Tisinger Family collection of Shenandoah County land surveys, 1749/1932

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 not 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 #], Tisinger Family Collection of Shenandoah County Land Surveys, 1749-1932, SC 0354, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Summary

Extent:
1 cubic feet 3 boxes
Creator:
Jeffrey S. Evans & Associates, Tisinger, William, 1816-1887, and Tisinger family
Abstract:
The collection comprises hundreds of land surveys and related documents primarily for Shenandoah County, Virginia.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Tisinger Family Collection of Shenandoah County Land Surveys, 1749-1932, SC 0354, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection comprises hundreds of land surveys and related documents primarily for Shenandoah County, Virginia. Specific document types include land indentures, deeds, plats, surveys and re-surveys including period copies of 18th century surveys, articles of agreement, field notes and calculations, last wills and testaments, and personal property inventories.

Locations referenced in the documents include Holman's Creek, Mill Creek, Mt. Jackson, Mulberry Run, Red Banks, New Market, Edinburg, Passage Creek, Stony Creek, North Fork of the Shenandoah River, Manassas Gap Railroad, Liberty Run, Hamburg, Little North Mountain, Orkney Springs, Conicville, Cedar Creek, and many more. Places beyond Shenandoah County include Rockingham County, Augusta County, and Hardy County.

Surveyors referenced in the documents include William Tisinger, Jacob Rinker, Reuben Walton, James Murphy, Richard Rigg, and others.

Biographical / historical:

William Tisinger (1816-1887), whose family the collection of land surveys descended through, is listed as a teacher in the 1850 census. In subsequent censuses (1860-1880) and death register, Tisinger's occupation is listed as surveyor or county surveyor. Jacob Rinker, Reuben Walton, James Murphy, Richard Rigg, and others were also employed as surveyors for Shenandoah County and are referenced in the collection as such along with Tisinger.

Acquisition information:
Acquired at Jeffrey S. Evans's Winter Americana sale on March 2, 2023.
Custodial history:

Per the seller's catalog, the collection descended in the Tisinger family, Mt. Jackson, Virginia.

Processing information:

The documents were received in three 3-ring binders with individual documents or small groupings of like documents sleeved in plastic enclosures. The documents were identified and described before acquisition by Special Collections, presumably by either a member of the Tisinger family prior to being consigned for auction or by the auction house itself. Documents were foldered according to their original order and groupings. The provided descriptions were repurposed as folder titles.

Arrangement:

Documents were foldered according to their original order and groupings.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard