Manuscripts Department
Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION
#627
ABRAHAM RENCHER PAPERS
Inventory
Abstract: Lawyer; governor of the New Mexico Territory, 1857-
1861; U.S. minister to Portugal; and U.S.
representative from North Carolina.
The bulk of the collection consists of papers of
Abraham Rencher (1798-1883) while he was U.S. charge
d’affaires in Lisbon, 1843-1847, including letters
home, diplomatic correspondence, and accounts, and
letters from his brother, Daniel G. Rencher of
Alabama, 1838-1858, discussing family and plantation
news. There are also letters to and from Rencher
while he was governor of the New Mexico Territory,
1857-1861, correspondence and financial receipts
relating to the mining industry in New Mexico, and
scattered other political and family items.
Online Catalog Terms:
Alabama--Social life and customs--19th century.
Mines and mineral resources--New Mexico--19th century.
New Mexico--Politics and government--1848-1950.
Plantation life--Alabama.
Portugal--Politics and government--1834-1853.
Rencher, Abraham, 1798-1883.
Rencher, Daniel G., fl. 1838-1858.
Rencher family.
United States. Diplomatic and consular service--Portugal
--History--19th century.
United States--Foreign relations--Portugal.
Size: About 200 items (0.5 linear feet).
Date Span: 1784-1883 (bulk 1836-1861).
Provenance: Received from Mrs. Julien Wood of Edenton, N.C.,
before 1940, with additions from her in 1948 and
1951; an addition from Mrs. H.M. Sparger of Mount
Airy, N.C., in 1961; an addition from Thomas Wood
of Raleigh, N.C., in July 1982 (acc. 82103); and
an addition from David Rencher of Riverton, Utah
in January 1997 (acc. 97009).
Access: No restrictions.
Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or
their descendants, as stipulated by United States
copyright law.
DESCRIPTION
Abraham Rencher, graduate of the University of North Carolina,
practiced law in Pittsboro, N.C., served as a Democrat in the
House of Representatives, 1829-1839 and 1841-1843; U.S. charge
d’affaires in Portugal, 1843-1847; Governor of New Mexico, 1857-
1861; and then retired to Chatham County, N.C. The collection
includes letters written by Rencher and his wife, Louisa Mary
Jones, while they were in Portugal. About 17 letters were
written by Rencher’s brother, Daniel G. Rencher who had moved to
Alabama in 1833. These letters cover roughly 1838-1858 and
describe family events, health, slaves, and business affairs.
Correspondence and financial receipts from the period of 1844-
1869 include materials pertaining to Rencher’s work with the
American delegation in Lisbon, Washington, and Santa Fe. These
documents are filed in folders 5, 7 and 8.
Folder 9 contains an album of Miss Louisa Mary Jones, daughter
of Edward Jones of “Rock Rest” of Chatham County, N.C., and
future wife of Rencher. It includes entries from Carolina Lee
Hentz of Chapel Hill, 1827 and copies of poems. Folder 10
contains photocopies of pages from Rencher’s family Bible, which
remains in the possession of his descendants.
Folder 1 1784-1843
2 1844-1846
3 1847
4 1848-1853
5 1854-1883
6 Undated
7 Lisbon, Portugal, financial accounts, 1844-1847
8 New Mexico, financial accounts, 1869
9 Album, 1826-1830, of Miss Louisa Mary Jones
10 Photocopy of family pages from Rencher’s Bible
Oversized items
OP-627/1-2 Appointment documents as charge d’affaires in
Portugal dated 27 September 1843 and 11 January
1844
OP-627/3 Santa Fe Gazette, 24 November 1860