Creator: Territorial Governor (RG 2).

Collection Summary: A letterbook of correspondence and documentation maintained by Thomas H. Williams during his various brief tenures as Territorial Secretary. T.H. Williams was first appointed Territorial Secretary on July 1, 1805, and served for various periods until 1810.  Mostly copies of his official appointments and sworn oaths of office are entered in the first 23 pages of the journal, with business correspondence entered thereafter (pages 24-42). The business correspondence consists of cover letters which accompanied packets of information sent to the U.S. Secretary of State, or statement of account letters sent to the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. The packets sent to the Secretary of State contained lists of appointments, copies of acts and laws passed during legislative sessions, and transcripts of legislative sessions and the Executive (Territorial Governor’s) Journal. Accounts letters were generally regarding either drafts requested from the Treasury to be dispensed from its territorial contingent fund, or accounts of salary payments due Williams for service as Territorial Secretary. The dates for the letterbook are July 1, 1805 through October 1, 1810.

Access Restrictions: Original records in this series are restricted due to age and/or fragility.

Date(s): 1805-1810.

Volume: 0.25 Cubic Feet.

Finding Aid Created By: Colby Cox in March 2025.

Related Materials: TBD.

Record Group History: The Territorial Governor of Mississippi was the figure selected by the U.S. Congress to be the leading political figure of the Mississippi Territory. The Office of the Territorial Governor was created on April 7, 1798 when the creation of the Mississippi Territory was authorized. The Territorial Governor initially had full power over the creation of legislation until a general assembly was formed to represent the state in May of 1800. The Territorial Governor additionally served as the commander-in-chief of the Mississippi militia and was given authority over affairs with native peoples. The office was abolished once Mississippi became a full state in 1817.

Collection Inventory:
Box Content 

Box Number

Letterbook With Correspondence Regarding Territorial Affairs

104