About the Collection
The DeBerniere Family Papers, 1790-1930 (bulk 1790-1860) contains a letter from 1853 kept by the DeBerniere family.
The DeBerniere family’s presence in American began when John A. DeBerniere, a native of Ireland and a British army officer, immigrated with his family to America in 1799. The family first settled in North Carolina, and later resided in Columbia (S.C.) and Charleston (S.C.). For many years, the DeBerniere family kept up a frequent correspondence with relations and friends in Great Britain, including Elizabeth Longley DeBerniere, John A. DeBerniere’s sister-in-law, and sister of the Archbishop of Canterbury.
The letter within the collection was written by Elizabeth Longley DeBerniere in 1853 concerning her views on slavery, the system of slavery in America and the treatment of enslaved persons by acquaintances.
