Scope and Content
This collection, comprised of ca. 250 items, 1807-1864,
consists of correspondence of
Ann Carter Oliver,
Lucy H. Oliver,
Lucy (Oliver) Cocke, and other members of
the
Oliver familyand
Cocke familyof central
Virginia. The correspondence, 1807-1830,
is primarily that of
Benjamin Oliver, originally from
Hanover Countyand later a resident of "
Union Hall, "
Albemarle County, Virginia, and his wife,
Lucy H. Oliver. These letters are chiefly
concerned with family news or business matters. Correspondents
include:
M. Braxton;
George Clark, brother-in-law of
Benjamin Oliverand
Lucy H. Oliver, of
Lexington, Virginia;
Charles C. Page;
Ann Tomlinand
W. W. Tomlin, sister and brother-in-law
of
Lucy H. Oliver, of "
Oak Hill, "
Richmond County, Virginia;
Newman Williamson Barnes; and,
Lucy H. Barnesof
Falmouth, Virginia. There are two
letters, August 19, 1807 and January 18, 1817, concerning
payment of tuition for the "little girls," probably
Tomlin's nieces; one letter is addressed
to Mrs.
Ann Hackleyof a school at
Wildernessin
Spotsylvania County, Virginia. An 1813
letter to
Lucy Tomlincontains news of the British
burning
Hampton, Virginia, and the militia being
called. There is also correspondence between
Lucy H. Tomlinof "
Clifton, "
Hanover, Virginia, and
Sarah B. Campbellof
Lynchburg, Virginia, regarding the death
of Mrs.
Campbell's brother, who had been engaged
to Lucy.
Later correspondence, 1831-1864, is primarily that of
Ann Carter "Nannie" Oliverand
Lucy (Oliver) Cocke, daughters of
Benjamin Oliverand
Lucy H. Oliver.
Benjamin Oliverdied in 1820, and
Lucy H. Cockesometime shortly after 1830,
leaving their daughters
Ann Oliverand
Lucy Oliveras wards of Dr.
Corbin Braxtonof "
Chericoke, "
King William County, Virginia.
Lucy Olivermarried Dr.
Cary Charles Cocke, third son of
John Hartwell Cocke, and resided at "
Lower Bremo, "
Fluvanna County, Virginia. Correspondence
chiefly concerns news of family and friends. Two letters,
December 24, 1833 and April 4, 1834, from
Ann Colemanto
Lucy Oliver, describe life at
Cedar Park Schoolat "
West River, "
Anne Arundel County, Maryland, mentioning
her course of studies, her work for a colonization society,
and the objections of local gentlemen of
Prince Georges County, Marylandto a black
Sunday school conducted by the students and teachers.
Margaret Mercer, daughter of
John Mercer, governor of
Maryland, operated the
Cedar Park School. Of interest are four
letters, 1842-1843, from
Corbin Braxtonand
Carter Braxtonto
Cary Charles Cockeregarding their use of
Cyrus McCormick's new reaper for
harvesting crops.
Other correspondents include:
Balsora Barnesof
Falmouth, Virginia;
Margaret Mercer;
Philip St. George Cocke, second son of
John Hartwell Cocke;
M. E. Fitzhughof
Falmouth, Virginia;
Sally Elizabeth Courtney (Bowdoin) Cocke,
wife of
Philip St. George Cocke;
Nora Macon;
Mira Rosa Wilsonof
Norfolk, Virginia;
Fanny Coalterof "
Ingleside";
Mikosa Wilson;
Mary W. Braxtonof "
Chericoke, "
King William County, Virginia;
Olivia [ ]of
Baltimore, Maryland;
Fanny Braxton;
Lucy Braxton; and
Tomlin Braxton.
There are several letters of interest. There is a July 4,
1840 letter written on
The Delaware. A letter of December 8,
1841 describes a slave wedding. Letters of May 9 and May 14,
1843 mention the deaths of
[Corbin] Braxtonand
Louisa Cocke, respectively. A letter in
1844 discusses politics--the lower class democrats and that
every lady should be a Whig. A July 24, 1846 letter refers to
a thieving slave who should either be hung or sold. There is a
May 21, 1847 letter which discusses the marriage of two
servants; General
John Hartwell Cockeinquires about the
character of the girl and feels it necessary to say that her
intended is lazy. On November 12, 1847,
Corbin Braxtonwrites regarding problems
with the faculty at
William and Mary. A 1850 letter mentions
hearing
Jenny Lindsing.