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Nabb Center Finding Aid Portal

Items Dated Between 1650 and 1659

Nabb Center Map Collections

by Unknown (1500 – 1900s)

folders ( linear feet)

This finding aid includes listings for nearly all of the maps in the Nabb Center archives. Many maps are originals, but a significant portion are reproductions. The majority of the maps relate to the Delmarva Peninsula, though there are many other American and international maps from throughout time. Each map was given an identifier and title; descriptions, dates, and present location are recorded when possible. Maps may be part of other collections and are referenced here. Please refer to the inventory for a complete listing of the map collection.

Associated Subjects: Maps
Identifier: 2020.000
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Purnell Family Collection

by Purnell, Willard (1520 – 1944)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Purnell Family Collection contains genealogical information on the Purnell family. Included in the collection is a Purnell family migration map, a Purnell pedigree chart, and information on the Purnell family coat of arms.

Associated Subjects: Purnell Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 2006.252
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Joseph Shores Collection

by Shores, Joseph (1521 – 1999)

5 boxes (2 linear feet)

In 2009, Joseph Shores collected material relating to the family history of a large number of families living on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. While the collection primarily consists of handwritten notes, there are also family trees, official documents, tax records, marriage records, censuses, correspondences, maps, and military records. Also included are research papers, a Historical American Buildings Survey Inventory, currency collections, a Somerset County Historical Society correspondence, and other miscellaneous items. All are reproductions.

Associated Subjects: None
Identifier: 2009.029
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Judge Lloyd Simpkins collection

by Simpkins, Lloyd (1524 – 1774)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Judge Lloyd Simpkins Collection contains a copy of the Captain John Smith map of the Chesapeake Bay in the early 1600s. Also included are two essays written by Judge Lloyd Simpkins. One is titled "Lower Delmarva's First Explorer" which discusses Captain John Smith, and "Somerset County 1500-1700", which discusses the history of Somerset County from 1524 to 1774.

Associated Subjects: Maps
Identifier: 1988.034
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Murray Family Genealogy

by Unknown (1525 – 1764)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Murray Family Genealogy contains genealogical information on the Murray family. The collection contains genealogy pedigrees, which includes the birth and death dates of Murray family members, along with who their children or parents are.

Associated Subjects: Murray Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 2006.269
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Betty Murrell Collection

by Murrell, Betty (1550 – 1986)

4 folders (0.04 linear feet)

The genealogies of several families are explored in this collection including the Willey, Wallace, Hargrave, Kfoury, Medford, Manlove, Bailey and others. Within the collection, there are land deeds, wills of people who had died, coat of arms for families that originated in England, and baptism records. All these families are able to trace ancestors to Accomack County, Somerset County, and Dorchester County.

Identifier: 1986.002
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Walter Wilson Genealogy Research Collection

by Walter, Wilson B. III (1595 – 1866)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Walter Wilson Genealogy Research Collection contains genealogical pedigrees on local Delmarva people . Some of the genealogical pedigrees included are on Mary Meacham, Walter Byrd Wilson I, Samuel French Moore, etc. There is also a small biography on John Byrd and how he was shot by a yankee soldier in Byrds Tavern.

Associated Subjects: Genealogy
Identifier: 2002.004
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Bevans Family Collection

by Bevans, Roland (1600 – 1901)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Information on the Bevans family.

Associated Subjects: Beavans Family • Bevans Family • Bibbins Family
Identifier: 1991.003
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Dioce Land Record Collection

by Unknown (1600 – 1800)

1 oversize box (2.5 linear feet)

This collection contains many original documents from the 17th, 18th, and 19th century. It is made up of various indentures, copy of wills, and accounts relating to Sussex County, Delaware (Purnell Family), Worcester County, MD (Franklin Family), and Somerset County.

Associated Subjects: Benton Family • McCrea Family • Miller Family • Genealogy • Land Records
Identifier: 2007.018
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Malissa Small collection

by Unknown (1600, 1900s)

3 folders (0.03 linear feet)

This genealogical collection covers the family history of Malissa Small. Several families are focused within the collection such as the Gray, Seabreeze, and Tarr families. The material has a large focus on marriages through public marriage documents and news paper clippings. There are also wills of many members of Malissa Small's family.

Associated Subjects: Gray Family • Seabreeze Family • Tarr Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 1985.013
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Richard W. Cooper papers

by Cooper, Richard Waller (1605 – 2001)

18 boxes,  2 oversize folders (12.5 linear feet)

The Richard Cooper papers document his professional and personal activities through his collection of materials dating from 1605 to 2001. The documents focus on the religious and political histories of Wicomico and Worcester County as well as the history of the Mason-Dixon Boundary Line depicted through Cooper’s column in the Daily Times. The papers also document the topographic history of Delmarva through Cooper’s career as an engineering surveyor. Documents from his surveying career and interests include topographic maps, survey certificates, land deeds, and plats. A photograph album documents the construction of his family home at 611 Tony Tank Lane in Salisbury, Maryland. Materials within the collection include newspaper clippings, photographs, family histories, and correspondence. Drafts and manuscripts of Cooper’s published works on the history of Salisbury, Profile of a Colonial Community, Salisbury in Times Gone By, and Portrait of Salisbury are contained within the collection.

Identifier: 1987.093
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Eastern Shore Brochure and Pamphlet Collection

by Unknown (1609 – 2010)

9 boxes (9 linear feet)

This Collection consists of Brochures and Booklets primarily pertaining to the Eastern Shore. Overall its central focus is Maryland/Delmarva. The Date Range of the Collection is 1609-2010.

Associated Subjects: Agriculture • Art • Culture • Education • Maps • Maritime • Architecture • Genealogy
Identifier: 2010.101
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Frederick L. Howard Collection

by Howard, Fredrick L. (1613 – 1911)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Frederick L. Howard Collection contains an essay written by Howard titled, "The Legacy of Revell's Neck." This essay, which won the Old Home Prize Essay contest in 1978, discusses the settling and founding of Revell's Neck in Somerset County, Maryland. It then discusses a brief history of the area and ends with birth and death dates of people who had lived there.

Associated Subjects: Death Records
Identifier: 1995.052
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

DuPont Family Collection

by DuPont, Dolores L. (1621 – 1995)

11 folders (0.11 linear feet)

The DuPont Family Collection contains genealogical information on the DuPont family conducted by Dolores L. DuPont. Included is her application to become a member of The National Society of the Colonial Dames of America in the State of Maryland, an article resulting from her investigation into the location of the grave of Gov. Samuel Stevens, Jr. (1778-1860), research on her great-great grandfather Dr. John Barnett (1780-1858), information on Dr. Nathaniel Potter, brother-in-law of Barnett (both married Golsborough's, Potter Sarah F. and Barnett Catherine), the property "Boston", the descendants of William Burgess (1622-1685) and the Marada movie house of St. Michael's. Photographs of the Custis tombs in Northampton, VA are also part of the collection.

Associated Subjects: DuPont Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 1998.094
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Eastern Shore Counties collection

by Ellegood, Maria LouiseFenwick, Charles E.Hall, Elizabeth (1625 – 1967)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Eastern Shore Counties collection contains a copy of the "Eastern Shoreman" which highlights the start of the oyster season. Additionally, this collection contains a copy of the "Holly Leaf" from November 3, 1967, a sketch of the early history of Wicomico County written by Maria Louise Ellegood, a souvenir pamphlet from Crisfield that details some of the areas unknown history written by Elizabeth Hall, and a history of St. Mary's County written by Charles E. Fenwick.

Associated Subjects: None
Identifier: 2009.249
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Laws Family Collection

by Unknown (1625 – 1960)

4 folders,  1 oversize folder (2.54 linear feet)

The Laws Family collection contains genealogical information on the Laws Family. There are genealogical descriptions of Laws family members, with a birth, death, and marriage date. There are also bibliographic information for some of the more prominent family members. There are also photographs of family members, and the places they lived. The majority of the Laws family members on the Eastern Shore lived in Accomack County, Virginia, Somerset, Worcester, and Wicomico County, Maryland. There is also a Daughters of the Revolution application within for Mary Balle Hastings Holland, who descended from William Laws (1753-1831).

Associated Subjects: Laws Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 2007.073
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Massey Estate Collection

by Massey Family (1627 – 2000)

3 cartons (3 linear feet)

This collection consists of family research about the Massey family and other families on the Lower Eastern Shore. The collection contains copies of original wills, estate inventories, family trees, and related materials. All of the original documents in this collection are photocopies, print-outs, or photostats unless otherwise indicated.

Associated Subjects: Massey Family • Family Life
Identifier: 2005.077
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Vance Bradford Collection

by Bradford, Vance (1630 – 1930)

5 folders (0.05 linear feet)

The Vance Bradford Collection is based on the genealogical research of the Bradford Family. Vance Bradford did this research to publish a book over the family history of the Bradford's. This collection covers twenty years of research that involved correspondence, a "Bradford Descendants" newsletter, census indexes, lineage graphs, and descendant questionnaires. There are passages of the Bradford family book within this collection.

Associated Subjects: Bradford Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 1990.002
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Phillips, Cooper, Roberts Families collection

by Unknown (1634 – 1992)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Phillips, Cooper, Roberts Family History Collection contains photographs and genealogical information on the Phillips, Cooper, and Roberts families. Included are three pictures of the Cooper family with corresponding birth and death dates. The collection also contains family reunion pamphlets, an invitation and picture of Aunt Blossom's 95th birthday party, a marriage certificate, and postcards. There is also genealogical biographies for the three families.

Associated Subjects: Cooper Family • Phillips Family • Roberts Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 2011.026
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Carol Atkins Sherr Collection

by Sherr, Carol Atkins (1636 – 1949)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains genealogical information on the Atkins Family. It includes where Atkins members were born, who they were married to, where they were married, how many children they had, and where they moved to. There is also legal information about the members, such as foreclosures, and family members suing each other.

Associated Subjects: Atkins Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 1990.064
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Silverthorne Family Collection

by Silverthorne Family (1636 – 1991)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Silverthorne Family Collection contains an in-depth genealogical history of the Silverthorne family. There are multiple family trees within the collection, and volumes 12-14 of their family newsletter. There are birth, death, and marriage dates within the collection. There are details as to why there are Silverthorne family members in the Midwest. The earliest member of the family mention is William Silverthorne who was born in 1636 on the Eastern Shore of Virginia.

Associated Subjects: Silverthorne Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 1995.037
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Maryland Executions Collection

by Unknown (1638 – 1961)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains a list of Maryland executions dating from 1638 to 1961. Data includes races, name, age, occupation, method and county.

Associated Subjects: Death Records
Identifier: 2006.056
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Historical Society of Kent County Genealogical Collection

by Bell, Albert D. (1639 – 1948)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

This collection contains genealogical material on the Layton, Bell and Hollis families. This includes a manuscript by Albert D. Bell entitled Hollis Notes, 1639-1948: From Public and Private Records in the States of Maryland and Delaware and a genealogical chart of some of the descendants of Captain Nathaniel and Sarah Bell. There is an oversized folder with the charts of the Washington and Bell families.

Associated Subjects: Bell Family • Genealogy • Hollis Family • Layton Family • Washington Family
Identifier: 2006.315
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Polk Family History Collection

by Polk, John F. (1640 – 1918)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Polk Family History Collection contains genealogical information on the Polk Family. There is a family tree of the Polk family dating from 1640-1918 within Somerset County, Maryland. Within, there is a legal will, land patent, and a memoir by Esther Winder Polk Lowe (Enoch Louis Lowe) (1824-1918). All the documents have been transcribed by John F. Polk.

Associated Subjects: Polk Family • Land Records • Women's History • Genealogy
Identifier: 1998.139
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Riggin Family papers

by Riggin, Allan E.Riggin, George F. (1640 – 1993)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Riggin Family Collection contains genealogical information about the Riggin family. Within is a detailed family tree constructed by Allan and George Riggin. The family tree starts with Riggin family members who originated in Ireland and immigrated to the Eastern Shore. There is also information regarding Riggin land records between Somerset, Sussex, Worcester, and Wicomico County.

Associated Subjects: Riggin Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 1994.024
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Charles Chaille-Long collection

by Unknown (1645 – 1935)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

Letter of Charles Chaille-Long was written from Charles in 1912. Additionally, there is genealogical information on the Long family, going through Charles Chaille-Long. The genealogical letter to the editor was to correct misinformation regarding the lineage of the Long family.

Associated Subjects: Long Family • Genealogy
Identifier: 1987.033
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Thomas Crockett Book

by Crockett, Thomas (1650 – 1894)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Thomas Crockett Book contains two copies of the book titled "History of Tangier Island" written by Thomas Crockett. The book contains a history of Tangier Island from its founding to 1984.

Associated Subjects: None
Identifier: 1983.006
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Pemberton Historical Park Collection

by Unknown (1989)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Pemberton Historical Park Collection contains a 1984 pamphlet over Pemberton Historical Park. Also included is a brief history of the Pemberton family from 1651-1753.

Associated Subjects: Pemberton Family
Identifier: 2007.137
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Anne B. Nock collection

by Nock, Anne B.Nock, Floyd (1652 – 1998)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The Anne B. Nock collection contains three essays on Onancock, Virginia, and William Claiborne. The essays included are "Vaux Hall: Accomack County, Virginia: 1652-1972", written by Floyd Nock, "A Walk through History with William Claiborne", and "Onancock, Virginia: Child of the Bay", written by Anne B. Nock. The collection also contains various restorations, physical mapping, and history of Vaux Hall, one of the oldest settlements in Accomack County, Virginia.

Associated Subjects: Architecture
Identifier: 1992.010
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Nestor Bleech collection

by Unknown (1655 – 1890)

1 folder (0.01 linear feet)

The collection of Nestor Bleech contains sepia-toned photographic images from the late 1880s of Northampton County, Virginia as well as a 1655 printing of the 'Virginia and Maryland. OR, The Lord Baltimore's Printed Case, uncased and answered,' that includes arguments made against Baltimore's Maryland claim.

Associated Subjects: Bleech Family
Identifier: 1999.003
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment

Henry Fillmore Lankford Papers

by Lankford, Henry Fillmore (1659 – 1920)

3 folders (0.3 linear feet)

The Henry Fillmore Lankford papers consist of wills and genealogical information kept by Lankford, an attorney in Somerset County, Maryland, between 1909 and 1920. The wills primarily document Somerset and Northampton County families in the 17th and 18th centuries. Also included are two oversize items: a 1911 issue of "The Canned Good Trade" and a circa 1911 advertisement for Chevrolet automobiles.

Associated Subjects: Canning Industry • Genealogy • Lankford Family • Littleton Family • Porter Family
Identifier: 2006.360
Repository: Local History Archives
Attachment: No attachment