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Powell Family Papers - Hepburn Addition, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary
Processed by Benjamin Bromley in 2007.
Leven Powell was born near Manassas, Prince William Co., Va. in 1737. He moved to Loudoun County in 1763 and served as major in the Revolutionary Army. Appointed lieutenant-colonel of the Sixteenth Regiment in Continental Line in 1777. He served in Virginia House of Delegates and as a delegate to Virginia Convention which ratified the U. S. Constitution in 1788. He was elected as a Federalist to Congress. Died in 1810 in Bedford, Pa.
This collection contains the correspondence of Leven Powell, James Madison, Charles Leven Powell, Charles Leven Powell, Jr., Selina Powell Hepburn, and others. Recipients include Burr Powell, Cuthbert Powell, Sewell Stavely Hepbron [Hepburn] and others. First 30 years of correspondence is mainly written by or addressed to Leven Powell, detailing his involvement in the Revolutionary War, the Virginia House of Delegates, and the United State Congress, including letters about the Election of 1800. After 1810, letters are primarily correspondence between various members of the Powell family, including some letters about the Civil War. Includes family tree of the Hepburn Family.
This collection is arranged chronologically.
See also the Leven Powell Papers and the Powell Family Papers.
Heard remains of Norfolk to be burnt. Includes typed transcription.
Account of successful attack on Trenton, and pray send this immediately to Major Powell.
Clothes, blankets and smallpox inoculations for the soldiers.
Describes the inoculation cabin and the difficulty of getting soldiers. Includes typed transcription.
There are good conditions at Valley Forge; appointment of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben as Inspector General; Tories leaving Philadelphia; Rhode Island to be evacuated; treaty with France. Includes typed transcription.
Typewritten transcription of Leven Powell's appointment to Lieutenant Colonel. Also notes his retirement the following year.
Requests Powell's support in an upcoming election. Includes typed transcription.
Lawsuit and copy of laws. Includes typed transcription.
Includes typed transcription.
Land arrangement with Hite, Col. Greenup; danger bringing money through the wilderness; Alexandria and 10 mile [District?]; his warrants northwest of Ohio; Kentucky admitted to union. Includes typed transcription.
Describes business agreements for purchasing tobacco. Includes typed transcription.
Reached home to collect sentiment of people on treaty. Includes typed transcription.
Commission to take examination of Mrs. Philips; discusses what to do with an enslaved man who has deliberately injured himself, and the danger of rebellion by the enslaved; international politics. Includes typed transcription.
Talks about William Washington; Mrs. Linton's debt; concerned about attack by France. Includes typed transcription.
Money owed in France.
Discusses selling enslaved individuals to settle debts. Includes typed transcription.
Includes typed transcription.
Includes typed transcription.
Includes typed transcription.
Includes typed transcription.
Asks Burr to obtain two enslaved people for Leven [Jr.?]; Election of 1800. Includes typed transcription.
Finest beef bought in this market; French Treaty; rumor concerning Lafayette; Election of 1800.
Election of 1800; French Treaty; Hooe not happy with Thomas Jefferson or Aaron Burr; also criticizes the Secretary of the Navy.
Money owed by tenants to Leven Powell; compares Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson; in his decision for whom to vote, he will be governed by constituents' wishes.
Private character of Aaron Burr; problem with what Thomas Jefferson might do in regard to the Navy; French treaty; price of corn; Leven wants his horse well fed.
Views of the constituents of Loudoun County about the Election of 1800.
Has problems with both Aaron Burr and Thomas Jefferson. Includes typed transcription.
Sim is confident that Powell will make the right decision in the Election of 1800; asks for copy of the Congressional report on revenue; Powell's prospects in next election.
Lee would probably prefer Aaron Burr but trusts Powell's judgment.
People of Loudoun will not be happy if Powell votes for Aaron Burr, but people that have seen Powell's letter trust his judgment.
Election of 1800. Clover seed and plaster.
Discusses Aaron Burr versus Thomas Jefferson. Includes typed transcription.
Writes about tobacco and debt; Thomas Jefferson versus Aaron Burr. Includes typed transcription.
Includes typed transcription.
Loss of Sally's child; health of "Negro Sally". Includes typed transcription.
Discusses Powell's claim on the French government for losses incurred because they stopped the mail. Includes typed transcription.
Discusses the division of Virginia road; lots of marriages; law concerning landlords and tenants. Includes typed transcription.
List of tuition costs, book prices, and other expenses for the education of Selina Lloyd.
Discusses various personal matters, such as his mathematics studies; his tutor advised playing shuttlecock; the pain in his breast is better; Llewellyn is pleased with college; students inhaling gas and the resulting antics; asks for the Leesburg newspaper; Llewellyn is in need of a loan.
Chancellor Livingston said that Powell had no case, since claims of citizens were surrendered by the Convention with France in 1800; however, if proof can be supplied, it may be worthwhile to bring the claim before the French government. Also mentions Monroe's fall from horse and sickness.
Pleasonton has received the papers of Major Powell from Monroe and wishes that Isaac Coxe Barnett be the attorney.
Llewellyn thinks that Charles' idea of going to Maryland to practice law is a good one. Charles' impending marriage to Selina. Llewellyn's wife and child are well.
Discusses using power of attorney to appoint Mason an agent to collect rents in Loudoun county from Mildred A. B. Lewis and Blackford for himself and as attorney in fact for Mrs. Macfarlane.
Causten is the general agent of the claimants against France.
Regarding the French claims of Leven Powell.
Concerns possible sale of land from the estate of his deceased mother Elizabeth Carter.
The children are away so he will write; talks about the letter from Rebecca Tabb; inflammation of tonsils; he is glad to hear Nelson safely reached California; his mother is upset that Cuthbert would be taken to Baltimore against his will, because he was to have been told he could go to Baltimore voluntarily or to Staunton under compulsion but "Ma interfered."
She had written from Cleveland and has now arrived safely to Henry. Reports on rest of family and thanks her grandparents for the time she had in Virginia. Mentions family there, including Uncle Nelson, Aunt [Anna?] and Uncle John Lloyd's family.
Discusses multiple topics, such as the rainy weather, a comet that is passing nearby, and the state elections. Mentions that his business is not doing well. Asks her about their school. Presbyterian minister Mr. Winn castigated the Episcopalians. Charles is chewing tobacco.
Asks her to bake bread for his company, which is in position for battle.
[This letter may be a copy made in 1870s or 1880s.] "I left Jackson's army at Shenandoah Mountain..." Would not be able to join Rockbridge Artillery now. Sending letter by Dr. Hunter McGuire.
Mr. Gordon persuaded Mr. Powell to come take charge of Chapman's education. Dr. McGuire talked to him about an hour before he fell. Both sons taken in their second battle.
Battle of Trevilian Station and Stuart's cavalry.
Arrest of Robert Conrad. Trying to find a place for her to board.
Describes her love for him. Loss of her sister Hattie.
Various items concerning the Powell and Hepburn families: an engraved portrait of Leven Powell; a photograph of Sewell S. Hepburn; an 1882 obituary of Amory Houghton; several clippings on lineage of Buchan-Hepburn, Hepburn of the Hooke, Hepburn surname, and Hepburn of Colquhalzie, and a clipping from the Southern Churchman on the Sewell & Hepburn lineages; and a Confederate $10 bill.