Goss family papers

Access and use

Location of collection:: University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library

University of Virginia

P.O. Box 400110

160 McCormick Rd

Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110

Contact for questions and access:: POC: Brenda Gunn

Email: bg9ba@virginia.edu

Phone: (434) 924-1037

Phone: (434) 243-1776

Fax: (434) 924-4968

Web: library.virginia.edu/special-collections

Web: library.virginia.edu/special-collections/services/reference-request

Restrictions:: The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:: MSS 16389, Goss family papers, Albret and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.

Summary

Extent:: 4 Cubic Feet 7 document boxes, 2 oversize folders
Language:: English
Preferred citation:: MSS 16389, Goss family papers, Albret and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The Goss family papers (1820-2014; 4 cubic feet) contain Civil War letters and documents including a pardon for Ebenezer Walker Goss from President Andrew Johnson in 1865, manuscript receipts of goods sold to the Confederate Army, enslaved person receipts, and papers (mostly correspondence) related to their 19th and early 20th century family in Somerset, Virginia. Business records reflect their apple orchard, farming, and dairy business which was maintained by Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1861-1914), and her brother Ebenezer "Lee" Goss,(1863-1934). The family papers also contain correspondence with William and Marion du Pont about horses and dogs. There are also letters from suitors, particularly J. Frank Lobingier, pursuing Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1880-1909), from around the country. Miss Goss lived for a while in Pomona California, and Saltito, Mexico. The family papers also contain photographs and genealogy describing their family history in Virginia.

Letters from Leigh Page and J. L. Kemper,1864, requesting Ebenezer Goss be transferred from infantry to cavalry,as he is too old (45) to be in the infantry but is an excellent horseman; Certificate for Goss' substitute for service in the C.S.A; Parole certificate dated May 16, 1865; William Seward acknowledgement of President Andrew Johnson's pardon of Goss, November 8, 1865; and receipts of goods sold to the Confederate government on Sept.25, 1863.

There is also an enslavement receipt and a letter from James W. Walker to his daughter Fanny dated Madison, October 28, 1862 in which he complains of the Yankees and the fact that they took 9 of his "Negro" men.

There is an enslavement receipt and a letter from James W. Walker to his daughter Fanny dated Madison, October 28, 1862 in which he complains of the Yankees and the fact that they took 9 of his "Negro" men.

Family correspondence (1868-1925) relates to the health, activities, and financial situations of family members and includes John W. Goss to his son Ebenezer Goss; Lee Goss with his sister Ann "Nannie" Goss Walker; Ann Carter Nalle Goss to her daughter Charlotte "Lottie" Goss; letters from Rosa Goss Turner; Mortimer A. Turner to Charlotte Goss, and letters from R. Mason Nalle and Joseph G. Walker. Personal correspondence includes letters from J. Frank Lobingier who seriously courted Charlotte Goss from 1880 to 1909. There are also letters from other boyfriends charging her with unrequited love for them.

Includes letters from "H" and one letter from Nisbut Reid to Charlotte Goss.

Included is a letter from Governor of Virginia Westmoreland Davis

Business correspondence relating to debts, stocks, and provisions for their farm and including legal deeds for Somerset.

Includes letter from Lee Goss to Robinson Riley about the coffee industry in Venezuela (1896 April 1st); letter from Lee Goss requesting a man to run his farm business; letters from State Veterinarian J. G. Ferneyhough.

Includes receipt for stud services

Includes samples of checks written by Goss family

Charlotte Goss and Lee Goss account books and notebooks

Includes typed manuscript, "Life of John Goss". There is also genealogy of the Nalle family.

Photographs of Somerset home, Charlotte Goss, Rosa Goss Turner, Ebenezer Lee Goss, Ann Carter Nalle Goss, James Goss, J. Frank Lobingier, and Horace Stringfellow

Photographs of Somerset Farm and some family members

Photographs of Somerset home, Charlotte Goss, Rosa Goss Turner, Ebenezer Lee Goss, Ann Carter Nalle Goss, James Goss, J. Frank Lobingier, and Horace Stringfellow

Index rerum (1839) by the Reverend John Todd belonging to Ebenezer Goss, newspaper clippings, artwork, and programs including an invitation to President William McKinley's inaugural ball (1897)

Biographical / historical:

Ebenezer Walker Goss of Somerset Virginia (1820-1885), son of the Reverend John W. Goss (1775-1838), married Ann Carter Nalle (1824-1907) and they had five children, Ann "Nannie" C. Goss Walker (1848-1928)who married Robert Walker, Jane Goss Claiborne (1853-1922)who married Robert Claiborne, Rosa Goss Turner (1857-1923) who married Mortimer A. Turner (school teacher at Woodberry Forest), Mary Botts Goss (1858-1881),Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1861-1914), and Ebenezer Lee Goss (1863-1934).

Most of the letters in the collection are to Charlotte "Lottie" Goss who took care of her mother in Somerset, Virginia. Lottie suffered from serious bouts of asthma and was engaged to J. Frank Lobingier who lived in Pomona, California. Mr. Lobingier was also devoted to caring for his mother. Lottie's health and the couple's devotion to their family is mentioned frequently in his letters from 1880 to 1909 as a delay in their becoming married. Instead of marriage, "Lottie" visited friends and helped her brother Lee take care of their farm.

Acquisition information:

Accession 2017-0193 Purchased, 30 October 2017; Elizabeth Cocke Coles Fund, 2017/2018. Accession 2018-0033 Donated by Atwell W. Somerville, Jr., 30 October 2017.

Arrangement: