Dickinson writes while traveling through the Alabama to settle claims before going to New York. He asks Dellet to collect money owed him by B. F. Porter; because Porter has land and slaves, Dickinson thinks he should have no trouble paying the debt.
In the letter Booth asks Dellet to represent him in a case involving a runaway slave: "The negro Sam was apprehended by some man in your county & by him committed to jail. He remained some five or ten days (the coldest we had last winter) & when...
In the letter Bullard, an overseer for Dellet, describes harvesting and shipping crops; weather and river conditions; and supplies needed for the slaves. He plans to order hats and handkerchiefs from Destia, Sheppard and Company in Mobile. At the...
In the letter Bullard, an overseer for Dellet, discusses the cotton and corn crops; the lack of rain in the area; the number of hogs on the plantation; the behavior of the slaves; and new clothing that has been ordered for them. At the time the...
In the letter Davison, an overseer for Dellet, discusses weather, livestock, and harvesting crops. He also describes punishing two slaves. He whipped a woman and shot a man in the leg; according to Davidson, "...I went to whip him and he told me if...
In the letter Emma describes music lessons, coursework, classmates, new acquaintances, the weather, and social activities. She makes a few references to African Americans, and she closes her letter with "Give my love to the servants."
In the letter Gordon discusses a case involving Thomas Wiggins, an agent for Guilford Nicholson, and a slave girl who had been "under affiliction" with William Campbell. In a note at the bottom of the letter, Campbell mentions a payment he had made...
In the letter Gorin asks Dellet to buy three slaves so she can help pay some of her husband's debt. She wants him to purchase the man, woman, and child for $1,300, and then she plans to take them to New Orleans and hire them out by the day. It is...
In the letter Green describes his work with the Rhew family. The members have questions about the inheritance rights to several slaves, so Green has suggested that they contact Dellet for legal advice.
In the letter Hawkins describes a case involving a slave woman who was purchased by a freedman, and then reclaimed and sold several times. He asks Dellet to represent Napoleon and Massina Starke, who want to recover the woman.
In the letter Lindsey describes local events to Dellet, who is away from his home in Claiborne. He mentions a recent election; poor economic conditions and the glutted cotton market; the capture of slaves who had run away; and a feud between two...
In the letter Lovett discusses a dispute over a slave from the estate of John Bell; because Dellet had been involved with Bell's purchase of the slave, Lovett asks him to supply any available records related to the transaction.
In the letter Lovett invites Dellet to visit him at home. He also mentions showing a piece of property to a possible buyer and the recent death of a female slave.