Mary Bryan Hollister Collection

1796-1960
Manuscript Collection #86
Creator(s)
Hollister, Mary Bryan
Physical description
0.073 Cubic Feet, 42 items , photocopies of family histories, correspondence, legal records, and poetry.
Preferred Citation
Mary Bryan Hollister Collection (#86), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
No restrictions

Collection (1796-1960) including photocopies, correspondence, legal records, poetry, activities of Isaac Taylor, sale of the sloop the Rainbow, shipment of a barrel of salt, letters, etc.


Scope and arrangement

Material included in this collection has been copied from the files of the late Mrs. Charles S. Hollister, Sr., of New Bern, and a conscious effort has been made to maintain her original arrangement of papers. Because of this, five specific sections or divisions exist within the collection.

Section I consists of 130 pages and contains the histories of the King family of Long Island, N.Y., and New Bern, N.C.; and the Slover family, the Isaac Taylor family, and the Hollister family, all of New Bern, N.C. These families were all related by marriage as can be seen from a quick perusal of the collection. Included are narrative histories and genealogical information along with typescript copies of pertinent documents which appear in original form in later sections. Of particular note in the Isaac Taylor history is a typescript of his estate inventory (1846) complete with a detailed account of plantation equipment; ages and "monetary value" of enslaved people; household and kitchen furniture; and the books in his personal library. Section I also contains Bryan, Green, and Moore genealogical information and an essay on the life of Revolutionary War Brigadier General William Bryan of Craven County.

Section II contains copies of original papers pertaining to the activities of Isaac Taylor and members of the Taylor family. Included are several documents (1799-1800) pertaining to the seizure and sale of the sloop the Rainbow, sailing from New Bern in 1799, was captured by a French privateer and shortly thereafter was retaken by the British frigate Surprise. The Rainbow subsequently was carried to Kingston, Jamaica, where it and its cargo were sold. Included in the Rainbow documents is an abstract of sales and expenses for the sloop and its cargo. Other items in this section include correspondence pertaining to the shipment of a barrel of salt to New Bern from Grand Turks Island (1819) and the question of investing funds in Confederate bonds (1864), a biographical sketch of Isaac Taylor, and a family tree.

Section III includes notes on the Hollister and Moore family genealogies and the life of William Blackledge. Several items relative to Blackledge touch upon North Carolina Gazette articles (1777), which mention a salt works on the Newport River and Revolutionary War privateering along the N.C. coast. Copies of original documents in this section consist of a bill for the sale transferring an enslaved person from one enslaver to a new one (1824) and a letter describing a visit to Paris, France (1828).

Section IV is devoted to the life of Revolutionary War Brigadier General William Bryan. Included is a biographical sketch, notes, and correspondence recounting various aspects of his life.

Finally, Section V pertains to the activities of the King and Slover families. Although the overwhelming majority of the correspondence is concerned with personal family matters, letters do tell of voyages from New Bern to Newport, Rhode Island (1806) and from New Bern to New York by boat and railroad (1833). Religious views and high esteem for the recipient of the letters are profusely expressed. Also included are copies of original verse, Charles Slover's obituary, and Slover Bible records and genealogical notes.


Administrative information
Custodial History

April 1, 1969, 42 items; Papers (1796-1960) of King, Slover, Taylor, Hollister, Bryan, and related families, consisting of correspondence, poems, financial papers, legal records, and genealogies. Loaned for copying by Mr. C. S. Hollister, Jr., New Bern, N.C.

Source of acquisition

Loaned by Mr. C. S. Hollister, Jr.

Processing information

Processed by D. Lennon, January 1971

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, May 2023

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.


Key terms
Personal Names
Bryan, William, -1791
Taylor, Isaac
Family Names
Bryan family
Hollister family
King family
Slover family
Taylor family
Corporate Names
Rainbow (Sloop)
Topical
Plantations--North Carolina--Craven County
Privateering--America
Slavery--North Carolina--Craven County
Places
East (U.S.)--Description and travel
New Bern (N.C.)--Genealogy
Paris (France)--Description and travel
United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--American forces

Container list
Box 1 Folder a Typescript of Family History, Undated
Box 1 Folder b Photocopy of a Journal, Undated
Box 1 Folder c Photocopy of Moore Geneology, Undated
Box 1 Folder d Photocopy of Eulogy and Typescript, Undated
Box 1 Folder e Photocopy of Letters, Undated