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William Spencer diaries 1790 April 24-August 1

William Spencer was born in 1764 in Buckingham County, Virginia, but moved to Prince Edward County while young. He served as a Methodist circuit rider, 1789-1797, in Virginia and North Carolina and taught school in Prince Edward County. He moved to Lunenburg County in 1804. Spencer was married to Mary Newbill.

Diaries of William Spencer, a Methodist circuit rider on the Williamsburg Circuit, extending from Richmond (Henrico Co.) to Hampton; and the Surry Circuit, including Surry and Sussex counties. Spencer records the locations where he preached, his reception by congregations, and accounts of his personal spiritual life. The diaries were written as a homily for future generations. Prominent early Methodist circuit riders mentioned include Stephen Davis, Ira Ellis, James O'Kelly and John Robinson. Spencer lists many of the homes and churches where he preached, including Clayton's Meetinghouse; Ellis Chapel, Sussex County; Lane's Chapel, Sussex County; and Watkins' Meetinghouse, Henrico County.

A portion of the diaries was published in Virginia United Methodist Heritage, Vol. III, no. 2 (Fall, 1975).

Alexander Spotswood letter to Edmund Pendleton, 1775 November 16

Alexander Spotswood writes from Surry County to Edmund Pendleton concerning the dispatch of William Woodford's troops to the defense of Southside Virginia. Spotswood also discusses John Murray, Earl of Dunmore, and loyalist sentiment in Norfolk and Portsmouth, Va. Spotswood expresses his belief that more is to be feared from the loyalists of those places than from Lord Dunmore writing "... I woud Rather burn the Towns of Norfolk, Gosport,& portsmouth, than hurt a hair of his Lordsh-ip's head ..."

Sarah Trebell letter to John Minson Galt, 1766 May 12

Sarah Trebell letter to John Minson Galt, 1767 January 16-18

St. George Tucker letter to John Page, 1797 June 23

St. George Tucker letter to John Page, 1797 June 23 concerning American relations with France. Tucker mentions Napoleion, the Directory, and John Marshall's involvement in diplomatic negotiations with the French. Tucker also extends an invitiation to Page to visit him on the Fourth of July.

George Weedon commission, 1776 February 13.

Military commission signed by John Hancock appointing George Weedon Lieutenant Colonel in the 3rd Virginia Regiment. George Weedon (1734-1793) was a businessman, landholder and tavern keeper of Fredericksburg, Virginia. He served in George Washington’s Virginia Regiment during the French and Indian War. By the end of the war, Weedon had risen to the rank of Captain Lieutenant and had eight years of military experience under his belt. Following the war, Weedon ran his mother-in-law’s tavern and sold meat in partnership with Washington’s brother Charles. While not taking a leading political role in the controversy with Great Britain, Weedon was active in the patriot cause. In December, 1774, he was made a captain in the Spotsylvania Independent Company under Colonels Hugh Mercer and Alexander Spotswood. With the outbreak of war in 1775, Weedon put his tavern up for lease in anticipation of active service. The Virginia Convention which met in Richmond in July, 1775 created two regiments under Patrick Henry and William Woodford but decided against a third which was to be commanded by Hugh Mercer with Weedon as his second in command. The Virginia Convention of December, 1775 added several more regiments including the Third which was designated for Continental service. George Weedon was in Williamsburg, Virginia when he received this commission on March 5th, 1776. With Mercer’s promotion to brigadier general, Congress promoted Weedon to colonel. Weedon was involved in the Virginia campaign against Governor Dunmore including the action at Gwynn’s Island. Following Dunmore’s exit from Virginia, Weedon went north to serve in the Continental Army under Washington. In February, 1777, Congress elected Weedon to the rank of brigadier general. While in Fredericksburg on furlough from the American encampment at Valley Forge, Weedon learned that a board of officers had decided to reinstate William Woodford’s seniority over Weedon. Though both brigadier generals, Weedon originally was granted seniority over Woodford because the latter had resigned his colonelcy for a time. With this reversal in seniority, Weedon sought his release from active service. Weedon remained on the sidelines until British forces under Arnold and Phillips brought the threat of invasion home to Virginia in 1780. He was active in raising, equipping and leading militia against British forces. At the siege of Yorktown, Weedon commanded American forces at Gloucester Point opposite the main British force under Cornwallis.

George Givens militia commission, 1776 May 14

George Givens was born in Orange County, Virginia in 1740. At some point, he moved his family to Botetourt County. He had served as a lieutenant in Lord Dunmore's War and was at the Battle of Point Pleasant. For his service in the Revolution, Givens was awarded 400 hundred acres of land in Lincoln County. He died in Kentucky in 1825.

The Petition to His Majesty; The Memorial to the House of Lords; The Remonstrance to the House of Commons

The Petition Memorial and Remonstrance is actually three separate addresses intended for the King, the Lords and the Commons in response to the Townshend Acts passed by Parliament in the summer of 1767. This copy bears the signature of George William Fairfax.

Surveyor's commission of Richard P. Clements, 1800 November 22

Surveyor's commission of Richard P. Clements appointing him surveyor of Southampton County, Virginia. Clements was certified to be qualified for the post by the College of William and Mary and his commission bears the signatures of its President, James Madison, and Professors Robert Andrews, St. George Tucker, John Bracken and James Henderson. It is also signed by Virginia Governor James Monroe.

Printed document completed in manuscript.

Norfolk, Virginia Hustings Court order to bind William Cutrell, Joseph Richardson, and Philip Murphy, 1799 May 28

A copy of the Norfolk, VA district court order to bind the orphans William Cutrell, Joseph Richardson, and Philip Murphy as apprentices to John Abbot, a boot and shoe maker, in 1799.

John Harvey apprenticeship order, 1799 January 28

A copy of the Norfolk, VA district court order to bind the orphan John Harvey as an apprentice to Richard Latimer, a shoe and boot maker, in 1799.

Daniel Parke Custis militia commission, 1754 December 13

Commission appointing Daniel Parke Custis Lieutenant and commander of milita for New Kent County, Virginia. The commission is signed by Lieutenant Governor Robert Dinwiddie, dated December 13, 1754.

Custis was a wealthy planter and politician who owned several properties including one in Williamsburg, Virginia. He was the first husband of Martha Dandridge who married George Washington after Custis's death.

The commission was displayed in the Clash of Empires exhibit, an NEH supported exhibition at the Senator John Heinz Regional History Center, from May, 2005 to July, 2007.

Benjamin Waller letter to Meriwether Skelton, 1780 February 21

Benjamin Waller writes to Meriwether Skelton concerning interest on the debt owed Waller by Skelton. Waller laments that many men have repaid his loans made to them in hard currency with devalued paper money by which he has lost a considerable fortune.

George Weedon letter to William Phillips, 1781 April 12 : manuscript copy

Retained copy of a letter of American Brigadier General George Weedon to British Major General William Phillips concerning prisoners of war. Weedon expresses his desire "to render the Circumstances of war as little afflicting as possible ..." He notes he is willing to exchange prisoners or grant paroles when exchanges aren't "Subject to my will."

Phillips himself had been a prisoner of war. Captured at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, he was exchanged for the American general, Benjamin Lincoln, who was captured at Charleston in 1780. Shortly after rejoining the army, Phillips was sent to Virginia where he operated with the traitor, Benedict Arnold. He achieved a number of successes in the field before dying at Petersburg on May 13, 1781.

Weedon was present at the Siege of Yorktown where he commanded American militia at Gloucester Point. He survived the war returning to Fredericksburg where he died in 1793.

Thomas Wharton account book, 1729-1751

Fragmentary ledger of accounts kept by Thomas Wharton (d. 1746), apothecary, of Williamsburg, Va., for various powders, drops, other medicines, and "advice and directions" furnished to customers in Williamsburg and neighborhood. Wharton bequeathed his stock of drugs, medicines, and shop utensils to Dr. Kenneth McKenzie. His customers included Col. Bassett, John Blair, Col. John Bolling, Bruton Parish, Col. Burwell, Robert Carter III, Mr. Coke, Roscoe Cole, the College of William and Mary, Gov. William Gooch, Col. Lightfoot, Philip Ludwell, Mr. Maury, Mr. Prentis, John Randolph, and Henry Wetherburn.

Lecture on Williamsburg delivered by Lilla C. Wheeler to the Olean Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, 1907

Lecture notes of Miss Lilla C. Wheeler of Portville, New York for a presentation presumably delivered to the Olean, New York Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1907. Wheeler describes the current depressed state of Williamsburg, Virginia, efforts to restore Bruton Parish Church, the College of William and Mary and the town's 18th-century past. While in Williamsburg, Wheeler met the Reverend W.A.R. Goodwin who served as guide during her visit.

Elizabeth McPherson Whitehead Diary, 1853-1855

Diary of Elizabeth McPherson Whitehead, daughter of Dr. Nathan Colgate Whitehead and Lillian Blair McPherson, of Norfolk, Virginia. The item is inscribed as a journal of her life meant to make her watchful of her thoughts and of her actions towards others. She describes daily activities including visits with her neighbors, including noted sculptor Alexander Galt and his family. Whitehead also mentions a trip to Boston, Massachusetts, and the Athenaeum there, where she viewed sculptures by Greenough and Canova.

Lewis Worrall arithmetic exercise book

Manuscript book of arithmetic rules, definitions, and problems, covering addition and subtraction of whole numbers, money and weights, multiplication and division, money problems, proportion, profit and loss, interest, and reduction of fractions, with many word problems for each type of problem.

"Lewis Worrell's Cyphering"--folio 28v.

The Case of Norborne Berkeley, Esq. in relation to the Barony of Botetourt

The petition of Norborne Berkeley for the barony of Botetourt which had been in abeyance since the 15th-century. Berkeley, who had been elected to the House of Commons in 1741, became a member of the House of Lords when his petition was granted in 1764. The petition includes a genealogical chart demonstrating Berkeley's descent from John the First Lord Botetourt who was summoned to Parliament during the thirty third year of the reign of Edward I. A manuscript addition on the final page reads "Die Lunae 0/9 Aprilis 1764. Resolved that it appears to the Committee that the Barony of Bottetourt is in Abeysence and that the petitioner is one of the Coheirs of the said John Lord Bottetourt." Four years after becoming Lord Botetourt, Berkeley was appointed Governor of Virginia. He served there until his death on October, 15, 1770.

Thomas Callahan apprenticeship indenture with William Webber, 1793 June 6

Apprenticeship indenture of Thomas Callahan with William Webber of Campbell County, Va. dated 1793. Callahan apprentices himself to Webber for a term of 8 years and 10 months to learn the trade of blacksmithing.

Thomas Clayton apprenticeship indenture with James Griffin, 1746 March 2

Apprenticeship indenture of Thomas Clayton of Richmond County, Virginia. Clayton, with his remarried mother's consent, apprenticed himself to James Griffin to learn the trades of joiner and house carpenter.

Alley Anthony apprenticeship indenture with Thomas McDorman, 1799 April 2.

Apprenticeship indenture for Alley Anthony a free African American woman of Norfolk, Virginia. The indenture was arranged by Robert Brough at the request of the court. Anthony, who was 18 at the time, was indentured to Thomas McDorman for a term of 3 years to learn the trade of a seamstress. Robert Brough as Chamberlain of Norfolk was responsible for binding out orphans in accordance with an ordinance of 1791. Chamberlain was the term Norfolk used for its treasurer.

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