, cash, and other books, many relating to tobacco. Among the other papers are writings by family members, including an 1859 diary; an 1859 songbook; a notebook dated 1882-1884; recipes; printed circulars and advertisements; and clippings.
Creator Howerton (Family : Halifax County, Va.)
Curatorial Unit Southern Historical Collection
Language English.
Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access
This collection contains additional materials that are not available for immediate or same day access. Please contact Research and Instructional Service staff at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu to discuss options for consulting these materials.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Howerton Family Papers #00359, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Provenance
Original collection gift of Mr. and Mrs. David A. Webb before 1940. Additions received from Louise Partrick Newton in 1999 and 2000 (Acc. 98407 and 98562).
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

This collection was re-housed under the sponsorship of a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, Office of Preservation, Washington, D.C., 1990-1992.

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subject Headings

The following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.

Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Related Collections

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Biographical Information

The Howerton family of Halifax County, Va., included Philip Howerton 1793-1879), who was born to William Howerton and Caty Edmonson Howerton of Essex County, Va. In 1817, Philip moved to Halifax County, Va., where he became a tobacco planter and served as the sheriff. On 14 November 1822, he married Elizabeth Cunningham Cabiness (1806-1850), daughter of William Matthew Cabaniss and Susannah Carter Cabaniss, daughter of Theodorick and Judith Carter.

Philip and Elizabeth Howerton lived two miles from the town of Halifax on 3,000-4,000 acres in a house named Oakland. They had five children: Susannah Catharine (1824-1870); William Matthew (1826-1874); Judith Anne (1828-1874); Eliza Jane (1830-1917); and Louisa Dresser (1833-1882).

William Matthew married Adrianna Tucker of Raleigh, N.C., in 1848. They had two children: William Philip (1849-1886) and Harriet Eliza (1853-1927?). Judith Anne married Judge George W. Purkins in 1847. They separated in 1854 and were divorced in 1860. They had one daughter, Eliza Anne "Lizzie" (1853-1913), who married William Watson Kasey in 1882. In 1853, Eliza Jane married Rufus H. Owen, tobacco planter of South Boston, Halifax County, Va.

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

Business and family correspondence, financial and legal papers, and other materials relating to the Howerton family of Halifax County, Va.

Business correspondence, 1822-1901, includes letters relating to Philip Howerton's position as sheriff of Halifax County, Va.; slaves; accounts, many having to do with the tobacco industry; and other topics. Family correspondence includes letters relating to education, travel, and news of the Howerton, Purkins, Owen, Cabaniss, and other related families. There are also letters, 1844-1851, that Sally J. Brodnax in North Carolina wrote to Eliza J. Howerton.

Financial and legal materials are both loose papers and volumes. Loose papers, 1817-1869, pertain chiefly to Philip Howerton and document his sheriff activities. Many items relate to slaves. Loose papers, 1870-1896, relate primarily to family members and to tobacco merchants in South Boston, Va. Volumes, 1819-1881, are account, cash, and other books, many relating to tobacco.

Among the other papers are writings by family members, including an 1859 diary; an 1859 songbook; a notebook dated 1882-1884; recipes; printed circulars and advertisements; and clippings.

Back to Top

Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. Correspondence, 1822-1901 and undated.

About 650 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Business and family letters of the Howerton family of Halifax County, Va. Business letters relate chiefly to Philip Howerton's position as sheriff of Halifax County; to slaves; and to merchant and tobacco plantation accounts. Materials relating to slaves include correspondence about the boarding and health of a woman and child; a lengthy account by William H. Lanier on the death of one of his slaves; letters about Howerton's hiring of a smith named Israel and his trip across the Blue Ridge Mountains with "my lot of negroes"; and letters from John Thompson, who claimed that a runaway slave in the Halifax County jail belong to him. Family letters are largely of Philip Howerton's children and relatives.

Early correspondence, 1822-1839, consists primarily Philip Howerton's business letters with a few personal letters from his wife Eliza and one to her about his journey across the Blue Ridge mountains. Correspondence, 1840-1859, includes the letters of Philip Howerton, but there is a growing emphasis on his children's letters, especially those of Susannah and William Matthew, and on letters of other family members. 1841 letters include several from William H. Clark at the Virginia House of Delegates in Richmond.

Several letters relate to education, including a letter from G. W. Purkins to his son at college, extolling the advantages of a hard-won education for young men and women; Margaret B. Carter, a relative, asking Philip Howerton to see to the schooling of her daughter; a list of students and teachers at Howard High School near Alexandria, Va.; a list of students, including teachers and servants, at Judy Howerton's school; descriptive letters from Eliza Howerton at St. Mary's School in Raleigh, N.C.; and letters and grade reports of William Matthew Howerton at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.

Of note are the letters that Sally J. Brodnax in North Carolina wrote to Eliza J. Howerton, some of which have been published in That Sally Brodnax, As Told in her Letters, 1846-1851. Letters of Eliza Jane Howerton Owen and Lousia Howerton, 1850-1882, include a few about the Civil War.

See also Series 2 for letters directly relating to financial and legal matters.

Folder 1

1822-1835

Folder 2

1837-1839

Folder 3

1840-1841

Folder 4

1842-1844

Folder 5

1845

Folder 6

1846

Folder 7

1847-1849

Folder 8

1840s: Letters to Eliza J. Howerton

Folder 9

1844-1851: Sally Brodnax to Eliza J. Howerton, with typed transcripts

Folder 10

1850-1851

Folder 11

1852

Folder 12

1853-1857

Folder 13

1858-1859

Folder 14

1860-1862

Folder 15

1863-1865

Folder 16

1866-1869

Folder 17

1870-1875

Folder 18

1876-1879

Folder 19

1880-1882

Folder 20

1883-1884

Folder 21

1885-1886

Folder 22

1887-1889

Folder 23

1880s undated

Folder 24

1890-1898 and undated

Folder 25

1900-1901

Folder 26

Undated: Adriana to Eliza Owen, Judy Purkins, and Lizzie Purkins

Folder 27

Undated: A

Folder 28

Undated: From Bruce family

Folder 29

Undated: B

Folder 30

Undated: From Cabaniss family to Philip Howerton

Folder 31

Undated: C

Folder 32

Undated: D-G

Folder 33

Undated: H

Folder 34

Undated: From Howerton family

Folder 35

Undated: J-K

Folder 36

Undated: L-O

Folder 37

Undated: From Judith Purkins

Folder 38

Undated: From Lizzie Purkins

Folder 39

Undated: R-S

Folder 40

Undated: T-W

Folder 41

Undated: Unsigned or illegible signatures

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. Financial, Legal, and Related Materials, 1817-1896 and undated.

About 1300 items.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.1. Loose Papers, 1817-1896 and undated.

About 1300 items

Arrangement: chronological.

Financial, legal, and related papers of the Howerton family of Halifax County, Va. Papers, 1817-1869, pertain chiefly to Philip Howerton, planter and sheriff. These early papers document Howerton's official activities, and consist primarily of receipts and tax lists, including property tax lists, tax receipts, a tax list of "ordinaries and private entertainments," and tax lists of merchants, including peddlers. In addition, there is material relating to the imprisonment of insolvent debtors, including lists of property sold to settle accounts, requests for release from jail, and a list of debtors, 1840-1843.

Items referring to slaves include an 1850 census, tax lists, mortgages on slaves, and references to individual slaves who came in contact with the criminal justice system. Although there is little information about Howerton's own plantations, of interest is an agreement, 4 October 1837, describing a newly hired overseer's responsibilities on a plantation managed by Howerton and a land survey, 1855, of 1,864 acres owned by Howerton. Also included are business letters from Philip Howerton's commission merchant, Elisha Barksdale.

Papers, 1870-1896, relate primarily to Rufus H. Owen of South Boston, Halifax County, Va., son-in-law of Philip Howerton, and to Shepherd & Company, tobacco merchants of South Boston. These papers consist of correspondence, accounts with various Richmond, Va., commission merchants, and miscellaneous items relating to tobacco sales. Also included are business letters from Shepherd & Company to Halifax County tobacco growers and Richmond and Danville Railroad Company receipts for shipment of tobacco.

Other papers relate to Slate Brothers & Jordan , 1896; the legal and financial situation of George W. Purkins and his daughter, Lizzie Purkins Kasey; and to purchases made by Louisa Howerton and Eliza J. Owen.

Folder 42

1817-1825

Folder 43

1826-1833

Folder 44

1834-1836

Folder 45-46

Folder 45

Folder 46

1837

Folder 47-48

Folder 47

Folder 48

1838

Folder 49-50

Folder 49

Folder 50

1839

Folder 51-52

Folder 51

Folder 52

1840

Folder 53-56

Folder 53

Folder 54

Folder 55

Folder 56

1841

Folder 57

1841-1852: Elisha Barksdale

Folder 58-61

Folder 58

Folder 59

Folder 60

Folder 61

1842

Folder 62-65

Folder 62

Folder 63

Folder 64

Folder 65

1843

Folder 66

1844-1845

Folder 67

1846

Folder 68

1847-1849

Folder 69

1850

Folder 70

1851

Folder 71

1852

Folder 72

1855

Folder 73

1856-1857

Folder 74

1858-1859

Folder 75

Antebellum undated

Folder 76

1862

Folder 77

1868-1869

Folder 78

1870-1872

Folder 79-82

Folder 79

Folder 80

Folder 81

Folder 82

1873

Folder 83-84

Folder 83

Folder 84

1874

Folder 85-86

Folder 85

Folder 86

1873-1875

Folder 87

1878

Folder 88

1880-1888

Folder 89

1890-1891

Folder 90

1892-1895

Folder 91

1896

Folder 92

Undated

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 2.2. Volumes, 1819-1881.

15 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Account books, including administrator accounts; merchant account books of Philip Howerton, Howerton-Fitzgerald, Howerton & Cabaniss, William M. Howerton, William Breedlove, and others in Halifax County, Va.; and records from Philip Howerton's tobacco business, including a letter copybook containing business correspondence and an 1819 cash book of Philip Howerton listing expenses for goods and services.

Folder 93

Volume 1: 1819, 47 p. Cashbook, Philip Howerton, listing customer names and items purchased by date. Four loose additions to the volume include R. O. Griffen's cashbook, 1821, 33 p.; two folded sheets of account notes of P. Howerton, 1821; and Philip Howerton's memorandum book, 1819-1820, 36 p., labeled "what is not entered in full on this is carried to Ledger A."

Oversize Volume SV-359/2

1828-1834, 84 p. Daybook, Philip Howerton and Abel Lang

Pages 1-43 contain accounts from 1829, with a few 1828 pages; page 49 from 1833; page 66 from 1831; and pages 67-84 from 1833-1834

Folder 94

See SV-359/2

Folder 95

Volume 3: 1836-1843, 164 p. Cash account book, Howerton & Cabaniss. Pages 1-91 contain individual accounts, 1836-1837; pages 92-158 from 1837, with a few 1838 dates; page 159 from 1839; and page 160 from 1844.

Folder 96

Volume 4: 1838-1840, 160 p. Cash book, C. H. Griffin. Individual cash accounts with pages 1-62 from 1838; pages 63-155 from 1839; and pages 156-160 from 1840.

Folder 97

Volume 5: 1838-1852, 136 p. Account book and estate records, with an index of names; pages 1-19 estate records from 1838-1843; pages 21-36 from 1845-1852.

Folder 98

Volume 6: 1840-1844, 318 p. Account book, containing individual cash accounts and lists of items and goods purchased, with pages 1-27, 119-129, and 151-175 from 1840; pages 28-57, 130-150, 176-197, and 206-210 from 1841; pages 59-87, 198-199, 211-228, and 255-289 from 1842; pages 88-112, 229-247, and 290-300 from 1843; pages 113-118, 202-203, 248-254, and 301-305 from 1844.

Folder 99

Volume 7: 1843-1844, 42 p. Cash account book with pages 3-30 relating to William Breedlove and pages 41-42 to "West."

Oversize Volume SV-359/8

1844, 129 p. Daybook and cash accounts

Pages 1-95 contain daily entries for grocery items and dry goods sold in 1844; pages 96-129 contain cash accounts showing itemized monthly sales. The creator of the volume and location of the store are unknown.

Folder 100

see SV-359/8

Folder 101

Volume 9: 1844-1845, 307 p. "Factory Book," Howerton & Cabaniss tobacco business. Pages 1-294 have merchandise, factory, and store accounts; pages 295-307 show tobacco in pounds purchased and shipping accounts. Also included are an index of names and a loose twelve-page addition of accounts.

Folder 102

Volume 10: 1845-1847, 34 p. Letter book, Howerton & Cabaniss. Letter copybook containing business correspondence relating to tobacco.

Oversize Volume SV-359/11

1845-1847, 146 p. Merchandise account book, Philip Howerton

Pages 1-142 contain individual accounts from 1845; page 143 from January to March, 1846; page 144 from 1847; page 146 contains a list of bacon purchases.

Folder 103

see SV-359/11

Folder 104

Volume 12: 1847-1881, 196 p. Cash accounts and labor contracts. Pages 1-52 contain cash accounts from 1847-1848 with various individuals for groceries and merchandise. Pages 53-196 contains accounts from 1866 to 1881, apparently entered by William M. Howerton. These entries consist chiefly of accounts with freedmen, and include a copy of a labor contract (p. 65) and a journal of "gardening and farming" showing work accomplished in 1868 (p. 100).

Folder 105

Volume 13: 1850-1853, 120 p. William M. Howerton, scrapbook and tobacco record.

Folder 106

Volume 14: 1851-1853, 289 p. Account book. Pages 1-199 contain individual merchandise accounts from 1851; pages 200-273 from 1852; and pages 275-289 from 1853.

Folder 107

Volume 15: 1851-1855, 160 p. Philip Howerton and William M. Howerton merchant account book. Pages 1-15 contain an index of names; pages 17-94 accounts from 1851; pages 95-149 from 1852; pages 152-154 from 1855; pages 155-156 from 1854.

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. Other Papers, 1822-1896 and undated.

About 50 items.

Papers relating to various members of the Howerton family of Halifax County, Va. Included are essays, poems, and speeches; a book of poems handwritten by Miss Howerton in 1838; a songbook and album, 1859, of Henry E. Owen; a handwritten constitution for the Howerton Sabbath School Society; a pocket-sized manufactured diary and memorandum book of Rufus H. Owen; a notebook of Eliza J. Owen, containing lists of grocery items and dry goods purchased; and handwritten recipes.

Circulars include a menu from the Willard Hotel, Washington, D.C.; copies of an advertisement for the Kasey Leaf Tobacco Caser; an advertisement for Mr. Polke Miller, "a delineator of the Old Southern Plantation Negro"; price current circulars for tobacco; and a broadside for the Petersburg and Roanoke Rail Road connection with the Appomattox Rail Road. Political papers include a broadside from George W. Purkins regarding his views on a Virginia constitutional convention.

Also included are handwritten and printed marriage and death notices and newspaper clippings regarding planters and plantations in the South prior to and during the Civil War.

Folder 108

Howerton Sunday School constitution, 1822

Folder 109

Book of poems by Miss Howerton, 1838

Folder 110

Essays, speeches, poems

Folder 111

Songbook and album of Henry Owen, 1859

Folder 112

Diary and memorandum book of Rufus H. Owen, 1859

Folder 113

Notebook of Eliza Owen, 1882-1894

Folder 114

Recipes

Folder 115

Dance card/calling cards, grading chart

Folder 116

Marriage and death notices

Folder 117

Political papers, 1850-1865 and undated

Folder 118

Brochures and programs, 1865-1870 and undated

Folder 119

Advertising circulars

Folder 120

Newspaper clippings

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Items Separated

Oversize volumes (SV-359/2, 8, 11).

Back to Top