Catalog of the Montgomery Family Papers Taylor County, GA Montgomery Family Papers 1785-1903 The collection consists of the correspondence and business and legal papers of the Montgomery family and their relatives, the Wrights and the Shines. There are a number of Confederate soldiers' letters in the correspondence. Much of the legal and business material is concerned with the estates of deceased members of the family and the guardianship of minor children. A number of letters and other papers are concerned with politics, the Masonic organization, church and educational affairs. There are also many letters and leaflets concerned with patent medicines and health appliances. Inventory Series I. Early Family Papers, 1785-1875 Series II. Estate and Guardianship Papers, 1856-1876 Series III. Business and Legal Papers, 1854-1903 Series IV. Correspondence, 1861-1903 Series V. Miscellaneous Printed Items Series I. Early Family Papers, 1785-1875 Folder 1 Deeds, wills, tax receipts, estate papers, bills, and correspondence of John Montgomery (d. 1785?); William Montgomery, his son (d. 1818?); William Montgomery, his son; Robert Montgomery, son of the elder William, who lived in Indiana Territory; James Montgomery, another son of the elder William; and Thomas and Sally Bozeman, probably Sarah Montgomery, daughter of the elder William. Also similar papers of Elizabeth C. Wright (Mother-in-law of Thomas Shine) and her son William Wright and some unidentified papers, probably of former owners of Shine or Montgomery land. Folder 2 Personal, business and estate papers of Samuel Montgomery, 1821-1875. Similar in content to previous folder. Samuel was another son of the elder William. Vincent Montgomery, Samuel's son, was administrator of his father's estate. Series II. Estate and Guardianship Papers, 1856-1876. Folder 1 Account Book, "Estate of Thomas shine, Martha E. Shine, Administrator," 1856-1857. Folder 2 Accounts and receipts of Martha E. Shine, widow of Thomas Shine and guardian of her minor children, 1856-1859; and estate papers of Martha E. Shine. David Beeland (probably the husband of Mrs. Shine's daughter, Eleanor) were administrators of Mrs. Shine's estate and guardians of her minor, orphaned children. Folder 3 Account Book "Estate of Martha E. Shine" with Index, giving expense of each minor child, a list of slaves, or "perishable" property sold by the administrators; and inventory and appraisement of property retained; a list of provisions set aside for use of the children, a list of slaves "hired privately" with amount of hire of each, 1862-1867. Also includes other accounts for the year 1874. At back of book is a pencilled copy of a complaint by T. J. Marshall against A. W. Hicks and Vincent Montgomery asking the court to restrain the latter two from removing their crop from land belonging to Marshall, dated Sept. 21, 1875. Folder 4 Papers concerned with Vincent Montgomery's guardianship of Mrs. Martha E. Shine's minor children, 1862-1867. Also estate and guardianship papers of David F. Shine (son of Thomas Shine) and his minor son David, 1859-1868. Also 2 printed instruments concerned with the estate of David Wright (1765-1827) father of Mrs. Martha E. Shine. Series III. Business Papers, 1854-1903. Folder 1 1854-1860. These and other papers of this series are concerned with business matters of Vincent Montgomery, such as notes, accounts, receipts, bills, agreements, business correspondence, lists of notes and other obligations. This folder contains a teacher's contract, dated June 23, 1855. Folder 2 1861-1865. This folder contains a parole, signed by V. Montgomery, 4th Lieut. Col. 8th Regt., Georgia militia, dated May 15, 1865, by order of Brevet Maj. Gen. Wilson, U. S. Army. One small account book included. Folder 3 1866-1869. Contains Masonic materials, correspondence about patent medicineand information from commission merchants. Folder 4 1870-1879. Vincent Montgomery was evidently in the mercantile business (with a Mr.H. H. Long) under the name Long and Montgomery. Three small account books included. Folder 5 1880-1889. Mr. Montgomery was apparently interested in the Farmer's Alliance. See letter of March 6, 1889. Folder 6 1890-1903-undated. Includes 2 small account books. Series IV. Correspondence Folder 1 (1861-1865) Letters and other papers are arranged chronologically. For convenience, however, each writer's letters are described under his name. Only Confederate soldiers' letters are described. Vincent Montgomery Letters. 4 letters. July 5-July 10, 1864. Near Chattahoochee River. They are on "a high hill half a mile west of the river." July 7. He wants his wife to have some peach or apple brandy made. July 10. No firing; looks like rain; no one of the militia were "taken prisoner," "the Cadets are attached to our Brigade." 1 letter. July 18, 1864. West Point, Ga. He is near the railroad bridge, "throwing up breastworks on the east side of the river." 9 letters. Sept. 5-Dec. 16, 1864. Letters exchanged between Vincent and his wife, Betty, while he was serving with the militia a Macon and at Camp Stephens near Griffin, Ga. He mentions the hardships of traveling on top of box cars and the monotony of soldiers' rations but most of the correspondence is concerned with instructions about picking peas, digging potatoes, gathering corn and sugar cane and making sugar and syrup. Thomas W. Shine Letters Thomas was with the 59th Regt. Co. C, Corbin Grays, Taylor County, Ga. Most of the letters are written to Vincent Montgomery and his wife (Thomas Shine's sister, Eleanor). He was at first with the Georgia State Troops, 3rd Regt. Under Capt. J. T. May. 2 letters. Nov. 15, 23, 1861. Savannah, Ga. Mentions three European vessels, one carrying rifles, landing in or near Savannah. Measles in camp. 4 letters. Dec. 11, 1861-Feb 3, 1862. Camp Iverson. Six vessels reported between Fort Pulaski and Fort Jackson. He expects a fight or to be moved. 2 letters. Feb. 28-Mar. 11, 1862. Camp "Battery Harrison." They built "about two miles of breast work...three batteries" and next will "mount cannons" preparing for the enemy. 1 letter. Aug. 24, 1862. Camp Brown. He says "the Conel is nearly all the time drunk and hardly ever noes his business." 4 letters. Oct. 7-Dec. 11, 1862. Near Richmond, Va. Complains of poor rations. He was appointed 4th "copril." He went to Culpepper and returned. He guarded a bridge "above Richmond." "I would even be glad to see a dog from home." 10 letters. Jan2-Mar. 15, 1863. Camp near Drewry's Bluff. "when it takes 7 men to buy won gingercake I think it is time for the War to quit." Jan. 2. All the officers in his regiment were under arrest for refusing to send men or go to Richmond to "guard the small pocks." The 10 cases of small pox in his regiment have been vaccinated. Jan. 22. A petition to go back to Georgia was "disapproved." 2 letters. Apr. 18, 23, 1863. Smithfield, Va. He has been ill with diarrhea. A doctor has been to see him every day. He can hear the cannon firing (Apr. 23) near Suffolk. The people are kind and give them food. 1 letter. May 7, 1863. Near Richmond, Va. Offers his land and $500 to John Newsom to take his place in the army. 1 letter. June 6, 1863. Camp near Culpepper Court House, Va. They have been moving about. William Montgomery to his brother, Sebron. 1 letter. Jan 23, 1863. Drewry's Bluff, Va. Tells of being too cold and sleepy to be "fritende at tall." "Stay at home as long as you cane, for there ise nothen fore A man to look to here bute Gode our Savier and they will take hime A way if there is any chanse but I gets A long very well ..." B. F. Ingram to Vincent Montgomery. 1 letter. Apr. 29, 1863. He received a letter meant for Thomas Shine and wrote explaining what had happened. Tom i s still quite sick. He tells of fraternizing between the pickets of both sides. Sebron Montgomery to Vincent, his brother. 1 note. Nov. 22, 1864. He gives designations of several companies and asks for his (Sebron's) "position as stated in the advertisement." J. W. Preston, husband of Mary Shine, to Vincent 2 letters. June 9, Nov. 7, 1864. Atlanta, Ga. He is 3 miles "up the Marietta road" from where had had bee. "Som of the boys sick yet but I think the will get well as Soon as we ar orderd home let it be soon or late." Nov. 7. He is afraid he cannot live through the winter unless he can to into a hospital. Norma _______? (The connection of this woman with the Montgomery family is not apparent.) to Lt. ________? Barringer. 2 letters. Aug. 1864. Near Rome, Ga. She describes her encounters with the Yankee invaders. A. P. Jones, Co. C. 8th regt. 3rd Brigade to his wife Mary Montgomery Jones. 2 letters. Aug. 25, 27, 1864. He was probably in the militia with Vincent. The letter of Aug. 27 contains a note to Sebron Montgomery. James T. Branan to Miss Eliza Montgomery (Eliza's mother was a Branan). 1 letter. Nov. 24, 1864. Macon, Ga. J. T. Ricks to Vincent Montgomery. 1 letter. Mar. 24, 1864. Fort Jackson, Ga. He had sold some butter for Mrs. Vincent. Comments on enlistment of Vincent and Sebron. Folder 2. 1867-1879 Many of the letters in this folder and the others are from Sebron to his brother Vincent, 60 in all, written between Feb. 7, 1868 and Nov. 22, 1890. These letters discuss business, crops, family affairs, health conditions, politics, and other matters. All the letters show the hard times after the Civil War. Vincent was in a mercantile business, Montgomery and Long, which apparently failed during these hard times. Dec. 18, 1873, Sebron writes: "Money matters seems to be very close Christmas approaching on many a long face hear of more failures in your section than from any other quarter hope not so bad as reported tough most afraid to enquire closely hoping something may speedily occur that will relieve the people." Mary F. Preston, the former Mary Shine, writes to her sister (May 10, 1867) that she is "spinning Mr. Preston a Suit of summer cloths. Folder 3. 1880-1889. Contains a letter from Clark Howell, editor of the Atlanta Constitution to Vincent Montgomery (Oct. 15, 1888) requesting aid in passing "the Marietta & North Georgia extension bill." Also a letter from Walter E. Steed answering Vincent's "inquiry as to the cost of this University (of Georgia) and its work" (June 20, 1888). Other correspondence with family and friends follows patter of previous folder. "List of Tax Defaulters for the years 1880, 1881, 1882." Folder 4. 1890-1903. Sebron, who apparently succeeded Vincent in the Georgia House of Representatives, writes (Nov. 22, 1890), saying, "we beat Gordon two votes but before the vote was announced two members changed from Norwood to Gordon and that elected him..."Letter from W. J. Northen (on stationery of the Georgia Immigration and Investment Bureau) dated June 29, 1900 to Vincent requesting him to take charge of subscriptions, in his county, for the relief of the starving peoples of India. Letter from Allen D. Candler, candidate for governor, to Vincent asking his support. Letter from J. M. Terrell (Jan. 22, 1902) requesting aid in his campaign for the governorship, enclosing a printed copy of his platform. Among other politicians represented are James M. Lowe and W. B. Butt. Included also are some political papers, handbills, tally sheets, and lists of voters; several speeches on religion and education; several recipes for medicinal preparations and a few undated or unidentified papers. Ms map of "Two ranges of lots running North and South off the 2nd and 13 dist added to Marion." Folder 5. The case between Vincent Montgomery and H. H. Horton which apparently came before Masonic (Reynolds) Lodge No. 255. Charges brought by Vincent in 1867. Series V. Miscellaneous printed items. Handbills, advertisements for patent medicines and appliances and other items found with the papers. Cataloged by: Emory University Accession No. 355 Microfilm No. 283 Unrestricted access; Information on literary rights available a repository Date microfilmed: 10-24-1961 Also on microfilm in Georgia Archives ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Beth Collins ====================================================================