Papers (1792-1969) including correspondence, financial papers,a diary, a cipher book, newspaper clipping, and a family history references to school, comments on Democratic Party, genealogical material, etc., related to the Sills family residing at Belford Plantation in Nash County, North Carolina.
The Sills family came to North Carolina from Southern Virginia late in the 18th Century. David Sills, Jr. settled on a tract of land in Nash County, N.C., which he named Belford, after an ancestral home in England. Belford eventually grew to over six thousand acres in Nash, Franklin, and Warren counties and at one time operated its own post office and school.
Prior to the Civil War, the Sills family was a wealthy enslavers that had several enslaved persons within their 'possession.' An inventory of property dated 1833 indicated that the enslaver David Sills, Jr., owned 133 enslaved persons. There are bills of sale for enslaved persons (1792), references to the death of enslaved persons (1852), and a list of enslaved persons emancipated from their enslavers by the Federal government in 1865.
Antebellum correspondence covers a wide range of topics, much of it related to activities of the Sills, Jelks, and Boddie families. Letters (1818-1866) from Tennessee, Alabama, and Mississippi comment on life and activities in these states, particularly in reference to crops, prices, smallpox, and emigration of families from North Carolina into these and other western states.
Throughout the collection there are numerous references to schools and educational developments. The school at Belford, which was intended to educate the family and neighboring children, is mentioned and tuition at this school is recorded (1850, 1868). Other letters are written from schools in Warrenton (1822), La Grange Female Academy (1852), Warrenton Female Seminary (1857), and at Louisburg and Greensboro. Also included are announcements (1852) on Franklin Institute (Franklin County) and Castalia Female Institute (Nash County) and a cipher book containing mathematical problems. Letters, diary entries, and advertisement reflect the operation of these schools and tell of life while attending them. Also of interest are letters from two of the Sills boys who attended medical schools in Philadelphia and Baltimore. A letter (1857) comments on life at the University of Pennsylvania, Christmas Day spent at school, and experiences while walking around Philadelphia.
Other correspondence comments on a Democratic Party rally at Franklinton (1852), baseball as a sport (1866), church meetings (1868), and life in Key West, Florida (1833).
A diary (1858-1866) reflects the hardships and emotions felt by the Sills family during the Civil War era. The writer expresses strong anti-Union sentiment prior to secession and reflects the view of women left at home, illnesses of soldiers, and thoughts of the war. Passing references are made to the battles at Roanoke Island and Fort Donelson, the repulse of Union troops by Hoke's Division near Wilmington, the Confederate invasion of the North and the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate hospitals in N.C., and service by Nash County troops.
Other material pertains to a distant relative of the Sills through the Boddie family who was involved in the Cuban Civil War of the 1890s. Ramon Alpuente, a Spaniard living in Cuba, had been married to Mary Boddie, but she had died. A daughter was sent to live in Spain while Ramon became involved with the Cuban Underground Movement. Outlawed, he fled to England with a small fortune, and then tried to enter Spain to see his daughter. He was captured, tried, and imprisoned by the military and eventually died of maltreatment. Letters to N. W. Boddie tell of his exploits and seek Boddie's aid in looking after the daughter.
The bulk of the collection is family oriented, with considerable genealogical material on the Sills, Arrington, Battle, Jelks, Nicholson, and Dameron families. Of significance are the investigations conducted by Louise Jelks Sills into her family's past. There are letters from the DAR and other sources which provide genealogical information.
Loaned by Miss Louise Sills
Gift of Mrs. Charlotte Perry
Gift of Mr. Bill Dameron
Gift of Mrs. Isad D. Barton
Processed by D. Lennon, February 1997
Cheryl Funderburk July 2008
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.
Box 4 is restricted from use. Use photocopies in box 3 instead.