Papers of Thomas A. Compton 1825-1847

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

Papers of Thomas A. Compton, Accession #38-116, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Papers of Thomas A. Compton, Accession #38-116, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

The papers include family correspondence, 1825-1840, to Thomas A. Compton, chiefly from Walter and Elizabeth Compton, Henrietta Compton Burkly, and Burwell K. Wood, concerning news of friends and family in Virginia and Tennessee, teaching school in Tennessee, religion, a legal suit (Walter Compton v. Bird Eastham), an offer to sell slaves for land and slave hiring, emigration from Virginia, the poverty of the land in Virginia, observations on national and state politics, and courtship.

The papers also include list, 1846, of personal property and slaves of Mrs. Margaret Shaw's estate (Mississippi); letter, 17 February 1847, asking the correspondent to help slaves cross a river in Mississippi.

Biographical / historical:

Represented in the collection are Thomas A. Compton, originally of Culpeper County, Va., later merchant in Mississippi; his parents, Walter and Elizabeth Compton, and his sister, Henrietta Compton Burkly, originally of Culpeper County, Va., later of Carroll County, Tenn.; and Burwell K. Wood, merchant, of Culpeper County and Gaines Crossroads (later Gainesville), Va.

Acquisition information:
This collection was a deposit of Mrs. J. B. Patterson of Fishersville VA in February 1932.
Physical description:
This collection consists of 24 items.