Correspondence of John Thompson Brown, 1829/1835

Scope and content:

Correspondence from after his marriage to Mary E. Willcox of Petersburg (May 1830), and his move to that city, which he represented in the General Assembly in 1831. Also includes over one hundred toasts given at various occasions. The change which was to occur in the life and fortunes of John Thompson Brown in the year 1830 is forecast in the first letter of this box, a letter received by Mary E. Willcox of Petersburg circa December 1829, in which there is a discussion of "Mr. B." Three months later (March 18, 1830) in a letter to his father, John Thompson Brown announces his intention of leaving Clarksburg, and of his need for a horse and sulky so that he may arrive in Petersburg in a manner which should "avoid the appearance of poverty and destitution." The next letter in the collection (May 9, 1830), in draft, contains an account of his wedding, a wedding which was attended by no members of his immediate family. Subsequent letters tell of the generosity of the new father-in-law John V. Willcox in the gift of a town house "provided with servants," a draft of $1500, and the promise of as much more as he asks (July 22, 1830). Yet the position is not satisfactory and because John Thompson Brown feels that he is losing his independence, he returns to Clarksburg with the intention of resettling there and sending for his wife (May 2, 1831). During a four week visit to Harrison County, he finds his political position has declined (June 7, 1831), so he returns to Petersburg, and is invited to make the Independence Day address for the town (June 8, 1831). As a result of this address (and the good influence of his father-in-law) he is nominated to represent the town in the House of Delegates, and is elected without opposition (September 26, 1831). He successfully sponsors a bill in the Assembly for the Petersburg Railroad (28 December 1831), is appointed Judge of Elections for the Petersburg Office of the Bank of Virginia (December 29, 1831), and is sought as a sponsor of a new newspaper which is being established in Richmond (October 20, 1831). Of particular interest is a letter to his nephew outlining his philosophy of life and advising the young man on his future (October 3, 1831). A report of the slave insurrection in Southhampton is described in a letter of September 26, 1831. At the end of this box are collected more than a hundred drafts of toasts made by John Thompson Brown.

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Parent restrictions:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Parent terms of access:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

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