Wells, Mann, and Ledbetter Family Papers, PC.189
Abstract
Newman Wells arrived in Rutherford County in the early years of the 19th century after migrating possibly from Rowan County and earlier from Chester County, South Carolina. His first marriage to Rebecca Edwards produced at least nine children. The family members who remained in North Carolina settled mainly, though not exclusively, in Haywood, Rutherford, and Buncombe Counties. Papers consist of correspondence (1848-1866), receipts, certifications, petitions, promissory notes, bills of sale (1795-1863), advertisements for medical treatments; two items concerning Vilet [Violet], a slave woman; and Civil War era documents including a soldier's discharge from the 25th Regiment, N.C. Troops (1862), an agriculture bond between Coleman Ledbetter and the CSA (1864), an oath of allegiance to the U.S. Constitution (1865).
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Wells, Mann, and Ledbetter Family Papers
- Call Number
- PC.189
- Creator
- Wells family
- Date
- 1795-1876
- Extent
- 1.00 boxes
- Language
- English
- Repository
- State Archives of North Carolina
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.189, Wells, Mann, and Ledbetter Family Papers, State Archives of North Carolina, Raleigh, NC, USA.
Collection Overview
This collection contains notes, receipts, correspondence, and from the Wells, Mann,
and Ledbetter families of Rutherford, Haywood, and Buncombe counties. Notes and receipts
ranging from 1808-1863 are mainly related to Wells and Ledbetter family members with
a few containing the Harmon and Mann name. A few receipts refer to the firm of Harmon
and Wells (1819-1820), including a retail license to Anthony Harmon (1816). Correspondence
ranging from 1795-1866 is a mix of letters from both families and other individuals
with an unknown relationship. Of particular interest, is a battlefield letter written
in 1861 from Camp Davis in New Hanover County by Joseph F. Long. He is most likely
writing to his sister Nancy Long Ledbetter (whose mother was a daughter of Newman
Wells). Other wartime records include a soldier's discharge from the 25th Regiment,
Company C, N.C. Troops (to Coleman Ledbetter, 1861), an agriculture bond between Coleman
Ledbetter and the Confederate States of America (1864), and an Oath of Allegiance
to the United States Constitution (Andrew Wells, 1865). Two slave notes both related
to a woman named Vilet are of notable interest. The first contains separate messages
on the front and back. The front is a request for her services from a J.E. Perkins,
and the back is granting permission for her pass through the cove back to her mistress.
The second note is a receipt for her lost time. Miscellaneous papers include a list
of school rules and a doctor's prescription, letter and advertisement for cancer treatments.
Correspondents include Wells family members (brothers) in Florida, Georgia, and Texas,
J. Chandler, R.W. January, Thomas N. and E.L. Long, Rebecca Long, W.L. Jones, H. Hill,
Joseph F. Long, Wade Hill, and A.J. Scoggin.
The first accession of these papers in 1945 was described as follows below. Note that
with the last accession of papers, received in 2012, processing archivists merged
both accessions.
"Papers of Newnan or Newman Wells of Rutherford and Haywood counties (1810-1833) and
Andrew Wells of Haywood Co. (1831-1879), including letters to Andrew from brothers
in Florida (n.d.), Georgia (1871), and Texas (1876). A doctor's prescription and letter
(1859-1860) and advertisment for traveling doctor (n.d.) concern caner treatments.
Other papers refer to the firm of Harmon and Wells (1819-1820); to Anthony Harmon,
including retail license (1816) and reference (1833) to his Buncombe Co. estate; and
to Coleman Ledbetter of McDowell, Haywood, and Buncombe counties (1845-1872), notably
a teaching certifcate (1849) and family letters."
Arrangement Note
According to family member then chronologically therein.
Biographical/Historical note
Contents of the Collection
1. Newman Wells,1795-1838
2. Andrew Wells,1827-1876
Scope and Content:
Correspondence, directions for treatment of cancer, tax receipt, tax assessment of agricultural products, miscellaneous receipts, promissory notes, and Oath of Allegiance.
Correspondence includes letters from brothers in Florida, Georgia, and Texas.
3. Coleman Ledbetter,1841-1872
Scope and Content:
Promissory note, judgment, examination to teach school, slave receipts, correspondence, tax assessment of Agricultural products, Soldier's Discharge, and Confederate States of America Agriculture Bond.
4. Joseph Wells,1817-1846
5. John F. Wells,1873
6. Anthony Harmon,1811-1823
7. David Mann,1828-1854
8. Miscellaneous,1849-1864
Scope and Content:
Contents contains advertisments for medicines, school rules, newspaper clipping, and various papers belonging to individuals with an unknown relationship to the primary family.
Subject Headings
Acquisitions Information
First accession was a gift of Mrs. Leslie B. Clark, Asheville, N.C. 1945; addition was a gift of Sue Aceves, Whispering Pines, N.C., 2012.