Episodes Nearest to July 4, 1826: 1 through 25 of 25

  1. Died on the Fourth of July: Thomas Jefferson’s Last Will and Testament
    date July 4, 1826map ALBEMARLE, Virginiatags Death, Debt

    Thomas Jefferson- the principal author of the Declaration of Independence, third President of the United States, and father of the University of Virginia- died at 12:50 p.m. on July 4, 1826 at the age of 83 in his beloved home of Monticello.  Newspapers were filled with remembrances of that special day in American history, and Jefferson’s role in it, making this day a memorial to the man even...

  2. Land Disputes and Family Assistance in Appalachia
    date August 4, 1826map WASHINGTON, Virginiatags Economy, Law

    Mathew Buchanan was broke. If he was unable to raise money soon, he would lose his Washington County, Virginia land in 1826. Buchanan was never officially part of the contract involved with the original purchase, but instead claimed to have paid a friend informally for a piece of the land. Unfortunately, he did not have the money to repurchase the land in a fully legal manner now that his original...

  3. Caution to Purchasers of Negros
    date May 20, 1826map JACKSON, Mississippitags African-Americans, Race-Relations, Slavery

    In an 1826 article, an Alabama newspaper warned readers and slave buyers of an untrustworthy slave trader who dealt in kidnapped free blacks. Victims were found in Mississippi, greatly abused or dead. The slave trader had even captured a young free black boy from his parents. The free men informed a gentleman, at whose house he stopped, that they were free born, and begged his interference to...

  4. A General Assortment of Spring and Summer Goods
    date May 20, 1826map ALBEMARLE, Virginiatags Arts/Leisure, Economy

    In the beginning of the 1820s, Albemarle County merchants advertised all year round of large stocks of staples they had for sale at Reasonable Prices, Bacon, cured in the manner for family use, nice white corn meal, and Barrels Brown sugar different quantities are just a few examples. By 1826, a new kind of merchant had come to town. John Cochran & Co. took up occupancy in a well-known building...

  5. Ice as a New Commodity
    date May 18, 1826 to May 19, 1826map NORFOLK CITY, Virginiatags Economy, Migration/Transportation, Urban-Life/Boosterism

    Alexander Gall advertised his ice delivery service in Portsmouth's American Beacon and Portsmouth Daily on May 18, 1826. Gall's advertisement ran in the local newspaper for a month. This allowed for the news of Gall's service to effectively spread among the people of Portsmouth. Gall brought ice to the homes of his customers in a horse-drawn wagon. Gall delivered ice daily to...

  6. Lear's Plan for the Education of Blacks
    date September, 1826map ALBEMARLE, Virginiatags African-Americans, Church/Religious-Activity, Education, Migration/Transportation, Slavery

    B.L. Lear administrated a large fund for the education of slaves that had been established by General Thaddeus Kosciusko, a famous Polish hero in the American Revolution. Upon Kosciusko's death in 1817, he had left the fund to his longtime acquaintance and fellow son of liberty, Thomas Jefferson. In September 1825, B.L. Lear wrote a letter to Thomas Jefferson Randolph, grandson of Jefferson...

  7. Foundation of the Bible Society in Monticello
    date September 26, 1826map JASPER, Georgiatags Church/Religious-Activity

    P.W. Gautier proudly wrote to the Georgia Statesman on September 26, 1826, proclaiming the establishment of auxiliaries of the American Bible Society throughout the counties that surrounded Monticello, Georgia. The Society sought to circulate the Bible without note or comment to the community. Gautier explained that the Society was simply answering the demands of the people of the area who deserved...

  8. A Student Eulogizes Thomas Jefferson
    date October 4, 1826map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Thomas Jefferson, Slavery, Westward Expansion, Louisiana Purchase

    Thomas Jefferson, one of the founding fathers of the United States and the third elected President, passed away on July 4, 1826. Jefferson served two terms as President of the United States from 1801-1809. He will always be remembered as the principal author to the Declaration of Independence. On October 26, 1826, at the Columbian College in Washington D.C., Jefferson’s eulogy was delivered by...

  9. “Reverend Proudfit argues for the use of the Bible in Common Schools”
    date March 1, 1826map ONTARIO, New Yorktags Church/Religious-Activity, Education

    During the Second Great Awakening, there were many religious figures who transformed the way the general population thought about religion and its social practices. Much of the new religious thought came from upstate New York from areas called “burned-over districts,” because of the frequency with which they experienced religious revivals, or transformative incidents, which changed a person’s...

  10. Southern Appalachia's Livestock Economy
    date December 12, 1826map JEFFERSON, Virginiatags Agriculture, Economy

    In Shepherdstown County, the blood was flowing. Such is what James Markell's sister wrote to her absent brother in the winter of 1826 concerning the hog butchering frenzy in that western Virginia area. For the past two weeks, several couples had also celebrated their nuptials never minding the penetrating squeals of the dying pigs around them. New families would begin and there would be plenty...

  11. Creditors, Debtors and Land Disputes
    date January 7, 1826map WASHINGTON, Virginiatags Economy, Law

    Mathew Buchanan's letter in 1826 nervously mentioned intelligence that Thomas Edmiston's heirs were trying to take over his land in Washington County, Virginia. He would not give up his land without a fight, but one small problem arose. He had no proof that he owned it. Buchanan found out that land dealings could get nasty. Initially, he had partnered with Thomas Edmiston to purchase a piece...

  12. Virginia Gazette: Epic of a Small-Time Newspaper
    date January 7, 1826map FAUQUIER, Virginiatags African-Americans, Agriculture, Arts/Leisure, Economy, Race-Relations, Slavery

    A man swept into a dimly lit tavern and muttered, "Whiskey," in a hoarse voice before collapsing into a creaky wooden chair. On the table next to him lay a folded newspaper with the day's date. He snatched up the paper, the Virginia Gazette, and began leafing through it. He nodded to himself when he read that in North Carolina some planters held a contest to see whose slaves could...

  13. The Friar Aremas incident reaches the Capitol.
    date January 21, 1827map Washington City, District of Columbiatags War

    Ever since American colonists had moved into Texas, relations between the United States and Mexico were at a precarious position. President John Quincy Adams had the auspicious task of keeping both sides happy in a desperate attempt to avoid any kind of armed conflict. The first of what would become many troubling incidents for both parties occurred on January 21st, 1827. Friar Joaquin Aremas...

  14. Runaway Slaves
    date January 27, 1827map ST CHARLES, Louisianatags African-Americans, Slavery

    The harshness of the institution of slavery is something that historians can agree on. The lifestyle that enslaved people had to endure is one that many cannot imagine today. It is not surprising therefore when slaves wished to be free of their masters and escape from plantations. The reasons for slaves running away varied but usually included fear of punishment or resentment because of punishment...

  15. The National Bank of South Carolina opens up to stock.
    date February 1, 1827map CHARLESTON, South Carolinatags Economy

    The bank crisis is one issue that plagues American history during 1827 and throughout the Jacksonian Democracy. On February 1st, 1827 Charleston opened up its branch of the National Bank of the United States to private stock. Limits were placed on the minimum and maximum amount of stock that could be purchased. These bonds were meant to help the United States economic problems, but many saw a...

  16. Bankruptcy Bill voted down in Senate.
    date February 1, 1827map Washington City, District of Columbiatags Economy

    On February 1st, 1827 the United States Senate voted 2 to 1 against a bill presented by Senator Hayne advocating a bankruptcy bill. By this time, indebtedness was stretching through the country. It had become a vicious cycle that most people cannot escape from once they are caught in it. This bill was meant to provide some relief for the debtors but as the Charleston News and Courier put it the...

  17. Methods of Shipment and Transportation throughout the South
    date November 21, 1825map ADAMS, Mississippitags Migration/Transportation

    The country is new, timber plenty, cheep, convenient; and consequentially we have, on good terms, the best materials for building bridges and causeways stated the author of a Mississippi newspaper article. People began settling throughout the east coast, transforming transportation into an extremely important part of life. Consequently, as the economy began to bloom, items needed to be brought to...

  18. American Colonization Society petitions Congress
    date February 16, 1827map Washington City, District of Columbiatags African-Americans, Economy, Slavery

    In 1827, Mr. Clarke presented a resolution that had gone through the state assembly in Kentucky. With the backing of Delaware Senator Louis McLane, they presented a petition by the American Colonization Society (ACS) “requesting the Senators and Representatives of that State, in Congress, to use their best efforts to facilitate the removal of such free people of color as may desire to emigrate...

  19. A New Route to New Orleans
    date October 24, 1825map HINDS, Mississippitags Government, Migration/Transportation

    In late October of 1825, Secretary of War James Barbour wrote from Washington to the governor of Mississippi soliciting his help. Two military surveyors were to examine a new route from Rock Fish Gap in the Shenandoah Mountains of Virginia through Knoxville, Tennessee and down through the state of Mississippi on towards New Orleans. These men, Captain Poupin, a topographer and engineer and his...

  20. The Backcountry of Central Mississippi
    date October 16, 1825map MADISON, Mississippitags Agriculture, Health/Death

    In a letter to his brother, Dr. Philip Klipstein the postmaster of New Baltimore Virginia, Elijah Thomhill recounted the perils of Mississippi living: Times now are very sickly, ie it was in the latter part of the summer but it is now getting more healthy. I have had a spell of the ague and fever. John also has been sick- George has been sick with the bilibious(?) fever and been well almost ever...

  21. Daniel Raymond and Anti-Slavery Maryland
    date September 24, 1825map BALTIMORE, Marylandtags Anti-slavery, Maryland

     

    In Maryland in 1825, an anti-slavery candidate emerged from the city of Baltimore named Daniel Raymond. Seeking a position in the Maryland General Assembly, Raymond was highly publicized in the anti-slavery circles in Maryland. One such publication, the Genius of Universal Emancipation and Baltimore Courier touted Raymond’s disdain for slavery and his support of gradual emancipation....

  22. Tobacco booms in Missouri.
    date April 24, 1827map ST LOUIS, Missouritags Agriculture, Economy

    The expansion of slavery into Missouri had almost led to a Civil War in 1820, seven years later Northerners worst fears were confirmed with a report by Missouri leaders. The St. Louis Enquirer published an article that would soon be republished throughout the South trumpeting the success of tobacco crops in the newest slave state. The soil of Missouri was considered by planters of Maryland and...

  23. William Henson sentenced to death.
    date April 27, 1827 to May 3, 1827map WAKE, North Carolinatags African-Americans, Crime/Violence, Health/Death, Race-Relations

    On April 27th, 1827 a verdict was reached in the William Henson case. The court convicted this free black for “forcibly breaking into a house and stealing items of a small value.' His punishment was death, to be carried out on May 3rd. This punishment was certainly extreme for such a petty offense, but the court was using what was called the Bloody Act of 1806. This act as the Raleigh...

  24. Liberation of Slaves and Colonization in Liberia in 1825
    date September 3, 1825map PHILADELPHIA, Pennsylvaniatags Slavery, African-Americans

    In 1825, Christian groups and colonization societies in America advocated for freed African Americans to colonize land in Liberia as an alternative to emancipate slaves in America. Religious groups expressed their sentiments in publication including the Christian Register, which published an article in an issued dated September 3, 1825. The article argued for the transportation of slaves to...

  25. The Impact of Illness
    date August 22, 1825map RICHMOND, Virginiatags Health/Death

    When Nancy Carr, the grand-niece of Thomas Jefferson, wrote to her good friend Elizabeth Coatler, of Spotsylvania, on August 22, 1825, the tone of her writing was a somber one. Carr had just returned from nursing her cousin, Maria, who was sick with a fever. The threats of illness and death were prominent in her words. At this time, the term "fever" was used to describe almost every kind of dangerous...