Anderson-Latham Collection, 1777-1881 (bulk 1780-1850)

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Anderson-Latham Collection, 1777-1881. Accession 23634, Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Anderson-Latham Collection, 1777-1881. Accession 23634, Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection concerns claims for military bounty land in Ohio and Kentucky which were awarded to Virginia soldiers and sailors of the Revolutionary War or to their heirs. The material is organized into the following groups: Richard C. Anderson correspondence, Allen Latham correspondence, Land Office military warrants, wills, surveys, subject files, Joseph Kerr papers, and oversized items.

Biographical / historical:

Col. Richard Clough Anderson (1750-1826) served with distinction in the Revolutionary War and, in 1783, the Governor and council of Virginia appointed him principal surveyor of the lands appropriated by Virginia for the soldiers of the Virginia line on state and continental establishments. The land was located in Kentucky and Ohio; hence Anderson established his office near Louisville. Upon his refusal to locate his office in Chillicothe he was relieved of his post as principal surveyor in 1819.

Allen Latham, a native of New Hampshire, settled in Chillicothe shortly before 1817 to practice law. In partnership with B.G. Leonard, he established an agency for soldiers' claims to land in Ohio. Latham married a daughter of Anderson and became executor of his estate, and no doubt acquired his papers.

Joseph Kerr (1765-1837) was a surveyor and land agent during the opening of the western territory. He served also as deputy surveyor of the Virginia military lands in Ohio. Kerr was very active in the business, political, and military affairs of Ohio.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Mr. Percy W. Fuller, Baltimore, Maryland, 26 December 1950.
Arrangement:

Organized into the following eight series:

  • I: Richard C. Anderson Correspondence, 1780-1830
  • II. Allen Latham Correspondence, 1806-1856
  • III: Land Office Military Warrants
  • IV: Wills
  • V: Surveys
  • VI: Subject Files
  • VII: Joseph Kerr Papers, 1788-1836
  • VIII: Oversized Items

Physical description:
4.7 cubic feet.