Paul Cameron Letter, September 5, 1844

Paul Cameron Letter, September 5, 1844

Antebellum Plantation Life

Paul writes to his father who is visiting Petersburg, Virginia, discussing the health of family (teeth, gums, hair) and slaves with two medications given to slaves (calomel and ipecac). Paul bemoans not receiving promised letters from family member Mildred. Paul begins making plans to relocate some slaves to a new plantation property in Marengo, Alabama, purchasing supplies and clothing (leather for shoes, hats, blankets). The new 1300-acre property was contracted in New York by an associate James Ruffin. A nearby "landing" at Arcola, Alabama, is referenced, perhaps as an intended site from which to ship product. Paul mentions a lack of rain has left a short crop of cotton at Stagville, he will be seeding wheat, and he fears the crop of oats, potatoes, and turnips will be lost. Paul notes he has heard of the recent loss of three Whig members of the legislature.

Paul Cameron

Cameron Family Papers, 1757-1978

Photographed, transcribed, tagged, and shared in this Omeka Collection by Dr. Kevin Oliver, North Carolina State University College of Education

September 5, 1844

As noted in the source collection, “copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.”

The Southern Historical Collection at the Louis Round Wilson Special Collections Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

PDF

English

Personal correspondence, letter

series: 1.3.3, box: 40, folder: 934

United States: Alabama (Arcola; Marengo County)

United States: North Carolina (Davidson County; Granville County; Johnston County; Orange County; Pitt County; Stagville)

United States: New York

United States: Virginia (Petersburg; White Sulphur Springs)

Paper