Washington and Lee University, University Library Special Collections and Archives
Zechariah Johnston papers
Graham, John Alexander
WLU.Coll.0006
/repositories/5/resources/411
2.5 Linear Feet
2 document cases, 1 oversize folder
1747-1893
English
.
Conditions Governing Use
The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Zechariah Johnston Papers, WLU Coll 0006, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.
In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections staff to verify the appropriate format.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Two letters were a gift from John A. Graham.
Biographical / Historical
"Zachariah Johnston was born in 1742 in Augusta County, Virginia, to William Johnston and Ann Johnston. He attended Liberty Hall Academy and later was a trustee of Washington College. Johnston was a prosperous farmer by the time the American Revolution began. In 1776, he was appointed a captain in the county militia. Johnston's company actively patrolled against Indian uprisings, and, in 1781, participated in the Virginia campaign which led to Lord Cornwallis' surrender. Representing Augusta County in the House of Delegates from 1778 to 1791, Johnston was chair of the House committee on religion and helped pass the "act for establishing religious freedom" in 1786. After he moved to Rockbridge County, Virginia, in 1792, he represented that county in the House of Delegates in 1792 and 1797-1798. An opponent of paper money, and a proponent of court reform and payment of British debts, Johnston supported the federal Constitution in 1788. As Augusta County's representative to the ratifying convention, he was influential in having his section of the state unanimously vote for ratification. In the 1790s, Johnston was interested in connecting Virginia's western rivers to the Potomac River. Johnston owned three plantations in Rockbridge County, one in Augusta County, and lands in Kentucky. He married Ann Robertson (d. 1818), and they had eleven children. He died 7 January 1800 in Rockbridge County." - Library of Virginia
Scope and Contents
The Zechariah Johnston papers includes personal, business, political correspondence to and from Zechariah Johnston. Correspondents include family members and notable Virginians of his era. The collection also includes correspondence received by Thomas and James Johnston. In addition to correspondence, the collection includes resolutions, bills, petitions, and notices of or concerning the Virginia Assembly during Johnston's tenure as a delegate from Augusta County (1778-1792) and Rockbridge County (1797-1798). This includes Johnston's copy of an unsigned manuscript draft titled "Memorial and Remonstrance" by James Madison concerning religious freedom and his arguments for separation of church and state. There are also deeds and property descriptions, tax rolls, business and account records, including documents pertaining to enslaved persons owned by Johnston; business and accounting records (1796-1845) of Thomas Johnston, a son of Zechariah Johnston, two letters from William Graham, first rector of Liberty Hall Academy, to Zechariah Johnston, and the will and estate inventory of Ann Johnston. Other highlights include student notes or lectures from Liberty Hall Academy, a poem to reverends William Graham and Samuel Houston, and a petition from Augusta County residents to the Virginia Assembly regarding fishing rights in the South River. There are ephmeral items as well.
Separated Materials
Zechariah Johnston's personal copy of a manuscript draft of James Madison's "Memorial and Remonstrance" has been separated and housed separate from the collection but a printed scan is provided within the collection. Please see a member of staff for assistance.
Conservation
Virginia
Freedom of religion
Johnston, Zechariah
Johnston, Thomas
Virginia. General Assembly
Graham, John Alexander
Graham, William A. (William Alexander)
Liberty Hall Academy (Lexington, Va.)
Madison, James
Correspondence, William Graham to Zechariah Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190391787-179211Legal papers/repositories/5/archival_objects/19040circa 1772-179912Legal papers, Property Descriptions, and Surveys/repositories/5/archival_objects/190411780-179913Miscellaneous Personal and Business Papers/repositories/5/archival_objects/190421740-181014Petitions to and Acts of the Virginia Assembly and Miscellaneous Papers/repositories/5/archival_objects/190431770-181015Printed Petitions, Notices, and Bills related to the Virginia Assembly/repositories/5/archival_objects/190441790-179916Material Related to Religious Freedom/repositories/5/archival_objects/190451785-178917Separated MaterialsJohnston's personal copy of a manuscript draft of James Madison's "Memorial and Remonstrance" was removed from this folder to undergo conservation treatment in 2023. It is housed separately from the collection. A printed scan was put in place of the original. Please see a member of staff for assistance.
Liberty Hall Academy Lecture Notes/repositories/5/archival_objects/190461785-180018Liberty Hall Academy Lecture Notes/repositories/5/archival_objects/219321785-180019Tax Rolls/repositories/5/archival_objects/190481786, 1792110Bills, Receipts, and Accounting Documents of Thomas Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190491796-1819111Bills, Receipts, and Accounting Documents of Thomas Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190501820-1830112Bills, Receipts, and Accounting Documents of Thomas Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190511830-1845113Bills, Receipts, and Accounting Documents of Thomas Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190521796-1845114"Henry Clay Corresponding Committee" Circular/repositories/5/archival_objects/190531832115Manuscript Fragments/repositories/5/archival_objects/190541750-1850116Promissory Notes and Miscellaneous Papers/repositories/5/archival_objects/190551747-1771117Correspondence, Promissory Notes, Business Records, Deeds/repositories/5/archival_objects/190561772-1785118Correspondence to Zechariah Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190571786-1789119Correspondence to Zechariah Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190581790120Correspondence to Zechariah Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190591791121Correspondence to Zechariah Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/190601792122Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219331793-179421Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/21934179522Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/21935179623Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219361797-179824Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/21937179925Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219381800-180526Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219391806-181027Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219641809Folder 1Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219401816-181728Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219411821-184929Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219421850-1859210Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219431860-1869211Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/219441870-1893212Correspondence/repositories/5/archival_objects/21945undated213Ann Johnston Will and Estate Inventory/repositories/5/archival_objects/219461818214Estate Inventory of T. Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/219471800215Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219481800-1809216Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219491810-1814217Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219501815-1819218Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219511820-1825219Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219521826-1829220Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219531830-1834221Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219541835-1837222Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219551838-1839223Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219561840-1843224Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219571844-1849225Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/219581850-1869226Bills and Receipts/repositories/5/archival_objects/21959undated227Financial Records/repositories/5/archival_objects/219651806, 1813-1821Folder 1Fragments/repositories/5/archival_objects/21960undated228Printed Material/repositories/5/archival_objects/219611854-1874, undated229Scope and ContentsIncludes 1854 Washington College commencement party program, 1860 Griffin High School brochure, speeches
Broadside about the North River Improvement (Rockbridge County)/repositories/5/archival_objects/21966undatedFolder 1Land Indenture/repositories/5/archival_objects/219621785 October 18Folder 1South River Petition (Augusta County)/repositories/5/archival_objects/21963undatedFolder 1Hand-drawn Floorplan with Description/repositories/5/archival_objects/21967undatedFolder 1State of Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical Fair Certificate for James Johnston/repositories/5/archival_objects/219681874 October 21Folder 1