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Nineteenth-century diaries and letterbooks collection, 1846-1883,
Amount:
.50 cubic ft.
Medium Included:
Organization/Arrangement:
Unarranged
Restrictions:
Terms Governing Use:
Because of the fragile condition of this collection, no photocopying will be allowed. Due to the fragile condition of Box 1, FF1 - George S. Seton Letterbook and Misellaneous Materials, 1849-1867, use under supervision of Archivist.
Biographical/Historical:
George S. Seton (1817-1885) was the son of Charles Seton, the mayor of Fernandina. George fought for the Confederate Army, and eventually moved to Maryland.
John M. W. Davidson (1801-1879) was born in Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. He moved to Quincy, Florida, to practice medicine. John helped establish Gadsden County's first Presbyterian Church and was an original "elder" of the First Presbyterian Church of Quincy.
William D. Moseley (1795-1863) was the first governor of Florida from 1845 to 1849. After leaving office, he moved to Palatka, Florida, where he maintained a labor farm until his death.
Sarah Theresa Bellamy (1828-1895) was the daughter of Eliza Ann Williams and her first husband, Abraham Bellamy. She married Caraway Smith in 1848, and is buried in Bellamy Cemetery in Jefferson County.
The diarist of the travel diary is not identified, though they are believed to be a Northern woman visiting family in Florida. No biographical information is currently known regarding D. S. Marr or Margaret Dyer Walker.
Summary:
This collection consists of eight diaries and letterbooks from the nineteenth century. This is an artificial collection for which the collector and provenance are unknown.
The first letterbook belonged to George S. Seton and includes letters written by Seton, as well as newspaper clippings and poetry from 1849 to 1867. A detailed travel diary, written by an unnamed woman, documents her travels by train to Florida from Boston from December 28, 1882, to January 13, 1883. There is little identifying information on the diarist. The third and fourth items are a letterbook and a diary belonging to John M. W. Davidson. The majority of the letters are written to Davidson's daughters, Sarah and Mary. His diary detailed daily activities, as well as his church involvement. The diary of William D. Mosely details his daily life and financial matters. He wrote often about his agricultural ventures, especially cotton farming. Sarah Theresa Bellamy's diary details numbered lectures on rhetoric. D. S. Marr's ministerial account book includes a list of sermons, as well as disbursements and financial records. Margaret Dyer Walker's diary details her daily life from February 23, 1866, to June 2, 1867.
Finding Aids:
Folder listing available.
Additional Physical Form:
Reproduction Note:
Location of Originals/Duplicates:
Associated Materials:
Other records relating to John M. W. Davidson can be found in Collection M81-24: Physician's journal, 1843. Other records relating to William D. Moseley can be found in Collections S679: Correspondence, 1845-1849 and S32: Territorial and State Governors letterbooks, 1836-1909. Other records relating to Charles Seton can be found in Collection N2017-28: Francis P. Fleming and Charles Seton Papers, 1823, 1891.
Language Notes:
Ownership/Custodial History:
This is an artificial collection for which the collector and provenance are unknown.
Publication Note:
General Note:
Previously State Library of Florida Manuscripts Collection MS101.
Electronic Records Access:
Subject Access Fields:
Moseley, William Dunn, 1795-1863 Davidson, John M.W., 1801-1879
Agriculture Florida Church. Travel Florida. Cotton trade Florida
Poetry. aat Letters. aat Diaries. aat Letter books. aat
Palatka (Fla.) Jefferson County (Fla.) Fernandina (Fla.) Gadsden County (Fla.) Quincy (Fla.) Virginia. Putnam County (Fla.) Tallahassee (Fla.)
for detailed listing.