Manchester (Va.) Finance Committee Minute Books, 1878-1910

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:

Use microfilm copy, Richmond (Va.) Reel 998.

Preferred citation:

Manchester (Va.) Finance Committee Minute Books, 1878-1910. Richmond (Va.) Reel 998, Local government records collection, Richmond (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Summary

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

Manchester (Va.) Finance Committee Minute Books, 1878-1910. Richmond (Va.) Reel 998, Local government records collection, Richmond (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Manchester (Va.) Finance Committee Minute Books, 1878-1910, provide a comprehensive overview of the city's financial condition. The first volume dates from 1878-1902 and numbers 209 pages. The second volume dates from 1902-1910 and numbers 370 pages and the last volume dates from 1910 and numbers 19 pages. Taken as a whole, the volumes include the reports of the City's Treasurer, Auditor and Commissioner of Revenue as well as the City Collector of Delinquent Taxes; recommendations made to City Council; bills approved to pay for city services--fire, police, alms house, etc. and fines collected in the Mayor's Court. A series of loose documents, 1902-1910, were filmed at the beginning of each volume.

Biographical / historical:

Manchester was established as a town by the General Assembly in November 1769. According to this act, "the honorable William Byrd hath lately laid out a parcel of his lands at Rocky Ridge, at the falls of the James River, in the county of Chesterfield, in lots and streets for a town." Directors and trustees were appointed and the town was named Manchester. The town was incorporated on February 27, 1834. On March 20, 1874, a city charter was approved by the General Assembly and the city was divided into 4 wards. Three members from each ward served on the City Council, the main governing body of the city along with the mayor. On April 15, 1910, the city of Manchester was officially annexed to the City of Richmond with the provisos that a free bridge would be constructed to connect Manchester with Richmond and that Manchester would retain a courthouse. Today the area is also known as South Richmond. The town of Manchester was named probably for Manchester Parish in Chesterfield County. The parish in turn was named either for George Montague, fourth duke of Manchester, or for the town of Manchester, England.

According to the city's charter, "the city council shall have authority to...appoint such committees, as they may deem proper for the regulations of their proceedings and for the convenient transaction of business."

Acquisition information:

These original volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from the City of Richmond.

Reel 998 was generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.

Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
3 v. (598 p.); 1 microfilm reel