Collections

This collection contains one official certificate issued under the Virginia law of March 17, 1856, aimed at preventing the escape of enslaved individuals from ports "for the better protection of slave property in this Commonwealth." It recorded the inspection of a vessel prior to departure, authorized inspectors to search vessels and detain them if necessary, and offered monetary rewards for those who captured freedom seekers.

Document for the hire of an enslaved person named Ben, for $90.00 until December 25, 1852 possibly in Charlestown, West Virginia. Signed by John L. & W. N. Craighill. Docketed on the verso. The document specifies clothing to be furnished during the term of employment and requires the Craighills to return Ben with "a good wool hat, a blanket, a pair of winter shoes, two pair of home-made yarn stockings, one shirt, and a coat, waistcoat, and pants of good fulled-linsey, and pay his taxes."

The George Washington Lewis papers consists chiefly of correspondence to and from George Washington Lewis and between other family members, but also includes a few photographs of the Lewis family and the homes of "Claymont", "Shellfield" and "Marmion"; a plat of "Claymont"; newsclippings; notes on Lewis family history and genealogy; and a few financial and legal documents.

The collection primarily contains correspondence of the Randolph family and Nicholas family. Several land title records are also present.

This collection consists of the papers of the Randolph Family of Edgehill, (commonly called the Edgehill-Randolph Papers) and the Wilson Cary Nicholas papers, ca. 787 items (6 Hollinger boxes, 2.5 linear shelf feet), ca. 1765-1869, and undated.

This collection contains two bound volumes of record books from the Massie family of Virginia.

The collection consists of bound volumes, journals, daybooks, and notebooks belonging to John Scott, Richard Marshall Scott,Sr., Richard Marshall Scott,Jr., James L. Gunnell, and Dr. Francis M. Gunnell, and a photograph album belonging to Sarah Louise Rittenhouse. Other materials include printed articles about the Bush Hill plantation,a copy of a book, "The Battles of Aldie, Middleburg and Upperville," and genealogical charts, tables and notes.

This collection contains a printed circular letter and a handwritten letter sent by Thomas Ritchie (1778-1854), the editor of the Richmond Enquirer, to Joseph R. Williams, Esquire. The printed circular letter, dated July 29, 1835, was sent by Ritchie and John L. Cook, publishers of the Richmond Enquirer newspaper, and was a printed questionnaire that discussed the "movements of certain Fanatics [abolitionists] in the North."

This collection of Elisha Roberts and other enslavers holders documents (1822-1860; 0.03 cubic feet) consists of inventories, bill of sales, and appraisal lists of household items including enslaved people of Elisha Roberts, Gotlif Schmidt, James Broddus, Robert Allen Givens, John Cornelison, Jr., Francis Carter, Archibal Brooks, Henry Carpenter, Lewis Campbell, John Bentley, and Talton Taylor.

The Watts family papers of Roanoke County, Virginia at "Oaklands" in Flat Creek, Campbell County) consist of correspondence and documents related to the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the United States Civil War, war with Osceola and Seminole tribes in Florida, Virginia politics, economic and social history (including enslavement),land ownership, farming, court cases and debt from 1786 to 1950 in southwest Virginia. The Watts are related to many other Virginia families including James and Dolley Madison. This collection represents a great view into historical and social events of the eighteenth and nineteenth century in Virginia.