Browse Items (74 total)

Slavery in the American South could not have existed without the authority of law defining slaves as the property of their masters. But the fact that slaves were also human beings placed limits on this harsh reality. When the rigor of the law and the…

A map showing the slave populations of North Carolinian counties as a percentage of slaves to non-slaves.

Lewis Bitting Banner was born in 1805 in Surry County, North Carolina. In 1856, Lewis B. Banner, his wife Nancy Meadow Flipping, and their seven children moved to Watauga County, North Carolina where their eighth child was born. He bought two…

Dear Sir,
The occasion of the least ___ is a source of much pain to me, after the intimate intercourse, which has ___ under diversity of fortune through a great number of years. I am sure, that I would not willingly or rather inconceivably do an…

Raleigh, January 29th 1833
My dearest Anne,
By Sunday’s mail I received Catherine’s letter; which being without date, I suppose was written for three days late, insomuch as it said nothing about ___ ___ nor of your intentions about the…

Caswell, 15th January 1822
Mr. Ruffin,
Dear Sir, On Sunday last I had an interview with my Brother William Anderson, on the subject of business of which you spoke to me on Saturday Evening. He appears disposed to enter into business of that nature…

Hallowfax Courthouse on May 21st 1824
Judge Thomas Ruffin,
I was anxious to have seen your I past (sic) through N. Carolina, but knowing my Cituation (sic) I thought it best not. I past (sic) my old naborhood (sic) and saw a few of my friends.…

Dear Ruffin,
An unwillingness which than long felt to interfere in other People’s business has restrained me from mentioning to you a fact which my duty to you divide me to disdain long ago; Now could just say a word about it, was not your…

From Sterling Ruffin. [Brunswick, June, 1804] I have no apology to offer for not complying with the promise made in my last, of writing again, in a few days, except that I wish'd to have forwarded you a small B. Note, for fear, from some unforeseen…

Outpost or Camp, in the Field,
Near Jacksonville, Fla.,
March 6, 1864.

Mr. Editor: Actions and arduous duties since the 5th ult., the time of the sailing of the present expedition from Hilton Head, have caused the apparently studied silence on…