Unidentified Law Firm Ledger, 1886-1893

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:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Unidentified Law Firm Ledger, 1886-1893. Local government records collection, Petersburg (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Petersburg (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Unidentified Law Firm Ledger, 1886-1893. Local government records collection, Petersburg (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Ledger, 1886-1893, contains a chronological listing of business activities listed under either the name of the client or lawyer. Each entry includes date, type of transaction, and monies debited and credited. Transactions document fees paid for cases argued, travel expenses, and costs for attending court sessions. Included in the ledger is an expense account that details both professional and personal expenses. Entries document monies paid for business travel, office rent, theater tickets, clothing, Christmas presents, tobacco, insurance policies, books, lumber, and tuition and travel expenses for family members. Also included in the ledger is an entry for a farm account for 1891, which records taxes paid and purchases for livestock and seed.

Biographical / historical:

The unidentified law firm operated in the Petersburg, Virginia, area during the nineteenth century.

It is possible that this law firm was connected to the Gilliam family of Petersburg, Va. A loose letter in the ledger, dated 10 February 1893, is addressed to Uncle Jimmie and signed Julian Gilliam. The Cocke and Gilliam law firm, known earlier as the Davies and Cocke law firm, practiced law during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Petersburg, Va. The firm also practiced in the surrounding counties of Dinwiddie, Chesterfield, Prince George, and Surry, and in the Supreme Court of Appeals and United States Courts in Richmond.

Richard B. Davis was one lawyer listed in the ledger as a co-partner in the firm. Born in 1845 in Norfolk County, Va., Davis was a graduate of both Randolph-Macon College and the University of Virginia. Davis served for three years in Company E, Twelfth Virginia Regiment and saw action in the battles of Seven Pines, Chancellorsville, second Manassas, Gettysburg, and Petersburg. After the war, Davis began practicing law in Petersburg.

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from the City of Petersburg.
Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
1 v.