Compiled
by
Sharon Brown McConnell
Archival Assistant
Eastern Kentucky University
Green - Fife - White - Family
Papers, (1797-1955)
.45 cubic feet
750 items
1 box
89A6
Introduction to Green-Fife-White Family Papers
Genealogy of the Green-White-Fife Family
Correspondence Series
Deeds and Surveys Series
Diary of Martha White Series.
Financial Series
Genealogy Series
Miscellaneous Series
Receipts Series
Teaching Certificates Series
Wills Series
The Green - Fife - White Family Papers are divided into nine series contained in one box. The dates of the contents range from 1797 to 1955 with most of the material written in the nineteenth century. All nine of the series are grouped in separate folders and arranged chronologically within each folder. This arrangement gives the researcher a chance to see the family develop dramatically from a single Irish immigrant who married the daughter of another Irish immigrant to a large network of thriving affluent citizens. Of the nine series, only the first, the Correspondence Series is large enough to warrant two folders and three subseries. Much more is contained than simple family to family messages. Many of the letters from Ireland reflect the sudden poverty of those living there during the Potato Famine as contrasted against the farm life in Richmond, Kentucky at that time. Other series included are Deeds and Surveys Series, Financial Series, Genealogy Series, Miscellaneous Series, Receipts Series, and Wills Series. Some oversize items are filed in a flat newspaper box. Credit must be given to the donor, Ms. J.A. Morris a direct descendent of the family, who carefully assembled all of the records. Some of the very fragile pieces were photocopied to facilitate handling and use by researchers. Some items have been laminated by family members previous to the presenting of the papers to the Archives. The compilation was made easier by the separation into categories of about one-third of the collection and the listing of these by a graduate student in a class taught by Dr. Robert N. Grise. Several years passed between this original sorting and the final compilation.
In 1793, Margaret Ross of Ireland was married to Daniel Green of Maryland. They had six children. Of these a daughter, Mary, married Alexander Fife of Ireland on August 2, 1832. It was their daughter Mary Elizabeth Green Fife who married Brutus White on October 30, 1866. Mr. White died in 1916, but Mrs. White lived well into the twentieth century. She died in 1947 at the age of 101. Six of ten children survived her. The correspondence involving those in these three families, Green - Fife - White, comprises much of the collection revealing a great deal of information about the life and times of these families for over a century. A genealogical chart is included in these papers. Much is learned of the families by reading the deeds, surveys, and wills. Land exchanged hands among family members easily and often. This was indeed a very loosely ‘woven but close knit family.’ This is evident in the given names of the children. Each family seemed to have an Alexander, William, Mary, Daniel, or John. In reading through the papers it is necessary to go back to the genealogical chart from time-to-time to further check on who-was-who. However the name is chosen to be spelled, Fife, Fiffe, Fyfe, Green, Greene, Ross , or White, it represents a family of sturdy folks who still flourish in Madison County and Central Kentucky. The family is represented locally in many professions: teaching, medicine, shop-keepers, and affluent farmers. From the tone and substance found in these papers it is obvious the family is literate to well educated.
Description:
The Correspondence Series contains well over one hundred folders. To facilitate use by researchers they have been divided into sub-series and calendared. The letters from Ireland date from 1824 to 1903 with the bulk being prior to 1848. This series includes one letter from Pennsylvania which was included here because it talks about the same family members as those before and after it. Those between 1824-1849 are in one folder, while the second letters are written between 1850-1939. The bulk of the correspondence bears dates in the 1800s. Most of the letters in the folder are letters to Alexander Fife from family member. The first is from his mother, Ann Fife. This letter indicates that Alexander Fife had been in America for six years at that time. Other letters are from his brothers in Ireland. All contain family news, references to Alexander's own glory, praise for a merciful God, and much information on the economic conditions in Ireland. Many other letters are to James R. Green. There is at least one letter to Daniel Green, the father of James R.
Inventory:
Folder 1 Correspondence - Green Family Subseries,
1821 -1849
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Undated
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From:
Solon Miller
Laminated with 9-7-1829 Sophia T. Hawkins James R. Green (Brother) Mary R. Green (Sister) Mary R. Green James R. Green
James R. Green
William Ross
Margaret |
To:
James R. Green
Misses Green
James R. Green
pt. Letter Daniel Green
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Folder 2 Correspondence - Ireland Subseries, 1824- 1903
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5-16-1824 |
Ann
Fife Ann Fife (Mother) Ann Fife Ann Fife (Mother) David Fyffe (Brother) William Fyffe (Brother) William Fyffe (Brother) William Fife (Brother) William Fyffe William Fyffe Archibald & Latoria Moor (Uncle & Aunt) William Fife William Fyffe William Fife & Charles Forbes William Fife William Fife Charles & Elizabeth Forbes William Fife Ann Fife Charles Forbes William Fife William & Eliza Fife (Br. & Sister) William & Elizabeth Fife David Fife Lizie Gilmour Samuel & Eliza Gilmour (Friend & Cousin) Alexander Henry Alexander Henry Alexander Henry (Friend) Alexander Henry May T. S. Green (Cousin) Alexander Henry John Hutchinson (Friend) Alexander Forbes (Cousin) Alexander Forbes Alexander Forbes E. Whittlsey (Piano Teacher) E. Whittlsey E. Whittlsey Gustava Dieckman E. Whittlsey E. Whittlsey E. Whittlsey E. Whittlsey E. Whittlsey A. F. F. Gustven Dieckman E. Whittlsey E. Whittlsey William N. Nonnell William (Love) ? William (Love) William (Love) William (Love) William (Love) George W. French (Love) William (Love) Beatty Lyons Gustavan Dieckman Gustavan Dieckman Beatty Lyons Bettie Beatty Lyons Betty Mieler Beatty Lyons Beatty Lyons Mary C. Armstrong Buster (Brutus & Alex) Bettie Fannie F. Green (Cousin) Emma (child at school) (Sister) James R. Green Homi T. Long (Ky Ins Deaf & Dumb) Betty Peck William Nonnell POSTCARD Mary E. G. Fife
David Fife Will Watts Will Watts George (Poem)
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Alexander
Fife Alexander Fyffe Alexander Fife Alexander Fife (Son) Alexander Fyffe Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fyffe Alexander Fyffe Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander & Mary Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Alexander Fife Cousin Brother & Cusin Friend & Cusin Mr. Fife (Friend) Mr. Fife (Friend) James Fife James Fife James R. Fife James Fife James Fife James Fife James Fife James Fife Mary Mary Mary Miss Marie Mr. Fife Mr. Fife Mary Mr. Fife Mr. Fife Mother Mollie Mr. Fife Mary Mary E. Fife Mary Mary Mary Mary Mary Mary Miss Mollie Mary Mary Mary Mary Mary Fife Mary
Annie
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Description:
Over thirty deeds and surveys are included in this series, the earliest being dated in 1797. As within other series some of the documents were laminated by the owner before being donated to the Archives. Certain others have been photocopied because of the fragile nature of the paper. Others have held up quite well over the years. The latest deed is dated 1881 and is filed preceding three undated years of surveys. Some of the surveys were signed by John Crooke and Kiah Crooke, early surveyors in Kentucky. Information contained in the deeds indicated that much land was handed back and forth among family. It is also obvious that members of the family had large tracts of land.
Inventory:
Folder 3
04-21-1797
Green to ?
09-13-1799 To Green
10-06-1802 Green To Caldwell
05-14-1814 Survey by J.
Anderson for Daniel Green
12-09-1819 A. Smith
to D. Green
02-16-1820 Asa Smith to Green
02-25-1820 Asa Smith to Green
09-12-1821 Page to Green
10-07-1822 Tandy Page to
D. Green
09-08-1826 Clark to D.
Green
06-20-1828 Survey for William
Ross
09-13-1829 Green to Guyer
12-08-1829 Guyer to Green
01-05-1830 Alverston to Green
10-31-1831 Survey for Mary
Potter from John Stone
05-03-1837 Fife to J.
Green
1839-1840 Taxable Property
(Mary Fife)
05-15-1855 Survey for J.
Green from Crooke
03-05-1860 Anderson March
to Wm. Fife
04-13-1860 Survey for Andy
March by Kiah Crooke
05-01-1860 Andy March to
Wm. S. G. Fife
12-18-1860 Wm. Fife
to Alex Ffe
05-20-1867 Wm. Fife's
purchase
05-29-1867 Mary Fife to J.
R. G. Fife
01-18-1868 S. Turner
to William Fife
03-04-1868 S. Turner
to William Fife
11-05-1868 A. M. White to
Brutus White
05-10-1869 Wm. S. G. Fife
to Jas. R. G. & Alex G. Fife
12-18-1877 Fife to Fife
03-19-1878 Brutus White to
W. S. G. Fife
05-21-1881 James R. G. Fife
06-09-1881 W. S. G. to Jas.
R. G. Fife
Undated
Elihu Green to David Green
Undated
Miller to Smith
Undated
Survey by John Parish
Description:
The first entry in the diary of Martha White is December 30, 1905 when she left Richmond, Kentucky to become a trained nurse in Dr. Price's Hospital in Philadelphia. For the next three years subsequent entries describe her fellow nurses, the patients, their ailments, her activities during her free time, the names of churches she attended, clothing she purchased, and trips she enjoyed on her holidays. The diary is in remarkably good condition although the paper is yellowing and becoming brittle. The diary is a careful chronicle of Miss White's life during her first three years in Philadelphia.
Inventory
Folder 4
Diary of Martha White 1905-08
Description:
Two loose documents are in this series, both have been photocopied. One is a one page note held by Mrs. Ann White and is dated August 25, 1865. The paper is waterstained but very readable. Also included in this series is an account book belonging to Daniel Green. It is in less than perfect condition and must be handled with care. Listed are the birthdates of slaves and their given names. Also listed are the dates hogs were sold and the names of those who purchased the swine. The selling price per hog is sometimes given.
Inventory:
Folder 5
1.
Note held by Ann White
8/25/1865
2. List of slaves and livestock with purchase prices
1800's
3. Account book of Daniel Green
1800's
Description:
This series contains several clippings on Mary White and Irvine White, the family record section from the Bible of Daniel Green, a list of those buried in the Green Cemetery on Barnes Mill Road, and a family tree giving the names of the descendents of Daniel Green and Margaret Ross. Most of the material has been photocopied and like items are filed together. The dates of the clippings are ca. 1940s while the Bible records begin in 1794 and end about 1869.
Inventory:
Folder 6
1
Various articles on:
a. Mary White
b. Irvine White
2 Bible (Daniel Green) - Family record from Bible
3 Green Cemetery, Barnes Mill Road, names and dates from
tombstones.
Description:
This series consists of twenty-five items ranging from a poem entitled 'To My Bobwhite" by Katheryn Parke to a copy of the oath in 1850 admitting Alexander Fife as a citizen of the United States. Several oversize items are filed separately in a newspaper box. These are the original documents rather than photocopies. The dates of this collection are 1827-1955.
Inventory:
Folder 7
10-05-1827
Liberal Arts degree from Washington College (Pittsburg, PA) to Jacob R.
Green
02-01-1830 James R. Green speech for the 22nd of
February (George Washington's Birthday)
09-17-1832 Bill of sales - slave- Wm. Morrison to
Daniel Green
06-15-1837 Gift of slaves deeded to Alexander Fife
and wife Mary R. from Daniel Green
09-00-1850 Oath admitting Alexander Fife as citizen
of U.S.
10-18-1852 Plaintiffs: Richard Freeman, William Ross,
Elizabeth Ross
Defendants: William R. Green, Alexander and Mary Fife, Allen Anderson
(2 copies)
07-04-1860 Diploma from Commercial College of Cincinatti
to Daniel Fife
04-01-1861 Report card for Alexander Fife (son of
Mary and Alexander Fife)
08-07-1862 Oath of Allegiance - Alexander R.G. Fife
09-18-1863 Military Oath - Alexander R.G. Fife
09-21-1864 Draft notice - slave - Gige ? Fife
06-29-1865 M.D. diploma from Long Island Hopsital
College to Alexander Green Fife
03-23-1865 Military Oath - Durrett White
11-07-1898 Funeral Notice - Jane R. Green
06-01-1900 Diploma from Caldwell High School to Miss
Lee Forest White
05-28-1901 Diploma from Madison Female Institute
to Martha Turner White
01-09-1915 Ticket from San Diego Exposition
07-05-1921 News Clipping - Betty Forbes - Heat stroke
02-28-1947 Thank you note from Mary F. White to Brutus
J. White
03-09-1955 News Clipping - Razing of John Bradford
home
Undated Letter
to James Green from Milinking ?
Undated Reward
of Merit (2) - Sarah White
Undated Sympathy
card from Eugene Brown
Undated Mrs.
Brutus White "news clipping"
Undated Poem
"To My Bobwhite" by Katheryn Parke
Description:
Twenty-two receipts are included in this serIes. They consist of a bill of sale of slaves to Daniel Green from 1808-1822, business receipts for school tuition and merchandise, a few cancelled checks, receipts of payments to Mary Fife, and a receipt for funeral services for family members. Some items are laminated or photocopied. The earliest receipt is September 1808 and the latest May 1901.
Inventory:
Folder 8
09-09-1808
Sales of Slaves - To Daniel Green
07-01-1811 Sales of Slaves
- To Daniel Green
10-12-1822 Sales of Slaves
- To Daniel Green
01-02-1822 Sale of Merchandise
- to Alex Fife
02-22-1844 Payment to Sidney
Green (Legacy)
01-05-1846 Note indicating
money owed to Sidney Green
11-09-1846 Books and tuition
for Daniel ans William Fife
05-24-1847 Payment to Sidney
Green (Legacy)
08-16-1851 Receipt for tuition
(Alex Fife)
08-19-1851 Receipt for interest
in school home (A. Fife)
10-03-1865 Received of Brutus
White - Ann and Mark White
05-27-1867 Payment in full
- Funeral Services - James Fife
01-01-1868 Received of Brutus
White - Mary R. Fife
01-01-1869 Received of J.R.G.
Fife - Mary R. Fife
01-01-1869 Received of Brutus
White - Mary R. Fife
01-01-1870 Received of Brutus
White - Mary R. Fife
01-01-1872 I.O.U. to Brutus
White from M. Turner
06-03-1872 I.O.U. to Brutus
White from C.H. Howenton
01-01-1874 Receipt from tuition
installment
03-02-1888 Funeral Services
- W.S.G. Fife and Brututs White
07-07-1900 Cancelled check
to Leon Fife from Brutus White
05-01-1901 Cancelled check
to Annie Fife from Brutus White
Description:
There are two teaching certificates in this series, one to Miss Margaret Green in 1850; the other to her son, David G. Fife in 1860. Laminated with the latter is a note giving Daniel G. Fife permission to build a schoolhouse. The certificate of Miss Green is photocopied and the original certificate is attached.
Inventory:
Folder 9
05-27-1850
Certification for Margaret R. Green
01-12-1860 Certification for Daniel G. Fife (Son of Margaret
R. Green)
01-22-1862 Permission to build a school and teach (Daniel
G. Fife)
Description:
The Wills Series consists of two wills, that of William Ross to Mr. & Mrs. Daniel Green and that will of Daniel Green. Also included is a settlement of household goods between William Green and Alexander Fife. These items have been laminated and then photocopied for easier use. They are dated 1838, 1840, and 1841.
Inventory:
Folder 10
11-03-1838
Will of William Ross to Daniel Green and Wife
05-18-1840 Will of Daniel
Green
09-12-1841 Settlement pertaining
to "household and kitchen" goods between William Green and Alex Fife
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