Personal Papers

Scope and content:

Series 1: Personal Papers, 1813-1938, is generally comprised of tax receipts, financial documents, agreements, promissory notes, deeds, indentures, insurance policies, wills, and other miscellaneous papers documenting Richard Stephens primarily, and also other immediate Stephens family members.

Of particular interest are the papers documenting the buying, selling, and hiring of enslaved persons between the Stephens family and other community members. Many of the enslaved persons were purchased or inherited from the estate of John Stephens, Richard Stephens' father. The enslaved persons are only referred to by name in three documents and are otherwise described as "negro" or "slave." They are identified as Ellen, Hester, Hannah, and five children named Henry, Isaiah, Margaret, John, and George.

A folder of papers documenting Richard Stephens' medical exemption from military service during the Civil War is also included. The papers include surgeons' and doctors' description of Stephens' maladies, certifying that he is incapable of military duty. Additional documents mention his substitute, Benjamin Barr. Stephens' amnesty oath, dated June 20, 1865, is also included and is foldered chronologically with his papers.

A sizable portion of this series documents Richard Stephens acting in the capacity of estate administrator, particularly for Reuben Holt Humbert, and guardian to his younger siblings, Phebe Francis "Fannie" Stephens and William L. Stephens. These documents are primarily receipts with additional materials documenting the estates of the aforementioned persons, particularly Reuben Humbert. Humbert's personal property inventories are included as is a Confederate States of America registered bond.

The wills of Richard Stephens and his daughter Sallie Stephens are included. Sallie's will is notable in that she directs her executor to move "all of my dead relatives that are buried in the family lot [Dovel-Stephens Family Cemetery]" to her "lot in Woodbine Cemetery, and there placed along with sister Laura and I, at the expense of my estate." Sallie died in 1938 and all of her deceased family members were removed to Woodbine Cemetery in 1940.

Materials related to Myrtie Stephens Yount's career as a teacher include two teaching contracts, printed examinations, and handwritten school material. Though many of these are not identified, it is presumed that they were used by Myrtie in her teaching.

Three military furloughs dated 1862 and 1863 and signed by Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Rodman Drake DeKay (1836-1886) are also included, but have no apparent connection to the Stephens family.

Oversize materials include an 1813 land indenture between Valentine and Nancy Wolf and Jacob Wolf. Valentine Wolf was Lewis Stephens' father-in-law. Lewis Stephens was Richard Stephens' grandfather and is also mentioned in several documents pertaining to Stephens' father, John Stephens. Also housed in oversize is a January 8, 1891 broadside advertising the public sale of Richard Stephens' personal property. The broadside describes 26 head of stock cattle, 100 tons of prime timothy hay, 300 bushels of wheat, and various farm implements.

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