Biographical/historical information

Luke Wiles: Luke Wiles' (1765-1850) parents were Thomas Stephen Wiles and Eleanor Pinson. In 1787 Luke married Frances Clanton (1767-1849) in Surry, North Carolina. Together that had at least seven sons and three daughters. Wiles and his family lived in Liberty Township, Indiana. He was enlisted into the Revolutionary War and was captain of a company attached to the Army commanded by Brig. General Green. Wiles fought in the Guilford County Courthouse, March 15. 1781, and was wounded. Wiles was later discharged from the military because of his wound, and became a schoolteacher.

Massie Family: Sarah Tate Steptoe Massie (1796-1828) was married to William Massie (1795-1862) and together they had one child, Thomas James Massie. After her death, William Massie remarried three more times and had six children. William Massie had two brothers, Dr. Thomas Massie (1782-1864) and Henry Massie (1784-1841). Dr. Thomas Massie was married Mrs. Lucy Waller Massie and together they had four children, Sarah Marie Waller Massie Goode (1812-1844), Elizabeth Massie (1816-unknown), Juliet Anna Massie Boyd (1819-1883) and Waller Massie (1822-1856). Sarah Massie Goode married William Osborne Goode (1789-1859) in 1829 and together they had four children.

Scope and arrangement

The collection contains information on a variety of subjects and covers a period of more than one hundred years. Two items deal with the Revolutionary War in that one Luke Wiles was wounded in battle in Guilford County, N.C., and was discharged from the militia due to his wound. In 1825, Wiles sought relief from the national government in the form of a pension.

A second area of correspondence is that of the 1820s and consists of social letters from Sarah Massie in Lynchburg (Nelson Co.) and Richmond, Virginia, to her aunt, Mrs. Sally T. Massie. Of particular interest are commentaries on private education of the period with a listing of course work, which includes grammar, geography, farming, writing, spelling, and reading. A school of dance is also found to be in existence at this time. An 1825 letter describes a visit to Richmond, Virginia, by the Marquis de LaFayette, including an account of parades, military assemblages, dinners, parties, and a "grand ball" given in his honor. Further correspondence of the 1820s is of a "social" nature, consisting of reports of births, deaths, funerals, marriages, parties, climate, etc.

A third area of correspondence is that of the 1880s which includes information on a schism of the Episcopal Church in Virginia, a variety of social institutions, and an apparently successful mineral spring in Arkansas owned by a member of the Goode family.

Administrative information

Custodial History

October 25, 1971, 19 items; Correspondence (1781-1887). Copies of originals in possession of Mr. Thomas H. Bland, Goldsboro, N.C.

Source of acquisition

Loaned by Mr. Thomas H. Bland

Processing information

Processed by T. Coker, January 1972

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

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

Metadata Rights Declaration

Key terms

Personal Names

Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834
Massie, Sally T.
Massie, Sarah

Family Names

Goode family

Corporate Names

Episcopal Church--Virginia--History--19th century

Topical

Guilford Courthouse, Battle of, N.C., 1781
Mineral waters--Arkansas
Private schools--Virginia--History

Places

United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783--Personal narratives
Virginia--Social life and customs--19th century

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