Timeline extended for launch of Wilson Library facilities work.

Collection Number: 00716

Collection Title: Lewis Thompson Papers, 1723-1895.

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 3.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 4650 items)
Abstract Lewis Thompson was a white enslaver and owner of Broadneck, Ben Butt, Hickory Neck, and Gorden's plantations near Woodville (also called Hotel) in Bertie and Halifax counties, N.C., and of the family's plantations in Bayou Boeuf, near Alexandria, Rapides Parish, La. Papers before 1840 consist chiefly of land grants, deeds, bills of sale for enslaved people, and estate papers of Thompson's Pugh, Williams, Clark, Thompson, and Urquhart relations. Estate papers include many wills, receipts, and accounting materials that document the trafficking of enslaved people through buying and selling of them as human property; hiring out their labor, skills, and knowledge, including midwifery services; and payments for crops they raised and for medical care. There is also a group of papers relating to land the Tuscarora leased to Thomas Pugh and others. Business papers, circa 1840-1871, of Lewis Thompson, consist of correspondence about plantation management, including work performed, acts of resistance, punishment, and health concerns of enslaved people; accounts; receipts for hiring out of enslaved people; lists of enslaved people; sharecropper and laborer contracts and accounts with freed people; and other documents relating to the production of cotton and wheat in Bertie County, N.C., to sugar in Rapides Parish, La., and to the sale of crops through factors in New York, Norfolk, New Orleans, and Baltimore. There is also a considerable amount of correspondence relating to Lewis Thompson's role as executor of many estates, particularly that of his father-in-law, William M. Clark, who was also an enslaver, and to Thompson's investments with brokers in New York. Although Thompson was also a political leader in North Carolina, serving in the House of Commons and State Senate, 1831-1852, and as a member of the General Convention of 1865, and a trustee of the University of North Carolina from 1848 until his death, there are few papers relating to his political career or to his involvement in university affairs. Papers after Thompson's death in 1867 relate chiefly to the activities of his son, Thomas W. Thompson, who took over his father's North Carolina business affairs. The plantations in Louisiana had been run by Thomas's brother William for many years before their father's death.
Creator Thompson, Lewis, 1808-1867.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Information For Users

Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
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 Lewis Thompson Papers #716, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Alternate Form of Material
All or part of this collection is available on microfilm from University Publications of America as part of the Records of ante-bellum southern plantations from the Revolution through the Civil War, Series J.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Richard A. Urquhart of Lewiston, N.C., before 1940, Molly Urquhart of Raleigh, N.C. in October 1994 (Acc. 94149), and Margaret U. Griffin in February 1995 (Acc. 95036).
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

Processed by: Roslyn Holdzkom, October 1990, March 1995 with the assistance of Janna Sayle

Encoded by: ByteManagers Inc., 2008

Conscious Editing updates by Nancy Kaiser, October 2022: abstract, subject headings, biographical note, scope and content, and container list.

Since August 2017, we have added ethnic and racial identities for individuals and families represented in collections. To determine identity, we rely on self-identification; other information supplied to the repository by collection creators or sources; public records, press accounts, and secondary sources; and contextual information in the collection materials. Omissions of ethnic and racial identities in finding aids created or updated after August 2017 are an indication of insufficient information to make an educated guess or an individual's preference for identity information to be excluded from description. When we have misidentified, please let us know at wilsonlibrary@unc.edu.

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 Biographical Information

The white Thompson family of Bertie County, North Carolina, appears to be descended from Hezikiah Thompson, who died in Bertie County in 1771. Because his will lists much land in South Carolina, it is possible that Hezikiah came to Bertie County from that state.

Hezikiah Thompson had six sons: Noah, Arthur, Rubin, and William, apparently by his first wife, and Hezekiah Jr. (d. 1820) and Thomas (d. circa 1827) by his second wife. Thomas Thompson was Lewis Thompson's father. Lewis Thompson (1808-1867) was born in 1808 and graduated with honors from the University of North Carolina (A.B., 1827; A.M., 1832). He went on to acquire Broadneck, Ben Butt, Hickory Neck, and Gorden's plantations near Woodville (also called Hotel), Bertie County, and in Rapides Parish, Louisiana. It appears that most of Thompson's Louisiana land was acquired through his father-in-law, William M. Clark, who had purchased these lands shortly before his death in 1837. From around 1849 to 1858, these sugar plantations seem to have been managed in Thompson's behalf by his brother-in-law Kenneth M. Clark. Around 1858, when Moore Rawls took over the day-to-day management, William Thompson, Lewis's younger son, appears to have taken up permanent residence on the family's Louisiana lands. His brother, Thomas W. Thompson, gradually took over the management of the Bertie County plantations. The brothers appear to have remained on their respective plantations after their father's death.

In addition to his plantations, Thompson made many investments, chiefly through bankers in New York. During the Civil War, he was a heavy investor in Confederate bonds. Thompson was also a political leader in North Carolina, serving in the House of Commons and the State Senate, 1831-1852, and as a member of the General Convention of 1865. He was a trustee of the University of North Carolina from 1848 until his death in 1867.

Lewis Thompson's wife, Margaret Ann Cathcart Clark (fl. 1840s-1880s) was a daughter of William M. Clark and Martha Bodie Williams (d. circa 1843). Lewis and Margaret had four children: sons Thomas W. and William and daughters Pattie and Mary. Pattie appears to have died shortly before 1867; Mary eventually married Burges Urquhart and was the mother of the donor of these papers.

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

These papers relate almost exclusively to slavery and business affairs, a very high proportion of them being bills of sale for enslaved people, deeds, copies of deeds, and receipts. They document primarily the plantation activities of Lewis Thompson and his sons William in Louisiana and Thomas W., who remained in Bertie County. There are also many items relating to members of the Clark, Pugh, Williams, and Urquhart families. The Clark family is the most represented, with much material relating to the activities of Thompson's father-in-law William M. Clark, and, after 1837, to his estate for which Lewis Thompson was executor. The people who were enslaved by these families are found throughout the collection and in some cases repeatedly through the decades.

Some of the earliest records relate to land in Bertie County belonging to the Tuscarora that was leased to Thomas Pugh and others. Between 1812 and the 1830s, much of the material concerns the buying and selling of enslaved people who supplied the labor skills and knowledge for Broadneck, Ben Butt, Hickory Neck, and Gorden's plantations in Bertie County, N.C., and for the family's plantations in Rapides Parish, La. From 1840 to 1871, materials document the cultivation and marketing of cotton and wheat in Bertie County, and of sugar in Rapides Parish, and the management of an enslaved work force in both states. Letters describe work performed, acts of resistance, punishment, and health concerns of enslaved people. After the Civil War, there are contracts and accounts with laborers and sharecroppers, many of whom were previously enslaved by Thompson.

As Thompson appears to have specialized in being named executor of the estates of his relatives and friends, there is a large amount of material, including papers and volumes, relating to estate settlements, and much of it concerns enslaved people who were claimed as property of the estates. Wills, receipts, and accounting materials document the trafficking of enslaved people through buying and selling of them as human property; hiring out their labor, skills, and knowledge, including midwifery services; and payments for crops they raised and for medical care.

Although Thompson was active in North Carolina politics for most of his life, there is very little of a political nature in this collection, and, although he was a trustee of the University of North Carolina for twenty years, there is even less about the University. Starting around 1856, there are some personal letters, but the bulk of the papers discuss business affairs.

The collection consists of a series of correspondence, legal and financial materials, and other papers, arranged in a roughly chronological run and divided into subseries according to dates that mark significant changes in subject or type of materials, followed by a series of eight volumes that are chiefly Lewis Thompson's account books. Volumes been ordered chronologically by the last date appearing in the volume.

A series of 31 Confederate bonds issued through the state of North Carolina, in $500 and $1000 denominations, with many coupons intact, was transferred to folder 4 of 4672. Miscellaneous Currency. Although no names appear on the bonds, they were surely the property of Lewis Thompson.

Back to Top

Contents list

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series Quick Links

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. Papers, 1723-1894 and undated.

About 4100 items.

Arrangement: roughly chronological.

Correspondence, legal and financial materials, and other papers relating to Lewis Thompson, his sons Thomas W. Thompson and William Thompson, to their Clark, Pugh, Williams, and Urquhart relatives, and to people enslaved by these families.

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.1. Papers, 1723-1833.

About 150 items.

Chiefly originals and copies of deeds, indentures, wills, and bills of sale for enslaved people. The earliest items are largely hand-drawn plats of land in Bertie County, North Carolina. In this subseries, there is documentation of most of the white families represented in this collection, but especially to the Pugh, Clark, and Williams families. There is also documentation of dozens of people who were enslaved by these families. The relationship between the Lewis Thompson mentioned in items dated before the Lewis Thompson after whom the collection is named came of age is unclear.

Folder 1

Papers, 1723-1798

Records of enslavement include:

  • 25 January 1771: Copy of will of Lewis Thompson's grandfather, Hezekiah Thompson, in which Peter, an enslaved person, was bequeathed to Mary Thompson; Tom, Sarah, Kaziah, and Charity, all of whom were enslaved, were lent to Mary Thompson during her lifetime; Toba, Winne Peg, Eda, and Jack, all of whom were enslaved, were bequeathed to Noah Thompson; Dick and Tener, who were enslaved, were bequeathed to Reuban Thompson; Little Peter, Dinah, and Rachel, all of whom were enslaved, were bequeathed to Arthur Thompson; Willis, Charles, Pahanu (?), and Sebina, all of whom were enslaved, were bequeathed to William Thompson; and Dava, an enslaved person, was to be sold to discharge debts against the estate.
  • 1786: Will of Thomas Barker (1713-1787), in which Suckey, Cloe, Mela and children, Joe, Patty and her child Nell, Nancy, Betty, Little Cloe, Peter, Mimmy and her children, Stella, Reuben, Pol, Delia and her children Dick and Sammy, Denny and her child, Hannibal, Cuff, Venus, and Frank, all of whom were enslaved, were bequeathed to Penelope Barker. Thomas Barker came to Bertie County around 1735. He first married Pheribee Savage Pugh and then Penelope Pagett Hodgson. Barker is buried at Hayes Plantation in Edenton, North Carolina.
  • January 1792: List of enslaved people belonging to the estate of John Pugh, including Peter, Philus, Jim, Eady, Rachel, Will, Joe, Penny (?), Clary, Nancy, and Anthony. The list shows the dispensation of eleven enslaved people; two enslaved people were given to Thomas Thompson.

Other items of interest include:

  • 1730: Grant to Thomas Pollock by Lord Proprietors of North Carolina (dated 2 August 1727, but with endorsements dated 1730) for 600 acres on Moratuck River (Roanoke River).
  • 23 June 1749: Indenture of John Pugh to Thomas Barker for land in Bertie County.
  • 27 November 1760: Land grant of Lord Granville to George House (d. circa 1763) for land in Bertie County. Lewis Thompson eventually gained control of this land through his father, who had gotten it from Littleberry Abington.
  • 23 July 1766: Indenture leasing 8000 acres of Tuscarora land in the Indian Woods, Bertie County, to Robert Jones, William Williams, and Thomas Pugh for 150 years. The indenture was signed by many of the leading members of the Tuscarora, including Thomas Blount, John Rogers, George Blount, Wine Oak Charles, Thomas Basket, John Cain, Bille Denes, William Taylor, Bille Basket, Bille Owins, Bille Denis, Lewis Tufnick, Isaac Miller, Harry Whealer, Samuel Bridgers, Thomas Senicar, Thomas Howell, Bille Jockey, Bille Cornelius, John Senicar, John Walker, Bille Mitchell, Bille Netop, Bille Blount, Thomas Jack, John Sitewood, Bille Roberts, James Mitchell, Captain Joe, William Pugh, James Allen, John Wiggins, Bille George, Snip Nose George, Bille Cain, and Charles Cornelius. Robert Jones the Attorney General, William Williams of Halifax, and Thomas Pugh of Bertie County received this lease in compensation for their work as trustees in the sale of Tuscarora land. See also William Laurence Saunders Collection (folder 2) for background information about the dispute over and sale of land between the Tuscarora people and the Lord Proprietors Deputies of North Carolina that led to this lease.
  • 2 December 1775: Copy of indenture leasing 2000 acres of land in the Indian Woods for 99 years to Thomas Pugh, Wilie Jones, and William Williams for an annual rent of 80 duffel blankets, 80 shirts, 80 pair of boots, 50 pounds of powder, and 150 pounds of shot. The original indenture was also signed by Tuscarora leaders Whitmell Tufdick, Wine Oak Charles Sr., Wine Oak Charles Jr., Lewis Tufdick, Billie Roberts, West Tufdick, Billie Blount Sr., Billie Blount Jr., John Rogers, John Smith, Bille Pugh, Bille Basket, John Hix, Samuel Bridger, John Owin, James Mitchell, Isaac Cornelius, Tom Thomas, Walter Gibson, and West Whitmell. This particular document is a copy and, thus, does not bear original signatures.
  • 1798: Indenture of Littleberry Abington to Lewis Thompson. Littleberry was married to Sarah Moor, daughter of Titus Moore, whose name appears several times in these papers.
Extra Oversize Paper XOP-716/1

Deed: land granted to George House in Bertie County, N.C., 27 November 1760

Folder 2

Papers, 1801-1810

Records of enslavement include:

  • 15 January 1808: Bill of sale for Jerry, an enslaved child who was sold by Isum Manning of Martin County to William M. Clark.

Other items of interest include:

  • 23 April 1807: Receipt of Jeremiah Slade, as "Commissioner," for rents and fees received from Thomas Pugh and William Williams for lands in Bertie County belonging to the Tuscarora.
  • 13 October 1808: Copy of the 1717 treaty between Governor Charles Eden and King Blount, in which the Tuscarora yielded lands on the Pamlico and Neuse rivers in exchange for lands in Bertie County, possibly between the Marrattock River and Quitonah Swamp.
  • 1808: Petition to Governor Richard Caswell of North Carolina from the Tuscarora people living in Bertie County, to void a lease with William King, who was alleged to have negotiated in bad faith with members of the Tuscarora by intoxicating them with alcohol. The petition is signed by Whitmell Trufdick, William Roberts, Lewis Tufdick, Thomas Roberts, Molley Roberts, John Randel, William Pugh, James Mitchell, William Blount, Wine Oak Charles, William Baskitt, John Smith, Walter Gibson, Molley Pugh, A. Tushover, and W. Whitmell (?).
  • 6 March 1809: Copy of letter, dated 28 July 1803, from the United States Secretary of War to Jeremiah Slade, acknowledging that Sacareesa and Longboard, members of the Tuscarora, conveyed to the secretary legal documents that recognized Slade as the agent and attorney for the Tuscarora people.
  • 16 March 1810: Indenture of Nathaniel Bond and Penelope B. Bond to Thomas Thompson for land in Bertie County. Penelope is probably the same woman who had been married to Thomas Barker (see 1786 above).
  • May 1810: Document, signed by Judge William Gaston, detailing the legal proceedings of William Williams and others against George Pollock in the North Carolina District Court.
Extra Oversize Paper XOP-716/2

Plat: land allotted to Tuscarora in Bertie County, 26 July 1806

Folder 3

Papers, 1811-1820

Beginning in 1811, there are records of many purchases and sales of enslaved people by various relatives of Lewis Thompson, and, later, by Thompson himself. The trafficking of enslaved people was especially high around 1818-1819.

Records of enslavement include:

  • 3 January 1811: Bill of sale for Arthur, an enslaved person who was sold by William Carnal in Martin County, N.C. to William Clark.
  • 20 June 1812: Bill of sale for Solomon, an enslaved person who was sold from the estate of William Alston, deceased, in Martin County, N.C., to Thomas Thompson of Bertie County, N.C. Solomon was trafficked by the executors of the Alston estate: Lewis Williams, Samuel Williams, Whitmell Alston, and Thomas Alston.
  • 1 June 1814: Bill of sale for Wortey(?), an enslaved child (about 7 years old) who was sold by Arnold Wilburn in Martin County, N.C., to Kenneth Clark.
  • 9 November 1814: Bill of sale for Harry, an enslaved person of color (17 years old) who was sold by Thomas Howson of Petersburg, Va., to William M. Clark in Washington County, N.C.
  • 3 November 1815: Bill of sale for Allen, an enslaved person who was sold by John Harred(?) of Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 22 February 1817: Bill of sale for Robin, an enslaved person who was sold by Samuel Sharrock of Bertie County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C.
  • 6 January 1818: Bill of sale for Adam, an enslaved person who was sold by Reading Staton of Edgecombe County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 22 April 1818: Bill of sale for Stephen (about 24 years old), his wife Hager (about 24 years old), and their three daughters, who were sold by Thomas Bond to William M. Clark.
  • 10 June 1818: Bill of sale for John, an enslaved child who was sold by Richard Hines to William M. Clark.
  • 3 August 1818: Bill of sale for Stephen, an enslaved person who was sold at auction in Halifax Town to William M. Clark. Stephen may have been claimed as property previously by Asa Cain. He was trafficked by J. & J. Gordon & Co. and Joshua Watson, who was an agent for Clark.
  • 1 April 1819: Bill of Sale for Joshua (about 21 years old), Rose (about 24 years old), and her children Cupid and Tom (one about 5 years old and the other about 7 years old), all of whom were enslaved people who were sold by Ann B. Pollok to William M. Clark. Joshua, Rose, Cupid, and Tom were trafficked by John Deveraux for Pollok.
  • 4 February 1819: Bill of sale for Charles, an enslaved person who was sold from the estate of W. W. Johnston to William M. Clark. Charles was trafficked by William Britton, executor of the Johnston estate.
  • 2 March 1819: Bill of sale for Rose, an enslaved person who was sold by Thomas Trotter to William M. Clark.
  • 25 March 1819: Bill of sale for Willis, an enslaved person who was sold by William Mitchell to William M. Clark.
  • 22 September 1819: Bill of sale for Nathan, an enslaved person who was sold by Samuel Sharrock to Thomas Thompson. Nathan was trafficked by Thomas Ruffin acting as sheriff.
  • 4 February 1820: Bill of sale for Betty and her child, an enslaved family who were sold from the estate of William W. Johnston to William M. Clark. Betty and her child were trafficked by Wiliiam Britton, executor of the Johnston estate.
  • 14 February 1820: Bill of sale for Pompey, an enslaved person who was sold by W. W. Ward of Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 21 December 1820: Bill of sale for Isaac, an enslaved blacksmith (about 22 or 23 years old) and Miles (about 14 or 15 years old), who were sold by Ezekiel H. Potter to William M. Clark.
  • Undated: List of 99 enslaved people who were sold by Ann B. Pollock to David Clark and William M. Clark and subsequently divided between the buyers.
Folder 4

Papers, 1821-1827

Records of enslavement include:

  • 5 March 1820: list of 94 enslaved people, with their ages, who were claimed as property and to be divided between David Clark of Halifax County and William M. Clark of Martin County.
  • 8 February 1820: Bill of sale for Richmond, Tom, Old Rose and her 7 children, and Young Rose and her 3 children, all of whom were enslaved people sold by John B. Calland of Martin County, N.C., to Thomas Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 21 February 1821: Bill of sale for Rhoda, an enslaved person (about 20 years old) who was sold by John J. Lancaster to Thomas Thompson.
  • 8 November 1821: Bill of sale for Lewis, an enslaved person who was sold from the estate of A. S. Johnston to William M. Clark. Lewis was trafficked by David Clark as administrator of the Johnston estate.
  • 23 January 1822: Bill of sale for Harry, an enslaved man who was sold by Joseph B. Judkins of Pitt County, N.C., to Thomas Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 12 February 1822: Bill of sale for Harry (about 20 years old), an enslaved person who was sold by Gervis Tadlock to William M. Clark.
  • 27 June 1822: Bill of sale for Harry, an enslaved person who was sold from the estate of Susan Brown to William M. Clark. Harry was trafficked by William B. Brown who was administrator of the Susan Brown estate.
  • 3 October 1822: Bill of sale for Watson, Mingo, Davis, Caeser, Susan, Sarah and an infant, Cloe (12 years old), Cloe (11 years old), Hariet (10 years old), Penny (15 yeras old), all of whom were enslaved people sold by Peter Roscoe to William M. Clark.
  • 24 May 1823: Bill of sale for Silvy, an enslaved person who was sold by James Watson of Bertie County, N.C., to Johnston and Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 29 December 1823: Bill of sale for Nero, an enslaved person who was sold by William C. Jones in Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 22 February 1824: Bill of sale for Stephen (about 37 or 38 years old), and brothers Jim, Jack, Jerry, and Jesse, all of whom were enslaved people sold by John Dwyer of New London County, Conn., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C. Dwyer inherited the enslaved people from John Everitt.
  • 22 February 1824: Bill of sale for Stephen, Jim, Jack, Jerry, and Jesse, enslaved people who had been bequeathed by John Everett to Elizabeth Dwyer (Manning) for her lifetime, then to her children John Dwyer, Mary Dwyer (Boyett), and Delilah Manning, then sold by Elizabeth Dwyer on their behalf to William M. Clark. Stephen, Jim, Jack, Jerry, and Jesse were trafficked by James Boyett as administrator of the Everett estate.
  • 4 March 1824: Bill of sale for Antony, an enslaved person who was sold by Celia Smith of Bertie County, N.C., to Thomas Thompson.
  • 29 April 1824: Bill of sale for Abraham (about 30 years old), Betty (about 20 years old), and their child (about 3 years old), an enslaved family who were sold by Mason L. Wiggins of Halifax County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C.
  • 5 May 1824: Bill of sale for George, an enslaved person (about 18 or 19 years old) who was sold by James B. Everitt of Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 21 December 1825: Bill of sale for Jim Sampson, an enslaved person who was sold by Mason L. Wiggins of Halifax County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C.
  • 8 January 1826: Bill of sale for Anthony, an enslaved person who was sold by Henry Smith to Thomas Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 14 January 1826: Bill of sale for Tom, Reuben, Ben, Hannah and her child, Murreah and her two children, all of whom were enslaved people sold by John B. Calland for Jacob J. Watts to William M. Clark.
  • 31 October 1826: Receipt relating to sale of Stephen, Jim, Jack, Jerry, and Jesse, all of whom were enslaved people sold by Delilah Manning of Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C.
  • 12 March 1827: Bill of sale for Tincy (35 years old) and her child Harry (3 years old), an enslaved family who were sold at public auction in Windsor to Hezekiah Thompson. Tincy and Harry were previously owned by Titus Moore and trafficked by Lewis Bond in his capacity as sheriff.
  • 27 March 1827: Bill of sale for Patty and her children Aira and Laura, an enslaved family who were sold at public auction to William M. Clark. Patty, Aira, and Laura were previously owned by Peyton R. Tunstall and were trafficked by M. H. Pellway from Julius plantation in Northampton.
  • 20 July 1827: Bill of sale for Lily, an enslaved child (about 9 years old), who was sold by Hattow Callaway of Bertie County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C.
  • 18 August 1827: Bill of sale for Silas, an enslaved person (about 25 years old) who was sold by Thomas Vaughn of Halifax County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C.
  • Circa 1827: Lists of enslaved people.

Other items of interest include:

  • 10 November 1824: Indenture concerning land leased by Thomas Pugh from the Tuscarora.
  • 9 December 1824: Letter from Elisha Mitchell of University of North Carolina to Thomas Thompson about his son Lewis's performance at the University. The letter was actually written by George S. Beltner, a tutor at the University, who later became a well-respected physician in New Bern and New York.
  • August 1827: Copy of the will of Thomas Thompson, father of Lewis Thompson.
Folder 5

Papers, 1828-1833

Records of enslavement include:

  • 1813-1826: Ledger of Hezekiah Thompson and Thomas Thompson, including an inventory of the estate of William T. Thompson, indicating that he was the enslaver of 55 people as of 1813.
  • 20 November 1827: Bond relating to money owed to Ann Clark Cox in the sale of enslaved people to Thomas B. Haughton.
  • 10 October 1828: Copy of will of David Clark (b. 1772) of Scotland Neck, N.C., in which he bequeathed enslaved people who he claimed as property to be distributed to his daughters at a future time. David Clark was the brother of William M. Clark, Lewis Thompson's father-in-law, and husband of Louisa Norfleet. Clark was one of the largest and most substantial plantation owners on the Roanoke River.
  • 19 July 1828: Bill of sale for Winney, an enslaved person who was sold by William D. Sledge to William M. Clark.
  • 5 September 1828: Bill of sale for George (between 25 and 30 years old), an enslaved person who was sold by Ezekial Hardison of Plymouth, Washington County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C.
  • 24 October 1828: Bill of sale for Gethsemane (about 27 years of age), an enslaved person who was sold by John Pledger, George Pledger, and Humphrey Gaines of Northampton County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Martin County, N.C.
  • 18 December 1828: Bill of sale for Mary (about 30 years old) and her children Martha, Guy, Nicy, Righty, and Luezer, an enslaved family who were sold by Joshua Watson to William M. Clark.
  • 10 March 1829: Bill of sale for Sabra and Manuel, enslaved people who were sold by Eli McCaskey in Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 11 May 1829: Bill of sale for Austin, an enslaved person who was sold at auction by Samuel S. Shepherd, sheriff of Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 20 May 1829: Bill of sale for Lindy, an enslaved person sold by Jacob J. Watt in Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 10 July 1829: Bill of sale for George, an enslaved person sold by Edwin Everson to William M. Clark.
  • 3 August 1829: Bill of sale for Sylvia, an enslaved child (about 10 years old) who was sold by Thomas Cox in Halifax County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 8 August 1829: Bill of sale for Alfred, Jossue, and Ceaser, enslaved people who were sold by Francis Pugh of Franklin County, N.C., to William M. Clark, agent for Kintchen Taylor.
  • 1 January 1830: List of 73 enslaved people claimed as property of the estate of Thomas Thompson and then divided between Lewis Thompson and Hezekiah Thompson.
  • 27 February 1830: Bill of sale for Nancy, an enslaved child (about 9 or 10 years old) who was sold by Horace Ely of Washington County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 31 March 1830: Bill of sale for Traxton, an enslaved person who was sold by William L. Tunstall in Halifax County, N.C., to William M. Clark.
  • 12 April 1830: Bill of sale for Hasty, an enslaved person sold at auction at Williamston, Martin County, N.C., by John L. Sherrod on behalf of William Everett, to William M. Clark.
  • 11 March 1831: Note concerning Silvey, an enslaved child who was claimed as shared property of Hezekiah Thompson and John T. Johnston of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 18 March 1831: Bill of sale for Bridget (about 50 years old) and Joe (5 years old), enslaved people who were sold from the estate of David Clark by executors Gavin Hogg and William M. Clark to Alfred Moge. Bridget and Joe were then trafficked by Moge to Clark.
  • 30 January 1832: Bill of sale for Titus, Sylvia, and their children Matilda, Carolina, and Hannah, an enslaved family who was sold by B. Ballard to Hezekiah Thompson through James Gordon in Halifax County, N.C., 23 November 1831.
  • 30 January 1832: Bill of sale for Isaac, Rose, and their children Jordan, Jesse, Alpha, and Robin, an enslaved family who was sold by B. Ballard to Lewis Thompson of Bertie County, N.C., through James Gordon in Halifax County, N.C., 23 November 1831.
  • 9 July 1832: Bill of sale for Ben (about 30 to 40 years old), an enslaved person who was sold by William R. Everitt to William M. Clark through Thomas Pugh.
  • 15 October 1833: Bill of sale for Moses, an enslaved person sold from the estate of Edward H. Boisseau to William M. Clark. J. B. Goode and Clarke Poindexter were commissioners of the sale.
  • 19 December 1833: Bill of sale for Jordan (about 36 years old) and his wife Charity (about 23 or 24 years old), an enslaved couple who were sold by Randall Johnston to William M. Clark.
  • 16 October 1833: Bill of sale for Louisa, an enslaved person who was sold by Peter F. Boisseau in Petersburg, Va., to William M. Clark.
  • 20 September 1833: Bill of sale for Hannah (22 years old) and her infant child, Abram (about 60 years old), and Jupiter (9 years old), enslaved people who were sold by Agnes Veale of Bertie County, N.C., to Hezekiah Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.

Other items of interest include:

  • 23 May 1828: Receipt from John Cox of Plymouth, North Carolina, for $2,500 received from William M. Clark in payment of money owed by Cox's wife, who was Clark's sister. An explanation of the debt is also included. Cox was a partner in the Plymouth firm of Clark, Devereux & Cox, merchants.
  • 3 December 1828: Evaluation of two islands at the mouth of the Roanoke River made by Hardeson and Maitland of Plymouth, North Carolina, for Francis Pugh and the heirs of Thomas Thompson. Benjamin Maitland was a merchant of Philadelphia with a branch office in Plymouth. The islands were valued at $250 for both.
  • 25 February 1830: Receipt from W. M. Roberts, treasurer of North Carolina, to William M. Clark for a payment towards the purchase of land in the Indian Woods.
  • 28 July 1831: Receipt from William Hill, North Carolina secretary of state, to the heirs of William Williams for payment on 1,000 acres of land in the Indian Woods.
Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.2. Papers, 1834-1848.

About 300 items.

While materials relating to North Carolina predominate, Thompson's Louisiana connections are first seen in a letter dated 30 January 1834 (described below). During this period, there is much activity in settling estates, particularly that of Thompson's father-in-law, William M. Clark, who died in 1837 after buying land in Louisiana. It is not clear whether or not Thompson had connections with Louisiana sugar production before he became executor of Clark's will, but settlement of Clark's seemingly complicated dealings in Louisiana certainly increased Thompson activity in that state. Beginning in 1840, there are many letters to Thompson from cotton factors in Norfolk. Most of these letters give routine information on numbers of cotton bales sold during specific periods. There is also a great deal of estate settlement going on during this time, especially the estate of John Ruffin in the mid-1840s.

In this subseries, enslaved people are documented in bills of sale, wills, and receipts for clothing and food supplies, policing acts of resistance such as running away, and the hiring out their labor, skills, and knowledge, including midwifery services. Many of the enslaved people were connected to William Clark and to the John Ruffin estate.

Folder 6

Papers, 1834-1836

Records of enslavement include:

  • 1 February 1834: Bill of sale for Peter, Sam, Jim, Dick, Sally, Lucinda, Kate, Norfleet, and Milly, enslaved people who were sold by Andrew M. Craig of Northampton County, N.C., to Lewis Thompson.
  • 21 February 1834: Bill of sale for Harry, an enslaved person who was sold from the estate of Whitmel Hodges by Hardy Hayes of Bertie County, N.C., to Hezekiah Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 22 February 1834: Bill of sale for Miles, an enslaved person who was sold by James Walton to Hezekiah Thompson.
  • 24 February 1834: Bill of sale for partial payment for Jordan and Charity, an enslaved couple who had been purchased in 1833 from Randall Johnston by William M. Clark.
  • 22 March 1834: Bill of sale for Martin and Amelia and 2 small children, an enslaved family who were sold by William Josey of Northampton County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 12 September 1834: Bill of sale for Bess and her child Henderson, an enslaved family who were sold by David Williams of Martin County, N.C., to William M. Clark of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 14 June 1834: 24 February 1834: Bill of sale for partial payment for Jordan and Charity, an enslaved couple who had been purchased in 1833 from Randall Johnston by William M. Clark.
  • 28 October 1834: Bill of sale for Cage (about 25 years old) and Kinchen (about 10 years old), enslaved people who were sold by Thomas C. Willis to Lewis Thompson.
  • 26 May 1835: Bill of sale for Simon, an enslaved person who was sold by Ann E. Williams to William M. Clark.
  • October 1836: Copy of will of William M. Clark in which Ben (Ben Butt plantation was named for Ben) and Vicey, an enslaved couple, were guaranteed support out of the estate; and Pompey, an enslaved carpenter, and Fed, an enslaved carriage driver, were given the choice to which of the family they would belong.

Other items of interest include:

  • 30 January 1834: Unsigned letter from New Orleans to [William M. Clark?] about land deals and mortgage collections. The writer may have been Benjamin Ballard, from whom William M. Clark bought property in 1837.
  • 6 October 1836: Letter from Asa Biggs in Tarboro, North Carolina, to William M. Clark about Biggs's payment of a note. Asa Biggs (1811-1876) was a Bertie County resident, congressman and senator, and member of the state and Confederate judiciary.
  • 30 December 1836: Copy of deed of purchase of land in Bayou Boeuf, Rapides Parish, Louisiana, from Benjamin Ballard by William M. Clark, who was represented at the sale by Reuben Carnal, an attorney who appears to have handled much of the family business in Louisiana.
Folder 7

Papers, 1837-1840

Records of enslavement include:

  • 8 February 1837: Letter from James Gordon in Columbus to John H. Anthony in Scotland Neck, Halifax County, N.C., mentioning that 10 unnamed enslaved people would be sold to meet debts.
  • 11 February 1839: Announcement that Austin, an enslaved child claimed as property of the estate of William Blanchard, was sold at auction by sheriff John Freeman in Bertie County, N.C., to Lewis Thompson.

Other items of interest include:

  • June 1837: Letter from Reuben Carnal to Lewis Thompson explaining how Louisiana inheritance laws affect the property that William M. Clark, now deceased, held in that state.
  • 6 June 1840: Beginning of reports from James B. Gordon & Company, factors in Norfolk, Virginia, to Lewis Thompson giving information on cotton sold on Thompson's behalf.
Folder 8

Papers, 1841-1843

Records of enslavement include:

  • 13 February 1843: Bill of sale for John, Wilie, Aaron, Marcus, Emanuel, and Emmy, enslaved people who were claimed as property by Noah Thompson and sold at auction by sheriff John Freeman of Bertie County, N.C., to Lewis Thompson.
  • 12 December 1843: Valuation of the enslaved people claimed as property of the estate of Martha Bodie Williams Clark, Lewis Thompson's mother-in-law.
  • 31 December 1842: Note related to the sale of Jim, an enslaved person who was claimed as property of the estate of Edward Garret and sold to Lewis Thompson.

Other items of interest include:

  • 30 August 1841: Letter from William J. Ellison in Winsor, North Carolina, to Lewis Thompson summarizing the North Carolina land holdings of William M. Clark.
  • 22 January 1843: Letter from Benjamin Ballard in New Orleans to Lewis Thompson about money owed to Ballard by the estate of William M. Clark.
Folder 9

Papers, 1844

Records of enslavement include:

  • 29 January 1844: Bill of sale for Hampton, an enslaved person sold from the estate of Martha B. Clark by William M. Clark to Lewis Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 5 March 1844: Bill of sale for Lucinda, an enslaved child who was sold from the estate of Godwin Cotton by George Askew to Lewis Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.

Other items of interest include:

  • 14 May 1844: Letter from Benjamin Ballard in New Orleans to Lewis Thompson about money apparently owed by Ballard to Thompson. Letters from Ballard to Thompson, chiefly about money matters, continue sporadically for many years.
Folder 10

Papers, 1845 January-March

Records of enslavement include:

  • 29 January 1845: Receipt including payment to unnamed enslaved people.

Other items of interest include:

  • 21 February 1845: Inventory of the estate of John Ruffin, Lewis Thompson, and William Bishop, executors. There are many papers after this date that relate to the settlement of Ruffin's estate and to payments for educating Ruffin's children.
Folder 11

Papers, 1845 April-December

Records of enslavement include:

  • 5 April 1845: Receipt for cash paid for midwife services provided by Old Rose, an enslaved person at Mr. Hinton's, to Barbara, an enslaved person claimed as property of the John Ruffin estate. Lewis Thompson was an executor of the John Ruffin estate.
  • 3 May 1845: Receipt for cash paid to Stephen, an enslaved person, for making horse collars for use at the plantation in the Indian Woods. Lewis Thompson was an executor of the John Ruffin estate.
  • 8 May 1845: Receipt of payment for midwife services provided to enslaved women at John Ruffin's plantation by an unnamed enslaved person claimed as property by William A. Pugh. Lewis Thompson and William Bishop were executors of the John Ruffin estate.
  • 2 June 1845: Receipt for payment to Edy Bartley for midwife services for Rose, Mary, Lucy, and Tempy, who were claimed as property of the John Ruffin estate. Lewis Thompson and William Bishop were executors of the John Ruffin estate.
  • 30 June 1845: Receipt for payment for apprehending Emma, an enslaved child who had self-emancipated from the John Ruffin estate by running away. Emma was captured by Alec M. Ferguson and returned to Lewis Thompson and William Bishop, executors of the John Ruffin estate.
  • 14 July 1845: Receipt for payment for work performed at the John Ruffin estate by Henry, an enslaved person presumably claimed as property by James L. Bryan.
Folder 12

Papers, 1846

Records of enslavement include:

  • 26 January 1846: Receipt for payment for apprehending Emma, an enslaved child who had self-emancipated from the John Ruffin estate by running away. Emma was captured by A. M. Ferguson and returned to Lewis Thompson and William Bishop, executors of the John Ruffin estate.
  • 14 February 1846: Receipt for payment for midwife services that Judy, an enslaved person claimed as property by William A. Pugh, provided at the Ruffin plantation.
  • 24 September 1846: Receipt for payment for legal services of Thomas Bragg for defense of Washington, an enslaved person claimed as property of John, Julia, and William Ruffin, wards of the John Ruffin estate, who was accused of murdering Delila, another enslaved person. William Bishop was an executor of the Ruffin estate.
  • 2 December 1846: Invoice for 8 pairs of shoes made by Silas for enslaved people claimed as property by W. J. Ruffin and J. T. Ruffin.
  • 20 December 1846: Receipt for payment for 8 pairs of shoes made by Silas for enslaved people claimed as property by W. J. Ruffin and J. T. Ruffin.
  • 20 December 1846: Invoice for 11 pairs of shoes made by Arthur for enslaved people at Indian Woods plantation of J. T. and W. J. Ruffin.
  • 20 December 1846: Receipt for payment for 11 pairs of shoes made by Arthur for enslaved people at Indian Woods plantation of J. T. and W. J. Ruffin.
Folder 13

Papers, 1847-1848

Records of enslavement:

  • 1845-1848: Accounting sheet with record of visits for medical care for enslaved people.
  • 1846-1847: Accounting sheet with record of visits for medical care for enslaved people.
Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.3. Papers, 1849-1855.

About 700 items.

The purchase of William M. Clark's two sugar plantations and enslaved people to provide the labor, skills, and knowledge to operate them in 1849 signaled increased activity for Lewis Thompson in that state. The volume of materials relating to his Louisiana interests increases dramatically during this period, as Thompson strived first to resolve legal and financial entanglements involving Clark's estate and then to get on with the business of producing sugar. By the mid-1850s, documents relating to Louisiana far outnumber those pertaining to North Carolina. During this period, there is also much material that illustrates the increasing scope of Thompson's operations. These consist chiefly of a large number of bills and statements from factors and brokers, among them Bogart & Foley (later Bogart, Foley & Avery and, still later, Foley, Avery & Company) in New Orleans; Kada Biggs & Company in Norfolk; and John Cunningham in New York.

Beginning in 1849 and continuing until around 1858, there are many letters from Kenneth M. Clark to Lewis Thompson, all of which were written from Bayou Boeuf, Rapides County, Louisiana, and relate to the running of Thompson's sugar plantations. Clark (b. 1827) was Thompson's brother-in-law. He was apparently retained by Thompson to manage the Louisiana plantations.

Folder 14

Papers, 1849

Records of enslavement included:

  • 1848: Account sheet with Smallwood & Williams for medical care provided to Polly, an enslaved person claimed as property of John Thomas Ruffin and William J. Ruffin. Lewis Thompson acted as their guardian.

Other items of interest include:

  • 3 May 1849: Deed conveying William M. Clark's Louisiana property, consisting of two plantations on Bayou Boeuf, Rapides Parish, from Thompson's brother- and sister-in-law, William M. and Martha Clark, to Lewis Thompson.
Folder 15

Papers, 1850

Records of enslavement include:

  • 6 January 1850: Letter (unsigned) from Alexander, La., notifying Lewis Thompson in Bertie County, N.C., that a sugar plantation had been purchased on his behalf, as well as 36 enslaved people, machinery, and other requirements to begin sugar production. This is probably the successful settlement of the Clark property. The enslaved people were sold by Mr. Urquhart through his agent Mr. Whitfield.
  • 1850: Lists (3) of enslaved people claimed as property by William M. Clark and Margaret Thompson.
Folder 16

Papers, 1851

Items of interest include:

  • 9 April 1851: Beginning of numerous account statements from Bogart & Foley, factors of New Orleans, who marketed Lewis Thompson's sugar and molasses.
Folder 17

Papers, 1852 January-March

Folder 18

Papers, 1852 April-December

Records of enslavement include:

  • 25 February 1852: Receipt for services provided by Rose, an enslaved midwife claimed as property by Thomas B. Hardy, to 2 unnamed women enslaved by Lewis Thompson.

Other items of interest include:

  • 19 May 1852: Letter from Benjamin Ballard in New Orleans to Lewis Thompson about Ballard's recent bouts with the courts.
Folder 19

Papers, 1853 January-March

Items of interest include:

  • 29 March 1853: Letter from Asa Biggs in Williamston, N.C., to Lewis Thompson about collecting the proceeds from the sale of lands from the William M. Clark estate.
Folder 20

Papers, 1853 April-September

Items of interest include:

  • 10 August 1853: Letter from Lewis and Margaret Thompson at the springs to their son Thomas at home. This is one of the very few personal letters in the collection.
Folder 21

Papers, 1853 October-December

Folder 22

Papers, 1854 January-March

Items of interest include:

  • 9 March 1854: Letter from Thomas Ruffin in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Lewis Thompson about the activities of the Board of Trustees of the University of North Carolina. This is the first of several such letters appearing sporadically from various board members until Thompson's death in 1867.
  • 17 March 1854: Letter from Henry King Burgwyn to Lewis Thompson about buying Thompson's cotton crop.
Folder 23

Papers, 1854 April-June

Records of enslavement include:

  • 2 April 1854: Letter from Thomas W. Thompson in Bayou Boeuf, Louisiana, to his father, Lewis Thompson, reporting on conditions on the family's Louisiana plantations, including insufficient housing for enslaved people.

Other items of interest include:

  • 11 June 1854: Letter from Henry King Burgwyn to Lewis Thompson about the wheat crop and about Thompson's coming visit to Burgwyn.
Folder 24

Papers, 1854 July-December

Items of interest include:

  • 20 November 1854: Letter from Henry King Burgwyn at Thornburg Plantation near Jackson, North Carolina, to Lewis Thompson about the sale of a bull. Burgwyn (1813-1877) was a North Carolina plantation owner and the father of several socially and politically influential sons.
  • November 1854: Bills relating to the building of Grace Episcopal Church at Woodville, North Carolina. Lewis Thompson seems to have been in charge of the financial end of this project. Bills continue into 1855.
  • 1854: Bills and letters indicating that marketing of Lewis Thompson's cotton in Norfolk was being handled by Kada Biggs & Company. Kada Biggs was the brother of Asa Biggs.
Folder 25

Papers, 1855 January-February

Folder 26

Papers, 1855 March-April

Folder 27

Papers, 1855 May-September

Folder 28

Papers, 1855 October-December

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.4. Papers, 1856-1860.

About 1200 items.

Around 1857, Moore Rawls appears to have succeeded Kenneth M. Clark in the day-to-day running of Thompson's Louisiana sugar plantations. Although there is an occasional letter from Clark, there are many letters about plantation operations from Rawls to Thompson. Rawls's letters include description of management and welfare of the enslaved people, including work performed, acts of resistance, punishment, and health concerns.

Also beginning in 1857, there are many letters from Lewis Thompson's son William, who appears to have taken up permanent residence on the family's Louisiana plantations. Letters from April-May 1857, are from Thomas W. Thompson at Bayou Boeuf, La., reporting back to his father, Lewis Thompson in Bertie County, N.C., on conditions on the family plantations in Louisiana.

Beginning in 1856, while materials are still chiefly financial and legal, there are also a number of letters about political issues. There are also, in 1857, several items relating to Thompson's activities in the Seaboard Agricultural Society of Virginia and North Carolina. There are also a few letters relating to family affairs, particularly from Thompson's daughters at St. Mary's School in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Folder 29

Papers, 1856 January-April

Items of interest include:

  • 12 February 1856: Letter from Caleb S. Hollawell in Alexandria, Virginia, to Lewis Thompson about William Thompson's entering Hollawell's school, which became Alexandria High School. See also receipts from the school starting 26 February 1856. By 1857, however, William had left school for Louisiana.
  • 1856: Letters relating to American Party politics, among them a letter of 29 May notifying Lewis Thompson of his selection as elector from the American Party in the coming presidential election; a letter of 17 June from P. H. Winston in which he declined to be an American Party legislative candidate; and two letters dated 16 July in which American Party meetings were discussed. Few other items of a political nature appear until 1860.
Folder 30

Papers, 1856 May-July

Folder 31

Papers, 1856 August-December

Folder 32

Papers, 1857 January-May

Records of enslavement include:

  • 25 April 1857: Letter from Rawls to Thompson mentioning Wasaw, Peter (ox driver), Old Peter (hog feeder), Billy, and Thad, who had self-emancipated by running away. Rawls described a previous incident in which he violently attacked Thad. He also mentioned that the enslaved people of Dr. Clark had been performing acts of resistance, and an unnamed person enslaved by Willie Askew had been accused of attempted murder.
  • 10 May 1857: Letter from Thomas W. Thompson at Bayou Boeuf, La., to Lewis Thompson in Bertie County, N.C., describing financial arrangements made with enslaved people to pay for their crops with tobacco and cash, and supplies of clothes, hats, and shoes purchased for them.
Folder 33

Papers, 1857 June-August

Records of enslavement include:

  • 29 June 1857: Letter from Moore Rawls at Rapides Parish, La., to Lewis Thompson in Bertie County, N.C., in which he mentioned Ben and Billy, who were enslaved by the Thompson family.
  • 27 July 1857: Letter from Moore Rawls at Rapides Parish, La., to Lewis Thompson in Bertie County, N.C., in which he mentioned that the 3 children of Billy were sick, and Nelly, the daughter of Harriet the cook, had died. Minny (?), the daughter of Cloe Randolph was also sick. Rawls wrote that he had used violence to punish Wright for allegedly faking illness. He also described work done by Old Ben and other unnamed enslaved people.

Other items of interest include:

  • 10 November 1857: October-November 1857: Letter to Lewis Thompson informing him that he had been chosen vice-president of the Bertie County chapter of the Seaboard Agricultural Society of Virginia and North Carolina. There are several other letters in October-November 1857 that document of Thompson's involvement with the Seaboard Agricultural Society of Virginia and North Carolina.
Folder 34

Papers, 1857 September-October

Records of enslavement include:

  • 5 September 1857: Letter from Moore Rawls at Rapides Parish, La., to Lewis Thompson in Bertie County, N.C., in which he mentioned the health of enslaved people, possibly hiring an enslaved brickmason from the Kelsaw family, using violence to punish Old Ben and work performed by Wright.
  • 10 October 1857: Letter from Moore Rawls at Rapides Parish, La., to Lewis Thompson in Bertie County, N.C., in which he mentioned the health of Ruben and enslaved people and efforts to protect them from the spread of illness. Rawls also mentioned a woman who had an abortion.
Folder 35

Papers, 1857 November-December

Extra Oversize Paper XOP-716/3

Poster: Third Annual Fair and Exhibition of the Seaboard Agricultural Society of Virginia and North Carolina, Norfolk, Va., 10-13 November 1857

Folder 36

Papers, 1858 January

Folder 37

Papers, 1858 February

Folder 38

Papers, 1858 March

Folder 39

Papers, 1858 April-June

Folder 40

Papers, 1858 July-October

Folder 41

Papers, 1858 November-December

Items of interest include:

  • 31 December 1858: Letter from Lewis Thompson in Louisiana to his son Thomas, in which he reported the results of his search for land on behalf of Thomas.
Folder 42

Papers, 1859 January-February

Folder 43

Papers, 1859 March-May

Items of interest include:

  • 11 April 1859: Letter from Lewis Thompson in Philadelphia to his son Thomas in Bertie County, N.C., about depression suffered by Margaret Thompson and Lewis's feeling that he may have to commit his wife to professional caretakers.
  • 16 May 1859: Letter from Henry King Burgwyn to Lewis Thompson about state bonds.
Folder 44

Papers, 1859 June-September

Folder 45

Papers, 1859 October-December

Records of enslavement include:

  • 31 December 1859: Bill of sale for Dick (about 16 years old), an enslaved person who was sold by William D. Wynn of Bertie County, N.C., to Lewis Thompson, in Bertie County, N.C..
Folder 46

Papers, 1860 January

Folder 47

Papers, 1860 February

Records of enslavement include:

  • 1 February 1860: Receipt for Jack, an enslaved person who was sold by Dickinson Hill for J. C. Rowe to Lewis Thompson.
  • 3 February 1860: Receipt for Martha, an enslaved person sold by John Davis for Price Birch to Lewis Thompson.
  • 3 February 1860: Receipt for James Rapill (?), an enslaved person sold by James W. Jones to Lewis Thompson.
  • 3 February 1860: Receipt for Jim, an enslaved person sold by Thomas I. Stewart to Lewis Thompson.
  • 3 February 1860: Receipt for Sarah, an enslaved person sold by Thomas C. Ward for Thomas I. Stewart to Lewis Thompson.
  • 9 February 1860: Receipt for Rosina Hill, an enslaved person sold by Dickinson Hill (agent) for James M. Ryland to Lewis Thompson.
  • 10 February 1860: Receipt for Lawrence, an enslaved person sold by John H. Pleasant to Lewis Thompson.
  • 10 February 1860: Receipt for William (about 25 years old), an enslaved person sold by Silas Onohundro to Lewis Thompson.
  • 10 February 1860: Receipt for Washington (about 23 years old), an enslaved person sold by John H. Pleasant to Lewis Thompson.
  • 10 February 1860: Receipt for Jenny (about 19 years old), an enslaved person sold by John H. Pleasant to Lewis Thompson.
  • 10 February 1860: Receipt for Claves (?) (about 15 years old), an enslaved person sold by John H. Pleasant to Lewis Thompson.
  • 17 February 1860: Bill of sale for Harry Eppes (about 40 years old) and his wife Penny (about 23 years old) and her son Isham (about 8 years old), Lydia (about 17 years old), Harry (about 12 years old), (about 14 years old), and Jordan (about 18 years old), all of whom were enslaved people sold by Lewis Thompson of Bertie County, N.C., to Thomas W. Thompson of Bertie County, N.C.
  • 8 February 1860: Letter from Lewis Thompson at Jackson to Thomas W. Thompson, stating that he expected to buy more enslaved people and how he would move them from Garysburg to Jackson. He asked that Neptune, an enslaved person, meet him with a carriage to transport the enslaved people.
Folder 48

Papers, 1860 March-April

Records of enslavement include:

  • 14 March 1860: Letter to Jerry, who was enslaved by Lewis Thompson at Rotobel, Bertie County, N.C., from an anonymous writer at Somerset post office, Orange County, N.C., on behalf of Jerry's mother and father, who were enslaved by James M. Gilbert. The letter mentions that William had died, and that Violet and Courtney were ill. Isabel and the wife of Washington are also mentioned. The letter also seeks information about Nancy and Julia, family members who had been sold.

Other items of interest include:

  • 16 March 1860: Letter from Sam E. Johnston in Edenton, North Carolina, to Lewis Thompson asking for his help in getting his son a tutorship at the University of North Carolina.
Folder 49

Papers, 1860 May-June

Items of interest include:

18 May 1860: Letter notifying Lewis Thompson of his selection as a senator from Bertie County to the General Assembly in Raleigh. A small number of items that mention politics appearing throughout 1860.

Folder 50

Papers, 1860 July-September

Items of interest include:

  • 23 July 1860: Letter from Henry King Burgwyn to Lewis Thompson about the purchase of bonds.
  • September 1860: Letters from Thompson's daughters Pattie and Mary at St. Mary's School, Raleigh.
Folder 51

Papers, 1860 October-December

Folder 52

Undated letters and fragments, probably prior to 1861

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.5. Papers, 1861-1867.

About 900 items.

A certain amount of nervousness and anticipation of hard times to come cloud materials from 1861, although direct mention of the Civil War is rarely found. There is a letter, dated 2 June 1861, from Thomas Thompson, who was apparently in the army at the time. Soon, however, he seems to have returned to Bertie County, where he remained with his father throughout the conflict. William Thompson spent the war years in Bayou Boeuf, Louisiana, and Pattie and Mary remained at St. Mary's School in Raleigh. The biggest change wrought by the war in this collection is in terms of volume of material, which falls off dramatically in 1862 and becomes little more than a trickle in 1863 and 1864. Immediately following the war's end, there are many items documenting Lewis Thompson's efforts to reestablish his financial network. Soon enough, the collection resumes its pre-war character, with only some changes in the names of bankers (Duncan, Sherman & Company in New York) and merchants (James Corner & Sons in Baltimore) and the introduction of shipping cotton through Baltimore instead of exclusively through Norfolk. The new order of things is best illustrated by sharecropping and laborer contracts and accounts for freed people and in letters from William, who was having a hard time getting the Louisiana plantation back on track with hired labor. During this period, there is a scattering of letters bearing on political issues, particularly around 1866. Lewis Thompson appears to have died in early December 1867; many materials dated after December 16 are addressed to his executors (Margaret, Thomas, and William).

Folder 53

Papers, 1861 January-February

Items of interest include:

23 January 1861: Letter from Kenneth M. Clark in Baton Rouge to Lewis Thompson about Louisiana's leaving the Union.

Folder 54

Papers, 1861 March

Folder 55

Papers, 1861 April-June

Items of interest include:

  • 1 April 1861: Letter from John Devereux of the Assistant Quarter Master's Office in Raleigh, North Carolina, to Lewis Thompson about the purchase of hogs for the Confederate army and the pasturage of soldiers' horses on Thompson's lands. Devereux (b. 1820) was married to Margaret Mordecai, owned considerable acreage in Bertie County, and enslaved more than 1,000 people at the outbreak of the Civil War.
  • 2 June 1861: Letter from Thomas W. Thompson in the Confederate army at [Garysburg?] to Lewis Thompson about army life.
Folder 56

Papers, 1861 July-December

Folder 57

Papers, 1862

Folder 58

Papers, 1863-1864

Items of interest include:

  • 29 August 1863: Bill of sale for land in Bertie County purchased by Lewis Thompson.
  • 7 March 1864: Letter from Thomas W. Thompson in Hotel to Pattie [in Raleigh?] expressing his fear that he may be called up to fight [again?] and discussing the activities of soldiers in the vicinity.
Folder 59

Papers, 1865 January-July

Records of formerly enslaved people include:

  • 21 June 1865: Sharecropping agreement between Virgil and Thomas W. Thompson.
  • 21 June 1865: Sharecropping agreement between Anthony and Thomas W. Thompson.
  • 21 June 1865: Sharecropping agreement between Jack and Susan and Thomas W. Thompson.
  • 21 June 1865: Sharecropping agreement between Kizzy and Thomas W. Thompson.
  • 21 June 1865: Sharecropping agreement between Jacob and Frances and Thomas W. Thompson.
  • 21 June 1865: Sharecropping agreement between Silva and Thomas W. Thompson.
  • 21 June 1865: Sharecropping agreement between Aaron and Thomas W. Thompson.
  • 21 June 1865: Sharecropping agreement between Manuel and Polly and Thomas W. Thompson.

Other items of interest include:

  • 1 April 1865: Note about commandeering a "third-class horse" from Lewis Thompson for use by the military.
  • 1865: In May and June, there are letters about re-establishing Lewis Thompson's financial network. For example, a letter dated 6 June, from the National Bank of Commerce in New York, reveals that Thompson's money was not confiscated during the war and that the bank is willing to resume trade with him.
  • 28 June 1865: Letter from William Thompson in Louisiana about the burning of his crop by Confederate soldiers and about how hard it will be to work the land.
Folder 60

Papers, 1865 August-December

Items of interest include:

  • 27 August 1865: Letter from Kenneth W. Clark to Lewis Thompson about post-war conditions in Louisiana.
Folder 61

Papers, 1866 January-February

Folder 62

Papers, 1866 March-April

Folder 63

Papers, 1866 May-June

Folder 64

Papers, 1866 July-September

Folder 65

Papers, 1866 October-December

Items of interest include:

  • 31 October 1866: Letter from W. W. Holden to Lewis Thompson about meetings of the Union Vote Committee on which they both served.
  • 7 November 1866: Letter from W. W. Holden to Lewis Thompson about meetings of the Union Vote Committee on which they both served.
Folder 66

Papers, 1867 January-February

Folder 67

Papers, 1867 March-April

Folder 68

Papers, 1867 May-June

Records of formerly enslaved people include:

  • 2 June 1867: letter from William C. Thompson to Lewis Thompson in Bertie County, N.C. about difficulties with his crops and his frustration with the workers. He also wrote about accompanying some of the Black workers to Alexandria to register to vote.
Folder 69

Papers, 1867 July-August

Records of formerly enslaved people include:

  • 16 August 1867: Account of amounts due freed people from Lewis Thompson: Hampton, John Henry, Harry Epps, Willis, Amy, Nat, William, Noah, Washington, Joe, John, Betsey, Austin, Jonas, Burgoyne, Mark, Robert, Pheaton, Sarah, Abram.
  • Account sheets that document financial relationship between sharecroppers and Lewis Thompson. Included are credits for crops and charges for dry goods, taxes, lost time, and other expenses. Freed people mentioned include Mary, Martha, Bill Thompson, Mark Thompson, Abram Thompson, Jacob, Willis Thompson, Tilda, Dolly, Flaten Thompson, John Thompson, Robert Thompson, Nat, Hampton, Werter, Caroline Thompson, Rose, Sarah Thompson, Burgoyne Thompson, Washington Thompson, Austin, Betsey Dempsey, John Henry, Penny, Harry Eppes, Daniel Stuart, Cherry Thompson, Amy Thompson, Joe Thompson, Jonah, and Noah Thompson.
  • List of amounts due workers at Gorden's plantation: Mark; Robert; Bill; Martha; Faton; Abram and Mary; Werter; Willis, Tilda, and Dolly; Nat and Milly; Caroline and Rose; and Sarah. Others at Gorden's plantation include Polly and Cupid.
  • List of amounts due workers at Hickory Neck for the cotton crop: Harry Eppes, John Henry, Joe, Noah, Daniel, Washington, Austen, Isham Eppes, Cherry, Chaney, Lydia, Amy, Lucinda, Penny, Betsey Dempsey, Martha, Jonah, little Harry, and Wilson. Others at Hickory Neck include Robin, Old Jack, and Tener.
  • Others mentioned include Anthony and Old Jack at "my house" and Hester.

Other items of interest include:

  • 1 August 1867: Invitation to Lewis Thompson to address the Republican Club in Edenton, North Carolina.
Folder 70

Papers, 1867 September-December

Items of interest include:

  • 31 September 1867: Letter of John Pool to Lewis Thompson about Reconstruction politics.
  • 1 November 1867: "Memorandum" by Lewis Thompson listing sums of money invested and with whom these investments were made.
  • 1 November 1867: Copy of Lewis Thompson's will.
Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Subseries 1.6. Papers, 1868-1894.

About 850 items.

Lewis Thompson's death appears to have had little effect on family affairs; materials after 1868 show that the business relationships established under Lewis were, by and large, continued by his son Thomas. Beginning in 1868, there are papers relating to the estate of Lewis Thompson, but the number of which diminishes significantly after 1869. During this period, there are few references to Louisiana, where, it appears, William C. Thompson was operating independently from his brother. Beginning in the late 1860s and continuing to April 1883, however, there are items relating to the settlement of a court case involving some of Lewis Thompson's Louisiana property and his children's attempt to insure the equitable division of the proceeds from the sale of that land. In general, the Thompson family appears to have prospered under Thomas W. Thompson's guidance; throughout this period, there are many letters to Thomas from neighbors and relatives requesting loans and outright gifts of money and land. Correspondence is very slight after mid-1871, but, even into 1874, there is evidence that Thomas W. Thompson was still active in acquiring land to add to the wealth amassed by his father.

Extra Oversize Paper XOP-716/4

Broadside: Tribute to Lewis Thompson by the Bertie Court, circa 1868

Folder 71

Papers, 1868 January-February

Throughout 1868 there are many letters from P.H. Winston in Windsor, North Carolina, who was managing the business affairs of Thomas W. Thompson. Winston may have been Thompson's lawyer, since he appears to have had much to say about the Louisiana property case.

Folder 72

Papers, 1868 March-April

Folder 73

Papers, 1868 May-July

Items of interest include:

  • 5 May 1868: Copy of will of Mary R. Urquhart of Isle of Wight County, Virginia, wife of R. H. Urquhart and grandmother of the donor of the collection.
  • 1 June 1868: Letter of William C. Thompson in Louisiana to his brother about planting and related affairs.
Folder 74

Papers, 1868 August-October

Folder 75

Papers, 1868 November-December

Folder 76

Papers, 1869 January-February

Folder 77

Papers, 1869 March-April

Folder 78

Papers, 1869 May-July

Items of interest include:

  • 4 May 1869: Letter of William M. Clark, Thomas's uncle, to Thomas W. Thompson, requesting a loan to help him out of destitution.
Folder 79

Papers, 1869 August-December

Folder 80

Papers, 1870 January-February

Items of interest include:

  • 1 January 1870: printed notice from a neighbor alleging that sharecroppers had violated their contracts: Ben Garner, Bertran Brown, Martha Clements, Willis Burgess, David Bellfield.
Folder 81

Papers, 1870 March-June

Folder 82

Papers, 1870 July-September

Items of interest include:

  • 1870: 18 September and 11 December, letters of William C. Thompson in Louisiana to Thomas W. Thompson, about crops and the pending property settlement.
Folder 83

Papers, 1870 October-December

Folder 84

Papers, 1871 January-February

January-May includes several letters from J. Adalaide Oertel, wife of J. A. Oertel, minister and painter of Lenoir, North Carolina, to Margaret Thompson about her husband's art and ministry.

Folder 85

Papers, 1871 March-December

Folder 86

Papers, 1872-1879

Items of interest include:

  • 1872: Chiefly materials relating to the affairs of Burges Urquhart of Bertie County, North Carolina, who was the husband of Lewis Thompson's daughter Mary.
Folder 89

Papers, 1878-1879

Folder 87

Papers, 1880-1894

Folder 90

Papers, 1880-1894

Folder 88

Undated and fragments, probably after 1860

Folder 91

Undated and fragments, probably after 1860

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. Volumes, 1827-1879.

8 items.

Arrangement: chronological by last date in volume.

Volumes relating to Lewis and Thomas W. Thompson, containing business, personal, and estate accounts. Many enslaved and freed people are documented in these volumes.

Folder 92

Account book of Lewis Thompson, 1827-1836

Contains records of payments for goods and services and entries relating to the settlement of various estates. There are some expenses related to slavery, including payments for bail for enslaved people who had been jailed, for crops raised by enslaved people, for hiring of enslaved people from other enslavers, and for clothing and other supplies for enslaved people. 73 pages

Folder 93

Account book of Lewis Thompson as executor of the estate of William M. Clark, 1837-1840

Includes an inventory of the human and physical property of the estate. There were 21 enslaved people claimed as property of the estate at the plantation and residence in Halifax County. There were 63 enslaved people claimed as property at the plantation and winter residence, including 7 people working at the house, 4 carpenters, and 2 sawyers. There were 25 enslaved people at the Ben Butt plantation, which was named for an enslaved person known as Old Ben (although not the Old Ben of the plantation in Rapides Parish, La.). There were 76 enslaved people at the Broadneck plantation in the Indian Woods. There were 2 enslaved people working on board the Indian Queen boat. An enslaved man named Arthur was hired out to B. Maitland in Plymouth, and there were two other enslaved people hired out in Martin County.

The volume also documents payments made to enslaved people for crops grown and the trafficking of enslaved people by sale and hiring out.

At the back of the volume is a copy of Martha B. Clark's statement concerning the property she inherited from her deceased husband William M. Clark. Included is a list of the people for whom she became the enslaver at Mansion House, the summer residence in Halifax County; the plantation on Great Creek, formerly the property of A. Wyche; at the winter residence in Bertie County, which had been purchased from Augustus Pugh, and at a smaller tract of land purchased from John Green. 35 pages

There are also lists of the 47 enslaved people sent to Louisiana on 13 September 1837 and the 38 enslaved people sent to Louisiana in September 1841.

Folder 94-95

Folder 94

Folder 95

Account book of Lewis Thompson as executor of the estate of William M. Clark and guardian of David and Gavin H. Clark, 1850-1857

Included are charges for hiring out and medical expenses for enslaved people, as well as several lists of enslaved people and their ages. There is also a charge for a coffin made for Betty (page 25).

Folder 96

Lewis Thompson's timber and personal accounts, 1861-1862

Lewis Thompson's 1861 timber accounts and a few general accounts, including payments for food supplies for enslaved people and to Old Rose for midwife services. 18 pages.

Folder 97

Lewis Thompson's memorandum book, 1865-1866

Chiefly lists cash paid to or owed by freed people who were hired as sharecroppers for goods and services. 19 pages.

Folder 98

Account book, 1861-1867

Chiefly accounts with freed people who became sharecroppers or who were skilled workers such as the cook, shoemaker, and carpenter, 1866-1867. Credits were given for cotton picked and other labor; charges were for supplies, as well as marriage licenses, leaving the plantation to preach, and other instances of lost work.

Also includes records of Lewis Thompson's accounts with the Exchange Bank of Virginia, 1861-1864. 36 pages.

Folder 99

Account book, 1867

Contains Thomas W. Thompson's household and personal accounts. 18 pages.

Folder 100

Account book, 1870-1879

Account book containing Thomas W. Thompson's accounts with Kada Biggs & Company and James Corner &Sons for cotton shipped and other business transactions. About 100 pages.

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. Confederate bonds, 1862-1863.

31 items.

Confederate bearer bonds, issued through the state of North Carolina, in $500 and $1000 denominations, with many coupons intact. Although no names appear on the bonds, they were surely the property of Lewis Thompson. [Transferred to Miscellaneous Currency, #4672]

Back to Top

expand/collapse Expand/collapse Items Separated

Back to Top