The collection contains personal and business correspondence, legal documents, newspaper clippings, and other personal and business papers. For genealogists, the collection also includes family trees for the Claiborne and the Harrison families of Virginia.
The collection is organized into four series: Series I: Correspondence; Series II: Legal and Business Papers; Series III: Newspaper Clippings; and Series IV: Miscellaneous.
The collection is open to researchers without restrictions.
Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from Special Collections and University Archives, and the holder of the copyright, if not Old Dominion University Libraries.
Eloise Word Skewis
Gift. Accession #78-38
Additional accessions in 1998 and 2000.
[Identification of item], Box [insert number], Folder [insert number and title], Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
The dominant family branch for Eloise Word Skewis are the Claiborne family of New England and America. Other branches include the Kilby and the Harrison families of the James River.
The Claiborne family of England and America are an ancient family that derived its name from the manor of Cleburne or Cliborne in Westmoreland, England, near the river of Eden. The manor is named in the Doomsday Book (A.D.1086), and the family were for many generations lords of this place. The first of the line appearing in pedigrees is Hervey, to whom Henry II granted moiety of the manor of Cliborne.
The first of the Claiborne line to come to America was William Claiborne. He was born about 1587 and is first noticed in June 1621, when the Virginia Company engaged him to go to Virginia as surveyor. William came to Virginia with Governor Wyatt in 1621. In 1625 Governor Yeardley appointed him Secretary of State for the Colony and member of the Council. In 1642, the King appointed William as Treasurer of Virginia for life. He held several other public offices throughout his life. In 1631, William created a trading settlement on Kent Island in the Chesapeake. There he held many business contacts with several persons in London.
Note written by Special Collections Staff
This series contains personal and business correspondence, mostly concerning family matters and household business expenses. The series is arranged chronologically.
This sub-series contains correspondence mainly among family members.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 1, Personal Correspondence, 1853-1879, 1907, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This sub-series contains correspondence related to purchases, money owed, and workers.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 2, Business Correspondence, 1842-1871, 1907, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains various legal and business papers of the family of Eloise Skewis, including deeds, contracts, account books, and receipts, among others. The series is arranged chronologically.
This sub-series contains deeds, contracts, receipts, and court documents.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 3, Deeds, Contracts, Judgments, 1777-1826, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 4, Deeds, Contracts, Judgments, 1830-1886, undated, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains tax documents, receipts, bank statements, bonds, promissory notes, credit bills, stock and bond certificates, certificates of indebtedness, bank notes, account books, and court orders.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 5, Receipts, Statements, Bonds, 1800-1819, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 6, Receipts, Statements, Bonds, 1820-1829, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 7, Receipts, Statements, Bonds, 1830-1835, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 8, Receipts, Statements, Bonds, 1836-1839, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 9, Receipts, Statements, Bonds, 1840-1849, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 10, Receipts, Statements, Bonds, 1850-1859, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 11, Receipts, Statements, Bonds, 1860-1869, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 12, Receipts, Statements, Bonds, 1870-1899, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains a small number of undated and miscellaneous newspaper clippings, probably from the Baltimore Sun.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 13, Newspaper Clippings, undated, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
This series contains miscellaneous and oversize items. Included are membership certificates for the Daughters of the American Revolution, a land indenture, and family trees for the Claiborne's of England and America and the Harrison's of James River. The series is arranged chronologically.
[Identification of item and date], Box 1, Folder 14, Miscellaneous Materials, undated, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Confederate Bond for Five Hundred Dollars, circa 1860-1865, Oversize Box 2, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Facsimile Copy of the Bail Bond of Jefferson Davis, Accepted by U.S. Court at Richmond, 1867 November, Oversize Box 2, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Envelope Containing Art Work, undated, Oversize Box 2, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Pittsylvania County of Virginia Post Office Account Statement, 1843 December 31-1844 March 31, Oversize Box 2, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Daughters of the American Revolution Membership Certificate for Mrs. Mary Claiborne Kilby, 1906, Oversize Box 2, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Piedmont Real Estate Insurance Company Life, Insurance Policy for Thomas Jefferson Kilby, 1868, Oversize Box 2, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Indenture for the Lands of John Owen, Deceased, 1787, Oversize Box 2, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Family Tree for the Harrisons of James River, undated, Poster Tube 1, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.
Family Tree for the Claibornes of England and America, undated, Poster Tube 1, Eloise Word Skewis Papers, Special Collections and University Archives, Old Dominion University Libraries.