Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Ralph M. Stafford and Company Ledger, 1861-1874. Local government records collection, Giles County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Giles County.

Historical Information

Ralph M. Stafford owned a mercantile business at in Giles County, Virginia. He was also a partner in eight additional mercantile businesses located in Giles and Bland counties in Virginia and Mercer and Monroe counties in West Virginia.

The ledger was used as an exhibit in the chancery suit James Stafford versus Administrator of Ralph M. Stafford, etc.

Scope and Content

Ledger, 1861-1874, of Ralph M. Stafford and Company, a general store located in the town of Narrows in Giles County. It records the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists in chronological order transactions between the customer and the store. Transaction entries include the following information: date of transaction, goods purchased or method of payment, quantity of goods purchased, amount owed or amount paid. Merchandise sold include soda, food, matches, cookware, dry goods, shoes, cheese, spices, ink, and soap. Payments made by cash, credit, barter (eggs, butter, cheese, and seeds) and labor.

Related Material

See also James Stafford versus Administrator of Ralph M. Stafford, etc. - Giles County Chancery Cause 1870-002.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Stafford, Ralph M. d. 1869.

Corporate Names:

• Ralph M. Stafford and Company (Giles County, Va.)

Subjects:

• Consumer goods -- Virginia -- Giles County
• Dry-goods -- Virginia -- Giles County
• General stores -- Virginia -- Giles County

Geographical Names:

• Giles County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century

Genre and Form Terms:

• Business records -- Virginia -- Giles County
• Ledgers (account books) -- Virginia -- Giles County
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Giles County

Adjunct Descriptive Data