Robert Stephen papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection open to research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Robert Stephen Papers, 1815-1849, SC 0243, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
0.08 cubic feet 1 folder
Creator:
Stephen, Robert, 1767-1851
Abstract:
The Robert Stephen Papers, 1815-1849, primarily document the taxes paid by Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) resident, Robert Stephen. The tax receipts document the taxes Stephen paid to the sheriff of Greenbrier County and include taxes paid for enslaved persons, cattle, and land.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Robert Stephen Papers, 1815-1849, SC 0243, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The Robert Stephen Papers, 1815-1849, primarily document the taxes paid by Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) resident, Robert Stephen. The collection is comprised of 13 documents. The tax receipts document the taxes Stephen paid to the sheriff of Greenbrier County and include parish levies and taxes paid for enslaved persons, cattle, and land. A tax receipt for E. R. Skeggs of Greenbrier County is also included.

Additional documents include receipts for Stephen's annual subscriptions to the National Intelligencer, a national newspaper of record, and the Alleghanian.

Biographical / historical:

Robert Stephen (alternately appearing as Steven, Stevens, and Stephens) was born in Augusta County, Virginia on September 22, 1767. Stephen married Mary Craig (1767-1838), who was also born in Augusta County, on November 14, 1788 in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia). Stephen was a land owner, enslaver, and proprietor of Stephen's Ferry at Fort Spring along the Greenbrier River. Stephen died February 24, 1851 and is buried at McVey-Stephen Cemetery in Greenbrier County.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Ebay auction in June 2017 and directly from the seller in August 2017.
Custodial history:

These materials were sold by Cowan's Auctions on March 23, 2017 as part of a larger lot of Greenbrier County manuscript materials. The lot (# 226) was described as "Parish Polls Mentioning Taxes for a Number of Slaves and Business Licenses for Greenbrier County, Virginia (West Virginia), ca. 1810s to 1830s."

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged chronologically in one folder.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard