Roll 1 (MF Roll # 36214):

Only roll that contains correspondence; virtually all of it is business correspondence, primarily letters from cotton factors, overseers, and attorneys; two letters from William H. Ker, a member of Adams Troop, to his mother, describing camp life in Virginia during first year of war; a June 21, 1861, letter from General Braxton Bragg to Eustace Surget expressing optimism about forcing an early peace but warning that we should not trust Union army "until their troops are withdrawn from our borders"; letters are arranged chronologically from early 1830s to 1867, but most are from 1860s; primary recipients are Francis Surget, Jr., and Eustace Surget.

Final items on roll: Francis Surget, Jr., and Eustace Surget checkbook, 1860-1867; Francis Surget, Jr., account book, most notable is account with Charles P. Leverich, 1859-1860; Francis Surget, Jr., accounts with overseers (and a few other employees), 1859-1866; Francis Surget, Jr., tax receipts (Adams County), 1861-1863; freedmen’s labor contracts, 1865.

Correspondence:

Listed in chronological order (which may differ from actual order on roll).

• Early correspondence is primarily concerned with financial affairs and acquisition of land; letters to Stephen Duncan as early as 1825; letters to John Linton, 1833-1834; letters relating to John Linton estate; series of late 1830s letters relating to unsuccessful effort of Francis Surget, Sr., to claim certain back lands in Louisiana under terms of a federal act of 1832 (back land concession claims).
• H. B. Shaw to Francis Surget, Jr., October 18, 1856; relates to 1841 donation of Basin Place Plantation (Madison Parish) by Francis Surget, Sr., and to collation of assets of Francis Surget, Sr., estate.
• Robert C. Evans, secretary, Natchez Club, to Francis Surget, Jr., May 18, 1858; includes copy of resolutions expressing sympathy upon death of Lenox Surget.
• Edward A. Bibb, treasurer, New York Club, to Henry P. Duncan, February 4, 1861; notes resignation of Eustace Surget from New York Club in January 1861.
• Braxton Bragg to Eustace Surget, June 21, [1861]; comments on war in Virginia and warns not to "relax our efforts…we ought not to trust them [Union army] until their troops are withdrawn from our borders."
• William H. Ker to his mother, July 1, 1861; October 19, 1861; comments on camp life in Virginia with Adams Troop; mentions Conners and Bob Young.
• J. A. Briley, Chiripa Plantation overseer, June 9 and November 9, 1862; regarding overflow; sickness among slave children.
• F. C. Maupin, Cocodra Plantation overseer, to Francis Surget, May 15, 1863; making slave clothing out of cotton sacks.
• J. A. Briley to Francis Surget, July 19 and 29, 1863; slave insubordination on Chiripa Plantation.
• E. B. Whitaker to Eustace Surget, August 10, 1865; ruined by war; complains of post-war labor system.
• Ayres P. Merrill, Jr., to Eustace Surget, November-December, 1865; April 30, 1866; regarding New York commercial business, leasing of plantations, terminal illness of Sarah Surget Davis, disposition of Highland Plantation; April letter notes death of Merrill’s partner Goodman.
• George Green Son and Company, Liverpool, England, cotton factors, to Eustace Surget, February 1866-January 1867; series of letters mostly relating to Mary Attwell Linton’s removal to Europe and selling cotton to provide her with funds; mentions Shields family visiting Brussels, Belgium.
• E. A. Desloude to Eustace Surget, August 11, 1866; advising Surget of sale of New Orleans property.
• William G. Deal to Eustace Surget, October 8, 1866; regarding conditions at Esperance and Pecan plantations; cotton crop worst since 1828; February 16, 1867, leasing of Morville Plantation; Merrill plantation in ruins; political conditions bad--"stealing and robbing are the order of the day."
• William T. Martin [former Confederate major general] to Eustace Surget, March 7, 1867; more on political conditions; constitutional government dead.
• Daniel M. Adams, New Orleans, to Eustace Surget, Bordeaux, France, March 10, 1867; describes situation in New Orleans under military rule; advises Surget "never to return to this Godforsaken & oppressed Country."
• Stephen Duncan, Jr., to Dr. Gustavus Calhoun, July 9, 1867; regarding disposition of Auburn.
• J. M. Seixas to Eustace Surget, July 20, 1867; regarding Wade Hampton’s debt to Miss Linton.
• Maria L. Linton to Eustace Surget, July 30, 1867; expressing thanks that Eustace Surget has returned from Europe to assist Charlotte Linton Surget with his late brother’s estate [Francis Surget, Jr.].
• H. N. Liebnecht to Eustace Surget, August 3, 1867; advising of shipment of Miss Linton’s furniture (including piano) from New Orleans to France.
• Stephen Duncan, Jr., to Eustace Surget, August 21, 1867; agreeing to let servants take care of Auburn under supervision of Dr. Calhoun if Charlotte Linton Surget leaves for Europe before expiration of her lease.
• A. H. Harris (of George S. Mandeville, New Orleans) to Eustace Surget, August 24, 1867; relating that Concordia Parish planters who had abandoned their properties have since returned.
• George Hancock to Eustace Surget, August 26, 1867; relative to Arkansas lands; advising not selling them until winter.
• Frederick Stanton to Eustace Surget, September 3, 16, 1867; has gone into bankruptcy; advises Surget to sell Esperance Plantation "for what it will bring."
• [Francis Surget, Jr., and Eustace Surget] checkbook, 1860-1867; various checks drawn on Duncan, Sherman and Company, New York, 1860; Bank of Louisiana, 1862; W. A. Britton and Company, Natchez, as late as November 24, 1866; First National Bank of New Orleans, 1866.
• Miscellaneous accounts, Francis Surget, Jr., 1857-1866; perhaps most notable is account with Charles P. Leverich, 1859-1860.
• Francis Surget, Jr., overseers’ accounts, 1859-1866; records date of engagement, salary, and reason for dismissal of some twenty-three individuals, most of them overseers on Surget’s plantations, but also gardeners at Clifton and carpenters and ginwrights.
• Miscellaneous accounts: Anna Maria Linton with E. B. Fuller, Commercial Bank of Natchez (1845); Charlotte B. Linton (Mrs. Francis Surget, Jr., after March 1848) with Fuller and Vaughan (1847-1848); Francis Surget, Jr., with Bank of Louisiana (from January 1859); Eustace Surget with Bank of Louisiana (from February 5, 1859); Eustace Surget with Pike, Lapeyre, and Brother (begins January 1866).
• Tax receipts, Natchez properties of Francis Surget, Jr., 1861-1863.
• Freedmen’s labor contracts with Francis Surget, Jr., 1865; men were generally paid four dollars, per month; women two dollars per month; and cooks twelve dollars per month.
• List of clothes and shoes issued to servants at Auburn and Highland Plantation, 1865-1866.
• Additional accounts of Eustace Surget: Duncan, Sherman and Company, New York, 1858-1860; cash accounts (numerous entries for Morville Plantation), 1859; First National Bank of New Orleans, 1866.

Compiled by William K. Scarborough, 1997.
Copyright 1997 by William K. Scarborough.

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