Biographical/historical information

James Pender was born in Tarboro, N.C. on September 25, 1858, the son of Robert H. and Emeralda Pender. His father was a merchant and planter. Pender was educated at a preparatory school in Baltimore, Md., for three years; and, in 1880 he received his L.L.B. degree at the University of North Carolina. He established a large general practice of law in Tarboro, specializing in matters of accounting and economic litigation. He was chairman of the Edgecombe County Board of Education, president of the Recorder's Court, and Mayor of Tarboro from 1901-1907. He also served as deputy registrar of deeds, a member of the Tarboro township school board, and a United States Commissioner for seventeen years. On April 12, 1887, Pender married Sallie Pippen, daughter of William M. Pippen, a prominent merchant and farmer. They had two children, Katharine Marriott and Ella Banning. James Pender died on June 20, 1926.

Scope and arrangement

The Pender Papers are primarily concerned with James Pender's law practice and include mostly legal and financial documents. The correspondence in the letter press book, which contains an index of correspondents, is centered around the collection of bills, handling of unfair business practices, probating wills, lending and borrowing of money, deeds, insurance records, and papers of the administration and execution of estates.

In letters to clients, James Pender gives some specific information concerning legal practices and precedents in North Carolina during the period 1897-1901. In one letter (January, 1898), Pender cites some specific information concerning state, county and town taxes. In a letter dated January 31, 1898, Pender expresses his contempt for President William McKinley, the Dingley Tariff, and the Gold Standard. Comments to C.W. Bryan of Tar River, N.C. (April, 1898) include a notation on the rarity of property changing hands in Tarboro, and the ease and surety of obtaining loans. Other letters (1898-1901) include some comments on the agricultural economy of Eastern North Carolina, the stability of Bank of Tarboro stock, and the discover (March, 1901) of illegal tax exemptions to some of the county's most prominent citizens.

Other materials in the letter press book include business and legal correspondence with local tobacco warehouses, specifically Coopers Warehouse, T. B. Jeffreys and J. A. Crews of Rocky Mount, and R. O. Jeffress and J. E. Crute and Co. of Tarbor. A letter to former governor Elias Carr (June 1900) deals with the administration of the estate of Mrs. Kate S. Williams.

The second volume is a letter press book of accountant records. Included in this indexed volume are inventories, statements of the division of personal property, account sales of estates, deeds of trust, wills, receipts, and disbursements, statements of judgment and indebtedness, and financial records of Pender's wife, Sallie Pippen Pender.

Administrative information

Custodial History

January 17, 1974, 2 volumes. Records of an Edgecombe County, N.C. attorney including a letterpress book (1897-1901) and an account book (1894-1914). Gift of the estate of Col. Worth Wicker, Tarboro, N.C.

Source of acquisition

Gift of Col. Worth Wicker

Processing information

Processed by B. Hall, April 1974; Updated by N. Hardison, August 2024

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

Pender, James, 1858-1926

Topical

Agriculture--Economic aspects--North Carolina
Law--North Carolina
Lawyers--North Carolina--Tarboro
Tax evasion--North Carolina--Edgecombe County
Tobacco industry--North Carolina

Places

Edgecombe County (N.C.)--History

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