A Guide to the William Cobbs Letters, 1827-1841

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

William Cobbs Letters, 1827-1841, are part of Lynchburg (Va.) Chancery Cause: John Motley & wife, Etc. vs. John P. Cobbs, Etc. [1848-002] and are digitized and available through the Chancery Records Index on the website of the Library of Virginia. The image range for the letters within the case is roughly image 111-153. Please use digital images.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

William Cobbs Letters, 1827-1841. Accession 41683. Personal papers collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

William Cobbs Letters, 1827-1841. Accession 41683. Personal papers collection. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

William Cobbs Letters, 1827-1841, consist of correspondence used as evidence in the Lynchburg, Va., Chancery cause styled John Motley & wife, Etc. vs. John P. Cobbs, Etc. which excuses William of inadequately fulfilling his role as executor to Robert Cobbs, his father's, estate.

The letters are primarily between William Cobbs and William R. Cox and concern Cox's management of his finances and primarily concern William Cobbs' affairs as an enslaver. The correspondence highlight white enslaver's treatment of enslaved Black individuals as chattel. Many of the letters concern the most advantageous hiring out agreements for Harry, George and Peter, three Black men enslaved by Cobbs. Additionally, there are mentions of Harry's poor mental health, the self-emancipation of Ned and Tom and their pursuit to flee to Ohio or Canada, death of Moses, and sale of Stephen.

Concerns Cox's family sickness, his home burning down, loss of an enslaved individual [unnamed], conducting Cobbs' business and bringing suits before the court for unpaid notes

Concerns the transportation of an unnamed woman [possibly Harriet] Cobbs has enslaved

Concerns Harriet and inability to transport her to Cobbs' homes, and the poor health of Moses

Concerns Ned and Tom self-emancipating and believes they will make their way to Ohio or perhaps Canada and plans to pursue and advertise for their return

Concerns additional information about the pursuit of Ned and Tom and the belief that only a sufficient reward would ensure their apprehension. Notes Ned as being about 33 or 24 and Tom and 27 to 29. Believes the reward should be set to $200-300.

Concerns ploughing and business, appeal from Harry to not be separated from his wife who is enslaved by Charles Cobb,

Concerns the death of Moses, and the drowning of a Peter Grant

Concerns the hiring out of Stephen and his wife [unnamed], difficulty in hiring out Harry due to mental health difficulties

Inability to hire out Harry due to his mental health and willingness to sell Harry is the opportunity is available

Concerns hiring out of George to Lewis Ruffner and Harry to Putney

Concerns the hiring out of Harry, Peter, George

Concerns the hiring out of Harry, Peter, George. Unable to hire out Harry due to concerns about his mental health? Notes both George and Peter and in poor health.

Again corresponds about the difficulty in hiring out Harry due to his anxiety about being away from home [Lynchburg, Va.]

Concerns poor health of his daughter and himself as well as the hiring out of Peter and George

Concerns the purchase history of Steven, death of Moses, Ned and Tom as freedom seekers,

Concerns the purchase history of Steven, death of Moses, Ned and Tom as freedom seekers as well as George being badly scalded

Biographical / historical:

William Cobbs was born March 2, 1792 in Campbell County, Virginia. He attended Hampden-Sydney College. After graduating, Cobbs managed his father's plantations in Campbell and Bedford Counties and his business activities in Kanawha Salines in present-day West Virginia. In 1828, he purchased Poplar Forest from Thomas Jefferson's grandson, Francis Eppes. Cobbs died September 6, 1852 in Bedford County, Virginia.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from the City of Lynchburg.
Processing information:

The original chancery cause came in through a transfer of court records which was described and processed by the local record department as part of the Chancery digitization project. The identified letters where then photocopied and gifted to the private papers department where they were described as a personal papers collection.

Encoded by G. Crawford, 2005; edited by M. Mason, November 2023.

Physical description:
21 pages [Photocopies]; Digital Images