Turk, Thomas A. Letter, February 18, 1859

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Descriptive Summary

 

Repository: Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University

Title: Thomas A. Turk Letter, February 18, 1859

Collection No.: SC 0256
Creator: Turk, Thomas A., 1808-1871

Extent: 1 folder; .06 cubic feet

Language: English

Abstract: Single-page letter, written by Thomas A. Turk to a Mr. Larry, dated February 18, 1859. Turk writes from Staunton, Virginia, and requests information about a Mr. Lockridge in order to secure the purchase of one or more enslaved people.

 

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Use Restrictions: The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred Citation: [identification of item], [box #, folder #], Thomas A. Turk Letter, February 18, 1859, SC 0256, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Acquisition Information: Item was purchased at auction on November 10, 2017, from Jeffrey S. Evans and Associates and formed part of Lot #195.
Provenance: According to the record of sale, the letter was formerly the property of a private collector from Augusta County, Virginia.
Processing Information: The Thomas A. Turk Letter was separated from other documents in Lot #195, based on collection assessment at the time of purchase.

Bio/Historical Note:

Additional records pertaining to Thomas A. Turk (1808-1871) reveal that he owned land, likely in Augusta County, Virginia. An 1850 letter written by lawyer and future Confederate general, John Daniel Imboden, to Alexander H.H. Stuart, discusses a lawsuit of Daniel Mosby against Thomas Turk over possession of a tract of land.

Pokahontas (Pocahontas) is in Tazewell County, in northwestern Virginia, near the West Virginia border.

Scope and Content:

This is a single-page letter, written by Thomas A. Turk to a Mr. Larry, dated February 18, 1859. Turk discusses an upcoming trip to Pokahontas, and requests that Larry relay information about a Mr. Lockridge, so that Turk can secure the purchase of an enslaved person from him. He states, "if you can find out which Lockridge that has the negroes for sale and where he lives it is likely that I can make it on my way to see him before I return."

Arrangement:

One document housed in a folder.

Bibliography:

Find A Grave, "Thomas A. Turk (1808-1871)," Find a Grave Memorial no. 43359403. Accessed December 11, 2017. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/43359403/thomas-a.-turk.

Papers of Alexander H. H. Stuart and the related Stuart and Baldwin families, Accession #228-a, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va. Accessed December 11, 2017. http://search.vaheritage.org/vivaxtf/view?docId=uva-sc/viu00102.xml.

Contents:

Folder Title
Box : Folder
Thomas A. Turk Letter, February 18, 1859
1:1

Compiled by: Sarah Roth-Mullet, December 2017