Manuscripts Department
Library of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill
SOUTHERN HISTORICAL COLLECTION
#4347-z
ELI SHARPE PAPERS
Inventory
Abstract: Eli Sharpe of Bellemont in Orange, later Alamance,
County, N.C., planter and maker of whiskey, who, with
his wife Sally, had at least two sons, Daniel and
Milton H., both of whom served with the Confederate
army, and two daughters, Temperance and Laura. Upon
Eli's death, his daughters, who were unmarried,
contracted with Green Alexander Nicholson (1857-1949)
to run the family farm.
Chiefly routine financial and legal materials,
1793-1894, relating to Eli Sharpe and other Sharpe
family members. Included are bills, receipts, tax
statements, and other materials documenting the buying
and selling of land, goods, and services. A few items
relate to Sharpe's involvement in the settlement of
several estates, some of which involved the selling of
slaves in the 1840s. An 1855 slave bill of sale is
also included. There are also six letters, 1861-1863,
between Eli and his son Milton while the latter served
with the Confederate army in Virginia. These letters
chiefly discuss camp life and family news, and include
an 1862 letter in which Eli wrote about whiskey
production.
Online Catalog Terms:
Alamance County (N.C.)--Economic conditions--19th century.
Bellemont (N.C.)--Economic conditions--19th century.
Confederate States of America. Army--Military life.
Orange County (N.C.)--Economic conditions--19th century.
Sharpe, Eli, d. ca. 1871.
Sharpe, Milton H., fl. 1861-1863.
Slave bills of sale--North Carolina.
Slavery--North Carolina.
Soldiers--Confederate States of America--Correspondence.
Whiskey--North Carolina--History--19th century.
Size: About 170 items.
Provenance: Received from Clyde Williams of Camden, S.C., in
1983.
Access: No restrictions.
Copyright: Retained by the authors of items in these papers, or
their descendants, as stipulated by United States
copyright law.