Scope and Contents Note From the Collection: The correspondence housed in this collection documents David Burford's military career and participation in politics and the slave trade between 1814 and 1856. Jourdan M. Saunders (Burford's business partner) wrote many of the letters which discuss their activities with James R. Franklin and John Armfield. This collection also contains letters concerning political matters (including two from Samuel Hogg, an early Tennessee Congressman, and one from Felix Grundy, a United States Senator), an...

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 3pp. Discusses the sale, transportation and price of enslaved people as well as presidential and party politics. Saunders says prices are regulated by cotton and sugar, and the best markets are in Louisiana and Mississippi. He discusses the difficulty of transporting enslaved people to market due to lack of transportation facilities.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 1p. Claims that two "unsound" people (Daniel and Mary) were sold to him by Burford with the latter's knowledge. Miller asserts that Burford represented them as "sound" and therefore owes him a reduction in the amount to be paid. Notes on the verso in the hand of Burford indicate the actions he planned to take.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 1p. with envelope. Wharton (Burford's attorney in Jackson, Mississippi) writes concerning the claim made by James Miller and other financial matters. No agreement has been reached on the allowance made on the $800.00 note for Daniel.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 1p. Concerns James Miller's claim. Miller wants a greater discount than Burford is willing to allow and will not exchange Daniel. Wharton desired instructions on how to proceed in the matter and information as to the status of Burford's chancery case in Smith County.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 1p. and enclosure. Concerns James Miller's claim. Wharton informed Miller that any reasonable settlement on the claim would be made to prevent a lawsuit. He proposes to offer Miller an even trade of all the enslaved individuals bought by Miller from Burford for the notes he owed Burford.

Scope and Contents Note

D. 1p. [enclosed in above.] Concerns Miller's claim. Letter is signed by Wharton as a true copy. Miller says he will settle for delivery of his note for $800.00 and the $200.00 due upon it and a receipt for $150.00 to be paid out of money collected previously.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. Concerns James Miller's claim and other legal matters. It has been arranged that the controversy with Miller will go to an arbitrator.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 1p. Concerns the James Miller case and other legal matters. Wharton informs Burford that suit was brought upon both Miller claims in Hind County and invites him to Jackson to expedite collection of the money owed him.

Scope and Contents Note

OALS. 2pp. Concerns the James Miller case and other financial matters.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. with envelope. Discusses the James Miller case.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 3pp. Discusses the James Miller case.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. Concerns the James Miller case and the action being taken against the O. D. Johnston estate. The business with Miller is closed with Burford to pay the court costs. Burford will extend credit to Miller with Miller's recent acquisition of forty to fifty enslaved individuals as collateral.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. Concerns payment of note due Burford by James Miller and other financial matters. Wharton forwards Miller's request for an extension on the payment.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. Concerns James Miller's first payment on the note held by Burford.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. Concerns the action against the O. D. Johnston estate and request for extension by James Miller.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. Demands that Wharton collect the balance due him by James Miller. Burford reprimands Wharton for his delay in this and other matters.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. with envelope and enclosure. Wharton sends Burford the amount due him by James Miller out of Wharton's own pocket. Explains that Miller has left the region, so the balance is not collectable.

Scope and Contents Note

D. [enclosed in above]. A financial account of the balance owed Burford by James Miller less 5% service fee as previously agreed.

Scope and Contents Note

ALS. 2pp. Concerns the purchase of a sixteen-year-old boy for Burford in relation to a debt owed by "Weaver." Explains that the boy was purchased for $425.00 and although he was stricken with rheumatism, he was able to work and was improving in health.