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Samuel Martin Letter

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2770

  • Staff Only

This collection contains a letter from Samuel Martin of Campbell's Station, Tenn. to Hamilton Fish, Governor of New York, dated January 25, 1849. In the letter, Martin expresses concern about the possibility of slavery being kept from expanding. An enslaver, Martin defended the institution. He also discusses his desire to create a canal from the Dismal Swamp Canal in North Carolina around to the Mississippi and the need for a National Agricultural School.

Dates

  • 1849 January 25

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

0.1 Linear Feet

Abstract

This collection contains a letter from Samuel Martin of Campbell's Station, Tenn. to Hamilton Fish, Governor of New York, dated January 25, 1849. In the letter, Martin expresses concern about the possibility of slavery being kept from expanding. An enslaver, Martin defended the institution. He also discusses his desire to create a canal from the Dismal Swamp Canal in North Carolina around to the Mississippi and the need for a National Agricultural School.

Biographical/Historical Note

Born around 1775, Samuel Martin was an immigrant from Ireland who came to Tennessee as an entrepreneur. He owned several enslaved people, 10 town lots, a tavern, and a store in Kingston where he was appointed postmaster April 1, 1807. In 1824 he bought Campbell's Station from Col. David Campbell. Martin was engaged in several businesses, a collector of an extensive library, and was said to race horses with Andrew Jackson. He was married to Julia Reese of Jefferson County and had nine children: James, Eliza, William P., Nancy, Joseph, Mary, Samuel, Jr., Hugh and Margaret. Martin died in Knox County in 1855.

Arrangement

Collection consists of single folder

Acquisition Note

Item was purchased by Special Collections.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480