These records are part of the Revolutionary War / Government record group (R.G. 2)
Arranged chronologically.
Use microfilm when available.
Records of the Virginia Quartermaster General [cite specific accession and date used]. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquired prior to 1905.
The office of Quartermaster General was created by an ordinance of the fourth revolutionary convention passed during its session begun on December 1, 1775. In October 1782 the quartermaster general assumed the duties of the commercial agent, which was abolished by the General Assembly. Although quartermasters continued to be appointed to supply the militia, the revolutionary office ceased to function soon after the Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3, 1783, ending hostilities.
Virginia Quartermaster General records include a receipt book, papers and returns.
For additional records see the Governor's Executive Papers for this time period.
Receipt book, 1781 May 2-1782 Dec 25, in chronological order. Many of the receipts are for payments for carrying letters and dispatches, express riding, collecting stray horses, hiring wagons for transporting supplies and wages. Wages include, but are not limited to those for apprentices, articifers, builders at Point of Fork, conducting the printing apparatus to Staunton, the keeper of the hospital for lunatics (John Galt), a sailor on board the Revenge William Bailey, a skipper of the boat Betsy, store keeper, and for making boxes for holding the papers of the House of Delegates and Council, papering a room in the Governor's Palace, repairing saddles and bridles, superintending the building of boats, transporting papers and records from Staunton to Richmond, and whitewashing the Governor's Palace. including payments for wages, wagon hires, and other expenses involved in delivering supplies. Also includes receipts for forage, pasturage, rent for houses for use of the Laboratory at Wesham and for the brick house formerly occupied by Gov. Jefferson; and for the purchases of supplies such as coal, cord, corn, oats, planks, reams of paper, rope, straw, and timber. (Accession 54500).
Also included on the reverse of pages and upside are a List of certificates issued by Henry Young; a narrative for System for Regulating the Quartermaster General Department; and miscellaneous, unidentified accounts, 1822-1829.
This volume is also identified as WAR 28.
Papers consist of correspondence, as well as accounts, certificates, inventories, invoices, orders, and receipts, primarily related to purchasing and furnishing supplies for the Revolutionary War.
Supplies for the state include items such as arms and powder, food and spirits (biscuits, brandy, flour, rum, tea, whiskey), building materials (iron, nails), clothing and personal items (blankets, cloth, shoes, stockings) and other miscellaneous items (hemp, ink, ledger books, medicine, paper, quills).
Includes letters sent and received by Samuel Jones, Deputy Quartermaster General, 1781 Apr-July. Correspondence includes matters such as contracts for the delivery of coal from Powhatan coal pits; impressment of supplies and wagons; coordinating the removal of personal belongings, arms and stores west beyond the enemy's reach; an inventory of carpenter's tools delivered to Point of Fork; stores dispatched up river by canoe; requests for gunpowder; general transportation of forage and provisions; boat building; smith tools; powder for the Laboratory; removal from Point of Fork; general movement of troops; and prisoners.
Papers include specific references to the Public Hospital (undated); Invoice for hogshead Lower Potomac and Lower Rappahannock - Tobacco received by Treasurers, 1782 Nov; clothing for men belonging to the state laboratory, 1782 Nov.; order for quills and paper for the General Assembly, 1782 Nov; list of tobacco drawn from the Treasury and paid Gen. Morgan, 1782 Nov; delivery of shoes to state negroes, 1782 Dec; delivery of cloth for breeches to Jack, a state negro, 1782 Dec; order of Council for goods for Indians, 1782 Dec; supplies for Public Hospital and state laboratory, 1783, Jan-May; certificate for supplies furnished to the French Navy, 1783 June-Dec; receipt for hiring enslaved individuals to load and unload a wagon; starting, beating, sifting and mixing flour; baking biscuits, 1784 Jan-Apr; Commercial Agent account with John Fisher, deceased, St. Thomas, 1784 May 5; lists of balances due on the books of the late Commercial Agent, 1785; correspondence with Mssr. Penet and Col. LeMaire, 1785; and account with Westham Foundry, 1795. Also includes Account Disbursements from 25 Jan 1782-24 Feb 1783 in specie, including date, number, to whom disbursed and amount; and an Inventory of goods received of William Hay, late Commercial Agent, undated. (Accession 54499).
Contains excerpts of letters from the Assistant Deputy Quartermasters in Manchester and Peytonsburg to Richard Claiborne, Deputy Quartermaster General. The letters relate to the availablity of wagons. (Accession 44730).
Contains a general return of clothiers and quarter master's stores received, issued, sold, lost, and remaining on hand commencing 10 July 1783 and ending 1 July 1784. The return provides the voucher number, date issued or sold, by whose order, to whom issued or sold, type of store, and quantity. (Accession 44810).