Thornton family collection

Collection

Identifier: MSS-282

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection of the Solomon M. Thornton family of Georgia and Mississippi includes 2 legal papers, 9 Civil War letters, and other letters on family matters. Solomon M. Thornton (circa 1824-1864) served as a Captain in Co. B, 31st Mississippi Regiment in the Civil War, was wounded at Peachtree Creek, and probably killed at the Battle of Franklin. Included are six letters to his wife, Sarah F. Thornton (1829-1880), 1861-1864. Other Civil War letters include a long fragment of a letter from the Thornton's son, S.R. (Samuel R.) Thornton of Co. B, Perrin's Batallion (1863), which discusses attitudes toward Robert O. Perrin and other matters, and a single letter to Jinnie Thornton from an unknown correspondent, 1864. The collection contains several letters to Emma Thornton, daughter of Solomon and Sarah Thornton, from her brother and from John Starn(e)s of Love Station, DeSoto County (1884-1895).

Dates

1849-1895 and undated

Creator

Thornton family. (Creator, Family)

Access Restrictions

Open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions

Any requests for permission to publish, quote, or reproduce materials from this collection must be submitted in writing to the Manuscripts Librarian for Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of Mississippi State University as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which must also be obtained.

Extent

0.16 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Calendar

June 19, 1849. Receipt, Macon, S.M. Thornton bought of Graves and Wood.

Aug. 3, 1854. Promissory note, S.M. Thornton, Pond Town, to James E. and Horace Thompson.

Feb. 8, 1857. E.A. Holstein, Florida, sells to S.M. Thornton his interest in the estate of Stephen Holstein and appoints S.M. Thornton his attorney.

April 24, 1859. H.F.E. Ogburn and Sally M. Ogburn, Georgia, Macon Co., to S.M. Thornton, Esq.

Nov. 7, 1861. Camp near Demopolis, Alabama, S.M. Thornton to Mrs. Sarah F. Thornton.

June 15, 1862. S. M. Thornton, Tupelo, Miss., to J.W. Starns.

July 3, 1862. Unknown, Tuscaloosa, Ala., to “Dear Wife”. Signature page missing. Has letterhead image of Greensboro Female Academy.

Nov. 18, 1862. S.M. Thornton, Camp Abbeville 5 miles east, to Mrs. S.F. Thornton, Spring Creek, Choctaw Co.

Feb. 7, 1863. S.M. Thornton, Grenada, to Mrs. S.F. Thornton [fragment]. [date at top of letter torn off. Date is from postscript]

May 1, 1863. Sol. M. Thornton, 31st Regiment, Co. B, Miss. Inf., Camp Featherstons (?) near Grenada, to Mrs. S.F. Thornton, Spring Valley, Choctaw Co., Miss.

...to July 1863/August 13, 1863. L.R. Thornton (?), Headquarters, Perrin’s B., Morton, Miss., to “Dear Mother”.

March 25, 1864. Army of Tennessee, S.R. Thornton (?) to “Dear Mother.

April 25, 1864. Camp near Montevallo, Alabama, S.M. Thornton to Mrs. Sarah F. Thornton.

Sept. 4, 1864. Unknown, ? Springs, Miss., to Miss Jinnie Thornton, Choctaw Co., Miss. Envelope, S.M. Thornton, Co. B, 31st Regiment, Miss. Vol. to Mrs. S.F. Thornton, Little Black, Choctaw Co., Miss.

Oct. 9, 1870. W. H. Hopkins to “Dear Puss” [Mrs. Sarah F. Thornton].

Dec. 24, 1878. Joel J. Bacon, Lexington, Ga., to “Dear cousin Puss”, [Mrs. Sarah F. Thornton].

June 9/12, [1884]. M.G. Thornton, Anderson, Miss., to Emma Thornton, Reynolds, Ga.

Nov. 12, 188?. John Starnes Denley, Love’s Station, to “My Dear Friend”, Miss Emma Thornton.

Sept. 15, 1895. John Starnes, Love’s Station, DeSoto Co., to “Miss Emma”.

Undated. John Starnes to “Miss Emma”.