Collection: Jesse Beene letters | Special Collections & Archives

Scope and Contents note

This collection consists of two letters from Beene, written from Cahawba, Alabama, to Rowland G. Hazard of Peace Dale, Rhode Island. The earlier of the two, dated 14 July 1839, consists of an order to Hazard for shoes for Beene's slaves, listing each slave by name and also providing the length of each person's foot in inches. Beene listed the names of no fewer than sixty-eight slaves, divided between two plantations. The second letter, dated 16 December 1841, complains of the inferior quality of the shoes furnished by Hazard and states that Beene will not pay the price charged, as "I can now purchase a better article for less money in this country [i.e., Alabama]…."

Dates

1839-1841

Creator

Beene, Jesse (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

None

Biographical/Historical note

Jesse Beene was an Alabama slaveowner, lawyer, planter, state's rights political leader, and state senator. His wife was Catherine Dalton Bird (1792-1843). Jesse Beene was born in 1794 in Tennessee, and he died in Dallas County, Alabama, on March 4, 1845. William Lowndes Yancey (1814-1863) was his nephew.

Sources: www.findagrave.com; www.encyclopediaofalabama.org

Extent

0.01 Linear Feet (2 items)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Two letters written from Cahawba, Alabama, to Rowland G. Hazard in Peace Dale, Rhode Island. The first, dated 14 July 1839, orders shoes for Beene's sixty-eight slaves and includes a list of slaves and a measurement of their feet in inches. In the second, dated 16 December 1841, Beene expresses dissatisfaction with both shoes and prices.