Nalle family papers, 1800–1862. 79 items. Mss1N1495a.
Correspondence, financial papers, and other records of a farming family in Culpeper and Orange counties. A number of deeds, 1809–1819 (section 3), cover the purchase by Jesse Nalle of several male and female slaves, most teenagers. Additional materials, 1819–1825 (section 4), include a letter of Blackford, Arthur and Co. of Isabella Furnace, concerning clothing for Nalle's slave Edmund, bonds for the hiring of women slaves (including conditions of service), and a bill of complaint concerning slaves belonging to the estate of Joshua Botts.

The correspondence of Ann Botts Nalle (section 5) includes letters written by Alberta and Edward Day in 1860 concerning the death of the slave French in a railroad accident and a letter by Dr. Thomas T. Slaughter concerning an operation on the slave Jack. Mrs. Nalle's accounts (section 7) include payments for a blanket supplied to one bondsman and the apprehension of a fugitive slave. Two bonds cover the hire of several slaves, including a blacksmith, and an affidavit issued in 1856 concerns the deaths of two female slave children belonging to Mrs. Nalle (section 8).

Two letters, 1849–1861 (section 9), concern the hiring of Daniell and the capture of several young fugitive slaves belonging to Mary Lawson Nalle of Orange County, as do her accounts (section 10), including the medical costs of removing a bullet from the thigh of one of the runaways.

Albert Gallatin Nalle's correspondence, 1856–1862 (section 11), includes letters written by James R. Field, Orange O. Peterson, and Montgomery Slaughter concerning the capture of runaway slaves. A letter of O. P. Smith to B. F. Nalle in 1851 (section 12) discusses the slave Charles, who hired himself out without permission. A letter of Montgomery Slaughter concerns the apprehension of fugitive slave Dick in 1861, while a related account records Dick's subsequent sale a year later (section 13).

Nash family papers, 1734–1889. 8,438 items. Mss1N1786a.
Much of this collection is focused on John White Nash (1792–1859), a lawyer practicing primarily in and around the counties of Powhatan, Amelia, Cumberland, and Goochland. He also served in the Virginia House of Delegates, in the Virginia Senate, and later as a circuit court judge. In addition to his own personal papers, the collection also includes copies of documents drawn up for his clients.

Deeds and deeds of trusts are included in section 1 (1815; Fauquier County), sections 41 and 42 (1817–1845; counties of Campbell, Cumberland, Fauquier, Powhatan, and Prince William; some ages and mother-child relationships provided), section 52 (1829; concerning a Dinwiddie County mill and the slaves working at the mill), section 93 (an 1841 affidavit concerns the transfer of a family of slaves from St. Louis, Mo., to Powhatan County, Va.), section 135 (1810; Powhatan County for a dozen slaves with one mother-child pair), section 160 (1824–1839; sales records in Cumberland and Fauquier County), section 164 (an 1831 deed of trust concerning Harriet P. (Giles) Nash and ownership of slaves of the estate of William Branch Giles), section 175 (1818–1841; Virginia counties of Amelia, Franklin, Goochland, and Powhatan and the city of New Orleans, La.; an 1836 sales record has an added note that the slave Elsey was hired by the sheriff of Franklin County while she was suing for her freedom [physical description included]), and section 176 (1810–1826; Amelia County; includes some occupations). An 1821 agreement records a trade of two slave girls for one adult male slave (section 194).

Wills with attached inventories and records of the distribution of slaves by lots constitute a substantial portion of the collection. Most of these documents also record the appraised value of the slaves distributed by lot. John White Nash kept copies of many of his clients' wills. These can be found in section 1 (an 1816 inventory for about thirty slaves), section 2 (1855 correspondence with Joseph Virginius Hobson of Powhatan, and 1839 correspondence with David May of Missouri), section 13 (1816 inventory of slaves of Ludwell Brackett of Amelia County), section 73 (1812 inventory of approximately one hundred slaves belonging to the estate of Francis Muir of Amelia and Powhatan counties; the will designates some of the blacksmiths, carpenters, millers, and wagoners by name), section 115 (1835–1836; estate of William Hickman of Powhatan County; includes some family relationships), section 140 (1825–1828 material concerning the slaves freed by the will of George Radford of Powhatan County; an agreement with the former slaves is included), and section 193 (wills, 1800–1850; Archard Walthal's includes notes on slave family relationships; William Branch Giles's includes careful notations of family groups and some occupations; James Hansbrough's estate; and will of Ann Murray specifying the three generations of the slaves for her daughter).

Notes concerning supplies of clothing for slaves can be found in section 2 (1825 correspondence with Samuel Hatcher includes an itemized list of costs for keeping slaves for hire) and in section 178 (1851 affidavit concerning the hire of a slave boy James for $5, summer clothes, winter clothes, hat, and blanket). Many of the hiring papers record specific clothing to be provided as well as the conditions of work (see section 2, 1832 correspondence with William Howard concerning the hire of Rosa after the birth of her child and providing for the infant; 1822 correspondence with Joseph Hobson). Additional notes on hiring are in section 48 (1849 affidavit of John White Nash concerning settlement of an account for hewing and sawing of wood done by Jupiter and Madison) and section 164 (1828–1833 accounts for sales and hire of slaves from the estate of William Branch Giles).

Information and opinions concerning the colonization of Liberia can be located in section 2 (1832 correspondence with William Segar Archer, mostly about congressional proceedings and debates about secession; and an 1828 letter from John Tyler [then senator from Virginia] stating that he cannot support the use of federal funds for colonization—it being the responsibility of the individual states). In section 47 is an 1836 speech given by John White Nash (while in the state Senate) concerning his opinions on slavery.

Correspondence of William Howard, in Missouri in 1849, concerns the general devaluation of slave property and an occurrence of cholera in a slave trader's stock (section 2). Section 3 consists of an 1804–1827 account book that contains the fee records for defense of two slaves accused of poisoning their master (page 86A). In section 178, an 1822 affidavit of Charles Womack of Cumberland County concerns the capture of Dick as a fugitive seven miles from Powhatan County.

Neblett family papers, 1819–1891. 673 items. Mss1N2795a.
Primarily the papers of Dr. Sterling Neblett of Lunenburg County, Va., and Bolivar County, Miss., his wife, and his sons and daughters. Charles J. Meriwether writes two letters in 1860 from Westwood plantation near Richmond concerning the sale of family servants to Neblett (section 1), while Meriwether's lists of the slaves, with annotations concerning their general health and physical condition and proposed sale prices, appear in section 7. Another undated list of slaves belonging to Colin, James, and Robert Neblett may be found in section 13.

Nelson, Daniel Thurber (b. 1839), papers, 1862–1910. 5 items. Mss2N3322b. Photocopies.
This collection includes a diary, 17 March - 2 August 1862, kept by Daniel Thurber Nelson (of Boston, Mass.) while training at Harvard Medical School, as a medical cadet at Mason General Hospital in Boston, and while serving on a hospital ship between Boston and Virginia and following the U.S. Army of the Potomac during the Peninsula Campaign. The diary includes references to the lives and conditions of slaves. Also included in the collection are descriptions written March-June 1865 by Nelson while serving as an assistant surgeon with the U.S. Army of the James during the siege of Petersburg and during the occupation of Richmond. These accounts include musings on the future of freed slaves.

Nelson, George William, papers, 1850–1900. 14 items. Mss2N331b. Photocopies.
The collection contains an 1860 letter from Marcus, a slave at Gloucester Court House belonging George William Nelson of Middlesex County, inquiring what hiring arrangements have been made for him for the year. Letters from William Field and William Fleet of King and Queen County concern hiring Marcus as a mechanic. An 1854 letter from George Nelson at the University of Virginia comments on John Brown's raid at Harpers Ferry.

Nelson, William T., papers, 1857–1864 (bulk 1862). 36 items. Mss1N3381a. William T. Nelson (b. 1832?) served in Company D of the 57th North Carolina Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. His letters contain details of daily life in the Confederate army but also concern care for Nelson’s farm and slaves back home. One letter, 1862 October 15, mentions the price of slaves in Richmond. Several letters of November 1862 discuss slave discipline and inoculating servants against smallpox.

Nelson County, superintendent of schools, records, 1872–1880. 967 items. Mss3N3386a.
The collection contains letters written to Patrick Henry Cabell and other materials compiled by Cabell while Nelson County superintendent of schools. Materials include census records, 1872, of whites and blacks aged five to twenty-one years in the county (section 3) and reports, 1876–1877, of Caroline Anthony Cabell concerning a black school at Union Hill (section 4).

New family papers, 1792–1840. 1,026 items. Mss1N4205a.
Collection includes business papers and correspondence of the New and related families of Middlesex and Gloucester counties. Section 1 includes materials concerning the settlement of the estate of David Ball, which includes the purchase of slaves. Section 2 contains a bond and deeds concerning the hiring out and purchase of slaves. Section 3 contains materials relating to the estate of Anthony New (d. 1819) of Middlesex County, kept by Emanuel Jones Thruston (1796–1843) of Gloucester Court House. Included in these materials are documents concerning the medical care of slaves, the hiring out of slaves, and clothing and other care for slaves. Also included are materials concerning the division of estate property, particularly slaves. Accounts concerning the medical care of slaves, an agreement concerning the hiring out of Nelly and her children, and a list of slaves belonging to Anthony New are located in section 4. Section 5 contains a letter from Leonard Henley ([1778–1831] of Williamsburg) to Emanuel Jones Thruston concerning sale of the slave Sye. Section 7 contains a list of slaves to be hired out from the estate of Thomas Robins (1746–1808) of Gloucester County, and an agreement and affidavit of William and Elizabeth Bentley concerning the sale of slaves.

New Salem Baptist Church, Madisonville, record book, 1830–1856. [109] pp. Mss4N4207a1.
General record book of church meetings, finances, and membership kept for this Charlotte County church. Includes listings of male and female members, including free African American and enslaved members.

Newton, Thomas (1742–1807), letter, 1771. 2 pp. Mss2N4882a1.
Letter, 20 December 1771, written from Norfolk to Robert Bolling of Petersburg, in part concerning the possible purchase of an African American baker.

Nicholson family papers, 1711–1877. 26 items. Mss1N5287a.
The papers of this Norfolk family include documents from both the eighteenth and the nineteenth centuries. In section 1 is a 1763 deed from George Coates to Dr. Charles Mayle conveying the slave boy Stephen for 20 (section 1). Section 2 includes an 1818 deed of trust of Thomas Nicholson to John Hodges for the benefit of John Leslie for the fifteen-year-old slave girl Matilday. In section 7 are a number of lists of slave births from 1759 to 1852. They record about eighty-five names and years of births; mothers' names are rarely mentioned. The oldest list of the four records the births of Matt Matthias's slaves.

Noel, Robert S., receipt, 1848. 1 p. Mss2G2239a1.
Receipt, February 1848, issued to L. C. Gatewood for the sale of a slave, Randale.

Nolting, Emil Otto (1824–1893), receipts, 1852–1863. 2 items. Mss2N7255b.
Two receipts, issued in Richmond from Edward McConnell and Henry Moncure (by Adolph Dill Williams) for the purchase of slaves.

Norris family papers, 1868–1887. 12 items. Mss2N7997b.
Papers of a Culpeper County family. Include a piece of stationery from a Culpeper jeweler, H. C. Burrows, ca. 1880s, on which are written several incomplete verses of a song providing a white perspective of African Americans during Reconstruction.

North family papers, 1830–1936. 372 items. Mss1N8117a.
The correspondence of Emily Jane (Klein) North of Culpeper County (section 7) includes a letter written from Charleston, S.C., in 1863 by a slave, Ben Drayton, who wishes to return to Norfolk to rejoin his mistress's family and who reports, "I have been a prisoner with the Yankees and made my escape."

Nottoway County, records, 1790–1817. 15 items. Mss4N8493b.
This collection contains an assortment of bonds and oaths, among which are coroner's reports concerning the deaths of two slaves. An 1802 inquisition finds the death of Charles, property of Major William Cabaniss, as suicidal hanging by a grapevine. Fanny, property of William Worsham, died in 1810 of an unknown cause.

Nottoway County, Court, papers, 1790–1817. 15 items. Mss4N8493b.
Include inquisitions, 1802–1810, concerning the death of Charles, a slave of William Cabaniss, and the death of Fanny, a slave of William Worsham. Also includes a writ, dated 17 November 1808, issued by Francis Fitzgerald, clerk of court, to the sheriff of Nottoway County to seize property of Jordan Jackson to satisfy a judgment in favor of Pleasant Akin. The verso bears an affidavit of William Perry concerning the sale of Rachell, a slave, to satisfy the judgment.

Nowlin, David (d. 1819), will, 1819. 1 p. Mss2N8675a1.
Will, dated 30 March 1819 and probated in Buckingham County concerning the disposition of land and thirty-six named slaves to the heirs of David Nowlin.

Nowlin, Matthew Bates (1792–1856), papers, 1796–1886 (bulk 1837–1856). 322 items. Mss1N8675a.
Chiefly letters written to Matthew Bates Nowlin of Brookneal, Campbell County, by his brother, Hopkins Nowlin (1795?–1857) of Franklin County, while the latter was traveling in South Carolina, Georgia, and Alabama buying and selling slaves. The letters (section 1) discuss travel arrangements, sales made, and methods of payment. Also included are receipts and accounts related to the buying, selling, and provisioning of slaves, as well as purchases at a general store owned by Matthew Bates Nowlin (section 2). Legal papers (section 3) include scattered deeds and bonds, and estate papers for Patterson Jennings (d. 1854?) and Matthew Bates Nowlin. Transcriptions of letters by two independent researchers are filed with the collection.

O'Connor, Arthur Emmet, letters, 1861 October 4–1862 February 24. 4 items. Mss2Oc55b.
This collection consists of letters written by Arthur Emmett O'Connor while he served with the 99th New York Infantry Regiment (also known as the Naval Brigade and the Virginia Coast Guard) as a steward in the United States General Hospital at Camp Hamilton near Fort Monroe. Among numerous other subjects he includes a lengthy description of a wedding between former African American slaves in early 1862.

Omohundro, Silas (1807–1864), receipt, 1856. 1 p. Mss2OM653a1. Photocopy. Printed form with handwritten completions.
Receipt, 28 February 1856, Richmond, to R. J. Young for purchase of a male slave, Meredith, for $1,175.

Osburn, Franklin (b. 1821?), papers, 1849–1875. 17 items. Mss1Os15a. Microfilm reel C127.
Primarily records covering the operations of a general store and farm at Kabletown, Jefferson County (now W. Va.). Included are daybooks and account books containing records for hogs killed, crops sown, payments to laborers (including freedmen), and the rental of property.

Otey family papers, 1848–1961. 240 items. Mss1Ot28a.
Include commonplace books, correspondence, and genealogical notes of three generations of the Otey family of Columbus, Tenn., and Washington, D.C. Section 3 contains a partial typescript of a letter, dated 9 September 1865, from Mary Buckner Thruston (Magill) Randolph of Eastern View, Fauquier County, Va., to Eliza Ripley (Otey) Compton of Washington, D.C., discussing her return to her home after the Civil War where her freed slaves have taken over her property.

Overby, Ethel Thompson (1892–1997), autobiographical notes. [3], 138 pp. Mss5:1Ov25:1.
Concern the life and career of Mrs. Ethel Thompson Overby, the first African American woman principal in the Richmond public schools.

Owen family papers, 1837–ca. 1935. 213 items. Mss1Ow26a.
Chiefly consist of records kept by Maria B. Owen (1808?–1879) as executor of her husband, Robertson's, estate, and by her son, Rufus H. Owen (1830–1892), as manager of a tobacco plantation in Halifax County. Section one contains a letter, 1859, from Philip Howerton (1793–1879) giving instructions for the hiring of an overseer for his plantation and slaves. Section two includes detailed accounts, 1851–1857, of Rufus H. Owen's management of his mother's plantation that list medical and other expenses incurred to provide for her slaves, as well as records of income from hiring out slaves.

Updated June 4, 2009