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Library of Virginia
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Processed by: Eddie Woodward and Catherine OBrion
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There are no restrictions.
Lancaster County (Va.) Organization Records, 1847-1951, undated [series or volume title]. Local government records collection, Lancaster County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
These items came to the Library of Virginia in a shipment of court papers from Lancaster County under an undated accession.
Prior to 2025, the various organization records in this collection were originally described as individual records, but they have been consolidated into one large organization record for the locality. Since 2025, these records additionally include identified but not processed records.
These records were processed by Catherine OBrion in 2009 and Eddie Woodward in 2020.
Encoded by J. Taylor: July 2025.
Context for Record Type: Organization Records, both volumes and loose records, are in some cases transferred to the Library of Virginia as components of court record transfers. These organization records in some cases were simply stored in the local court building for safe keeping by business owners. In other cases, organization records (particularly ledgers, account books, etc.) may have been filed in a court case as an exhibit. These organization record exhibits appeared both in chancery causes and in judgments, these records serving as exhibits for business dissolution cases, debt suits, and contract disputes.
Locality History: Lancaster County was named probably for the English county. It was formed from Northumberland and York Counties sometime between 26 March and 16 September 1651. The county court first met on 1 January 1652. The county seat is Lancaster.
Lancaster County (Va.) Organization Records, 1847-1951, undated, is comprised of various records created by groups in Lancaster County. The records consist of a minute book and unprocessed loose records.
This collection is arranged into two series:
Additional Lancaster County Court Records can be found on microfilm at The Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm."
Scope and Content: Timothy Division No. 152 Sons of Temperance Records, 1848-1852 consists of a minute book.
Historical Information: The Timothy Division No. 152 of the Sons of Temperance was constituted at Lancaster Court House 1848 July 27. The Sons of Temperance, a total abstinence society, was founded in New York in 1842. The fraternal order provided assistance for its members, both in remaining temperate, and as a mutual aid society. More broadly, they promoted the societal benefit of abstinence and temperance. In contrast to its immediate predecessor, the Washington Movement, the Sons recruited members from among those already well affected to their cause. Though they refrained from taking public stances on religious and political matters, they did advocate ending the temptation by stopping the production and sale of alcohol. As a mutual aid society, the Sons of Temperance doled out sickness and disability benefits and allotted money to assist with the burial of fellow brothers and their wives. The attractiveness of its benefits led the organization to operate as a secret society, with stringent rules and a highly restricted membership. Allegations of intemperance and other transgressions were routinely investigated and often led to expulsion from the organization.
The minute book documented monthly meetings, which were held at the Masonic Hall at Lancaster Courthouse and in private homes. Business included reports on members suspected of breaking the vow of temperance and on the character of prospective members. The minutes also document the election of officers, the resignation and death of members, and other administrative business.
Includes boxes containing material identified as organization records. These records may be flat filed or foldered but not fully processed.
Lancaster County (Va.) Organization Records, 1847-1951, undated, contains records from the Glebe Fund (1847-1851, undated), Masonic Lodge Nos. 76, 88, 105, 109 (1860-1897), Junior Order United American Mechanics (1898), Molusk Benefit Association (1909), Liberty Lodge No. 86 (1875), Wicomico Lodge no. 99 (1861), Campbell Memorial Presbyterian Church (1910), Methodist Episcopal Church South (1887, 1900, 1909), and other assorted church records.