Arthur Family Papers, 1798-1929

Manuscript Collection #235

  • Descriptive Summary
     
    Title: Arthur Family Papers
    Creator: Arthur family
    Repository: ECU Manuscript Collection
    Language: English
    Abstract: Papers (1798-1929) consisting of estate papers, land records, financial papers, letters, genealogical notes, petition, etc.
    Extent: 0.22 Cubic feet, 325 items , consisting of correspondence, estate papers, land records, financial papers, a cipher book, and miscellaneous.
  • Description
     

    The correspondence consists of four letters covering the period between 1843 and 1880. The first letter (1843) is from Michael Arthur's brother in Alabama. The letter reflects family matters, crop conditions, pressures of an uncertain economy, their brother's estate, and plans to move westward. The second letter (1859) is from another brother, this one living in Tennessee. He comments on his ownership of land in Knox County, Tennessee, farm crops, religious life, and family movements. A third letter (1863) is from Colonel Cherry of the 15th North Carolina Reserves stationed in Greenville, N.C. The colonel comments on Negroes joining the Union cause, lack of Union bravery, Confederate troop movements in Pennsylvania, the siege of Vicksburg, Lee's motives for moving northward and the results on the South if he is successful, Confederate deserters, and Union faith in "buffaloes" and Negroes.

    Financial papers (1804-1929) constitute a major segment of the collection. Included are records of the purchase and hire of slaves (1806-1812), promissory notes, debt contracts, teacher's salary receipts (1860), school tuition receipts, music class agreement (undated), and receipts for state and local taxes (1804-1889). Also of interest are estate and guardianship records for the estates of John Arthur (1836), Elizabeth Arthur (1845), Ephrian Arthur (1845), Nancy Arthur (1846), and Michael Arthur (1873).

    Although considered as miscellaneous materials, there are several items of an educational nature which are worthy of special note. These include the constitution, speakers' list, and speeches of the Little Swift Creek Debating Society (1859); a cipher book; a record of division of school committee money between white and black schools (1876); and an application for a state teacher's certificate (1918). The oversize materials include the above mentioned teacher's certificate application and a promissory note.

    Miscellaneous items include family genealogical notes, land records, petition for work on the public roads of Craven County (1855-1871), marriage certificate for Ephrain Arthur and Nancy Gatlin (1827), and poems.

  • Biographical / Historical Note
     

    The collection primarily concerns the nineteenth century Craven County family of Michael and Sidney Gatlin Arthur and their seven children. Michael and Sidney Arthur were married in 1825 and during the next thirteen years they had six sons and a daughter. The Arthurs lived near present day Ernul in the Little Swift Creek District of the county.

  • Administrative Information
     
    Accessions Information

    July 18, 1973, 325 items; Papers (1798-1929) of a Craven County, N.C., family, including correspondence, estate papers, land records, financial papers, a cipher book, and miscellaneous. Loaned by Mrs. Nancy Opphile, New Bern, N.C.

    Acquisition Information

    Loaned by Mrs. Nancy Opphile

    Access Restrictions

    No restrictions

    Copyright Notice

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

    Preferred Citation

    Arthur Family Papers (#235), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.

    Processing Information

    Processed by C. Joyner, May 1974

    Encoded by Apex Data Services

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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 East Carolina University assumes no responsibility.

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