Sanders family papers, 1806-1929

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Summary

Creator:
Sanders, Benjamin H., 1805-1890, Sanders, Burrell, 1803-1883, Sanders, Derrill, 1800-1852, and Sanders, Elmira A., 1857-1927
Abstract:
Brothers Derrill Sanders (1800-1852), Burrell Sanders (1803-1883), and Benjamin H. Sanders (1805-1890) were born in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, to parents Wilson and Sarah Sanders. The Sanders family owned several small forced labor plantations, including Lifeland (Benjamin) and Beech Hill (Burrell), in and around St. Bartholomew's Parish, Colleton County, South Carolina. This collection dates from 1807-1929 and primarily contains the correspondence and legal and financial papers of Derrill Sanders, Burrell Sanders, and Benjamin Sanders, and of the Sanders family, concerning property transfers, the sale of enslaved persons, plantation management, and family and personal matters.
Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet (1 box)
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11175

Background

Scope and content:

This collection dates from 1807-1929 and primarily contains the papers of Derrill Sanders, Burrell Sanders, and Benjamin Sanders, and of the Sanders family, concerning the management of small forced labor plantations, including Lifeland and Beech Hill, in St. Bartholomew's Parish, Colleton County, South Carolina. The correspondence includes family letters and letters from various cotton factoriess in Charleston, S.C. Later correspondence (1890-1925) includes letters between Elmira A. Sanders and her husband Benjamin K. Sanders, her father Charles (Carl) Gustav Anderson, and sons B. K. and Campbell Sanders. Legal papers consist mainly of deeds and other records of real estate transfers; four wills (1859, 1863, 1875, and 1889) of Benjamin H. Sanders; and probate records related to the estates of Benjamin H. Sanders, Benjamin K. Sanders, and Dicey Ann Anderson. The financial papers include household and plantation accounts, tax receipts, and records related to sale of enslaved persons and the hire of formerly enslaved Black people. A financial memorandum book includes a statement by Benjamin Sanders dated March 17, 1875, regarding an altercation with his wife Sarah over her alleged adultery, and her subsequent relocation to her father's house. A loose financial statement accompanying the volume lists legal services and fees provided by Henderson and Behre in the aftermath of the event, including representation during the trial of Benjamin Sanders for "assault with intent to kill."

Biographical / historical:

Brothers Derrill Sanders, Burrell Sanders, and Benjamin H. Sanders were born in Orangeburg County, South Carolina, to parents Wilson and Sarah Sanders. The Sanders family owned several small forced labor plantations, in and around St. Bartholomew's Parish, Colleton County, South Carolina.

Derrill Sanders (1800-1852) owned property in Colleton County and enslaved at least 20 people according to the 1840 U.S. Federal Census. He was married to Louisa "Levicy" Ann Sanders.

Burrell Sanders (1803-1883) was the owner of Beech Hill Plantation in St. Bartholomew's Parish and enslaved at least 104 people according to the 1850 U.S. Federal Census slave schedules. He was married to Ann Jackson (Ferebee) Sanders, with whom he had at least seven children. Sanders served at least one term in the South Carolina House of Representatives beginning in 1854.

Benjamin H. Sanders (1805-1890) was the owner of Lifeland Plantation in St. Bartholomew's Parish and enslaved at least 44 people according to the 1860 U.S. Federal Census slave schedules. He was married to Eleanor (Rice) Sanders (1810?-1872) by 1840 and the couple adopted Benjamin K. Sanders (1852-1894) and Louisa Rebecca Sanders, two of the children of Benjamin's brother Thomas Clark Sanders, by 1859. Eleanor Sanders died in February 1872, and Benjamin married Sarah Ann Remley (1840-1931) on January 14, 1873. In March 1875, Sarah left Benjamin and returned to her father's household after Benjamin accused her of infidelity and allegedly assaulted her. Benjamin was tried for "assault with intent to kill" in October 1875 but was acquitted. The couple presumably divorced, which was permitted in South Carolina at the time in limited situations, including adultery and abandonment. By 1880, Benjamin was married to Rebecca Ann Sanders. He died in Charleston, SC, on December 15, 1890.

Benjamin K. Sanders married Elmira "Myra" Anderson (1857-1927), who was the daughter of Charles (Carl) Gustav Anderson, a Swedish-born steamer captain, and Dicey Ann Anderson of Charleston, S.C. The couple lived in Walterboro, Colleton County, where Benjamin was a rice farmer. They had six children, including James Campbell Sanders (1883-1959) and Benjamin K. ("B. K.") Sanders Jr. (1892-1960).

Acquisition information:
Received by the Rubenstein Library as a purchase in 1967.
Processing information:

Processed by library staff, 1970s.

Reparative description by Matthew Boone and Mary Mellon, May 2025.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

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Using These Materials

Restrictions:

The 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 copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

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

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https://idn.duke.edu/ark:/87924/m1xm17