GUIDE TO THE
MARY MARTHA REID PAPERS
1821 – 1892
MSS 92 – 16
.35 cubic feet
Processed By
Mimi Klug
March 2004
Biographical Note
Mary Martha Reid was born in St. Mary’s, Georgia on September 19, 1812. She was the daughter of Captain James and Mary (Thorpe) Smith. While visiting St. Augustine in 1836, she met Judge Robert Raymond Reid, judge of the U.S. Superior Court for East Florida, subsequently (1839) appointed territorial governor by President Van Buren. They were married on November 29, 1836. They had two sons, William Travers
(d. 1842) and Raymond Jenckes (d. 1864). Governor Reid died on July 1, 1841. Mrs. Reid opened a school to support herself. Within a year, her eldest son, William, also died.
At the outbreak of the Civil War, her surviving son, Raymond, joined the Confederate Army. Mrs. Reid traveled to Richmond, Virginia to be near him, where she served with great distinction as a matron of the Florida Hospital. On May 6, 1864, Raymond died as a result of his wounds received in the Battle of the Wilderness. At the war’s end, Mrs. Reid made her way back to Florida and established a school in Palatka, Florida. Her last 15 years were spent in the home of her nephew, Judge Samuel Swann, of Fernandina, Florida where she died on June 24, 1894. The first Florida chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy (organized 1897) was named for her. In 1900, this chapter placed a memorial window in St. Peter’s Church, Fernandina.
Scope and Content
The collection consists mostly of letters written to Mary Martha Reid during the Civil War. Mrs. Reid was the Matron of the Florida Hospital in Richmond, VA. Her friends and family lived in St. Augustine, FL and the surrounding area. They wrote her many letters about life in that place and time. They talked about the sadness of losing loved ones, of the hardships in daily living, and of the scarcity of goods.
There are also twenty letters of condolence t5o Mrs. Reid on the death of her son, Raymond, in the Battle of the Wilderness. These letters reflect the grief and sorrow felt by all the women, referring to the war as “cruel” and “horrid." Every letter reinforces their strong belief in God.
Included in the collection is a thirteen page account, “What I Know of the Travers Family,” written by Mrs. Reid. Her sister, Rebecca, was married to William Travers and, after his death, became the wife of Joseph Finegan (who later served as a General in the Civil War). Mrs. Reid had much praise for Travers and contempt for Finegan.
Newspaper articles, which have been transcribed, cover the years from 1821 – 1860. These mention the Swann family business and also contain items of genealogical interest.
Organization
Folders 1 – 2 Biographical information on M.M. Reid and miscellaneous poems and papers written by Judge Raymond Reid.
Folders 3 – 14 Letters to M.M. Reid from family and friends 1860 – 1864.
Folders 15 – 20 Miscellaneous letters and papers. Also biographical information on
William Travers. The papers in Folder 17 have items of
interest concerning James Smith, William Travers, John Forbes,
Joseph Finegan & Samuel Swann.
Arrangement
The letters are arranged in groups and then in chronological order.
Related Collections
The Swann Papers are in bulk at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. (Samuel A. Swann was the nephew of M.M. Reid).
Subject Headings
Reid, Mary Martha
Women – Florida – Civil
Civil War – Florida – Women
Civil War – Confederate Army – Personal Narrative
St/ Augustine (FL) – Social Life & Customs – 1862 – 1864
Travers, William
Finegan, Joseph
Fleming, Francis P.
Biographical Summary
FOLDER 1
Autobiography – Typewritten. Copy
Newspaper obituary. Photocopied.
An account of the death of Raymond Jenckes Reid. From Confederate Military History.
Soldier Detail. A timeline for Raymond Jenckes Reid.
Miscellaneous Papers, Poems Written By Gov. R.R. Reid
FOLDER 2
“”Serenade “
“The Sick May Dream”
“The Authorized English Version Formed from the ‘Bishop’s Bible’”
One handwritten item – unsigned and undated with typed transcript.
Letters to Mary Martha Reid from her son, Raymond Jenckes Reid, during the Civil War.
FOLDER 3
17 Dec 1862…......Camp near Fredericksburg. Mentions another victory, enemy dead
and prisoners, town being plundered, and a flag sent to his regiment
by the Gov. of FL and made by the ladies of Tallahassee.
12 Mar 1864…….Raymond writes concerning parcels of food sent, exchange of
prisoners and family death.
24 Mar 1864…….Headquarters, 2nd FL Regiment Infantry. Concerned about mothers
health. Mentions playing in snow.
11 Apr 1864……..Headquarters, 2nd FL Regiment. Signature torn off. Mentions
Mother’s improved health and her move to Hernando Grove with a
doctor and his wife.
17 Apr 1864……..Headquarters, 2nd FL Regiment Infantry. Writes that Sgt. Cummings
will be coming to Richmond and would she send some clothing back
with him.
Envelope which contained the last letter Mrs. Reid received from her son, containing a
lock of his hair.
Letters to M.M. Reid 1860 – 1862
FOLDER 4
14 Jul 1860............from E.R. Ives, chairman of the Soldier’s Relief Committee.
Re: travel to Richmond under the protection of Dr. Hunter.
26 Mar 1861…… from S.R. Mallery U.S. Senator from FL and later, Confederate
Sec. of the Navy. Re: military appt. for Raymond Reid.
07 Jan 1862……...from H.B. Jenckes. St. Augustine. Typed transcript. Speaks of
scarcity of items and financial hard times. Talks of social life in
St. Augustine and mentions friends and acquaintances of Mrs. Reid.
10 Mar 1862….....from H. B. Jenckes. St. Augustine. Typed transcript. Says that “the
Blues” are nearby and that St. Augustine may raise a white flag. Very
newsy letter about their friends’ hardships and their feelings about the
war. Adds, 2 days later, that the town has surrendered.
26 May 1862….....from H.B. Jenches. St. Augustine. Typed transcript. Again, talks of
Life and acquaintances in the town.
Letters to M.M. Reid 1863 – 1864
FOLDER 5
26 Feb 1863…...from C.M. Hallowes. Almost illegible, but speaks of the writers’
sorrow over her son’s missing in action.
22 Mar 1863…..from C.M. Hallowes. Response to Mrs. Reid’s letter of condolence.
04 May 1863…..from C.M. Hallowes. Asks Mrs. Reid’s help in trying to locate her
son
29 June 1863…..from C.M. Hallowes. Hopes her son is a prisoner of war.
13 July 1863…...from Emmie Wescott. Mentions some names of battles and son missing
in action. Gives news of friends.
FOLDER 6
30 Oct 1863…..from Anna Dummett. Talks about family and friends.
07 Nov 1863….from Mary A. Gould. News about the war and friends.
22 Nov 1863….from Flora in Ellisville.
no date………...from K.P. Calhoun in Orange Springs. Mrs. Reid’s house has
been occupied by the enemy but Mr. Jenckes removed all her
furniture.
FOLDER 7
03 Dec 1863……from Anna Dummett in Monticello. News about friends.
92 May 1864…...from Medical Director’s Office, Richmond, VA
21 May 1864…...from Cary Jones in Richmond. News of sick sister.
29 May 1864…...from Mary Jenckes. Asks Mrs. Reid if she could live with her after the
war.
28 Sept 1864…...from R.P. Daniel near Petersburg, VA. Thanks Mrs. Reid for sending a
present and his shirt.
Condolence Letters To M.M. Reid After the Death of Her Son, Raymond Jenckes Reid
FOLDER 8
10 May 1864…..from W.L. Perry. Richmond, VA
26 May 1864…..from Mary A. Gould. Lake City
26 May 1864…..from Fanny Williams. Sandy Ford. P.O.Madison
27 May 1864…..from S.W.W. Gibbs. Quincy
27 May 1864…..from Sarah Whitner. Praitie Acre, FL
FOLDER 9
16 Jun 1864…..from C.M. Hallowes. Bolingbroke
18 Jun 1864…..from A. Dummett. Monticello, FL
19 Jun 1864…..from F. Dancy. Ellisville
20 Jun 1864…..from Emma Westcott. Monticello
24 Jun 1864…..from Fanny Williams. Sandy Ford. P.O. Madison
FOLDER 10
04 Jul 1864…..from S.W.W. Gibbs. Quincy
11 Jul 1864…..from Maria M. Burtchall. Lake City
18 Jul 1864…..from Lizzie H. McNeill. Fayetteville
30 Aug 1864…from Anna Dummett. Monticello, FL
09 Sep 1864…from Fanny Williams. Sandy Ford, Madison
FOLDER 11
undated…..from Mary C. Reid.
undated…..from E.H. Brown
undated…..from Lizzie Thackera. Monticello
undated…..from Minnie G.
undated…..from Mary C. Reid
Letters from Robert Reid, Stepson of M.M. Reid
FOLDER 12
| 07 Jun 1862 | Sanderson. | Written to his sister. |
| 08 May 1863 | Sanderson. | With an added note from Robert’s wife, Mary. |
| 12 Jun 1863 | Sanderson. | |
| 21 Jul 1863 | Sanderson. | |
| 18 Aug 1863 | Sanderson. | |
| 27 Oct 1863 | Sanderson. |
From Mary Reid with an added note from Robert. |
FOLDER 13
| 04 Nov 1863 | Sanderson. | |
| 18 Aug 1863 | Sanderson. | |
| 16 Mar 1864 | Camp Milton, Army of Florida. | Tells about the death of his cousin, Frank, at the Battle of Ocean Pond |
| 26 May 1864 | Sanderson. | |
| 26 Jun 1864 | Sanderson. |
Letters from F.P. Fleming to M. M. Reid
FOLDER 14
| 08 Aug 1868 |
Thanks Mrs. Reid for sending some mementoes of Jenckes, his “best and dearest friend”. Handwritten |
| 24 Dec 1887 | Will provide certain affidavits for Mrs. Reid. Handwritten |
| 22 Oct 1890 |
Now Governor of the State of Florida. Asks Mrs. Reid for a full sized portrait of Gov. Reid to hang in the Executive Office. Handwritten. |
Miscellaneous
FOLDER 15
| 26 Jan 1863 |
Letter to F.C. Barrett fro R.F. Floyd. re: estate of Mrs. Carrie F. Butler. |
| 15 Mar 1864 |
Letter to F.C. Barrett from C.G. Memminger, Secretary of Treasury, C.S.A.. |
| 27 Jul 1864 |
Letter to F.C. Barrett from E.C. Elmore, Treasury of the Confederate States. |
| 27 Mar 1891 |
Letter to M.M. Reid from Thos. Maxey asking for info on Jenckes’life for book that he is writing. |
| 13 Jun 1892 |
Letter to Samuel Swann from Thos. Maxey. Requests a picture of General Finegan for his book. |
FOLDER 16
“What I Know of the Travers Family:” written by M.M. Reid. Typewritten copy.
16 pages.
FOLDER 17
These papers have items of interest about James Smith, William Travers, John Forbes, and Joseph Finegan. Typewritten copies.
FOLDER 18
Transcribed notices from newspapers: St. Augustine Herald 1821, 1823, 1832, 1833
The News 1840
The Florida News 1855-1856
The East Floridian 1859-1860
FOLDER 19
Miscellaneous papers.
FOLDER 20
Newspaper tributes to Mary Martha Reid.
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