Weathers Family Papers, PC.1980

Abstract

The Weathers family was prominent in Rutherford County from the early 19th century, then later in Cleveland County when it was formed in 1841 from Rutherford. The Weathers farmed, and William M. (1796-1867) had a license to sell spiritous liquors. A grandson, Albert Pinkney (1860-1933), was a builder, merchant, and mayor of Shelby, ca. 1925. Small collection consists of a 19th century business/farm waste book (1884-1886 and before); items relating to three generations of Weathers including an 1849 receipt for whiskey, a young girl's (Pearl Weathers) autograph book (1896-1903); and items relating to Albert Pinkney Weathers (1860-1933), and his service as business leader, mayor of Shelby, and his funeral, March 1933; and miscellaneous material. Attached to this finding aid is a list of names of customers of the Weathers farm and retail business. This is a sampling of names found in this one extant account book.

Descriptive Summary

Title: Weathers Family Papers
Call Number: PC.1980
Creator: Weathers family
Date: 1849-1933
Extent: 2.00 containers, 1.00 items
Language: English
Repository: State Archives of North Carolina

Series Quick Links

Waste Book, Family Farm and Store,ca. 1883-1886; ca. 1855
Family Papers and Miscellaneous Materials,1868-1933, and undated

Restrictions on Access & Use

Access Restrictions

Available for research

Use Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of these materials, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law (Title 17 US Code). Individual researchers are responsible for using these materials in conformance with copyright law as well as any donor restrictions accompanying the materials.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], PC.1980, Weathers Family Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, N.C., U.S.A..

Collection Overview

Consists of a business/farm waste book, probably belonging to Albert G. Weathers, and possibly earlier to his father, William M. Weathers; an 1849 receipt for whiskey; and additional material including a young girl's (Pearl Weathers) autograph book (1896-1903); items concerning Albert Pinkney Weathers (1860-1933), a photograph, a news article describing Shelby, and its progress under his leadership mayor, ca. 30 May 1925; a typed manuscript funeral tribute; a news article, "A Shelby Builder Passes," dating from Weather's death in 1933; and miscellaneous photocopied and printed material. The subseries are as follows: Waste Book, Family Farm and Store, ca. 1885 or before; Farm Memoranda and Calendar, 1885; Autograph Book of Pearl Weathers, 1896-1933; Photograph of A. P. Weathers, ca. 1915; Feature Article on Town of Shelby and Administration of Mayor Weathers, ca. 1925; Funeral Message and a Tribute, A.P. Weathers, March 1933; Photocopied Material: Willis and William M. Weathers, 1828, 1833; School books, Hymnal and Autographs, Octavia Nolan and A.P. Weathers, 1868-1879.

Note: The paper finding aid in the State Archives Search Room binders includes a partial list of names of customers entered into the Weathers waste book for business and farm. Each name entered is found in the book's alphabetized index at the front of the volume. Some names found elsewhere in the book includes the page number on which the name was entered listed. The volume is the only remaining account book and its information is limited.

Arrangement Note

With the exception of photocopied material and volumes, subseries are arranged chronologically.

Biographical/Historical note

William M. Weathers (1796-1867) was a son of a Revolutionary War soldier, Willis Weathers (ca. 1758-1840), a native of Virginia. Willis settled in North Carolina after the war, first in Mecklenburg County, later Rutherford County in an area that eventually became Cleveland County. The Weathers family lived in the Zion/Polkville communites located a few miles northwest of present-day Shelby. They have been credited in several family accounts with giving land for the early 19th century Zion Baptist Church (or selling for a minimal price), located adjacent to their home site.William M. Weathers, known widely as "Squire Billy," married Celia Padgett (1801-1896), circa 1818, and they became the parents of several children, including Albert G. Weathers (1822-1902), a Civil War soldier; Jenkins Devaney Weathers (1819-1909); Rufus T. Weathers (b. ca. 1830); and Roxanna Weathers (ca. 1834-1917), who married Hezikiah Dedmon. William Weathers was a farmer, and also obtained a license in 1827, if not before, to sell "spiritous liquors by the small measure." After Cleveland County was formed in 1841 from Rutherford and Lincoln, the first court was ordered to convene at the home of William Weathers until a courthouse could be built. The children of Albert G. Weathers (1822-1902) and his wife, Mary Ann London (1820-1897), included Albert Pinkney Weathers (1860-1933). Albert P. (A.P.) married Amelia Octavia Nolan, circa 1883. Their children were James Flay Weathers (1884-1942); Lee Beam Weathers (1886-1958); and Pearl Weathers Smith (1888-1968). In the North Carolina Yearbook and Business Directory of 1907, Weathers [A.P.] and Hord were listed as managers of the Farmers' Hardware Company.Lee B. Weathers eventually became the editor and publisher of the , founded in 1894 by a future North Carolina governor, Clyde R. Hoey. (Later the newspaper was named , then ). Lee was listed on the 1910 census as a city newspaper editor, and Pearl listed as a music teacher. Their father, A.P. Weathers, was shown as being in the hardware business as a retail merchant. Also in the building business, he served as mayor of Shelby during the 1920s, a few years prior to his death in 1933.

Contents of the Collection

1. Waste Book, Family Farm and Store,ca. 1883-1886; ca. 1855

Scope and Content:

This is the only surviving book of accounts of the Weathers family. It is hand-numbered, pages 1-165, with an alphabetized index in the front. It is a record of purchases and credits for a range of farm and distilled products, such as corn, fodder, turkeys, gallons of whiskey, brandy, and merchandize such as cloth, shoes, etc. There are also some records of credit for days of work and smith work. It appears to have been used wholly as a waste book, defined generally as a daily diary documenting transactions and intended to be discarded once it was recopied into a day book or a more formal ledger. However, the dates in this book are not recorded in a chronological manner, much less on a diurnal basis; and are sometimes difficult to read. Throughout the book there are notations such as "carried to page 216 [ etc.]" There are various other notations stating "carried to the knew [sic] book." A close inspection of this book suggests that it belonged to and was maintained by more than one person, probably Albert G. Weathers (1822-1902), and possibly earlier to his father William M. ("Billy") Weathers (1796-1867). The primary date range, 1884-1886. However, earlier dates appear, such as 1836 [?]; 1855 [?]

2. Family Papers and Miscellaneous Materials,1868-1933, and undated

Receipt: gallon of whiskey from Mr. Wm. Weathers,21 July 1849

Scope and Content:

This receipt was found within the waste book and signed by George T. Heard. It says that Mr. Wm. Weathers "let Ham Mahue halve one gallon whiskey and i will tri to settle iwth your for it. Yours, July 21, 1849." The census of 1850 shows George T. Heard, a clock maker, living next door to (apparently a family member), Hamilton Mayhugh (spelling in cenus), a farmer .

Farm Memoranda and Calendar,1885

Scope and Content:

Includes a few notations regarding work done by individuals outside the Weathers family, including William Ross and Bill Ross. Seems to denote the harvesting of fodder, usually Indian corn in 19th century North Carolina. Entries were made by probably A.G. or A.P. Weathers in a pocket memoranda calendar, courtesy of Mitchell and Lewis, manufacturers of farm and freight wagons.

Autograph Book of Pearl Weathers,1896-1903

Scope and Content:

This autobraph book holds entries (words of wisdom, personal thoughts, rhymes, etc.) made when Pearl was around the ages of eight to fifteen. Those represented in the book include, Pearl's brother, Lee Weathers; two teachers, Alda Motz and Allie Nooe, Frank H. Curtiss; Madge B. Bridges, Jessie Eskridge, and others.

Photograph of Albert Pinkney (A.P.) Weathers,ca. 1915

Feature Article on Shelby and Progress under Mayor Weathers,ca. 30 May 1925

Scope and Content:

This three-column article was probably published in the Shelby . The original newsprint was in poor condition, and missing introductory paragraphs and possibly closing paragraphs. It has been photocopied for preservation purposes. The article details A.P. Weathers's administration and praises accomplishments under his tenure.

Funeral Message and a Tribute, A.P. Weathers,ca. 23 March 1933

Scope and Content:

A. P. Weathers passed away 22 March 1933. The funeral was held at the Shelby First Baptist Church, and this message was delivered by the pastor. The typed message is partially torn at the top, and possibly included the name of the pastor. The tribute was probably printed in the Shelby , and written by one with the initials R.D. The tribute included praise for Weathers's building and hardware business and for putting down the town's first streets, among other achievements, and for serving on the city council and as mayor.

Photocopied Material: Biographical information and Revolutionary War claim, etc., Willis and William M. Weathers, 1827, 1832 (original documents)

Scope and Content:

The Revolutionary claim for Willis Weathers (d.1840), state of North Carolina, declares that he was a private. A note included probably by a family member state that he was the first Weathers settler in this section of North Carolina, coming originally from Dinwiddie County, Virginia, where family members were Episcopalians. A copy of the N.C. Comptroller's Office, January 1827, declares that William [M.] Weathers, has obtained permission from the Court of Pleas and Quarter Sessions of Rutherford County to retail spiritous liquors by the small measure at one place only within the county, and has paid the sum of four dollars for such [license].

School books and hymnal belonging to A.P. and Octavia Nolan Weathers and family,ca. 1868-1879

Scope and Content:

These small volumes include autographs of the owners, and some additional writing in some instances. Books include Miss Octavia Nolin's books Blue Black Speller (ca. 1868); (1870), ; A. P. Weathers's books, , 1874; , 1879.

Subject Headings

Weathers, Albert Pinkney

Weathers, Lee Beam, 1886-1958

Weathers, Pearl B.

Weathers, William M.

Weathers family

Agriculture--North Carolina

Barter--North Carolina--History--19th century.

Farmers--North Carolina--Cleveland County.

Mayors--North Carolina--Shelby

Merchants--North Carolina--History--19th century.

Whiskey--North Carolina--History--19th century.

Autographs

Girls

Cleveland County (N.C.)

Shelby (N.C.)

Acquisitions Information

Transfer received from the N.C. Museum of History, 14 August 2008.

Processing Information

Arranged and described by Fran Tracy-Walls, 2011, who edited and updated the finding aid September 2019, for publication in Discover Online Catalog (DOC).