Joseph Allred papers, 1819-1903

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Summary

Creator:
Allred, Joseph, 1772-1856, Allred, Mahlon, 1817-1892, Lester, Vilet, 1830-, Cox, James K., and Allred, Calvin
Abstract:
Joseph Allred (1772-1856) and his wife, Rachel (1773-1856), were residents of Randolph County, North Carolina. Collection comprises primarily business correspondence, along with legal documents and some personal correspondence, for Joseph Allred and various Allred family members. The collection also features two letters written by enslaved people owned by the Allred family. There is a Allred genealogy prepared by a family member that further details relationships and events outlined in the collection, especially with regard to enslaved people.
Extent:
0.10 Linear Feet (42 items)
Language:
Materials in English.
Collection ID:
RL.11909

Background

Scope and content:

Collection comprises primarily business correspondence, along with legal documents and some personal correspondence, for Joseph Allred and various Allred family members. The documents up to 1856 primarily focus on Joseph Allred's business ventures; seven relate to his controversial purchase of a tract of land along the Sandy Creek to be used for a gold mining operation. Following Joseph's death, business correspondence is directed to his son, James, and generally involves requests for agricultural investment and agreements to purchase crops, although he pursues other small business opportunities with this nephew, Isaac Allred. Among the legal documents are a land deed for Mahlon Allred (1852), along with Isaac Allred's deed of sale for Judy, a 70-year-old enslaved woman, to James Allred (1858). There is also a list of subscribers for building a church at New Union (1854). The personal correspondence includes an 1858 letter by James K. Cox, probably written to James Allred, where Cox takes Allred to task for a sexual relationship Allred has engaged in with his sister, based on Allred's promise of marriage. He states that if Allred does not marry her Cox will turn her out of her home. In another letter (1859), Isaac Allred writes of a tragic murder-suicide that has taken place near his home.

The collection also features two letters written by enslaved people owned by the Allred family. Vilet (Violet) Lester writes to her former playmate and owner, Patsey Patterson (born Martha Ann "Patsy" Allred), on 29 August 1857. Violet traces the history of her sale by the Patterson family, noting that she is now owned by James B. Lester. She states her strong desire to see her family members and former owners again, and struggles with a strong, yet acknowledged as unlikely, hope that they will buy her back. She sends greetings to all, and asks her family members to write to her "So I may here from them if I cannot See them..." However, her main intent is to discover the whereabouts of her daughter, who was to be delivered or sold to the Walker family. She indicates that Lester is interested in buying the girl if she is for sale, and requests Patsey to write to her with an update and news. The collection includes a transcription of Violet's letter. Another enslaved person, Calvin Allred, writes to James Allred on 15 December 1864 from the home of John Reitzel, to whom he has been hired out. He wishes to know if his position with the Reitzels will be extended another year. He notes that Reitzel joined the Confederate troops only to land in the hospital with typhoid fever. He is recovering, but is expected home, soon. Calvin ends the letter with updates regarding various family members.

There is a Allred genealogy prepared by a family member that further details relationships and events outlined in the collection, especially with regard to enslaved people.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph Allred (1772-1856) and his wife, Rachel (1773-1856), were residents of Randolph County, North Carolina.

Acquisition information:
The Joseph Allred papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library in 1949.
Processing information:

Processed by Alice Poffinberger, October 2013

Accessions described in this collection guide: 10-10-49

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the Rubenstein Library's Citations, Permissions, and Copyright guide.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Joseph Allred papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.

Permalink:
https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m15152