Guide to the Perry County, Alabama Papers MSS.0139
Perry County, Alabama
- Author:
Finding aid prepared by Jon Fuller
- Publication:
W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
Mary Harmon Bryant Hall
May 2009
500 Hackberry Lane
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 35487-0266
205.348.0500
archives@ua.edu
- Creation:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2012-11-30T16:31-0600
- Language Usage:
English
- Description Rules:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Perry County, Alabama Papers
- Unit ID:
MSS.0139
- Repository:
W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama
- Quantity:
0.2 Linear feet 31 Items
- Dates:
1796-1898
- Language of Materials note
Materials are in English.
- Abstract:
Letters and other documents donated by a source in Perry County, Alabama. The collection consists of eight letters to Elias Benson. There is also one summons order included in the Elias Benson series. Another series contains the will of Philip Smith of South Carolina. The Thomas and Mary Jones series contains three statements of debt made to John E. Cook, along with an indenture statement and draft. The final series includes miscellaneous documents including deed certification, court records, official statements, indenture papers, excerpts from company minutes and poems.
- creator
Benson, Elias
Scope and Contents note
The papers of Elias Benson (9 items) are primarily correspondence spanning the years from 1821–1841 although there is also a legal paper and an IOU. The papers of Mary and Thomas S. Jones (5 items) are statements of debt and indentures, all from 1882.
There is also an 1821 copy of a 1796 will of South Carolina planter Philip Smith, as well as assorted legal papers, all of which may have belonged to the Smith family’s papers.
Printed poems and rough drafts of poems, that all seem to be from the 1890s, are also in the collection.
The John F. Thompson papers were originally part of this collection, but were separated because they dealt wholly with the Alabama militia in the 1830s.
- Processing Information:
Processed by
Anonymous, reformatted by Catherine Eddins, student, 2002, and Martha Bace, 2008.
- Preferred Citation:
Preferred Citation
The Perry County, Alabama Papers, W.S. Hoole Special Collections Library, The University of Alabama.
- Acquisition Information:
Provenance
Unknown, originated in Perry County.
Biographical/Historical note
Not much could be discovered about Elias Benson except that he originally came from South Carolina. He had many brothers, some of which are represented in this collection. Gabriel, Abner, and Nimrod Benson are represented, but there was also a Robert Benson. Nimrod and, it is suspected, Gabriel, also moved to Alabama. Elias was not in the 1850 census record, so it may be assumed he died in the 1840’s.
Nothing whatsoever could be discovered about Thomas and Mary Jones.
Philip Smith, represented in these papers by a will, died in 1796 at the age of 68. He was a planter of St. Bartholemew Parish. On April 17, 1766, he married Elizabeth Stobo, a widow. He had three children, Charlotte, Mary and Philip Skiruing Smith.
- Access Restrictions:
Conditions Governing Access note
None
- Usage Restrictions:
Conditions Governing Use note
None
Source(s)
Jones, Mary, Mrs. (local)
Jones, Thomas (local)
Smith, Philip (local)
Alabama - Poetry - 19th Century (Local)
Banks and banking (lcsh)
Business (lcsh)
Business and Labor (localbroad)
Business records (aat)
Correspondence (aat)
Daily Life and Family (localbroad)
Deeds (aat)
Government, Law and Politics (localbroad)
Legal documents (aat)
Minutes (aat)
Elias Benson Box 1565
Scope and Contents note
In this series there are letters from Abner Benson, David Buck, G. Benson, Nimrod E. Benson and J. B. C. There is also one summons order included in this series.
Components in Detail
Incoming Correspondence- A. Benson, Chronological Box 1565 Folder 1
Incoming Correspondence, Chronological Box 1565 Folder 2
Legal Papers Box 1565 Folder 3
Philip Smith
Scope and Contents note
This series contains Philip’s will.
Components in Detail
Will of Philip Smith of South Carolina Box 1565 Folder 4
Thomas and Mary Jones
Scope and Contents note
This series contains three statements of debt made to John E. Cook, along with an indenture statement and draft.
Components in Detail
Indenture Notice Box 1565 Folder 5
Statements of Debt Box 1565 Folder 6
Miscellany
Scope and Contents note
This series includes deed certification, court records, official statements, indenture papers, excerpts from company minutes and poems.
Components in Detail
Legal Papers Box 1565 Folder 7
Miscellany Box 1565 Folder 8
Poetry Box 1565 Folder 9