Papers (1869, 1908, 1736, 1933-1956) consisting of correspondence, legal records, genealogical records, pamphlets, clippings, photographs and miscellaneous.
Alphonse Paul Repiton was born in Williamsburg, VA., January 1, 1808. His parents were French Catholics and they both died when he was eight years old. Alphonse grew up with his guardian in Norfolk, VA and began attending church. After attending the Virginia Baptist Seminary, he accepted his first charge in a church in Virginia as their pastor and then later accepted one in Wilmington, NC. During the Civil War, the churches edifice was burned and a plea was sent out to help build a new structure. Alphonse returned to Norfolk, Virginia in 1869 and continued to preach. He lived there with his wife, son, and daughter until his death.
William Lamb was a publisher, Confederate soldier, and politician born in Norfolk, VA on September 27, 1835. William graduated with a bachelor of law degree when he was 20 years old and owned half of the newspaper Southern Argus in Norfolk. The newspaper closed in 1861 and William was conscripted to the Confederacy as captain of Company C of the 6th Virginia Regiment. He served as a commander and later appointed as colonel and referred to as "the hero of Fort Fisher." After the war he returned to Norfolk and worked for the Norfolk and Western Railroad and helped establish public education for Black students. William was married to Sara Ann Chaffee in 1857 and had three children together. He died on March 23, 1909.
Repiton-Lamb Family Papers deal primarily with the Repiton and Lamb families of Virginia and North Carolina. Also included are the Wilson, Kerr, Knox and related branches.
Correspondence is generally concerned with genealogical topics. Included are letters (1933-1937) pertaining to quit-claim suit between descendants of William Wilson and George N. Ostrander and son over a tract of land in New York state. Also of interest is a letter copy (1793) in which a father discusses the proper education, dress, and conduct for his daughter.
Legal records (1869, 1934-1937) include receipt (1869) for payment on a cemetery plot for Rev. A. Paul Repiton in Wilmington, N.C.; two court summons; and a land indenture. Reverend Repiton was the only minister in Wilmington who survived the yellow fever epidemic of 1862. The summons and indenture pertain to land of William Wilson in Hamilton County, New York.
Genealogical material (1908, 1933-1934, undated) pertains to the Lamb, Repiton, Sage, Wilson, Corbett, Kerr, Cowan, and Knox families. The genealogical data traces several families to Scotland. Included is a booklet on the Lamb genealogy, an application for membership in the Daughters of the American Revolution, and notes on various families.
Pamphlets and other printed materials include a short history of old St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Norfolk, Virginia; two church bulletins (1939, 1944); a reprint entitled "The Heroine of Confederate Point," which relates an account of the defense of Fort Fisher, N.C. (undated); and a short paper (1945) entitled "Colonel William Lamb and Phi Beta Kappa."
Newspaper and magazine clippings (1924-1956) concern the history of Tidewater Virginia and Fort Fisher, North Carolina. These include items on Norfolk's silver mace, the Kenmure house, a history of Fort Monroe, activities in Williamsburg, the battle of Fort Fisher, and blockade-runners of the lower Cape Fear.
Photographs include Rev. A. Paul Repiton, his wife and son and the Repiton house in Williamsburg, Virginia.
Miscellaneous materials (1736, 1908, undated) include a copy of the Repiton family seal and a reprint of the Virginia Gazette (1736).
Gift of Miss Dorothy Repiton Knox
Gift of Mrs. Richard Hollerith
Processed by W. West, March 1979
Encoded by Apex Data Services
Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.