Special Collections, John D. Rockefeller Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Browse Items (63 total)

  • MS1992-5_0001.jpg

    Navigational exercise book consists of handwritten exercises to determine longitude and latitude between various ports with most originating in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Exercises consist of examples with originating longitude and latitude, place of departure, destination, and conditions which might influence arrival. Answers consist of a plat diagramming the course, changes in longitude and latitude, distances sailed and other concerns. Also included are directional tables, or charts, and small, but detailed drawings of ships and ports on nearly every page. The types of exercises are divided into problems concerning plain sailing, traverse sailing, and mercator's sailing. The routes the exercises present consist mostly of trips between Cape Cod and the West Indies.
  • MS1939.6.pdf

    Cookbook dated 1836 containing a variety of different recipes for beverages, jellies, puddings, cakes, breads, sweets, and one possibly medicinal tonic for sweetening the blood. Finishes with a method for rendering tallow. Table of contents on the first page lists only recipes up to page 24 out of 40. Several people are mentioned as sources of recipes, though without enough to the name to identify them. Origins unknown. Across the bottom of the pages marked 37 and 38, upside down to the rest of the text, is a semi-legible heading to begin a ledger. It appears to read: By Gff Battakey m____y with Robt Hill Carter by 1835 Jan 12 back 1000
  • MS1981-5-001.jpg

    Anonymous manuscript journal, by a member of the Light Infantry, chronicling the events of the Yorktown campaign from the arrival of George Washington in Williamsburg on September 14th and culminating with the British surrender on October 19th. The author describes the digging of parallels, artillery fire, the burning of the British warship Charon, a lackluster sortie by the British and their surrender. Also mentioned are Admiral de Grasse, Generals Lafayette, Muhlenberg, and Steuben as well as Colonel Alexander Scammell who died of his wounds in Williamsburg.
  • MS1996-26-R.jpg

    Indenture between Thomas Craig, tailor of Williamsburg, Va. and the Feoffees and Directors of Williamsburg for the lease of lot 12 in Williamsburg. The lot is located on the south side of Market Square. This property was previously leased by John Dixon. Craig acquired the lease after purchasing Dixon's estate. The indenture is signed by Peyton Randolph, John Blair, William Pierce, Severinus Durfey, James Minzies, Benjamin Harrison, William Rose and James Douglas.
  • MS2000-66-001.jpg

    19th-century copy of an American officer's account of convalescing from his leg wound. The account mentions Brigadier General Robert Lawson, who commanded the Virginia militia at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse, and Major General Nathanael Greene. It is possible St. George Tucker is the author of this account. Tucker served in the militia under General Lawson and was wounded in the leg at the Battle of Guilford Courthouse on March 15, 1781. Following the battle, the American army encamped nearby at Speedwell's Iron Works on Troublesome Creek in Rockingham County, North Carolina.
  • MS1929-02-001.jpg

    Following the Boston Tea Party, the British Parliament passed the Boston Port Act which authorized the closing of that town’s port on June 1, 1774. When news of the Boston Port Act reached Virginia, the General Assembly was sitting in Williamsburg. It responded to the news by passing a resolution setting aside June 1st as a “Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer …” The resolution demonstrated the Burgesses support for the people of Boston linking their cause with the rights of all Americans. Governor Dunmore responded to the resolution by dissolving the Burgesses on May 26. The following day, the former Burgesses met in the Apollo Room of the Raleigh Tavern where they adopted an Association calling for a Boycott of East India Company goods and the meeting of a general congress.

    The Association is signed in print by eighty-nine of the former Burgesses known to have attended that body's most recent session. The document also bears the names of twenty-one men from the Williamsburg area who joined the Association following its adoption by the former Burgesses.

    The broadside was most likely printed by Clementina Rind.

  • MS1996-09-001.jpg

    Appraisal, January 17, 1780, of the estate, of Richard Charlton, barber and tavernkeeper of Williamsburg, Virginia for his property in York County. The appraisal was conducted by Humphrey Harwood, James Craig and William Nicolson and recorded in the York County Court by Thomas Everard. The estate was valued at £14,419..14. Seven enslaved African Americans accounted for £10,464 of the value of the estate. The remainder of the estate consisted of a large amount of household items, a stage wagon, several horses and a valuable collection of books worth over £150s. Included amongst the books are Voltaire's Works, Ferguson's Astronomy, Cicero's Orations, Goldsmith's Roman History, A Dictionary of Arts and Sciences, Robertson's History of Charles V and Smollett's History of England.

  • MS1999-09-001.jpg

    Estate appraisal of the property of William Smith of Westmoreland County, Virginia. The appraisal was conducted on December 7, 1782 and is signed by James Muse, Anthony Peyton and Thomas Muse. The estate was valued at £1498..5..3. The bulk of the estate's value was in the more than twenty five enslaved persons listed at the top of the appraisal. The appraisal also lists livestock in the form of horses, cattle and hogs. Among the household furniture is listed a desk, chairs, tables and bed furniture. Spinning and flax wheels as well as cards and a loom are listed in the appraisal. Kitchen implements listed in the appraisal include knives, pots, pans, a tea kettle, china plates, pewter plates a delft bowl and a salt cellar. A looking glass and brass candlesticks, box heater and snuffers are listed. Three books, the Bible, a dictionary and a "Bray book" are the only reading materials listed. Farming equipment listed in the appraisal includes hoes, axes, plows, saddles, wedge and froe, a beehive and drawing knife.

  • ms1938-7_vol. 1, page 001.jpg

    Anonymous 18th-century manuscript cookbook and book of medical formulas. The medical formulas are drawn from several sources including the works of Richard Mead (1673-1754), a famous English medical practitioner of his day. Mead's cures for the bite of a mad dog are included. Also included is Joanna Stephens' (d. 1774) cure for the stone and gravel. This was first printed in 1739 and earned Stephens an award of £5,000 from the British Parliament. This occured despite the objections of many respected medical practitioners who believed the only cure for stones involved surgery. Parliament was convinced of the value of the medicine by David Hartley who published the testimonials of patients claiming to be cured by the formula. Hartley also conducted experiments proving the ability of the formula to reduce stones. The manuscript also contains a cure for heartburn attributed to Dr. Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738) the famous Dutch botanist, physician and medical instructor.

    Also included are numerous recipes for foods and beverages some attributed to a Miss Bathurst and S. Bathurst, Mrs. Beck, Lady Englefield and others.

  • D2010-COPY-0504-1084.jpg

    Manuscript amulet, or precept, containing a prayer for deliverance from witchcraft for the wearer.
  • D2011-COPY-0712-1095.jpg

    Estate inventory of Hannah Robinson of Westmoreland County, Virginia. The inventory includes an extensive list of clothing including shifts, cloaks, stockings, calico and silk gowns, hats, stays etc. Also included are household goods and ten enslaved persons listed by name. Robinson left her estate to her sister Apphia Dangerfield and her nephew John Pettit. Beckwith Butler and John Pettit served as executors. There are no values associated with the inventory.
  • D2009-COPY-0602-1021.jpg

    Probably a British weaver's notebook signed by Benjamin Daves (1774) and mentions Birmingham, England. Includes weaver's drafts, names of patterns, directions, some descriptions of patterns, details of pricings, and how much thread needed to be used. Also includes an account of fabrics purchased with cost and recipes to cure Kings Evil, shortness of breath, ague, collick, fever, and rheumatism.

    Bound in a wallet style vellum binding with metal catch and clasp.

    Also includes five pieces of cloth.

  • MS2014-07-001.jpg

    Indenture by which the orphan John Smith of Norfolk, Virginia was bound an apprentice to John Latham, ship captain of Norfolk, to learn the trade of mariner or seaman.
  • MS2014-08-001.jpg

    An indenture contract binding John Harvey, orphaned son of John Harvey, as an apprentice to Richard Latimer, a
    shoe and boot maker. Signed on 3 August 1799 by the above parties, and Robert Brough.
  • D2011-BTL-0223-2059.jpg

    By this document, James Williams, orphan, is indentured to George Suggs of Norfolk to serve an apprenticeship as a tailor. Williams was bound to Suggs by James Boyce, Chamberlain for Norfolk Borough, pursuant to an order of the court.
  • MS2014-10-001.jpg

    An indenture contract binding William Cutrell, orphaned son of William Cutrell, as an apprentice to James Abbot, a boot and shoe maker. Signed on 6 January 1800 by the above parties, and Robert Brough, Chamberlain of Norfolk.
  • MS2012-16-001.jpg

    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.
  • D2011-BTL-0223-2013.jpg

    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.
  • D2009-COPY-1005-6074.jpg

    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.
  • MS2004-02-001.jpg

    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.
  • MS1965-6_OV_0001.jpg

    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.

  • D2020-SC-0902-0001.jpg

    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.
  • MS1991-16-001.jpg

    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.
  • MS1932-14_0001.jpg

    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.
  • MS2013-08-001.jpg

    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.

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