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Letters to Eliza Doty and Phebe Mundy

 Collection
Identifier: Ms-2023-146

Scope and Content

This collection contains letters to Eliza Doty and her mother Phebe Mundy from Doty's sisters and Mundy's daughters Sarah Poindexter and Phebe Ayers Mundy. The letters to Doty (also Doughty) in New Providence, New Jersey, were written by her sister, probably Sarah, in 1840, 1845, and 1868, from Richmond, Virginia, and on April 1, 1869, from Culpeper, Virginia. The 1840-1845 letters detail weather, community information, and familial updates. Letters from 1868-1869 contain information on the declining economic conditions in Richmond, and the sister's negative feelings about reconstruction conditions in Virginia.

The letters to Phebe Mundy are written by her daughters Sarah Poindexter and Phebe Ayers Mundy. One of the letters is written to Poindexter from Phebe Ayers Mundy and forwarded by Poindexter with an additional note from her to their mother. The letters are from 1834 to 1841 and sent from Richmond to Rahway, New Jersey. The contents discuss church news, familial updates, and travel updates.

Dates

  • 1834 - 1869

Creator

Language of Materials

The materials in the collection are in English.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use

The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction.

Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.

Family History

Henry Mundy (1783 or 1784-1851) married Phebe Ayers or Ayres (1787-1858), and they had several children: Henry E., Eliza Squier, Sarah Ayers (or Ayres), Phebe Ayers (or Ayres), Rebecca, David A., and William E. Henry and Phebe Mundy are buried in the Rahway Cemetery in Rahway, New Jersey.

Eliza Squier Mundy was born on December 10, 1808. She married Israel Doty or Doughty (1794-1879), a farmer. She died on November 25, 1873, and is buried alongside her husband in the New Providence Presbyterian Churchyard in New Providence, New Jersey.

Sarah Ayers (or Ayres) Mundy was born on October 20, 1809. She married James Harris Poindexter (1800-1867). Sarah died on May 26, 1872, and is buried alongside her husband in the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia.

The younger Phebe Ayers (or Ayres) Mundy married Asa Read of New York City on March 16, 1843, in the Presbyterian Church at Jersey City, New Jersey. She died at the age of 27 and is buried in the Rahway Cemetery.

External Sources:

"Eliza Doty" in the New Jersey, U.S., Deaths and Burials Index, 1798-1971, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/518961699:2540, accessed January 22, 2024.

"Eliza Mundy Squier Doty", Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/193288333/eliza-squier_doty, accessed January 22, 2024.

"Henry Mundy" in the New Jersey, U.S., Wills and Probate Records, 1739-1991, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/509802:8796, accessed January 22, 2024.

"Henry Mundy", Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92583769/henry-mundy, accessed January 22, 2024.

"Sarah Ayres Mundy Poindexter", Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/49866373/sarah-ayres-poindexter, accessed January 22, 2024.

"Phebe Ayres Mundy", Findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/92583770/phebe_ayres_mundy, accessed Nov. 8, 2024.

"Phebe Mundy" in the U.S., Presbyterian Church Records, 1701-1970, Ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/search/collections/61048/records/901064713, accessed Nov. 8, 2024.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)

Abstract

The letters to Eliza Doty (also Doughty; 1808-1873) were written by her sister, probably Sarah Poindexter (1809-1872), to Eliza in New Providence, New Jersey, in 1840, 1845, 1868, and 1869 from Richmond and Culpeper, Virginia. The letters detail weather, community information, and familial updates. They also contain information on the declining economic conditions in Richmond and the sister's negative feelings about reconstruction conditions in Virginia. Other letters are written by Poindexter and Phebe Ayers Mundy to their mother, Phebe Mundy (1787-1858). One is written to Poindexter from Phebe Ayers Mundy and forwarded by Poindexter with an additional note from her to their mother. The letters are from 1834 to 1841 and sent from Richmond to Rahway, New Jersey. The contents of the letters includes church news, familial updates, and travel updates.

Source of Acquisition

The Letters to Eliza Doty and Phebe Mundy were purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in July and November 2016.

Rights Statement for Archival Description

The guide to the Letters to Eliza Doty and Phebe Mundy by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).

Processing Information

The processing, arrangement, and description of the Letters to Eliza Doty was completed in January 2024. An addition was integrated with updated description in November 2024.

Title
Letters to Eliza Doty and Phebe Mundy, 1834-1869
Status
Completed
Author
William Harrison, Student Assistant, and Ella Winterling, Student Assistant
Date
2024 (CC0 1.0)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository

Contact:
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308