Special Collections Research Center
William Cole Collection of Documents Pertaining to the Colonial-Era
Cole, William W.
Botetourt, Norborne Berkeley, Baron de, ca. 1718-1770
Randolph, Beverley, 1754-1797
Dunmore, John Murray, Earl of, 1732-1809
Amherst, Jeffery Amherst, Baron, 1717-1797
Fauquier, Francis
Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799
Andros, Edmund, Sir, 1637-1714
Hunter, Robert
Dinwiddie, Robert, 1693-1770
Dunmore, John Murray, 4th Earl of, 1732-1809
Brooke, Robert
Lee, Henry, 1756-1818
Blair, James, 1741-1772
Wood, James, 1741-1813
MS 00196
/repositories/2/resources/7720
3.0 Linear Feet
1676-1971
1730-1770
English
Content Description
Documents, prints, and heraldry pertaining to Virginia governors from the 17th and 18th centuries. Includes letters and documents signed by John Murray, Robert Brooke, James Wood, Beverly Randolph, Patrick Henry, Edmund Andros, Jeffrey Amherst, Norborne Berkeley, Robert Hunter, Francis Fauquier, Earl De La Warr, James Blair, and Robert Dinwiddie among others. Also included in the collection are prints, coats of arms, and commemorative coins.
Conditions Governing Use
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
William Cole Collection of Virginia Governor Documents, 1676-1971, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, William and Mary.
Accruals
Acc. 2019.013 was added to the collection in 2019. Additional accruals are anticipated.
Virginia--Governors
Virginia--History--18th century
Virginia--History--17th century
College of William and Mary--History
Cole, William W.
Coat of Arms for West, Earl De la Warr/repositories/2/archival_objects/2681541610English11Scope and ContentsDisplay of Arms for Thomas West, Baron Delawarr La Warr, Governor under the Virginia Company of London. Motto: "Jour de ma Vif".
"To the Constables and Overseers of Jamaica"/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715161676 September 25English12Scope and ContentsFull title: "Give under my hand in New York this 25th day of Sept.r 1676 to ye Constable and Overseers of Jamaica, E Andros".
Biographical / HistoricalEdmund Andros was the Ggovernor under the Crown, 1692-1698.
Print of portrait of infant "The Lord Bury"/repositories/2/archival_objects/268155circa 1704English21Certificate regarding Robert and Anne Dunmore, signed by Robert Hunter/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715171713 June 23English13Biographical / HistoricalRobert Hunter was Governor of Virginia under the Crown, 1707-1709. He never served in the colony.
Document signed by Governor Gooch, James Blair, and John Custis/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715471729English22Scope and ContentsColonial Virginia document.
Print of Robert Boyle/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715481739English23Print of George Hamilton, Earl of Orkney/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715491742English24Print of Queen Anne/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715501744English25Print of William, Duke of Gloucester/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715511745English26Print of medals of King William and Queen Mary/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715521745English27Document signed by Robert Dinwiddie/repositories/2/archival_objects/2681561756EnglishManuscripts Oversize Box 21Jeffrey Amherst to Thomas Hancock Letter/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715181761 March 29English14Biographical / HistoricalJeffrey Amherst born in Kent, England January 29, 1717-August 3, 1797. He was Governor of Virginia under the Crown, 1759-1768; he never went to Virginia and was represented by deputies.
Scope and ContentsLetter regarding shipping matters from Jeffrey Amherst, New York, to Boston merchant Thomas Hancock.
Land grant to Conrad Blows, signed by Fran Farquier/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715531765 August 15English28Letter from John Murray, Lord Dunmore/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715191768 March 16English15Biographical / HistoricalJohn Murray, 4th Earl of Dunmore (1732-1809), was the Colonial Governor of New York (1770-1771), and Virginia (1771-1776). He dissolved the Virginia House of Burgesses; precipitated colonial uprising by seizing powder store (April 1775); and was defeated by colonists at Great Bridge (January 1, 1776).
Scope and ContentsJohn Murray offers himself as a representative of the Peers of Scotland in Parliament and desires the Lordship's vote in the upcoming election. The recipient in unknown.
Sir Jeffrey Amherst print/repositories/2/archival_objects/271520circa 1769English16Scope and ContentsCopper plate engraving.
Land grant to William Thompson, signed by Norborne Berkeley, Baron de Botetourt/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715541770 August 27English29GeneralConserved with funds from the Jamestowne Society.
Land grant to Thomas Helm, signed by Benjamin Harrison/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715211782 June 1English17Receipt of Beverly Randolph, signed by Edmund Randolph/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715221782 November 20English18Scope and ContentsReceipt for Beverly Randolph, Esq., for fifty pounds as a fee for himself, his brother Robert, and his ward Peter Randolph in their suit in the high Court of Chancery against the execution of their father. Signed by Edmund Randolph (Governor of the Commonwealth, 1786-1788).
Court document, N.C.: Daniel Williams vs. William Farrar, Jr., signed by Reuben Searcy/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715231784 February 8English19Petition of Isaac Wood/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715241784 June 9English110Scope and ContentsPetition brought by Isaac Wood against James Gray of the state of South Carolina for James Gray refusing to pay Wood "two likely Negroes or one houndred and fifty pounds Sterling". The petition is directed to the Honorable George Walton Esquire, Chief Justice of the Said State, and the Assistant Justices of the County of Richmond.
Appointment of Justices of the Peace, Loudoun County, signed by Patrick Henry/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715261785 October 10English111Biographical / HistoricalPatrick Henry was, Governor of the Commonwealth, 1788-1791.
Thomas Lawson court document, signed by Henry Lee/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715251786 October 20English112Scope and ContentsFull title: "The Answer of Thomas Lawson to the bill of complaint of Ralph Wormely Junior, Mann Page, Francis Lightfoot Lee, and Warner Lewis, surviving acting executors of John Tayloe, deceased". The document discusses Thomas Lawson's involvement in Tayloe's ironworks business in the county of Prince William.
Land grant to John Harris, signed by Beverly Randolph/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715551789 November 23English210Appointment of the Justices of the Peace, Loudoun County, signed by Henry Lee/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715271792 June 25English113Biographical / HistoricalHenry Lee was Governor of the Commonwealth, 1791-1794.
Land grant to James Strode, signed by Henry Lee/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715561792 July 30English211Land grant to Peter Pitman, signed by Robert Brooke/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715571796 July 14English212Land grant to George Conway Taylor, signed by James Wood/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715581798 August 18English213New England Palladium news print/repositories/2/archival_objects/2681581801 March 7EnglishManuscripts Oversize Box 23Lieutenant General Sir Eyre Coote etchings/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715401810-1815, undatedEnglish114Scope and ContentsThe folder includes three prints of Eyre Coote: two prints published in 1810 and 1815 and a "Builders of the Empire" card branded by Wills's Cigarettes.
Letter to George Loyall/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715281837 August 14English115Biographical / HistoricalGeorge Loyall, May 29, 1789-February 24, 1868, graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1808. Loyall was a member of the House of Delegates from the Borough of Norfolk, 1817-1827. He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1829. George Loyall was a member of Congress, 1831-1837. He was Navy agent of Norfolk from 1837-1861. Loyall resigned his position on April 17, 1861 because of his southern sympathies. His first wife Rebecca Tyler died in 1812 and his second wife Margaret Kelly died in 1855.
Scope and Contents"Interview between Mr. Dinwiddie and Washington" print/repositories/2/archival_objects/271529circa 1837English116Biographical / HistoricalRobert Dinwiddie, (born 1693, died July 27, 1770), British, served as Lieutenant Governor of Virginia, 1751-1758 under Governor Willem Anne van Keppel, and later as deputy, July 1756-January 1758, for John Campbell, Early of Loudon.
Report on the College of William and Mary/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715301871 March 3English117Scope and Contents41st Congress, 3d Session, House of Representatives, Report No. 53. William and Mary College, Virginia, March 3, 1871. "Mr. Arnell, from the Committee on Education and Labor, made the following report..."
"The History of the College of William and Mary from its Foundations, 1660 to 1874"/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715311874English118"Speeches of Hon. Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, and Hon. Martin I. Townsend, of New York..." Booklet/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715321878 AprilEnglish119Scope and ContentsFull title: Southern War Claims. Speeches of Hon. Thomas B. Reed, of Maine, and Hon. Martin I. Townsend, of New York, on Bill to pay William and Mary College, of Virginia, the Sum of $65,000 for Injuries Received during the Rebellion. Delivered in the House of Representatives April 12, 1878.
William and Mary Final Exercises/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715331891 July 3English120Colonial Orator, Patrick Henry, print/repositories/2/archival_objects/271534circa 1900English121"The College of William and Mary in Virginia: its history and work, 1693-1907"/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715351907English122Scope and ContentsWritten by Lyon G. Tyler, M. A. LL. D., President of the College of William and Mary.
Pencil sketches by Thomas Thorne booklet/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715361945English123Commemorative coins/repositories/2/archival_objects/2715371971 and undatedEnglish124Scope and ContentsCommemorative coins for George Wythe, Benjamin Harrison, and Henry Lee.
Coat of Arms of Lord Howard, Earl of Effingham, print/repositories/2/archival_objects/271538undatedEnglish125Coat of Arms of William Anne Van Keppel, Earl of Albemarle, print/repositories/2/archival_objects/271539undatedEnglish126Coat of Arms of Norborne Berkeley, Lord Botetourt/repositories/2/archival_objects/268157undatedEnglishManuscripts Oversize Box 22Print of Walter Raleigh/repositories/2/archival_objects/271541undatedEnglish127Scope and ContentsThe print includes a Latin inscription.
Print of John Smith/repositories/2/archival_objects/271542undatedEnglish128Clippings with etchings of "Old Main" (Wren Building), Henricopolis, and Botetourt Statue/repositories/2/archival_objects/271543undatedEnglish129Scope and ContentsOne pages with etchings was removed from the book "William and Mary College". The other page is from an unidentified source.
Copy of print of King William and Queen Mary/repositories/2/archival_objects/271544undatedEnglish130Thomas Dale cigar label/repositories/2/archival_objects/271545undatedEnglish131Cut signature of Carter Braxton/repositories/2/archival_objects/271546undatedEnglish132Abraham Nichols and Folio Page Displaying Heraldry/repositories/2/archival_objects/298924English214Scope and ContentsCopper engraving of Abraham Nicholas, 18th Century Mayor of Williamsburg, Va. by George Bickham, 1722 and a copper plate folio page engraving from A Display of Heraldry by John Guillim. This was the heraldry of Lord De Lar Warr and other British Barons dated 1679.
AccrualsThese two items were added to the collection in 2019.
Right Reverend D. Thomas Sherlock/repositories/2/archival_objects/4299771756English215Scope and ContentsPrint of the Right Reverend D. Thomas Sherlock, Lord Bishop of London, Dean of the Chapels Royal, and one of the lords of His Majestys, Most Honourable Privy Council, Vanloo pinx, 1740/S. Ravenet Sculp 1756;
Wyndham Earl of Egremont coat of arms/repositories/2/archival_objects/429978English216Scope and ContentsTorn from book, p. 214. vol. 4;
Right Hon ble Philip Lord Hardwicke, Baron of Hardwicke, Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain/repositories/2/archival_objects/429979English217Scope and ContentsPrint, TWills Pinx/J. McArdell Fecit.
"Sold by J. McArdell at the Golden Head next Southampton Street, Covent Garden, Price 2."
Reverendiss in Christo pater Thomas Tenison/repositories/2/archival_objects/4299801695English218Scope and ContentsLatin inscription, M Beale Pinx, P Vandrebane sculp
Reverend in Christo pater D. Henricus Comptonus/repositories/2/archival_objects/4299811679English219Scope and ContentsLatin inscription on print, "Honoratissimus Dom. us ac Reverend us admodu in Christo pater D. Henricus Comptonus"
D. Loggan and Vivum, delin. et Sculp: 1679
"Vive La Republique" /repositories/2/archival_objects/4299821848English220Scope and ContentsLithograph of "Vive La Republique, An Offering from the United States to the National Republic of France, 1776-1848" composed for the piano forte by Herrman S. Saroni.
Bookplates/repositories/2/archival_objects/430041Loudoun, John Campbell, Earl of, 1705-1782Wormeley, Ralph, 1744-1806English233Scope and ContentsTwo bookplates, for John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun and Royal Governor of Virginia from 1756-1759, and for Ralph Wormeley, Rector of William & Mary and translator of the university charter
BookplatesEdmund Gibson, Bishop of London and Chancellor of William & Mary/repositories/2/archival_objects/4300421737English134Scope and ContentsPrint of Gibson, published in 1820 by T&H Rodd from a 1737 engraving by "Vandrebanc Pinx"
Gibson, Edmund, Bp. of London, 1669-1748