251 THL
Inventory Created by Archives Staff 9/2018
ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Collection is open to all researchers.
USE RESTRICTIONS: Restrictions may apply concerning the use, duplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a member of the archives staff for information concerning these restrictions. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright.
EXTENT: 0.21 linear feet
DATE: 1832-1907
SCOPE AND CONTENT: This collection contains the correspondence and personal papers of Isaac Fontaine Hite of Frederick County, Virginia written between 1832 and early 1880s. The correspondence between Hite and friends, family members and business acquaintances covers a range of topics including personal and family matters, his studies at the University of Virginia, antebellum politics and the Civil War, financial concerns and prospects for moving westward.
Of note are letters written to Hite by Emmanuel Jackson of Pennsylvania. Jackson was a free Black man who fathered five children with Hannah, an enslaved woman at Belle Grove. Over the course of his later life, Jackson was able to purchase and manumit four of his children and some grandchildren from the Hites. The letters from Jackson to Hite show Jackson’s efforts to purchase and free his son Daniel and Daniel’s family. Little is known about Jackson’s early life, his occupation, or how he was able to fund the manumission of his family members. Additionally, there is a later letter between Hite and a slave catcher named Joseph Kinsel which concerns another African American named Daniel. It is not clear if this Daniel is the son of Emmanuel.
The collection also includes receipts and banking documents and a letter to Ann Hite. There are also articles, newspaper clippings and miscellaneous notes. Some of the items in this collection belong to Louise Cooley, a granddaughter of Isaac.
Isaac F. Hite’s correspondence and business papers are arranged chronologically. The last folder in this collection contains miscellaneous items and papers of Louise Cooley.
BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL: Isaac Fontaine Hite was born May 7, 1807 in Middletown, Frederick County, Virginia, to Major Isaac Hite Jr. and his second wife, Ann Tunstall Maury. Major Hite (1758-1836 ) was a grandson of Joist Hite (d. 1761), who emigrated to the American colonies in about 1710 and later settled in the Shenandoah Valley after obtaining a land grant from Virginia’s Governor and Council in 1731.
Isaac Hite Jr. served in the Army during the Revolutionary War and was the builder of Belle Grove, a large stone house just south of Middletown. Upon marriage to his first wife, Hite gained several enslaved persons, and acquired many more during the course of his life at Belle Grove to work the plantation. He applied himself to agriculture and made numerous improvements to his estate, making the Belle Grove plantation a very successful operation. His descendants benefitted from this legacy and prospered, and they are prominent in the history and development of Frederick County and surrounding areas.
Isaac Fontaine Hite grew up at Belle Grove. In 1827 he went to the University of Virginia and later returned to Frederick County to take up farming. He and his brother Walker inherited property from their father. Isaac Hite Jr.’s will described the Rockville tract of land as standing at about 1700 acres. Isaac married Maria Louisa Davison (1805-1889) and they had two children, Anna Jacqueline Hite, who would later marry John William Wright, and Isaac Fontaine Hite, Jr. Anna and John’s daughter married W. S. Cooley, and had six children, including Louise. Isaac and Ann’s son enlisted in the Confederate Army at the age of 17 under Colonel William Morgan. He was killed during a military engagement at Beverley, West Virginia in January 1865. Isaac Fontaine Hite Sr. died in 1884 and is buried in the Hite Family Cemetery in Warren County, Virginia.
ARRANGEMENT: Chronological
RELATED MATERIAL: Belle Grove Collection, 890 THL; Hite Family Association Collection, 1465 THL, Hite-Bowman-Hall Family Papers, 168 WFCHS; John P. Hite Diary, 191 THL MMF.
BIBLIOGRAPHY: Cartmell, Thomas Kemp. Shenandoah Valley Pioneers and their Descendants: A History of Frederick County, Virginia from its Formation in 1738 to 1908. Berryville, VA; Chesapeake Book Co., 1963; National Trust for Historic Preservation, ed. Historic Preservation: Special Issue on Belle Grove 20, nos. 3-4. Washington, D.C.: National Trust for Historic Preservation, 1968; Cooper, M. Frances, Joist Hite and Some of His Descendants. Cullman, AL: The Gregath Company, 1983.
CITE AS: Isaac Fontaine Hite Papers, 251 THL. Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA.
ACQUISITION INFORMATION: Acquired as a gift.
BOX 1
Correspondence and business papers, 1830s, 10 leaves, manuscript (folder contains the following):
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To
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From
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Date
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Place of Origin
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Notes
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Isaac Hite
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John B. D. Smith
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Jan. 1832
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Richmond
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Mentions Slave Question and Formation of a New County
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Isaac Hite
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Sept 16,1835
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Baltimore
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Re: Flour & Salt
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Isaac Hite
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William H._____
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Oct. 29,1835
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Baltimore
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Flour Sales Accounting
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Isaac Hite
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Nov. 14, 1835
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Baltimore
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Accounting
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Isaac Hite
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Brother
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Dec. 14, 1835
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Charlottesville, VA
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Writes of his studies at UVA, school issues and his dislike of the medical students
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Isaac Hite
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May 2, 1836
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Baltimore
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Accounting of sale
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Isaac Hite
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Wm. A. Davison
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June 16, 1837
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Wheeling, VA (Postmark Winchester)
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Content is both business and personal. First of several postings from Davison.
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Isaac Hite
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______ Baldwin
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May 6, 1838
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Augusta, Georgia
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Personal letter describing Augusta and asking about family
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Isaac Hite
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George Wm. Ivory
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Oct. 15, _____
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Stevensburg, VA.(Stephens City)
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Writes of a horse “Galtram” being boarded at Isaac’s farm.
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Correspondence and business papers, 1840-1844, 11 leaves, manuscript, dated 1840-1844
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To
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From
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Date
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Place of Origin
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Notes
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Isaac Hite
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Mark Bird
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Feb 2, 1840
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Woodstock, VA
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Writes of statement in action between Hite and Thomas Brownfield
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Isaac Hite
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Rhodes & Dannes
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Aug. 11, 1840
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Winchester
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Accounting of Flour Sales
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Isaac Hite
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J. M. Daniel
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Jan. 5, 1842
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Columbia, SC (postmarked Middleburg, VA)
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Personal letter dealing with death of Isaac’s brother
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Isaac Hite
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P. Williams
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July 6, 1842
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Winchester
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Money owed to the sender by a Mr. Yates.
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Isaac Hite
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____________
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Sept. 26,1842
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Baltimore
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Re. Flour Sales Accounting
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Isaac Hite
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Oct. 20,1842
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Promissory Note $177.55
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Isaac Hite
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March 29, 1843
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Promissory Note $5.00 Payable to G.L.White from _______ Grove & Thomas Middleton.
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Isaac Hite
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April 21,1843
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Winchester
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Receipt for $6.43 for goods purchased by Isaac Hite from H.B. & M.H. Streit
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Isaac Hite
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A.S Rhodes
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June 17, 1844
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Cloverdale Hotel
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Re: Closing account of __ __ Davison
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Isaac Hite
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Sept. 5, 1844
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Promissory note $13.50 (on demand) Names unreadable
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Correspondence and business papers, 1845-1846, 5 leaves, manuscript, (folder contains the following):
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To
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From
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Date
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Place of Origin
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Notes
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Isaac Hite
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S.C. Foulk & Co.
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Sept. 11,1845
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Philadelphia, PA
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Receipt for purchase of 40yds. of floor oil cloth $20.00
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Isaac Hite
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Wm. R. Blakeslee
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July 15,1845
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Receipt for purchase of book “Josephine”
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Isaac Hite
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Robert S____ Thomas _____
And John M. Perry
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Sept. 16, 1845
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Promissory note for $8.93 payable to Robert J. & Lewis F. Glass
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“Dear Friend”
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Isaac Hite
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January 20, 1846
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Rockville
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Concerns Mr. Rorker
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Isaac Hite
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Manuel Jackson
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Dec. 6, 1846
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Birmingham, PA
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Bank draft of $650.00 for Daniel.
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Correspondence and business papers, 1847-1849, 9 leaves, manuscript (folder contains the following):
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To
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From
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Date
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Place of Origin
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Notes
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Philip Williams
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Estimated 1847
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Concerns dissolution of connection between Christ Church, Frederick Parish and St. Thomas
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Isaac Hite
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Samuel Williams
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Jan. 2, 1847
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Williams is requesting the estate of his father be settled as soon as possible.
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Ann Hite
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Bishop Meade
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Feb. 9, 1847
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Mountain View (postmarked Millwood)
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Personal letter dealing with local church issues. Instructs Ann to share letter with her son, Isaac.
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Isaac Hite
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March 28,1847
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Notice of stud service by Hite’s horse ‘Young Elegant’. Prices for services listed.
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Isaac Hite
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J. M. Danier
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June 30, 1847
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Jacksonville, Fla.
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Personal letter dealing with several subjects.
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Isaac Hite
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Manuel Jackson
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Oct. 16, 1847
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Birmingham
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Negotiations for payment to release Daniel’s family.
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Isaac Hite
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July1,1847-March 12,1848
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List of subscriptions for support of Re. Rooker & Rev. Wm. F. Bryant
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Isaac Hite
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July 16, 1848 – Feb. 11.1849
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Subscription list for support of Rev. Wm. F. Bryant. Donors listed.
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Isaac Hite
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July 17, 1849-July 28,1850
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Subscription list for support of Rev. Wm. Irish Donors listed.
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Isaac Hite
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Cedar Creek Council Note
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March 30 ____
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Handwritten note of selection of Isaac as delegate to state legislature.
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Correspondence and business papers, 1850, 6 leaves, manuscript, 1 leaf, printed (folder contains the following):
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To
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From
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Date
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Place of Origin
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Notes
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Isaac Hite
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185_
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Blank check from Bank of the Valley
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Isaac Hite
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R. Blyeers (sp)
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June 4, ____
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Turtle Lake, Texas
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Mentions Isaac’s son
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Isaac Hite
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James Madison Hite (half-brother)
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April 7, 1850
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Winchester, VA
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Discusses funds owed James’ niece, E____ Davison
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Isaac Hite
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A. M. Davison
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May 29, 1850
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Jefferson City, MO.
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Writer invites Isaac to move West. Mentions 100 wagons leaving for the Gold Rush in California.
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Joseph Kinsel
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Daniel Miller
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July 11, 1850
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Shippensburg, PA
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Letter concerns a possible runaway slave.
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Isaac Hite
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Joseph Kinsel
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July 15, 1850
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Clearspring, PA.
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Kinsel is slave catcher. Requesting expense money. And a $100 reward if capture and return of slave.
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Correspondence and business papers, 1851-1853, 7 leaves, manuscript (folder contains the following):
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To
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From
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Date
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Place of Origin
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Notes
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Isaac Hite
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Brother
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Undated
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Lists statement of Daniel Thompson’s land
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Isaac Hite
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A. M. Davison
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Set. 27, 1850
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Jefferson City, MO.
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Writer seeks to have Isaac sell Rockville and journey West.
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Isaac Hite
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John A. Smith
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Feb. 11,1851
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St. Martinsville
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Smith offers sympathy for loss of Isaac’s Mother.
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Isaac Hite
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_____Maury
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Nov. 16, 1852
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Bowling Green, VA.
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Four page personal letter
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Isaac Hite
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Undated
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Hite wishing to move West and sell farm
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Isaac Hite
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E. C. Maury
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Jul. 24,18[53]
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Berryville, VA
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Mentions friend Dr. Cyrus McCormick
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Isaac Hite
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A.M. Davison
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Aug. 6, 185[3]
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Missouri River, MO.
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Writer has returned from trip to Sioux City Urging joint business plans to Isaac.
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Correspondence and business papers, 1855-1858, 9 leaves, manuscript (folder contains the following):
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To
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From
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Date
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Place of Origin
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Notes
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Isaac Hite
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A. M. Davison
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Feb. 18, 1955
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Hazelwood, MO
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Personal and family business
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Isaac Hite
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A. M. Davison
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Mar. 5, 1855
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Hazelwood, MO.
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Long personal letter
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Isaac Hite
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April 20, 1855
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Cedar Grove
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Receipt for 40 bushels of wheat
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Isaac Hite
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A.M. Davison
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May18, 1855
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Cambridge, MO.
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Letter regarding long dry spell
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Isaac Hite
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August 4,1855
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Alexandria, VA
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Receipt for purchase of plaster
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Isaac Hite
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Baker & Bros.
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August 22, 1856
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Receipt
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Isaac Hite
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W. B. Miller
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Feb. 21, 1857
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Winchester, VA.
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Receipt
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Isaac Hite
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James T. Taylor
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June 15, 1858
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Palmyra Mansion, VA.
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Writes about Power of Attorney and seeks assistance
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Isaac Hite
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Sept. 16, 1855
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Baltimore, MD
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Receipt
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Correspondence and business papers, 1860-1884, 4 leaves, manuscript, 1 leaf, printed (folder contains the following):
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To
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From
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Date
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Place of Origin
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Notes
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Isaac Hite
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J. S. Davison
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Jan. 12, 1861
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Winchester, VA
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Promissory Note
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Isaac Hite
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Taylor & CO.
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May 8, 1861
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Winchester, VA.
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Receipt
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Isaac Hite
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Mark Bird
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August 3, 1861
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Woodstock, VA
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Letter about Battle of Bull Run
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Isaac Hite
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J. Taylor Clark
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Dec. 3, 1863
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Staunton, VA.
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Long personal letter about war issues.
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H.C. Dean
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Chicago, IL
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Saw Company
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Miscellaneous, 1889-1907, 10 leaves, manuscript, 2 leaves, printed, photocopy, plus ephemera, (folder contains the following):
History of Hite’s Chapel, 1889,1 leaf, manuscript, fragment
Empty envelope addressed to Arthur Cooley, March 27, 1905, 1 item
“Grandmother’s Story of Bunker Hill,” by Louise Cooley, April 16, 1907, 6 leaves, manuscript
“Notes on the History of England,” 1 leaf, manuscript
Program, Grand Masquerade Ball, 1 item, manuscript
Article, “General Jackson on the Tariff,” 1844, Winchester Republican, 1 leaf, printed, photocopy
News Clippings, 1 leaf, printed, photocopy
Pierce’s Memorandum and Account Book, 1 item
Postcards to Louisa Cooley, circa 1900, 5 items
12 buttons in Sisco Brothers envelope
