Special Collections Staff Picks

State of North Carolina Chowan County
In the name of God, Amen. I Edmund Brinkley, of the state and County aforesaid, being very sick but of sound and disposing mind and mery (sic). Thanks be to God. Being apprehensive of death I make this my last will and testament. I resign and commend my soul to Allmighty God, who gave it, my body to the earth to be buried in a decent manner.
I give and bequeath to my wife Susannah Brinkley certain property as follows, All my household furniture, Three bed and furniture, A pair of mahogany tables. A mahogany stand, one side board, and half dozen Willow Bottom Chairs excepted to be mentioned hereafter. All the work house and Cook room contents. All the stands in the smokehouse and store room, Her choice of two sets plough gear, Any two plows, one horse cart and tacklings, Rockaway and harnist (sic), Gig and harnest (sic). It is my desire that there shall be no sale until the crop is housed.
I give and bequeath to my wife or widow fifty barrels of corn, three thousand lbs. Fodder, All the Shucks, twenty Bushels peas, Thirty bushels wheat, fifteen hundred pounds pork, one thousand herrings, six bushels salt. Twenty gallons molasses, one hundred pounds sugar, fifty pounds coffee.
It is my will and desire that my sale be about the last of Nov. so that my hogs will be in good (illegible).
I now proceed with my stock. I give and bequeath to my wife or widow my young bay horse or seventy five dollars, Her choice of two cows & calves and one heifer, One Ox that is now on hand, Ten head of sheep, Her choice of two sows and pigs.
I now proceed with my land and negroes. I give and bequeath to my son Miles C. Brinkley All my land lying north of the shelter ditch that divides my low ground filed, Making a straight line on the south side of said ditch, from Riddicks line to James S. Roberts line, with the privilege of draining the water from said piece of land, down the leading ditch next to Mrs. Bushes line. I also give him my saddle.
I give and bequeath to my son William T. Brinkley and my daughter Sarah E. Creecy, all my land on the west side of the Virginia and Mill Road in the following manner. To be kept to gether (sic) and rented out until William T. Brinkley becomes of age, three fifths of rent to William and two fifths to Sarah. At that time if Sarah desires and her agent or guardian who is to be Miles C. Brinkley thinks it necessary, her two fifths is to be valued and laid out in such property as herself and agent or guardian thinks best to her use.
I also give and bequeath to my son William the piece of land in the fork between the Va and Mill Road. I give and bequeath to him my gun and after my wife deceased, side board and half dozen willow bottom chairs. I give and bequeath to my daughters Susan M. and Martha J. Brinkley a piece of land about eight or ten acres beginning in the Va. Road James S. Roberts line running said line to a pine named in the old deed and distance named one hundred and thirty poles, thence to Va. Road, again making a straight line and to be ninety yards wide at the Va. Road. To be sold by my executor provided he can sell it for one hundred dollars at any time, before my son Albert E. Brinkley becomes of age. If not sold in said manner it is to be publicly sold after Albert becomes of age and equally divided between them. I lend to my wife the track of land on which I live running as follows, to begin at the fork of a leading new ditch next to next to (sic) Mrs. Robinsons running up said ditch through the woods, one hundred and fifty yards from the field fence, thence to the pine before mentions. James S. Roberts line thence to Va. Road, down Va road to Stephen Dolbys line, running said line and swamp to first Station. The remaining land that I have not mentioned is to be rented out for the equal benefit of Ann E. Brinkley and Albert E. Brinkley. I give and bequeath to my daughters Susan M. and Martha J. Brinkley my boy Jim, to be hired out until he is sixteen years of age. Also to each of them a Bed and furniture, Also my wifes (sic) deceased a Mahogany table each, And to Martha Jane at my wifes (sic) decease a mahogany stand. I give and bequeath to my daughter Rosanna Brinkley my girl Charlotte to remain with my wife or widow until Rosannah becomes of age provided she will keep Rosannah free of charge. I give and bequeath to my son Albert E. Brinkley and my Daughter Anne E. Brinkley the land on which I live, their mother’s lifetime rights excepted, to be divided as follows: After my wife or wide death it is to be valued by albetration [arbitration ?] including the land that I have set apart to be rented out for them, giving Albert E. two thirds and Ann E. one third. If Albert E. is not willing to take at the valued price it is to be publicly sold. Also I give and bequeath to Ann E. one Bed and Furniture. It is my will and desire and I do appoint my son Miles C. Brinkley Executor to this my last will and testament as he is to cultivate my farm according to an agreement heretofore made. I put it in his power as executor to sell my property that is not given off to the best advantage, including one years (sic) rent of land, to pay all my just debts. If there should be any surplus left it is to be divided between my wife or widow & my executor, two thirds to her and one third to him. If my executor at any time thinks that he can get along with the crop without my sorrel filly he is at liberty to dispose of her at private sale and make a good right.
I appoint Miles C. Brinkley Guardian to Susan M., Martha J., and William T. Brinkley.
A appoint my wife Guardian to Rosannah, Ann E., and Albert E. Brinkley.
In witness whereof I set my hand and seal, March 18th 1853
Edm Brinkley [Seal]
Signed in the presence of
William Roberts
Jeremiah Evans
The foregoing paper writings purporting to be the last will and testament of Edmund Brinkley, deceased is exhibited for probate, in open court, by Miles C. Brinkley the executor thereon named and the due executor thereof by the said Edmund Brinkley it proved by oath and examination of William Roberts one of the subscribing witness[es] thereto. It is therefore considered by the Court that said paper writing and every part thereof is the last will and testament of the said Edmund Brinkley and the same is ordered to be recorded and filed.

And thereon the said Miles C. Brinkley executor as aforesaid duly qualified as such by taking the oath as required by law.

Wm. R. Skinner Clk [Clerk]

Source: Victoria Louise Pendleton Memoir (Manuscript Collection #17.1.b) Staff Person: Jonathan Dembo The program above, advertising a performance of Esther, The Beautiful Queen, to be presented at the Warrenton, North Carolina Town Hall on 11 October 1894, is from the Victoria Louise Pendleton Memoir manuscript collection. Mrs. Pendleton was born in October 1837, in Pitt [...]

Greensboro, N. Ca.
July 29th 63
Dear Marney & Sissie
I thought I would write you a few lines to let you know how we are. We are well and hope you the same. Cousin Fannie and Cecie is staying with us. I wish you were with us. Nancie says please try and get her some snuff. I am writing with Confederate ink. I am writing on a Confederate spelling Book. I went to a Ball and Danced with two Confederate officers. Give my love to Aunt Mary Ann and Family, Uncle and Family, Mrs. Gardner and Family, and Mrs. Betry and receive a share for yourself and Sissie. Kiss Ephey for me. There is not any more News at present.
All join me in love
Good bye
Excuse write as soon as you can.
This from you affectionate Grand Daughter
Fannie Wallace
Fannie Wallace to Mannie & Sissie, 1863 07 29 Arthur Whitford Papers #18.1.a

Source: Hardison Family Papers,  #767.l.p Staff Person: Ralph Scott The Hardison family was from Jamesville, North Carolina and more than three generations of family and business matters are covered in this collection. Primarily farmers, the manuscript materials describe day-to-day activities associated with agriculatural interests in Martin County. The collection covers the period 1727 to 1947  and contains [...]

United States Senate
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20510
January 13, 1988
Dr. and Mrs. Keats Sparrow
307 Queen Anne’s Road
Greenville, North Carolina 27858
Dear Dr. and Mrs. Sparrow:
Thank you for your letter regarding the proposal in the original House reconciliation bill that would have disallowed the future amortization of intangible assets, such as customer lists.
While it is important to study all options when searching for revenue sources to help balance our budget, we should not indiscriminately tax any or all of the sources of income we are able to discern. It is important to weigh the revenue potential of any suggested tax against its potential economic cost. Often this cost can far exceed the revenue potential of any given tax.
In the case of this provision, I was concerned that the arguments supporting the provision might be flawed. I therefore sided with the IRS [Internal Revenue Service] here; I think it is a mistake to disallow the depreciation of the intangible assets of a company when such assets are arguably depreciable.
I spoke to Senator [Lloyd] Bentsen and to the Senate Finance and Budget Committee staffs on this matter during the conference on reconciliation and fortunately the provision was removed from the final version of the reconciliation bill which passed on December 21, 1987.
Thank you again for writing me regarding this tax provision.
With best wishes always,
Sincerely,
[Signature]
TERRY SANFORD
United States Senator
TS/mjm

TRANSCRIPT

Telephone number: 362-3678

3601 49th Street, N W Washington S C 20016 18 November 1965

My dear Red: Oh, nobody knows better that I all the reasons that keep writers from writing letters . . . I have begun to hesitate to write to my friends because they instantly get the idea that they must write to me in turn. Don’t mistake this for generosity- – its just a level look at one of the facts of life: and I love to write letters, and love to get them from my friends, but for a good while now- too long- I have been living in a snake pit between Hell and High Water, and that is not a restful place to get bogged down in. . .

Two hours ago I had in my hand the big envelope containing your poem: I mean to point you out some lines that I loved at first sight, and then second, but I cannot remember lines as I once did: (once I knew all of Shakespeare’s Sonnets by heart and in their right order- or what was then taken for their right order. I was reading the other day some critic who set out to prove that Shakespeare wrote all those sonnets to HIMSELF, and that if you jostle the sonnets around in a certain order, it can be proved. . . I think that is what he said. It was late at night and I was sleepy: and I long ago decided for myself that I for one didn’t care who Shakespeare wrote those sonnets to, I was just glad he wrote them: and much as I love John Crowe Ransom’s poetry, and have and will, I never paid any more attention to his criticism after I read his blast against Shakespeare’s Sonnets. .) Well, that poem has vanished out of this little office, I have retraced my steps all over the house and I cannot find it. But it is not lost. I bet, I hope, I must believe that My beautiful and long-suffering Miss Miller has toted it down stairs and filed it away. When you all get well and come to see me, you will be astonished at the operation we are carrying on in that basement.

You remember? I had two nearly fatal rounds of pneumonia in ten months last year, and here, just a yuear later, I am not well, and I take care of myself, and follow doctor’s orders, and have refused about thirty speaking engagments- (stet!) except one at the Library of Congress– and spend twelve or fourteen hours a day in bed, and try to eat properly and as a result I am apparently withering away. So you are now called upon to rise up and assert your authority as sole head of the house under God, and restrain Eleanor for her good and everybody else’s, if this last crowd matters. Because you can well from one case of pneumonia about a year, but now two. . . In answer to your timely question whether I have learned any sense, the reply could nearly be yes, but I think a little too late. So please remind Eleanor not to waste herself because you can’t afford it. Nor can we, other others.

Next day. I don’t remember what interrupted me yesterday, and can’t foresee what will stop me this time, but anyway, I haven’t the poem, my Rosa has been in here again, tidying up, but I love your poetry, I have every one you ever published, you have always been to me first of all a poet, best of all your work. I am happy you are n the wen again, if you were ever out of it. But I will read eagerly anything you write.

Did you happen to notice that a reviewer on Time called me “the grimmest misanthrope in the history of American literature” or something like that, and an Irishman on the New York Review tried to bulldoze me off the littery [sic] landscape altogether. The last phase in life has set in. But they can’t hurt me– I have had and just the friends I would have chosen, and now come the right enemies. Life is good if a little uncertain just now. Love again, Katherine Anne.

TRANSCRIPT OF L.E. DAY LETTER
S. Day at Mr. H. Hadlow
At R. B. Miller Esq.
John Street, Utica, Oneida County, New York
America
Handen [England] Oct 16th 1831
Dear Uncle S. Day an[d] H. Hadlow
By the favour of Edward Boorman we embrace the opportunity of sending you a few lines as he is going back to America very shortly at the same time hopeing [sic] to find you all quite well as I am happy to say it leaves us all.
There is no good news to send you from England for it is still in a very unsettled [sic] state which I suppose you see as you have Newspapers from here. They continue to burn in many parts. There was a large fire at Challock last Sunday Night which burnt all the buildings of a large Farm of Lord Winchilsea in the occupation of a Mr. Rogers with about 40 quarters of Beans.
There is but a short crop of Corn this year, Wheat in particular. Hops in many parts was very bad. But round here for a few parishes they were better. Father had a fair Crop for the year. The average price is about five pounds.
When we received your letter Aunt Oliver wrote to Mrs. Ralph as she is gone back to live but we have not heard from her since we have not time to let Aunt know that we was going to write as we have but a short time to write in but they was all quite well when we saw them last. Mrs. Selves has been very poorly but she is better now. They send their Love to you.
Mrs. Braiser was confined this hopping [i.e. hops harvest] of another daughter. She is very hearty. Uncle Peter continues his Beer Shop. They are very well and send their Love to you.
William Hadlow was here in June. He was just returned from a voyage to the Indias and a very narrow escape he had with new more for their lives. The boat in which they was sunk and they had to swim a mile to shore by which time poor William was nearly exhausted [sic]. He was very ill the most of the way home. He looked very bad when he first came. He stayed about three weeks. He was much better when he went away. We have not heard from him since. He intended to make another voyage to the Indias. He seemed very much put out at not hearing from his Father. Richard Watts sends his Love to you all and he is still livi[ing] with us, but he has quite given up go[ing] to America.
After hopping we had a dance in Mr. Selves’s Oast and Sarah [text missing] had the misfortune to prop down the haying hole but fortunately she escaped with a slight bruise on her elbow.
Grandfather sends his Love to you and is quite as well as can be expected at his years.
[Letter continues in different handwriting]
Dear Brothers you must excuse my not righting [sic]. I got Mary to right [sic]. You must not acspect [expect] anny [sic] of us in America for we hear different account from there but more bad than good but I hope you will let us know how you are a getting [sic] on when you right [sic] and let us know wich [sic] is best England or America. For my part I think Handen will do with industry [sic]. We shall be very happy to hear from you when conveyent [convenient]. No more at present from your affectnate [affectionate] Brother & Sister. R. E. Day

Westfall Collection #8.1.a.os.1.1

Source:  Pittman – Coffield Family Papers, East Carolina Manuscript Collection #1135.1.f Staff Person:  Nanette Hardison Description: Although greeting cards are normally not considered of great historical value, they can offer insight into the thought processes of people as well as a look at the types of greeting cards that were circulating during a given time period. [...]

State of N.C. Edgecom County November the 26 1862 Dear and affectionet father and Mother It is with great pain that I seat my selfe to drope you a few lines to in form you that Brother Wiet [Wyatt] is Ded he Did one the 26 of this month he has Bin Sicke fore a month he Will be Bered here the Doctor has never told me What the Diseas Was so I cant say What Was the matter With him Dear and affectionate father and Mother I am Well at this more than Bad cole I hope that Whern this letter gits to hand it Will find you all in joying good halthe i want you to write to me as soon as you gitre this letter if you pleas it Dos give me great pleasure to reseve a letter from you James. Died on the 21 of this mohth and Was Bered here in this plas. Dear father Direct your letters to Tarbour in care of N A Ramsey the 61 Regiment company D Elbert Carpenter.

Source: Shirley Kilpatrick Collection #10.1.d. Staff Person: Jonathan Dembo Description: U. S. Army Provost Marshal’s Office Pass No. 11382 was issued in Union-occupied New Orleans on 4 February 1863.  It allowed John A. Miltz of New Orleans to travel from New Orleans to New York on the Steamer EMPIRE CITY.  It is accompanied by Miltz’s oath [...]