Handwritten document by H.R. Hadley, C. E., Surveyor. Tract of land, 461 acres, Caswell County.

Land described as being in or near the town of Yanceyville. Includes statement affirming the execution of deed, dated January Court 1860, and the testimony of Thomas W. Graves, clerk, affixed; and an endorsement on the back of the document.

Adjoins the lands of James Poteet, James K. Lea, named in a recent survey. Affirms agreement to pay him ten [?] dollars per acre. Testator signature affixed by John Kerr.

States that John A. Graves has bargained and sold to Swift the sum of forty six hundred and ten dollars and acknowledges receipt. Names various points in the tract of land, Caswell County, including Milton road. Names include Elijah Graves Jr., and boundaries with tracts of George Williamson now owned by Thomas Bigalow, along with other. Witnesses with affixed signatures included J. L. McKee, Joab Robertson, and J.[?] Graves. Includes statement affirming the execution of deed, dated 27 December 1859, and the oath of James L. McKee, signed by Thomas W. Graves, clerk of the Court of Plea and Quarter Session, signature affixed; and an endorsement on the back of the document.

Witnesses with affixed signatures included James M. Neal, T. B. Adkin. Includes statement affirming the execution of deed, dated 27 December 1859, and the oath of Thomas B. Adkin, signed by Thomas W. Graves, clerk of the Court of Plea and Quarter Session, signature affixed; and an endorsement on the back of the document.

Witness with affixed signature was John Kerr. Also includes the signatures and seals of Jno. A. Graves and Joseph M. Swift. Includes statement affirming the execution of deed, dated 14 April 1860, signed by Thomas W. Graves, clerk of the Court of Plea and Quarter Session, signature affixed; and an endorsement on the back of the document.

States that the location is on Main Street opposite the Presbyterian Parsonage now occupied by said Joseph M. Swift and was the home formerly of the late Mrs. Ann (Lea) Graves, mother of said Virginia McDonald. The following two phrases are taken directly from the indenture: By hand and seal (and two postage stamps) of Virginia Y. McDonald 30 May 1872. Signatures of witnesses Wm. G. Mebane and John H. Mebane. Affirmation of witness of Wm. G. Mebane, personally known, and who on oath proved the execution of said deed: by Hansdon Cary, Commissioner for North Carolina in Tennessee (at Memphis, County of Shelby). Includes statement affirming the execution of deed, dated 22 January 1873, signed by H. [Henry] F. Brandon, Probate Judge, Probate Court, Caswell County. Includes endorsement on the back of the document.

Letter signed by Spencer B. Adams, Probate Judge of Probate Court of Caswell County. Joseph M. Swift died without a will.

The land document is identified on the outside as follows: Plot [Plat] of the widows dower on the Swift place. The collection has no information on the exact date of death of Joseph M. Swift.

Concerns the settlement of the estate of Joseph M. Swift. Apparently there was an intent to sell some of or all of the Swift property to the father of Isabella C. (Lowndes) Swift, Francis Burkett Lowndes. Reference is made to Miss Lizzie, his daughter, head at one time of the Yanceyville Female Academy, and a sister of Isabelle C. (Lowndes) Swift.

Hunter Jeter (b. 1882), Yanceyville, was a grandson of Mrs. I.C. Swift, and the son of Lula Bell Swift Jeter, and possibly Philip Stratton Jeter (1854-1886). Hunter Jeter was reporting to his grandmother on various tenants on her farm property (named in the letter as her plantation), possible rentals, and references to the yield of corn and tobacco crops. He refers to Katy's schooling with Mrs. Kens; the distress of relatives, Uncle Pritch[ard] and Aunt Sue, having to leave the property, and some news of neighbors. The letter was addressed to Mrs. Swift in care of her son, Robert B. Swift, at his residence on Peachtree Road in Atlanta. The letter was mailed in an envelope with the printed return address of T. J. Florance, Dealer in Staple Dry Good, Notions and General Merchandise, Yanceyville.

The three items include a typed letter from Jno. M. Morehead (John Motley Morehead), U.S. House of Representatives, 1909, referencing Mr. Robinson and Grissom; a typed carbon copy of a complaint entered in the Superior Court of Guilford County, ca. 1919 or 1920, of Spencer B. Adams vs. Southern Railway Company (re damage in October 1919 to his Buick motorcar driven by his daughter, Mrs. V.T. Bargamin and struck on railroad tracks by a Southern work-car); and a one page typed biography written in the first person, apparently by Adams, detailing some of his family, personal, and professional life, dated 2 November 1936. The biographical piece includes some perhaps little-known professional and personal information. For example, in 1901 Adams was appointed by President Theodore Roosevelt as Chlief Judge of the Choctaw-Chicasaw Citizenship Court in the Indains Territory; and he remained in the territory until the last day of December 1904, when the business of the court was considered and determined. Additionally, Adams stated that he held the position of chairman of the Republican State Committee until about 1910 when he declined election. In 1911, Adams wrote that he suffered a nervous breakdown and had never held or sought public office since. He did engage in the practice of law, continuing at least until 1936, the date of his writing.

The small quantity of letters reflect the professional and civic life of Allen Adams. There is a signed letter of John J. Pershing (3 June 1924), by then retired from active duty as Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, but continuing in his commission as General of the Armies. The letter graciously declines Adams's invitation that Pershing be the chief speaker at the Fourth of July Clebration of the American Legion and other patriotic organizations of Greensboro.

Includes certificates, forms, letters regarding military service, and status as a first lieutenant with the Reserve Officers after Adams's honorable discharge, 3rd of June 1918, followed by a period of service as a second lieutenant until ca. 5 March 1919. Also includes papers regarding membership in the Reserve Officers Association.

Most of the speeches were made on Armistice Day, November the 11th. Includes references to the American Legion. Some of the speeches appear to be drafts, or the final copy [typed or carbon of typed document] with corrections inserted by hand.

Includes address by Adams on the Greensboro Police Field Day, July 4, 1928, and a program of events other than the address by Mr. Allen Adams. According to the program, there were separate games for the white boys (such as greasy pole; pony race) and the Negro boys (greasy pig with catcher getting the pig; apple tub dive). Some speeches contains references to the American Legion.

References in various speeches to the American Legion. One speech was made to the pupils and patrons of the Little School.

It is possible that this speech was written by Allen Adams's father, Spencer Bell Adams. Includes reference to the influences of several Baptist women, Mrs. Hiatt, Mrs. John W. Payne, Mrs. Jolly, Mrs. Cole, Mrs. Thomas, and Mrs. Newton, of the Greensboro area. Among the minsisters named were the Reverend John Joshua James; the Reverend John Mitchell; Elder Elias Dodson, and others.

Includes programs, publications, including programs of Memorial Day events, church bulletins, and the North Carolina Bar Association Convention program, 1926