Robert Skipwith (1810-1904) was born at Amelia County, Va., the son of George and Mary Murray and spent his life in Goochland County, Va., Richmond, Va. and in Powhatan County, Va. He apparently attended the University of Virginia and worked from 1840-1846 on the James River and Kanawha Canal and in Pennsylvania during early 1847. Skipwith married Jane Rolfe Bolling (1809-1867) on July 7, 1847 in Goochland County, and settled at "Bolling Hall," Goochland County, where he remained until Jane's death in 1867. He later moved to Richmond and married Lizzie Jones, then purchased a home, "South East," Powhatan County, and was living there in 1898.
Deposit
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Robert Skipwith Diaries, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Robert Skipwith Papers (Mss. 74s Sk3), Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Robert Skipwith Diaries (Originals Privately Owned and Held Outside of Swem Library - Digitized Copies Available)
Diaries, 1834-1898, of Robert Skipwith kept in Goochland County, Va., Richmond, Va. and Powhatan County, Va. Much of Skipwith's life is documented by these 14 diaries and topics include weather, personal affairs (the loss of his wife, and his aging), farming, social life in his neighborhood, the Civil War, Reconstruction, and Virginia politics. He often included genealogical information on individuals when he recorded their deaths.
Skipwith's 1862-1865 diary has been digitized and can be accessed by clicking on the "View associated digital content" link below. The original is housed in the Special Collections Research Center. Privately owned Skipwith diaries have also been digitized and made available in the same location with permission of the owner.
Newspaper clippings glued into a book.
Mixture of school notes, copies of letters, diary, personal journal and farm journal.
Photocopy is in Box 3, Folder 5
Entries are for 1861 with an 1891 draft letter to Hon. Judge W.P. Dabney of Powhatan about his recollection of the Virginia Legislature in 1830 and 1831.
The first 28 pages of book includes accounts of George N. Skipwith for 1799-1805, and the remaining pages are the 1874-1876 diary.
Photocopy of original, which is filed in Box 1, folder 6.