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Colonial and State Records of North Carolina
Letter from Allen J. Davie to Archibald D. Murphey
Davie, Allen J.
July 25, 1826
Volume 19, Pages 998-999

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HON. ALLEN J. DAVIE TO JUDGE ARCH. D. MURPHEY, ESQ.

Weldon Place, 25 July, 1826.

Dear Sir:

Permit me to offer you my sincere congratulations on your recovered health and also my best wishes for its continuance. Through Col. Jones I had learned your indisposition and in common with your numerous friends lamented your situation. I did not see Mr. Adams by whom you wrote, he passed through the Town of Halifax and I live about 12 miles above; he has left the ticketts at Halifax and I will do what I can for their disposal, it is unfortunate that they are left with gentlemen who are almost strangers among us. I fear that my brother William may have destroyed some of those papers that might have been of use to you, my children tell me that he burned many of our Father’s papers last year. The various offices held by my father under this State is almost all the information I have connected with that subject. I have in my possession a part of his correspondence and some of his public records, intended to compile a biography but would be little in a history of North Carolina.

I have a most admirable painting in black chalk of my Father taken by Vanderlyn at Paris, a good likeness, you can have that for the one mentioned in your letter, it is the only good likeness ever taken of him.

It will give me great pleasure to give you any information, and perhaps there may be some circumstances known (almost) only to me in which he was connected with the history. If called to my recollection they will be promptly and cheerfully afforded you.

My Father was the Commissioner under the Specific Tax during the war, a copy of the Law may be issued in the acts of ’82 or ’81, and the final settlement of those accounts is I believe ’83. From what North Carolina did then and for which she has never had due credit, you will see that we led our proud neighbours both South and North.

My Father was one of our Delegates to the Convention in ’87 at Phila., and after with Judge Iredell and some others laboured to force that blessing on this State, he was almost the Father of

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our University and as you know watched over it fostering care for many years, he also drew the Bill and promoted the secession of Tennessee, a measure then thought of a doubtful policy.

When you write you will please address me at Weldon P. O., Halifax; this letter goes to Hillsborough by a Servant of Col. Jones who will forward it to you.

Accept my best wishes and believe me, truly your Friend,
ALLEN J. DAVIE.