Manuscripts Department
           Library of the University of North Carolina
                         at Chapel Hill

                 SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION

                             #571-z
                       JOHN OVERTON PAPERS
                            Inventory

Abstract:      John Overton (1766-1833), Tennessee pioneer,
           jurist, and dedicated supporter of Andrew Jackson,
           born in Louisa County, Va.
               Personal letters (1827-1830) from Overton's
           Virginia relations chiefly detailing the illnesses
           (dyspepsia and pleurisy) and death of Overton's
           sister, Ann Coleman (d. 1828), with comments on the
           division of her slaves among her heirs, diet, the
           election of 1828, and a Tennessee land dispute.

Online Catalog Terms:
   Coleman, Ann, d. 1828.
   Diseases--Virginia--History--19th century.
   Family--Virginia--Social life and customs--19th century.
   Louisa County (Va.)--Social life and customs--19th
       century.
   Overton, John, 1766-1833.
   Real property--Tennessee--History--19th century.
   Slaveholders--Virginia.

Size:          7 items.

Provenance:    Received from of Mrs. Samuel Orr, Vanderbilt
               Place, Nashville, Tenn.

Access:    No restrictions.    

Processing Note:   This collection was rehoused under the
                   sponsorship of a grant from the National
                   Endowment for the Humanities, Office of
                   Preservation, Washington, D.C., 1990-1992.

Related Collections:   John Overton Papers (#1863-M).

Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or 
           their descendants, as stipulated by United States
           copyright law.

Table of Contents:
     Biographical Note
     Description

                        BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

   John Overton (1766-1833), Tennessee pioneer, jurist, and
dedicated supporter of Andrew Jackson, was born in Louisa County,
Virginia.  He studied law in Mercer County, Kentucky (1787), and
then moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he shared lodgings with
Andrew Jackson.  They became steadfast friends and were partners
in a number of speculative land ventures, including the founding
of Memphis, Tennessee, in 1819.

   Overton succeeded Jackson to the state Superior Court
(1804-1810 and 1811-1816).  He was a widely recognized authority
on land legislation in Tennessee.  He was also reputed to be the
state's wealthiest citizen.  After his resignation from the bench
in 1816, Overton committed himself to the furtherance of
Jackson's political career.

(Biographical information from the Dictionary of American
Biography.)

                           DESCRIPTION

   These seven letters (1827-1830) are from Overton's Virginia
relations.  Most (4 of 7) detail the illnesses (dyspepsia and
pleurisy) and death of Overton's sister, Ann Coleman (d. 1 July
1828).  Other subjects include diet, the election of 1828, and a
Tennessee land dispute.  Typed transcriptions are interfiled with
the letters.

18 July 1827:  Hawes and Ann Coleman to John Overton, description
               of Ann's pleurisy, importance of religion.

8 March 1828:  F. O. Claybrooks to Overton, continued illness and
               death of Ann.

2 September 1828:  Hawes (Harves on transcript) Coleman to
                   Overton, Ann's deathbed instruction to her
                   slaves (not detailed), division of slaves
                   among her heirs, description of her illnesses.

20 October 1828:   Samuel Carr to Overton, letter introducing
                   William Wills, congratulates the "flattering
                   prospects of General Jackson's election."

22 March 1830: Hawes Coleman to Overton, account of Ann's illness
               and death.

16 May 1830:   E. F. Claybrooke and Elizabeth & Jas. Claybrooke
               to Overton, illness in family, diet advocated as
               cure.

15 December 1830:  John Claybrooke to Overton, Tennessee land
                   dispute and pending land transaction.