Shanks Family Papers, 1824-1853

Access and use

Location of collection:
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:

Shanks Family Papers, 1824-1853. Accession 22022. Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Shanks Family
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Shanks Family Papers, 1824-1853. Accession 22022. Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Papers, 1824-1853, of the Shanks family of Petersburg, Virginia, consisting of deeds for property in Petersburg, and in Chesterfield, Prince George, and Surry Counties, and Richmond, Virginia; agreements concerning sale of land in Surry County and in Petersburg; correspondence regarding deeds, construction work, powers of attorney, insurance claims, bonds, and a bill of purchase; and a contract for the construction of a dam.

Biographical / historical:

Born about 1783, Robert Shanks emigrated with his wife Elizabeth (b. ca. 1795) from Ireland and settled in Petersburg, Virginia. A carpenter, he acquired property in Petersburg and the surrounding counties of Chesterfield, Prince George and Surry. Robert Shanks died 21 July 1871, about 2 1/2 months after Elizabeth died 12 April 1871. They had at least five children, including Robert Shanks, Jr. (d. 1849) who also speculated in land.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from John Reynoldson Butterworth, DeWitt, Virginia, 1942.
Physical description:
9 leaves and 34 pages