Botetourt County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1933

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

Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov

Phone: (804) 692-3888

Web: www.lva.virginia.gov

Restrictions:

Many of these business volumes are extremely fragile--most are in poor condition due to extensive water damage and mold. Please handle these volumes with great care.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Botetourt County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1933. Local government records collection, Botetourt County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Extent:

43 volumes

Creator:

Botetourt County (Va.) Circuit Court

Language:

English

Preferred citation:

Botetourt County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1933. Local government records collection, Botetourt County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Botetourt County (Va.) Business Records, 1803-1933, are comprised of various records created by individuals and companies in pursuit of documenting business activities in and around Botetourt County (Va.) Represented records consist of bound volumes such as an account ledger, account books, a bank book, a stock ledger and collection book, ledgers, minute books, registers, a sales book, a stock certificate book, letter books, a payroll book, a cashbook, daybooks and sales ledgers.

Historical Information:Benford and Wilson was a mercantile business that operated in Botetourt County during the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Benford and Wilson Account Ledger B, 1866-1867, contains information related to a mercantile business selling spices, dishes, cloth, clothing, sewing accessories, and other household items. It records the individual accounts of customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order, items purchased, and the amount owed and paid. Items purchased include calico, nutmeg, glasses, etc. Includes index.

Historical Information:McKnight and Galbraith was a mercantile business selling shoes and leather and repairing shoes. The business operated in the town of Buchanan in Botetourt County during the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:McKnight and Galbraith Account Book, 1836-1846, contains information related to a leather and shoe-making business. It records the individual accounts of customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order, items purchased or services provided, and the amount owed and paid. No index.

Historical Information:Waskey Mills conducted business in Botetourt County during the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:Waskey Mills Account Book, 1840-1847, records the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Each entry records date of transaction, services rendered, quantity of oats, bran, flour, etc., processed, type of grain processed, amount owed, date of payment, form of payment, and amount paid. The mill processed bran, oats, flour, coffee, wheat, and shorts. Forms of payment include barter, labor, cash, and credit. Volume includes an index that lists in alphabetical order the names of customers and the page numbers where their accounts can be found.

Historical Information:Williams and Woodville was a medical practice formed by Charles Williams and James Lewis Woodville.

James Lewis Woodville was born 8 Jan. 1820 in Augusta County, Virginia to James L. and Mary S. Lewis Woodville. He first attended the University of Virginia and then the University of Pennsylvania, where he graduated with a degree in medicine in 1844. Shortly thereafter he opened a medical practice in Botetourt County, Virginia. While there he also met and married Mary Ann Breckenridge (b. 1831) on 29 Sept. 1852. The couple had at least 6 children.

At the start of the Civil War, Woodville volunteered his medical services to the Confederate Army. He served first in the 7th Virginia Infantry, and also at the Montgomery White Sulphur Springs Hospital near Blacksburg, West Virginia. Near the war's end Woodville was transferred to the Huguenot Springs Hospital near Richmond, Virginia. Following the war Woodville moved to Sweet Springs, Monroe County, West Virginia and began a new medical practice. He died there on 14 August 1904.

Scope and Content:Williams and Woodville Account Book, 1849, records the accounts of individual patients. The accounts list charges and payments for visits to patients, medication, and other medical services.

Williams and Woodville Account Book, 1852-1853, records the accounts of individual customers. Transactions are listed in chronological order. Each entry records date of transaction, service rendered, and amount owed. Services rendered include visits to patients, prescriptions for medication, and extracting teeth. Volume includes an index that lists in alphabetical order the names of patients and the page numbers where their accounts can be found.

Williams and Woodville Account Book, 1861-1870, records the accounts of individual patients. Accounts list charges and payments for visits, consultations, prescriptions for medicines, treatments such as setting fractures, plasters for blisters and opening wounds. Individuals were treated in household along with their enslaved individuals. Volume includes an index that lists in alphabetical order the names of patients and the page numbers where their accounts can be found. In addition, the volume contains a listing of bonds to do with the estate of Dr. Charles Williams.

Historical Information:Beckley and Brother operated a general store in Botetourt County from the mid to the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Beckley and Brother Account Book, 1867-1892, contains two separate account records. The first account book, 1867-1869, records in daily chronological order merchandise purchased and the amount owed or paid by individual customers. The volume's margin notes the number of the account. Merchandise sold includes soda, food, hats, clothing, horseshoes, and tools. The second account book, 1875-1892, is related to legal activities. It records the accounts of individual customers with each account listing in chronological order charges and payments for legal services rendered. This account book may not be related to the first account book.

Historical Information:The Clintons Savings Bank operated in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Clintons Savings Bank Book, 1853-1860, records in chronological order individual joint fund accounts for various shares of stock, weekly savings accounts for discount, deposits, blank notes, bills receivable, expense accounts, fine accounts and profits and losses. Money amounts and totals are noted.

Historical Information:The Farmers Bank operated in town of Fincastle during the mid-19th century to early 20th century.

Scope and Content:Farmers Bank Stock Ledger, 1856-1864, tracks the issuance, transfer and cancellation of shares providing detailed account of bank's equity structure. Farmers Bank Collection Record, 1877-1919, records the movement of funds and transactions related to the bank's operations.

Historical Information:Lybrook, Beckley, and Company operated a general store in Blacksburg, Virginia from the mid to the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Lybrook, Beckley, and Company Account Book, 1866-1895, contains two separate account records. The Store Account Book records in daily chronological order merchandise purchased and the amount owed or paid by individual customers. Merchandise sold includes mirrors, thread, spices, shoes, food, and clothing. The second account book is related to an unidentified lawyer. This book records the accounts of individual customers with each account listing in chronological order charges and payments for legal services rendered.

Historical Information:John McDowell operated a general store in Botetourt County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:John McDowell Ledger No. 3, 1873-1875, records in chronological order individual customer accounts of both whites and African Americans as well as companies. Merchandise sold included cotton, coffee, nails, shoes, food, fresh produce such as black berries and corn, wood, textiles and dried apples. The volume contains columns for credit and amounts due. Payments were made either in cash or bartered goods such as seeds, turkeys, bacon or butter. Cash payments are noted and there are numerous notations referring to an unknown Ledger No. 4. The volume contains an index that lists in alphabetical order the names of individual customers and companies and the page numbers where their accounts can be found.

Historical Information:Joseph Ogilby operated a general store in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Joseph Ogilby and Company Account Book, 1860, records individual accounts of customers in chronological order. Items purchased include coats, hats, gloves, shoes, shirts, pants, textiles, sugar, bacon, mackerel as well as sundries. Money owed is noted. Ends of volume includes running list of individuals and money owed.

Historical Information:The Salem and New Castle Turnpike was officially created by the General Assembly on April 6, 1838. Originally, the turnpike road ran from Salem in Botetourt County, by New Castle, to a point on the Sweet Springs Turnpike at or near the base of Price's mountain.

Scope and Content:Salem and New Castle Turnpike Company Minute Book, 1839-1840, records individual stock subscriptions. Additional minutes record meetings to elect the president & directors of the company as well as officers such as the secretary and treasurer. Also noted in the minutes are payments made to the firms constructing the two sections of the road.

Historical Information:The Shenandoah Hotel did business in Roanoke, Virginia in the early 20th century.

Scope and Content:Shenandoah Hotel Room Register, 1932-1933, records in chronological order the names of customers, residence, room number, and payment.

Historical Information:Founded in 1891, Smith and Briggs Brass Works was a manufacturing company located in the town of Buchanan that produced plumbing supplies. The parent corporation was in New York City.

Scope and Content:Smith and Briggs Brass Works Records, 1891-1897, are comprised of a sales book, a minute book, a stock certificates book, three letter books, a payroll book, and two ledgers.

Smith and Briggs Brass Works Sales Book, 1891-1892, records in chronological order the purchases of plumbing supplies produced by the company. Most of these purchases were made by Benjamin C. Smith, the president and treasurer of Smith and Briggs, for his plumbing supply store in New York City. Plumbing supplies purchased include bath fittings, basin clamps, sink plugs, and urinal shields.

Smith and Briggs Brass Works Minute Book, 1891-1897, records the local company's by-laws, meetings of the stockholders and board of directors, the selection of officers, and decisions related to company matters.

Smith and Briggs Brass Works Stock Certificates Book, 1892, records company's stock certificates.

Smith and Briggs Brass Works Letter Books, 1893, 1895, are comprised of two volumes which include copies of letters from the company's customers related to shipment of goods. Information found in the letters includes orders for plumbing supplies produced by Smith and Briggs, notification of supplies received, size and weight of supplies ordered and shipped, and any grievances customers had with the shipments. Also found in these volumes are copies of letters that refer to the financial problems of the company.

Smith and Briggs Brass Works Letter Book, 1895, contains the company's invoices. Information found in invoices includes items sold; the size, weight, and cost of each item; cost of freight shipment; and total cost. Items sold include bath fittings, basin brackets, and iron valves.

Smith and Briggs Brass Works Payroll Book, 1893-1896, records the weekly payroll of the company. It lists the surnames of employees, days of the week worked, the number of hours worked per day, total hours worked per week, rate of pay, and total amount of pay.

Smith and Briggs Brass Works Ledgers, 1895, 1897, are comprised of two volumes which record in chronological order bulk items sold by the company. Each entry lists the box number, the total weight of box, and the total number of each item in box. Items include brass turning tools, oven range couplings, square iron rods, and revel edge sink plugs.

Historical Information:This unidentified business, probably a liquor store or tavern, operated in Botetourt County in the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Business Account Book, 1803-1806, records the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes dates of transactions, items purchased, forms of payment, quantity of merchandise purchased, amount owed and amount paid. Items sold included food but mainly liquor. Payments were made by cash and credit.

Historical Information:This unidentified business operated in Botetourt County in the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Business Account Book, 1840-1842, records payments and deposits of individual customers.

Historical Information:This unidentified business operated in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Business Account Book, 1852-1858, records wages paid to employees for work done.

Historical Information:This unidentified business operated in Botetourt County in the early to mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Business Cashbook, 1843-1851, documents cash on hand by recording cash received and disbursed noted in volume as sales to date and balance. Information found in each entry is listed chronologically and includes date, name of individual or business and monies debited or credited.

Historical Information:This unidentified clothing store operated in the town of Fincastle in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Clothing Store Daybook, 1856-1857, records chronologically merchandise purchased and the total amount owed or paid by individual customers. Merchandise sold includes gloves, coats, vests, pants, cravats, and shoes.

Historical Information:This unidentified delivery business operated in the town of Buchanan in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Delivery Business Ledger, 1853-1854, records merchandise the company received from W. A. White which it promised to deliver to customers who ordered the merchandise. Items delivered include furniture, sugar, coffee, and mackerel.

Historical Information:This unidentified general store operated in Botetourt County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified General Store Account Book, 1883-1888, records individual customer accounts chronologically. Payments were made by cash and credit. Items sold include food, lye, textiles, coffee, soda, tobacco, shoes, knives and nails. The volume also contains an index that lists in alphabetical order the names of individual customers and the page numbers where their accounts can be found.

Historical Information:This unidentified general store operated in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified General Store Daybook, 1858-1861, records chronologically merchandise purchased and the amount owed or paid by individual customers. Payments were made either in cash or bartered goods and services such as butter and shoeing horses. Merchandise sold includes needles, nails, chairs, dishes, clothing, and food.

Historical Information:This unidentified general store operated in Botetourt County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified General Store Daybook, 1875-1876, records chronologically merchandise purchased and the amount owed or paid by individual customers. Payments were made either in cash or bartered goods such as chickens or bee wax. Merchandise sold includes clothing, soap, sugar, butter, molasses, and oil.

Historical Information:This unidentified general store perhaps located in the town of Fincastle operated in Botetourt County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified General Store Daybook, 1884-1887, records chronologically merchandise purchased and the amount owed or paid by individual customers. Payments were made either with cash or bartered goods such as butter, chickens, and corn. Merchandise sold includes clothing, sugar, coffee, yarn, and syrup.

Historical Information:This unidentified general store operated in Botetourt County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified General Store Sales Ledger, 1872-1873, records the accounts of individual customers. Each individual account lists chronologically merchandise purchased and the amount owed or paid by the customer. Merchandise sold includes shoes, clothing, food, spices, and nails.

Historical Information:This unidentified general store operated in Botetourt County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified General Store Sales Ledger, 1873-1874, records accounts of individual white and African American customers as well as companies. Each individual account lists chronologically lists merchandise purchased and the amount owed or paid by the customer. Payments are made by cash, credit or labor. Merchandise sold includes shoes, shirts, pants, coffee, food, envelopes, nails and tobacco. The volume also contains an index that lists in alphabetical order the names of individual customers and companies and the page numbers where their accounts can be found.

Historical Information:This unidentified merchant operated in Botetourt County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Merchant Daybook, 1870, records chronologically the individual customer transactions of the unidentified merchant. Customers included both whites and African Americans. Information recorded includes date of transaction, all items purchased by the customer, the quantity of items and cost of the transaction. Merchandise sold includes shoes, food, clothing, tobacco, coffee and mainly a variety of textiles. The volume also contains an index that lists in alphabetical order the names of individual customers and companies and the page numbers where their accounts can be found.

Historical Information:This unidentified merchant operated in Botetourt County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Merchant Daybook, 1882-1883, records chronologically merchandise purchased and the amount owed or paid by individual customers. Merchandise sold includes salt, glass, shoes, coffee, and horseshoes.

Historical Information:This unidentified mill operated in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century. The mill processed corn into meal.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Mill Account Book, 1850-1852, records the accounts of individual customers. Each lists the weight and price of corn customers brought to mill to be processed and the weight and price of meal produced. The volume includes chronological listings of corn purchased and meal sold by mill. It also includes smaller accounts related to the production of plaster and wool.

Historical Information:This unidentified physician practiced perhaps in Botetourt County in the early to mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Unknown Physician Account Book, 1843-1850, records the accounts of individual patients. The accounts list charges and payments for visits to patients, medication, and other medical services.

Historical Information:This unidentified physician practiced medicine in Botetourt County in the early to mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Physician Ledger, 1842-1852, records services provided to individual patients, their families, and their slaves. Information found in entries includes name of patient, medical services rendered, form of payment, amount owed, and amount paid. Slave patients and family members are usually not named and are listed under the owner's or head of household's name. Services rendered include visits to patients, prescriptions for medication, and operations. There is an index at the front of the volume.

Historical Information:Western Hotel conducted business in Botetourt County during the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Western Hotel Ledger, 1856-1857, records the individual accounts of customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, form of transaction, items purchased or services rendered, quantity of items purchased or amount for service rendered, total amount owed, date of payment, form of payment, and total amount paid. Services rendered include board, food, drink, and board for horses. Payments made by labor, credit, cash, and barter.

Historical Information:White and Robinson operated a carding mill and a corn mill in Botetourt County during the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:White and Robinson Ledger, 1851-1852, records various financial matters related to activities of both mills. They include the weight and price of bales carded and the weight and price of corn processed daily; the individual accounts of customers who had wool carded; a list of customers who owed money to the carding mill for services rendered; and expenses related to maintenance of the carding machinery.

Historical Information:Charles Williams was a physician in the town of Fincastle in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century. See also Series IV.

Scope and Content:Dr. Charles Williams Account Book, 1854-1865, records the account of individual patients. The accounts list charges for visits to patients, medication, consultation, and other medical services.

Historical Information:Zimmerman and Thrasher conducted a saddlery business in Botetourt County in the mid-19th century. Branson Zimmerman was one of the partners in the business.

Scope and Content:Zimmerman and Thrasher Account Book, 1858-1859, records the accounts of individual customers. Each individual account lists in chronological order the amount owed, and payments made for rent of horses, buggies, and wagons as well as for services such as hauling wood, coal, and metal.

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type: Business Records, both volumes and loose records, are in some cases transferred to the Library of Virginia as components of court record transfers. These business records in some cases were simply stored in the local court building for safe keeping by business owners. In other cases, business records (particularly ledgers, account books, etc.) may have been filed in a court case as an exhibit. These business record exhibits appeared both in chancery causes and in judgments, these records serving as exhibits for business dissolution cases, debt suits, and contract disputes.

Locality History: Botetourt County was named for Norborne Berkeley, baron de Botetourt, the royal governor from 1768 to 1770. It was formed from Augusta County in 1769, and a part of Rockbridge County was added in 1785. The county court first met on 13 February 1770. The county seat is Fincastle. Area: 542.7 square miles. Population: 30,496 (2000), 31,800 (2005 estimate).

Lost Records Locality: Created by an act of 1769 to take effect on February 13, 1770. Many of the loose records including pre-1830 chancery and pre-1854 judgments suffered tremendous water damage as a result of a courthouse fire on December 15, 1970. Because of the near loss of records, the General Assembly passed the Virginia Public Records Act in 1975 for the purpose of preserving local records. Volumes that record deeds, court orders, and wills exist.

Acquisition information:

These records came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Botetourt County in an undated accession.

Processing information:

Prior to 2024, the various business records in this collection were originally described as individual records, but they have been consolidated into one large business record for the locality.

Encoded by C. Freed, March 2026

Althought the Lybrook, Beckley, and Company Account Book, 1866-1895. operated in Blacksburg, Virginia, and descriptive practice would therefore have this record described with the business records for that locality, the decision was made in March 2026 by the Local Records staff to describe this volume as part of the Botetourt County Business Records as it was included as part of that county's accession.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged

• Series I: Benford and Wilson Account Ledger B, 1866-1867
• Series II: McKnight and Galbraith Account Book, 1836-1846
• Series III: Waskey Mills Account Book, 1840-1847
• Series IV: Williams and Woodville Account Books, 1849, 1852-1853, 1861-1870
• Series V: Beckley and Brother Account Book, 1867-1892
• Series VI: Clinton Savings Bank Book, 1853-1860
• Series VII: Farmers Bank Stock Ledger and Collection Record, 1856-1919
• Series VIII: Lybrook, Beckley, and Company Account Book, 1866-1895
• Series IX: John McDowell Ledger No. 3, 1873-1875
• Series X: Joseph Ogilby and Company Account Book, 1860
• Series XI: Salem and New Castle Turnpike Company Minute Book, 1839-1840
• Series XII: Shenandoah Hotel Room Register, 1932-1933
• Series XIII: Smith and Briggs Brass Works Records, 1891-1897
• Series XIV: Unidentified Business Account Book, 1803-1806
• Series XV: Unidentified Business Account Book, 1840-1842
• Series XVI: Unidentified Business Account Book, 1852-1858
• Series XVII: Unidentified Business Cashbook, 1843-1851
• Series XVIII: Unidentified Clothing Store Daybook, 1856-1857
• Series XIX: Unidentified Delivery Business Ledger, 1853-1854
• Series XX: Unidentified General Store Account Book, 1883-1888
• Series XXI: Unidentified General Store Daybook, 1858-1861
• Series XXII: Unidentified General Store Daybook, 1875-1876
• Series XXIII: Unidentified General Store Daybook, 1884-1887
• Series XXIV: Unidentified General Store Sales Ledger, 1872-1873
• Series XXV: Unidentified General Store Sales Ledger, 1873-1874
• Series XXVI: Unidentified Merchant Daybook, 1870
• Series XXVII: Unidentified Merchant Daybook, 1882-1883
• Series XXVIII: Unidentified Mill Account Book, 1850-1852
• Series XXIX: Unidentified Physician Account Book, 1843-1850
• Series XXX: Unidentified Physician Ledger, 1842-1852
• Series XXXI: Western Hotel Ledger, 1856-1857
• Series XXXII: White and Robinson Ledger, 1851-1852
• Series XXXIII: Dr. Charles Williams Account Book, 1854-1865
• Series XXXIV: Zimmerman and Thrasher Account Book, 1858-1859

Physical location:

State Records Center/Library of Virginia

Related

Related material:

Additional Botetourt County (Va.) records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."

Botetourt County is one of Virginia's Lost Records Localities. Additional Botetourt County records may be found in the Virginia Lost Records Localities Digital Collection at the Library of Virginia. Search the Lost Records Localities Digital Collection available at Virginia Memory.

All Smith and Briggs Brass Works volumes were used as evidence in a chancery cause heard in Botetourt County Circuit Court, 1899, Central Land Company of Buchanan versus Smith and Briggs Brass Works and others. Barcodes 1145036-1145038 correspond to this chancery cause found at the Library of Virginia in the Local government records collection.