Historical Information:The Amherst Savings Bank conducted business in Amherst County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Amherst Savings Bank Records consist of Daybook B, 1879-1881, and Ledger, 1880-1883 These volumes record the debits and credits of individual customers and controlling accounts.

Historical Information:Bailie and Gallaher was a printing firm that operated in the city of Richmond. Charles Bailie, 1816-1857, was a Richmond journeyman who came to his trade-independence in about 1834 and never left Richmond. He was the lead tradesman for both the Richmond Whig and the Richmond Compiler during his career, and the Compiler's (changed name to The Evening Bulletin) last titular proprietor in 1853-1854); he also printed the Southern Planter and the Christian Union Magazine for their editors.

Scope and Content:: Bailie and Gallaher, Book and Job Printers Ledger, 1836-1840, records the accounts of individual customers. Information found in each account includes name of customer, date of transaction, form of transaction, amount and type of items printed, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Forms of payment include cash and credit. Entries include payments for handbills, circulars, funeral tickets, and invitations.

Historical Information:Robert M. Brown, 1814-1894, was an attorney operating in Amherst County during the 19th century.

Scope and Content:Robert M. Brown, Attorney Account Books, 1838-1880, records accounts related to legal services. Entries record names of clients, dates of transactions, form of transactions, legal services rendered, amount owed, form of payments, and amount paid. Legal services include defense counsel in lawsuits, administrator of decedent estates, guardian of minors, and recording legal documents. Transactions include the sale of enslaved individuals. Both volumes include indices. Additional information found in account books include contracts and transactions related to the building of a Presbyterian church at Amherst Courthouse. The contracts record the specifications and materials used to build the church.

Historical Information:: Brown and Whitehead was a law partnership in Amherst County in the early to mid-19th century. The partnership was comprised of Robert M. Brown and Thomas Whitehead.

Born in Lovingston, Virginia, Thomas Whitehead engaged in mercantile pursuits, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1849, commencing practice in Amherst, Virginia. During the Civil War, he served in the Confederate Army as captain of Company E, 2nd Virginia Cavalry from 1861 to 1865. Afterwards, he was elected to the Virginia Senate, but Reconstruction prevented him from taking the seat. Whitehead was elected prosecuting attorney for Amherst County, Virginia in 1866 and again in 1869, resigning in 1873. He was elected as a Democrat to the United States House of Representatives in 1872, serving from 1873 to 1875 and afterwards was editor of the Lynchburg News in 1876 and of the Lynchburg Advance in 1880. Whitehead resumed practicing law and was elected commissioner of agriculture for Virginia in 1888, serving until his death on 1 July 1901 near Lynchburg, Virginia. He is interred in Spring Hill Cemetery in Lynchburg.

Scope and Content:Brown and Whitehead, Attorney Ledger, 1849-1857, records individual accounts of clients. Entries record date of transaction, amount owed, and amount paid. Entries do not record legal service rendered. They use the generic term "to fee." Volume includes an index.

Historical Information:John Cabell was the son of William Cabell, patriarch of the Cabell family in Virginia. John Cabell was a prominent landowner and citizen of Buckingham County. He served terms as sheriff, justice of the peace, and as a delegate to the General Assembly. Cabell represented Buckingham County at the Revolutionary Convention of 1776 held in Williamsburg. Green Hill was the name of Cabell's plantation in Buckingham County. Cabell died in May 1815.

Scope and Content:John Cabell's Estate Account Book, 1809-1834, records the accounts of individuals who conducted business with Cabell's estate. Information found in each account includes name of individual, date of transaction, form of transaction, amount and type of items purchased, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Forms of payment include cash, credit, and barter. Transactions involve wheat, corn, oats, pork, farm tools, horses, livestock, and slaves. Individuals involved in transactions include John Cabell's children. Entries include costs related to the burial of John Cabell in May 1815.

The account book also records lists of enslaved individuals belonging to the estate of John Cabell hired in New Market and in Greenway, Nelson County, Virginia, and lists of lands rented, 1818-1824. Entries for enslaved hires record the date of hiring, name of person hiring enslaved, names of enslaved hired, number of enslaved hired, and amount paid for hire of enslaved. Entries for land rents record date of rent, name of renter, name of land rented, and amount paid. The lands rented include Green Hill plantation in Buckingham County, Warminster in Nelson County, and Slate River Mountain in Buckingham County.

Historical Information:The Central Savings Bank conducted business at Amherst County Courthouse during the mid-19th century.

Scope and Content:Central Savings Bank Daybook, 1859-1860, records the shares held by stockholders. Includes names of stockholders, number of shares, and stock value. Brief minutes of stockholder meetings are also included.

Historical Information:S.A. Day was a pharmacist who operated a drugstore in Amherst County in the early 20th century.

Scope and Content:S.A. Day Sales Ledger D, 1900-1903, records the debts and payments of individual customers. Entries refer to prescription references and purchases of various types of medication such as chloroform, cough medicine, pills, and hair tonic. Entries also include the purchases of general merchandise such as cigars, sodas, and soap.

Historical Information:John Thomas Ellis owned a general store that conducted business in Amherst County during the nineteenth century.

Scope and Content:John Thomas Ellis Records, 1881-1888, consist of 3 ledgers and 2 daybooks.

John Thomas Ellis Ledgers, 1881-1888, record the debts and payments of individual customers.

John Thomas Ellis Daybooks, 1885-1887, record in chronological order merchandise purchased by individual customers. Entries list name of customer, items purchased, amount owed, and amount paid. Items purchased include soap, clothing, knives, coffee, and various types of food.

Historical Information:Richard Shelton Ellis was a large property owner and businessman who lived in the town of Pedlar Mills, Amherst County, Virginia. Ellis, as a sole proprietor and in partnership with his brother John, owned mercantile businesses in Pedlar Mills, Richmond, and Wheeling, (now West Virginia) during the early and mid-nineteenth century. He also owned a plantation named Red Hill.

Scope and Content:: John and Richard Shelton Ellis Business Records, 1804-1835, consist of eight journals (used as daybooks) and eight ledgers. These volumes record the company's activities in Wheeling, West Virginia.

Journals C-H, L, and M, 1804-1814 are daybooks that record transactions daily as they occurred. Each entry includes the page number of the customer's individual account found in corresponding ledgers C and F. Ledgers E, L, and M are missing. Information found in each entry includes the name of the customer, the amount owed and paid, and merchandise purchased. Merchandise sold included whiskey, clothing, dry goods (linen, needles, thread, buttons, etc.), spices, gunpowder, dishes, and knives.

Ledgers C, D, F, G, H, I, K, and O, 1804-1835, record the accounts of individual customers. Beside each entry is the page number of the customer's individual account found in journals C and F. Journals I, K, and O are missing. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. Also, record store's controlling accounts include a cash account, property account, interest account, batteau account, distillery account, etc. Also found in ledgers is a list of debts due to and owed by John and Richard Shelton Ellis. A few ledgers include a list of wheat received by Pedlar Mills. Information found in the list includes dates when mill received wheat, name of individual who delivered wheat, and amount and weight of bushels delivered. Ledgers include an index that records accounts in alphabetical order and the page number where the accounts can be found.

Historical Information:Richard Shelton Ellis was a large property owner and businessman who lived in the town of Pedlar Mills, Amherst County, Virginia. Ellis, as a sole proprietor and in partnership with his brother John, owned mercantile businesses in Pedlar Mills, Richmond, and Wheeling (now West Virginia) during the early and mid-nineteenth century. He also owned a plantation in Amherst County named Red Hill.

Scope and Content:Richard Shelton Ellis Records, 1816-1846, consist of three ledgers and five journals of a mercantile business owned by Ellis. The volumes record the company's activities in Pedlar Mills, Amherst County, Virginia.

Ledgers A, B, and G, 1816-1846, record the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. The ledgers also record store's controlling accounts including cash account, property account, interest account, merchandise account, batteau account, etc. Ledger A includes an index that records accounts in alphabetical order and the page number where the accounts can be found. The ledgers also include a list of debts due to and owed by Richard Shelton Ellis.

Journals, 1818-1832, two identified as Journals C and D, were used as daybooks. They record transactions daily as they occur. The information found in each entry includes the name of the customer and the amount owed and paid. The daybooks also record the store's payments of regular expenses such as purchases of merchandise, legal expenses, payment of debts, and hiring of slaves. Merchandise sold included dry goods (cloth, yarn, thread, buttons), shoes, dishes, spices, knives, and tools.

Historical Information:Daniel and David Higginbotham and Company was part of a chain of mercantile stores owned by Thomas, Daniel, and David Higginbotham. The three were brothers from Amherst County who were prominent merchants in early nineteenth century Virginia. Either together or with other merchants, the Higginbotham brothers operated general stores in New Glasgow, Amherst, Lynchburg, Richmond, and other localities in Virginia.

Daniel and David Higginbotham and Company moved its mercantile business from New Glasgow to Amherst in 1825.

Scope and Content:: Daniel and David Higginbotham and Company Business Records, 1818-1843, consist of seven journals and seven ledgers. These volumes record the company's business activities in New Glasgow and Amherst in Amherst County, Virginia.

Journals A-D, 1818-1822, are daybooks that record transactions daily as they occurred. Each entry includes the page number of the customer's individual account found in corresponding ledgers A-D found in this collection. The information found in each entry includes the name of the customer and the amount owed and paid. The daybook also records store's payments of regular expenses such as purchases of merchandise, legal expenses, and transportation of goods. Merchandise sold included food, clothing, books, spices, dishes, and tools.

Ledgers A-D, 1818-1822, record the accounts of individual customers. Each entry includes page numbers found in corresponding journals A-D where the customer's specific transactions can be found. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. Ledgers also record store's controlling accounts including store expenses, profit and loss, property, cash account, etc.

Journals F-H, 1824-1843, record receipts and expenses of the company unrelated to its mercantile activities. Beside each entry is the page number found in corresponding ledgers F-H. They include legal matters, hiring out of slaves, interest owed and paid on debts by customers, transportation, postage, and rent. Entries entered in chronological order on an almost daily basis.

Ledgers F-H, 1824-1843, record the accounts of individual customers and perhaps the employers/employees of the company as well. Entries listed in accounts derived from corresponding journals F-H. Each account lists in chronological order the amount owed and paid for financial matters unrelated to the store's mercantile activities. They include interest owed and paid for debts, hiring out of slaves, legal expenses, postage, transportation expenses, etc. Also includes transactions related to the company's controlling accounts such as profit and loss, property accounts, and store expenses.

Historical Information:Thomas Higginbotham was a member of a prominent mercantilist family in early nineteenth century Virginia. The Higginbotham family operated businesses in New Glasgow, Amherst, Lynchburg, Richmond and other localities in Virginia.

Scope and Content:Scope and Content: Thomas Higginbotham Records, 1831-1845, consist of a journal and ledger.

Thomas Higginbotham Journal E, 1831-1845, records receipts and expenses related to miscellaneous transactions made in the town of Amherst, Virginia. It records payments of debts owed by or to the Higginbotham plantation and various Higginbotham businesses; payments made by and to plantation and Higginbotham businesses for goods sold and services rendered; payments for expenses such as legal expenses, postage, and rent of property. Entries were entered in chronological order on an almost daily basis. Each entry includes the page number of the customer's individual account found in corresponding ledger E.

Thomas Higginbotham Ledger E, 1831-1845, records the accounts of individuals with whom Higginbotham conducted business. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. It also records controlling accounts such as a land account, a cash account, a plantation account, etc. Each entry includes the page number of the customer's individual account found in corresponding journal E. The ledger includes an index that records accounts in alphabetical order and the page number where the accounts can be found.

Historical Information:Thomas and Daniel Higginbotham and Company were part of a chain of mercantile businesses owned by Thomas, Daniel and David Higginbotham. The three were brothers from Amherst County who were prominent mercantilists in early nineteenth century Virginia. Either together or with other mercantilists, the Higginbotham brothers operated general stores in New Glasgow, Amherst, Lynchburg, Richmond and other localities in Virginia.

Scope and Content:Thomas and Daniel Higginbotham and Company Business Records, 1815-1827, consist of five journals and seven ledgers. The volumes record the company's activities in Lynchburg.

Journals A, B, D, E, and G, 1815-1821, are daybooks that record transactions chronologically daily. Each entry includes the page number of the customer's individual account found in corresponding ledgers A, B, and G found in this collection. Ledger E is missing. Information found in each journal entry includes the name of the customer, items purchased, and the amount owed and paid. Merchandise sold included paper, clothing, knives, spices, dishes, and tools.

Ledgers A-D and F-H, 1815-1821, record the accounts of individual customers. Each entry includes the page number found in corresponding journals, A, B, D, and G where the customer's specific transactions can be found. Journals C, F, and H are missing. Although one ledger says Ledger E on the spine, it is Ledger C. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. Also record store's controlling accounts including merchandise account, cash account, postage account, etc.

Historical Information:Thomas and Daniel Higginbotham and Company were part of a chain of mercantile businesses owned by Thomas, Daniel and David Higginbotham. The three were brothers from Amherst County who were prominent mercantilists in early nineteenth century Virginia. Either together or with other mercantilists, the Higginbotham brothers operated general stores in New Glasgow, Lynchburg, Richmond and other localities in Virginia.

Scope and Content:: Thomas and Daniel Higginbotham and Company Business Records, 1815-1838, consist of four journals and five ledgers. The volumes record the company's activities in Richmond, Virginia.

Journals B-E, 1817-1823, are daybooks that record transactions on an almost daily basis. Each entry includes the page number of the customer's individual account found in corresponding ledgers B-E. The warehouse sold mercantile goods primarily to general stores including ones owned by Higginbotham family. Information found in entries includes name of customer, merchandise sold, and the amount owed or paid for merchandise and expenses (tolls, duties, freight, etc.) Merchandise sold included tea, coffee, nails, clothing, linen and other dry goods. Journals also contain entries listing the company's payments of expenses and debts on notes.

Ledgers A-E, 1815-1838, record the accounts of individual customers. Although one ledger says Ledger B, it is Ledger A. Beside each entry is the page number found in corresponding journals B-E where the transactions can be found. Journal A is missing. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. Also record store's controlling accounts (interest account, debt payments, profit and loss, etc.,) and expense accounts (toll and drag, wharfage, legal expenses, etc.

Historical Information:John James London, 1813-1856, was a member of the Higginbotham family, a prominent mercantilist family in early nineteenth century Virginia. The Higginbotham family operated mercantile businesses in New Glasgow, Amherst, Lynchburg, Richmond and other localities in Virginia. London's mother, Tirzah London, was a Higginbotham. London and his brother Daniel Higginbotham London owned a mercantile business named John James and Daniel Higginbotham London.

Scope and Content:John James London Ledger B, 1852-1860, documents the personal financial activities of London. It records the accounts of individuals, estates, and businesses that London managed or with whom London conducted business. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. It also records controlling accounts such as a land account, cash account, property account, interest account, etc. The preponderance of accounts belongs to relatives of London. They include members of the Banks family, Higginbotham family, and London family. Estates found in ledger include Soldiers' Joy, Poplar Grove, and Clay Pool. Businesses listed in ledger include Thomas and Daniel Higginbotham and Company, Daniel and David Higginbotham and Company, and John James and Daniel Higginbotham London. The ledger includes an index that records accounts in alphabetical order and the page number where the accounts can be found.

Historical Information:McPennalton and Company operated a tanyard in New Glasgow, Amherst County during the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:McPennalton and Company Ledger, 1831-1834, records business debits and credits, cash accounts, and accounts with individuals for purchase of items such as skins, oils and shoes.

Historical Information:Samuel Read and Company conducted business in Bedford County during the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:: Samuel Read and Company Records, 1818-1819, consist of a journal and ledger that record the company's activities in Bedford County, Virginia.

Samuel Read and Company Journal H, 1818-1819, is a daybook that records transactions daily as they occurred. Each entry includes the page number of the customer's individual account found in Ledger H. Information found in each entry includes the name of the customer, merchandise sold, and the amount owed and paid. Merchandise sold included food, paper, clothing, dry goods (linen, thread, lace, etc.), knives, liquor, spice, and shoes.

Samuel Read and Company Ledger H, 1818-1819, records the accounts of individual customers. Each entry includes the page number found in the corresponding journal. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. The ledger also records the store's controlling accounts including merchandise account, cash account, interest account, profit and loss, etc. Included in the back of the volume are a set of papers related to a court case in the Federal Court of Richmond involving Samuel Read and Company versus William Brown and Company. Papers contain miscellaneous financial information such as a list of monies received, statements of interest, and a list of bad debts.

Historical Information:Between 1820 and 1827 the name of the business changed from Samuel Read and Company to Read, Montgomerie and Company and finally to Read and Montgomerie.

Scope and Content:Read and Montgomerie Journal, 1820-1827, records accounts of its customers in Bedford County, Virginia. It lists the debts owed and payments made by individual customers. It also includes Read and Montgomerie's legal expenses from lawsuits. The first twenty pages of the journal are missing. The volume's spine includes the initials "B. M." for Boyd Miller who was perhaps an agent for the company.

Historical Information:Archibald Robertson and Company was owned by Archibald Robertson and conducted business in Lynchburg, Virginia, during the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:Archibald Robertson and Company Business Records, 1814-1825, consist of two ledgers and a journal that record the company's activities in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Archibald Robertson and Company Ledgers D and I, 1814-1825, records the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. Also, records store's controlling accounts including profit and loss account, costs of suits account, interest account, inventory account, etc. Each entry in Ledger I includes the page number found in the corresponding journal where the customer's specific transactions can be found. Ledger D includes an index that records accounts in alphabetical order and the page number where the accounts can be found. Thomas Jefferson is listed as a customer.

Archibald Robertson and Company Journal I, 1819-1824, is a daybook that records transactions chronologically daily. Each entry includes the page number of the customer's individual account found in the corresponding Ledger I found in this collection. Information found in the journal entry includes the name of the customer, form of transaction, and the amount owed and paid. The journal does not list the names of items sold. Forms of transactions include purchase of sundries, payments for expenses such as postage and legal costs, and payments and receipts related to the company's controlling accounts.

Historical Information:Soldier's Joy was a plantation located on the James River in Nelson County. Colonel Samuel Jordon Cabell established Soldier's Joy in 1785. The Higginbotham family acquired part of the plantation in 1815 through the marriage of John Higginbotham to Colonel Cabell's daughter, Margaret Washington Cabell. Daniel Higginbotham, along with other members of the Higginbotham family, are buried at Soldier's Joy.

Scope and Content:Soldier's Joy Plantation Records, 1826-1851, consist of two journals and two ledgers that record the business activities of the plantation.

Historical Information:Thompson and Teas Company was a mercantile store owned by John Thompson and William Teas that conducted business in Amherst County, Virginia during the late 18th century.

Scope and Content:Thompson and Teas Company Journal for Ledger C, 1785-1788, is a daybook that records transactions daily as they occurred. The information found in each entry includes the name of the customer and the amount owed and paid. Merchandise sold includes cloth, yarn, thread, buttons, shoes, gloves, and rugs. The store also sold knives, nails, and rum. At the end of the volume is a list of individuals holding cash bonds.

Historical Information:The unidentified tobacco business operated in Amherst County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Business Account Book, 1886-1888, lists tobacco sales to individuals. Information includes name of purchaser, number of transactions, and method of payment.

Historical Information:This unidentified contractor operated in Amherst County in the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:: Unidentified Contractor Account Book, 1833-1840, records wages paid to, and groceries bought by day laborers. Entries include laborer's name, amount of hours worked, cash wages paid, and grocery items bought (such as cotton, food, and clothing.)

Historical Information:This unidentified contractor operated in Amherst County in the late 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Contractor Ledger, 1886-1887, records wages paid to, and groceries bought by day laborers. Among the items purchased are bacon, butter, corn, and oats.

Historical Information:This unidentified farm operated in Amherst County during the 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Farm Account Book, 1848-1879 (bulk 1868-1879), records individual accounts of farm laborers. Entries include name of farm laborer, dates of transactions, goods purchased, quantity of goods purchased, amount owed, method of payment, and amount paid. Goods purchased include corn, flour, clothing, and salt. The method of payment was predominantly by labor on the farm. Members of the Morris family are prominent in this account book.

Historical Information:: This unidentified general store operated in New Glasgow, Amherst County in the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified General Store Daybook, 1821, records goods bought and sold. Items purchased include salt, tobacco, whiskey, cloth and foodstuffs (bacon, flour, sugar.)

Historical Information:This unidentified liquor merchant operated in Amherst County in the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Liquor Merchant Ledger D, 1814-1815, records the accounts of individual customers. Information found in each account includes name of customer, date of transaction, form of transaction, amount and type of liquor sold, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Forms of payment include cash, credit, and barter of items such as corn, oats, and flour.

Historical Information:This unidentified mercantile business conducted business in Amherst County in the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Mercantile Business Ledger B, 1836-1841, records the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order and the amount owed and paid. Entries do not record the names of the items purchased. Instead, they use the generic term "merchandise." Each entry in the ledger includes the page number found in the missing corresponding journal where the customer's specific transactions can be found. Volume has some relation to other volumes with the same accession number.

Historical Information:This unidentified tanyard operated in Amherst County in the early 19th century.

Scope and Content:Unidentified Tanyard Account Book, 1826-1828, records the debts and payments of individual customers with credit accounts. A few entries refer to tanyard accounts and shoe accounts.