Collections

Papers of the administration of the Foulke family's lands on the Meadow River, principally in Fayette County but also including land in Nicholas and Greenbrier counties. The acquisition of large tracts of land by this prominent Philadelphia family in what is now southern West Virginia began in the 1780s with the partnership of Jeremiah Warder and Richard Parker. In the 1840s, nearly 3/4 of this land (estimated at around 40,000 acres) came under the control of William Parker and later his nephew, William Parker Foulke. The collection, which contains correspondence, deeds, agreements, land surveys and descriptions, and legal documents dating primarily from the 1840s and 1850s, concerns the Foulke family's efforts to protect its claims and to sell or lease tracts of land. The period from 1845 to 1854 appears to have been an especially contentious one for competing land claims in the area. Much of the administration of this land was undertaken by the family's agents, especially James C. Warren, or through correspondence with such lawyers as Samuel Price.

Account book of Zachary Lewis, documents an eighteenth-century Virginia jewelry/watchmaking business and the uses of gold, silver, and crystal in the repair or creation of jewelry and watches. Account book lists names of customers; repair, purchase, or service; and payment for services by cash or trade. Included are accounts of Robert Bullard, Nat. Dandridge, Patrick Henry, James Littlepage, James Madison, John Marshall, and John Waller. Also listed are several members of the Coleman, Dabney, Darracott, Fleming, Garret, Goodloe, Graves, Herndon, Johnson, Lewis, Madison, Meriwether, Minor, Robinson, Shackelford, Smith, Stubblefield, Thompson, Waller, Walton, Winston, and Woodroof families.