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Anderson-Latham Collection, 1777-1881. Accession 23634, Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Purchased from Mr. Percy W. Fuller, Baltimore, Maryland, 26 December 1950.
Col. Richard Clough Anderson (1750-1826) served with distinction in the Revolutionary War and, in 1783, the Governor and council of Virginia appointed him principal surveyor of the lands appropriated by Virginia for the soldiers of the Virginia line on state and continental establishments. The land was located in Kentucky and Ohio; hence Anderson established his office near Louisville. Upon his refusal to locate his office in Chillicothe he was relieved of his post as principal surveyor in 1819.
Allen Latham, a native of New Hampshire, settled in Chillicothe shortly before 1817 to practice law. In partnership with B.G. Leonard, he established an agency for soldiers' claims to land in Ohio. Latham married a daughter of Anderson and became executor of his estate, and no doubt acquired his papers.
Joseph Kerr (1765-1837) was a surveyor and land agent during the opening of the western territory. He served also as deputy surveyor of the Virginia military lands in Ohio. Kerr was very active in the business, political, and military affairs of Ohio.
This collection concerns claims for military bounty land in Ohio and Kentucky which were awarded to Virginia soldiers and sailors of the Revolutionary War or to their heirs. The material is organized into the following groups: Richard C. Anderson correspondence, Allen Latham correspondence, Land Office military warrants, wills, surveys, subject files, Joseph Kerr papers, and oversized items.
Organized into the following eight series:
The correspondence to Richard C. Anderson and Allen Latham is largely concerned with claims for land based on Revolutionary War service, especially the disposition of those claims. There is a large amount of genealogical information contained in the letters. Many times a descendant or acquaintance is writing to Anderson or Latham inquiring about the final disposition of the claim, and they also provide details on the veteran's military service. Also contained in the letters are comments concerning speculation in these lands, as well as political matters. Notable correspondents include Duncan MacArthur, Humphrey Marshall, Peter Muhlenberg, Timothy Pickering, and Thomas Worthington.
The correspondence to Richard C. Anderson and Allen Latham is largely concerned with claims for land based on Revolutionary War service, especially the disposition of those claims. There is a large amount of genealogical information contained in the letters. Many times a descendant or acquaintance is writing to Anderson or Latham inquiring about the final disposition of the claim, and they also provide details on the veteran's military service. Also contained in the letters are comments concerning speculation in these lands, as well as political matters. Notable correspondents include Duncan MacArthur, Humphrey Marshall, Peter Muhlenberg, Timothy Pickering, and Thomas Worthington.
The Land Office military warrants contain information on a particular claim to land, including warrant number, veteran's name, number of acres, length of service and in what branch, and date of the warrant. Many of these warrants contain assignments, or transfers, of the land made by the veteran or their heirs to other individuals. These assignments are noted on the back of the warrant. The warrants are arranged alphabetically by veteran's surname.
There are a number of wills contained in this collection. Many of them are copies. A list of the testators, their residence, and date of probate can be found in the container list to the collection.
The surveys in this collection were prepared by Anderson or Latham acting in their capacities as principal surveyors of the lands appropriated by Virginia for soldiers of the Virginia line of the State and Continental establishments. Many of these surveys were made for individuals who owned the property, not necessarily a veteran. The owner in many cases was an heir, or an individual to whom assignment had been made. The surveys are arranged alphabetically by owner's surname.
The subject files contain a variety of material, including accounts, affidavits, agreements, assignments, bonds, circulars, declarations, deeds, depositions, estate papers of Benjamin Hough (deputy surveyor), land entries, lists of heirs, lists of officers of the State Line and Navy, powers of attorney, receipts, and suit papers.
The Joseph Kerr Papers document his career as a farmer, politician, and deputy surveyor of Virginia military lands in Ohio. Included are accounts, agreements, Chillicothe Farm ledger, correspondence, lists of land warrants, powers of attorney, receipts, sales of cargo, suit papers, and tax receipts.
The oversized items include accounts, assignments, circulars, deeds, a letter from Timothy Pickering to Governor Robert Brooke, plats and surveys, powers of attorney, and tax receipts.