Abel Beach Nichols papers, 1835-1850
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Summary
- Creator:
- Nichols, Abel Beach
- Abstract:
- Abel Beach Nichols (1796/7-1868) was a merchant, farmer, slave owner and dealer from Bedford County, Virginia. The collection includes a small account book A. B. (Abel Beach) Nichols used to record financial transactions that occurred in Alabama from 1835 to 1836. Nine pages contain handwriting and several pages near the front and back of the book have been removed. Of particular interest are two pages with the heading, A list of the sales of negroes in the State of Alabama in 1835 & 1836, followed by a tabular listing of the number of slaves, their names, from whom purchased, cost, date, to whom sold, time, and amount. In all, Nichols bought and sold 42 slaves for a profit of $21,430.58. Headings such as A list of bonds bought in Alabama ... and Bond on ... in Alabama for articles sold are found on subsequent pages. Also included in the collection are two letters addressed to A. B. Nichols. The 1846 letter, from Pollard Hopkins & Co., describes efforts regarding the sell or hire of Nichols' slave, Henry, and the writer's intention to buy Henry a horse and dray, thereby giving him the means to eventually buy his freedom. The 1850 letter, from Henry, respectfully explains arrangements for acquiring the title to himself.
- Extent:
- 0.1 Linear Feet
3 Items - Language:
- Material in English
- Collection ID:
- RL.00949
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The collection includes a small account book that A. B. (Abel Beach) Nichols used to record financial transactions that occurred in Alabama from 1835 to 1836. Nine pages contain handwriting and several pages near the front and back of the book have been removed. Of particular interest are two pages with the heading, "A list of the sales of negroes in the State of Alabama in 1835 & 1836," followed by a tabular listing of the number of slaves, their names, from whom purchased, cost, date, to whom sold, time, and amount. In all, Nichols bought and sold 42 slaves for a profit of $21,430.58. Headings such as "A list of bonds bought in Alabama ..." and "Bond on ... in Alabama for articles sold" are found on subsequent pages. Also included in the collection are two letters addressed to A. B. Nichols. The 1846 letter, from Pollard Hopkins & Co., describes efforts regarding the sell or hire of Nichols' slave, Henry, and the "writer's" intention to buy Henry a horse and dray, thereby giving him the means to eventually buy his freedom. The 1850 letter, from Henry, respectfully explains arrangements for acquiring the title to himself.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Abel Beach Nichols (1796/7-1868) was a merchant, farmer, slave owner and dealer. Originally from Bridgeport, Connecticut, he settled in Liberty (present day city of Bedford), Bedford County, Virginia, in 1820. In 1824 he built a store in Bedford Court House where goods imported from New York were sold, and a few years later began construction of his country house, Three Otters, which is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Nichols is recorded in the U.S. Federal Census Slave Schedules as owning 48 slaves in 1860.
- Acquisition information:
- The Abel Beach Nichols Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2008.
- Processing information:
-
Processed by Danielle Moore, September 2010
Encoded by Danielle Moore, Semptember 2010
Accession 2008-0259 is described in this finding aid.
- Physical location:
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Subjects
Click on terms below to find related finding aids on this site. For other related materials in the Duke University Libraries, search for these terms in the Catalog.
- Subjects:
- Slaves -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
Slaves -- Prices -- Alabama
Slaves -- Prices -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
Slaves’ writings, American -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
Slavery -- Alabama
Slavery -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
Slaveholders -- Virginia -- Bedford County
Slaves -- Alabama
Slaves -- Emancipation -- Louisiana -- New Orleans
Slave trade -- Alabama
Slave traders -- Virginia -- Bedford County - Format:
- Business letters
Account books - Names:
- Nichols, Abel Beach
Nichols, Abel Beach - Places:
- New Orleans (La.) -- History -- 19th century
Alabama -- History -- 19th century
Contents
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- Preferred citation:
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[Identification of item], Abel Beach Nichols Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University