Browse Items (63 total)
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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).
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William Plume letter to Joseph North, 1780 November 4
William Plume, Williamsburg, Virginia, letter to Joseph North, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, November 4, 1780. Plume writes briefly about the war including mentions of Cornwallis and the Leslie raid of Virginia. Plume notes that Leslie has failed in his primary goal and is opposed by a large number of American regular and militia forces commanded by Brigadier General Muhlenberg. The rest of Plume's letter concerns business and personal matters. Plume requests North procure some knives for him and discusses the high price of horses in Virginia. He also urges North to come to Virginia where he will find plentiful oysters, rum, cider, beer etc.
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William Fauntleroy Letter and Account Book, 1735-1774.
Letter and account book of Colonel William Fauntleroy, a colonial planter living at Naylor’s Hole on the banks of the Rappahannock River in Richmond County, VA. There are 225 letters, many written to agents and merchants in London, Glasgow, Whitehaven, Liverpool, and Bristol concerning his tobacco shipments and the English manufactured goods that he requests in exchange. Also included is information concerning his plantations, the purchasing of enslaved laborers and instructions regarding his two sons studying law and medicine in London. -
William Cutrell apprenticeship indenture with James Abbot, 1800 January 6.
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. -
William Blaikley deed made out to John Custis for property in Williamsburg, Virginia, 1718 January 13
Deed of release for property in Williamsburg, Virginia, known as "Custis Square," which Blaikley had purchased from John Tullitt in 1716. Witnessed by Robert C. Turner, Joseph Davenport, Samuel Cobbs, and James Frazer.
Endorsed by Catherine Blaikley and signed by William Robertson, Clerk of the Court.
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Weaver's draft notebook
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.
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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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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. -
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.
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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. -
Siege of York & Glouster, Virginia
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. -
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Robert Spilsbe Coleman arithmetic exercise book
Arithmetical exercise book explaining and demonstrating addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, wine measure, dry and long measures. Inscribed: “Robert Spilsbe Coleman His Book August the 19, 1773,” and probably used by him until 1775. Next used by Coleman’s son, Robert Spilsbe, Jr., in 1782–1783 and 1821. Also contains a list of family births, 1851–1857. The Spotsylvania County records, 1721–1800, list several branches of the Coleman family, which included several Robert Spilsbes. This individual cannot be absolutely identified.
Bound in a limp canvas binding. The first and last leaves of text have been adhered to the canvas. Both the canvas covering and several pages have substantial areas of loss.
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Richard St. George Mansergh St. George military commission, 1776 December 23
William Howe signed military commission dated December 23, 1776 appointing Richard St. George Mansergh St. George lieutenant in the 52nd Regiment of Foot. The British Army under Howe was at that time stationed in New York City.
Mansergh was horribly wounded at the Battle of Germantown on October 4, 1777. A surgeon removed a portion of his skull which was then covered with a silver plate. Mansergh retired from the military in 1785. We was killed in Ireland during the uprising in 1798.
The commission was on display at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia as part of the exhibit: Cost of Revolution: The Life and Death of an Irish Soldier from September 28, 2019 through March 17, 2020.
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Richard Charlton estate appraisal, 1780 January 17
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.
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Polley Marten apprenticeship indenture with Francis Perdue, 1805 February 1
By this indenture John Franklin and William Roper, overseers of the poor for Campbell County, Virginia, apprentice Polley Marten, bastard of Molley Marten, to Francis Perdue. Polley Marten, three years of age at the time of her apprenticeship was to serve Francis Perdue until the age of eighteen. Polley was to be taught "spinning weaveing sewing and niting." -
Philip III, King of Spain, letter to the Duke of Medina Sidonia, 1609 June 11
Philip III, King of Spain, letter to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, Duke of Medina Sidonia, dated June 11, 1609. The King writes that he has received the Duke's letter concerning the attack on Spanish vessels by pirates and requests more information. He also wishes to know more about English plans to populate Virginia. The Duke, as Captain General of the Ocean Sea was expected to obtain this information from his subordinates in the treasure fleets.
The letter was accomplished in manuscript by Antonio de Arostequi , and signed by the King. A hole in the paper shows where the King's seal was attached.
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Philip III, King of Spain, letter to the Duke of Medina Sidonia, 1608 July 29.
Philip III, King of Spain, letter to Alonso Pérez de Guzmán, Duke of Medina Sidonia, dated July 29, 1608. The King writes to request information concerning the English settlements in Virginia. Specifically, he wishes to learn the locations, ports and sailing conditions which prevail there. The Duke, as Captain General of the Ocean Sea was expected to obtain this information from his subordinates in the treasure fleets.
The letter was accomplished in manuscript by Andres de Prada, and signed by the King. A hole in the paper shows where the King's seal was attached.
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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. -
Navigational Exercise Book.
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.