Mecklenburg County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863-1864

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:

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863-1864. Local government records collection, Mecklenburg County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

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

Mecklenburg County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863-1864. Local government records collection, Mecklenburg County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

The Mecklenburg County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863-1864 is made up primarily of the reports of funds paid to soldiers' wives, widows and other family members in districts throughout Mecklenburg County. The reports include the names of the agents distributing funds as well as the names of soldiers' family members receiving funds. In some cases, more detailed information about the family is provided, such as the number of children and their ages. Some of the reports specify what funds were spent on, including bacon, beef, corn and flour. Also included is a small amount of correspondence concerning relief of indigent soldiers and their families.

Biographical / historical:

Mecklenburg County was named, like Charlotte County, for Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, consort of George III. It was formed from Lunenburg County in 1764.

Throughout the Civil War, the principal responsibility for Virginia's indigent soldiers' families lay with the locality. The Virginia State Convention in 1861 gave the responsibility entirely to counties and incorporated towns and authorized whatever actions had already been taken. Acts of Assembly in 1862 and 1863 expanded the localities' powers to provide for their needy, and in 1863 some minimal state assistance was added in. At first relief was provided as money, but as the monetary system collapsed, relief was distributed in kind. Agents of the court maintained lists of eligible families, gathered goods for distribution and paid for them, and impressed supplies if necessary. Virginia was unique amongst the southern states in that it assigned the provisioning of needy families almost solely to the locality.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Mecklenburg County (Va.).
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.05 cu. ft. (1 folder)