Papers (1817-1902) consisting of deeds, receipts, clipping, account book, tintype, and a transfer of land related to Lenoir Co., North Carolina.
Bryant J. Davenport was born on September 23, 1869, in Lenoir County, NC. His parents were Phineas and Winnifred Davenport. He married his wife on February 6, 1910, though her name is unknown. The couple had at least four children, including 3 sons. Davenport passed away on November 25, 1926, at the age of 57 in Morganton, NC.
Whitfield Grady was born to Frederick & Elizabeth Grady on September 1, 1978, in Duplin, NC. In 1818, he married his cousin Elizabeth Kornegay and the two had at least fourteen children. Elizabeth passed away in 1866 and Grady later married Nancy Jane Mercer. Grady was a slaveowner, with at least one former slave having the name of Silvia. Grady passed away at the age of 82 on October 17, 1880, in Woodington, NC.
Oliver Herring was born on July 28, 1798. He married twice, first to Susan Leary who died at the age of 32. Herring later married Nancy Leary and had two children, Curtis and Calvin, both born in Lenoir County. In April of 1861, Calvin enlisted in the North Carolina 27 Infantry, Company D. In 1862, he was promoted to Full Captain and was again promoted to Full Major in 1865. Despite four major injuries, he survived and later left North Carolina with his wife, Martha, and moved to Florida. The couple had nine children, though Martha died in childbirth. After her death, Calvin and his children moved to Texas. He later moved to Pinos Altos, New Mexico, where he died on August 24, 1891.
Berkley Smith was born on July 4, 1851, in Lenoir in Caldwell County, N.C, to parents Lemon and Adaline Smith. Mary Brown was born on June 21, 1859. Berkley and Mary later married and had at least six children together. Berkley and Mary also sold land in Lenoir County. Berkley died at the age of 56 on July 13, 1907, in Caldwell County and is buried in Deep Run in Lenoir County, N.C. Mary later died at the age of 74 on September 9, 1933. She is buried alongside her husband.
Written April 2024
This collection contains the deeds of Berkley and Mary Smith who sold parcels of land in the Southwest Creek area of Lenoir County to Stephen Herring (March 19, 1817) and Bryan Davenport (January 1, 1902), and the transfer of land from Oliver Herring to Calvin Herring (May 28, 1857). Also included is an account book (1845-1854) belonging to Whitfield Grady that records the purchases of foodstuffs, agricultural equipment, and labor. Financial records include receipts, money orders, etc. (1866-1899). There is a tintype photograph of Silvia, a freed woman formerly enslaved by Whitfield Grady.
Gift of Mrs. Gray Smith
Processed by M. Quintanilla, October 1986
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, May 2023
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.