Murphey-Perry Papers

1820-1901
Manuscript Collection #187
Creator(s)
Murphey (Family : 1719-1923); Perry family
Physical description
0.22 Cubic Feet, 39 items , correspondence (1836-1847), deeds of gift, last will and testament, commission to talk, bills, receipts, miscellaneous, and a poem (1820-1901).
Preferred Citation
Murphey-Perry Papers (#187), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
Access to audiovisual and digital media is restricted. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Papers (1820-1901) including correspondence, deed of gift, last will and testaments, commission to talk, bills, receipts, poems, etc.


Biographical/historical information

The Perry family were originally from Virginia and had all moved to Granville County by 1751. One of the siblings from the original Perry family was Joshua Perry (1710-1793). Joshua Perry married Elizabeth Mattie Rush (1723-1798) and together they had ca. 10 children. Benjamin Perry (-1815) was a child of Joshua and Elizabeth and he married Polley Murphey (1735-) in 1813. After Benjamin Perry passed, Polley Murphey remarried to Jessie Reed in 1822.


Scope and arrangement

The correspondence (1836-1847) within this collection reflects in part the separation of segments of the Murphey family from their home in Franklin County, North Carolina. Friends and relatives had relocated themselves in Alabama (Decatur, Morgan City, and Madison) and several letters reflect the opportunities to be found there. The letters promote Alabama as a place of peace and plenty, with rich and fertile land. Also described is the financial situation, including the prices of cotton and corn, as well as their health and welfare, and other general topics of conversation. One aside from the major topics is the report (1847) of the victories of Generals Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott in Mexico and of Santa Anna's daring escape from imminent capture.

Deeds of gift transferring black enslaved people in 1822 from their previous enslaver Polly Perry, a member of the Murphy family, to their new enslavers, various relatives. Also included is a last will and testament of Hartsfield Perry, a "commission to talk" or summons for Williamson Murphey, and bills and receipts reflecting the cost of various items and services (1820-1901). Miscellaneous items include a poem entitled "How Shall I Know," an apparent exercise in writing, and several unidentified receipts.


Administrative information
Custodial History

November 20, 1971, 38 items; Papers (1821-1857, 1901) of Murphey family of Franklin County, including correspondence, legal papers, financial records, and miscellaneous. Deposited by Mr. Russel Melvin Inscoe, Castalia, NC. Originals withdrawn December 15, 1978, and photocopies redesignated as Murphey-Perry Papers.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Mr. Russel Melvin Inscoe

Processing information

Processed by T. Coker, January 1972

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Descriptions updated by Ashlyn Racine, May 2023

Copyright notice

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


Key terms
Family Names
Murphy family
Perry family
Topical
Agriculture--Alabama
Mexican War, 1846-1848--Personal narratives
Prices--Alabama--History--19th century
Slave trade--North Carolina--Franklin County
Places
Alabama--Description and travel

Container list
Box 1 Folder a Photocopies of Documents, 1821-1857