Collection contains mainly land records (1793-1867, 1889, 1912) pertaining to the Summers family of Guilford County, North Carolina. Also included are
The papers mostly concern the Summer family of Guilford County, North Carolina. The most prevalent name on the documents is Peter Summers from Guilford County, North Carolina. Other names with the surname Summers on the earlier documents include Felty (?), Harper, Andrew, Isaiah and Jacob and his wife Marget. The North Carolina counties of Rockingham and Orange are also mentioned on a few documents. Names on documents dating from the early Twentieth Century consist of Mattie D. Summers and Professor E.D. Summers.
The papers mostly consist of land records (1793-1867, 1889, 1912) related to the Summer family of Guilford County, North Carolina. Land records include deeds, indentures and articles of agreement. Most of these involve Peter Summers and Guilford County. However, there are a few that concern Orange County as well. Of particular interest is a bill of sale (1829) for a "negro girl named Moriah." It states she is seventeen years old and is purchased for three hundred dollars by Peter Summers. Another document (1842) mentions two indentures and a "bill of sale for negro man." It states the man's name is Abram and is twenty-two years old.
Correspondence (1904-1924) mentions the "NCD" (National Association of the Daughters of the Confederacy?) and current politics. Specifically, William Jennings Bryan is mentioned. Also included is a poem entitled The Story of my Love by Ruby D. Garrett written by her while teaching at Reedy, North Carolina.
Printed material consists of a copy of Richardson's Monitor of Free-Masonry written by Jabez Richardson (publication date unknown) and several receipts. Most of the receipts are for small amounts and incidental transactions. However, one document consists of a writ stating that Harper and Andrew Summers are to bring John R. Nuse to Guilford County.
The whole collection of documents was kept in the attic of the Deaver family home (built ca. 1916) in Simpson in Pitt County, N.C. The last person to live in the house was Alma Louise Deaver Sauls and the donors are her granddaughter and her great granddaughter. No family connection is known between the Summers and Deaver families.
Gift of Heidi Elizabeth Miller
Gift of India Ashley West
Processed by Dale Sauter, November, 2019
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.