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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterMadelyn Redd.
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Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Garth Family Papers, Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Purchase
Processed by Madelyn Redd in 1984.
This inventory contains personal and buisness correspondence, financial documents, loans, promissory notes, legal documents, tax information, and land records belonging to the Jesse Garth family of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia, The majority of the inventory documents correspondence chiefly from 1800-1854 between family members, mostly the adult children of Jesse and Elizabeth Garth, fl. 1798-1854, especially Lucy E. B. Garth, fl. 1820-1849; Sarah Garth Goodman, fl. 1820-1842; Jesse B. Garth, fl. 1833-1834; and May S. Garth Sumner, fl. 1849-1851, as well as other nephews and family members.
Other materials include accounts from business and legal acquaintances in the Richmond and Charlottesville, Va. areas. The subject matter in these letters pertain to agricultural and business matters, the War of 1812, slavery, emancipation, land transactions, schools, and legal concerns. Also included is a suicide note dated, 30 June 1835.
Organization: This collection is separated into five Series: 1. Correspondence, 2. Financial Records, 3. Legal Records, 4. Miscellaneous Material, 5. Manuscript Volumes. Arrangement: After being organized into Series, each Series is then arranged chronologically by date.
Scope and Contents Describes defeat of British in "Canady" and valor of Jo(h)nson's Regiment of mounted militia against the British regulars; tells of cowardice of Proctor (?); relates death of "Tecomse" (sic) (Tecumseh) by severely wounded Col. T. Jo(h)nson; hopes government will now support the war "hart and hand"; send regards to various friends; Jo(h)nson expected to recover; twenty men lost in the charge; mentions upcoming marriage of Rodes Garth and "Mis Carigan"; asks after brother, Elijah. 4pp. ALS. Including typescript.
Scope and Contents Describes prospects in Alabama; things hard as cotton prices down 1/2; provisions quite expensive; sale of public land continues and will during next year; one of his sons could make fortune with only a few hundred dollars in land; poor health has prevented attention to business; reiterates good potential of area; money could be placed in account with E. Anderson in Richmond; 90 days would be enough time for son to arrive, choose land, and make arrangements; life at first would be rought; sends regards to Jesse and his family and his own mother. 3pp. ALS. Including typescript.
Scope and Contents Inquires about health; glad to receive letter; hopes own crops do well; corn goes for $.60/bushel and pork for $6.00; everything else "dull"; money scarce as time of contraction; inquires if still intends to visit in spring; hard winter sonce Christmas; looks forward to their visit. 2pp. ALS.
Scope and Contents Relates information concerning next court date and which session they should plan on attending; requests advice for Adelisa (?) Cooper, young acquaintance who is considering opening a "female school" in the Charlottesville area. 2pp. ALS.
Scope and Contents In response to his request, has inquired about possible need for a school for women; explains that there are several in the area. 1p. ALS. Incomplete.
Scope and Contents Inquires about family's health and Isaac's recovery; compelled to seek loan as saw mill in need of repairs and unable to raise cash; hopes to recover costs within 3 to 4 weeks of operation; Tho(ma)s Garth will give further explanation; letter will serve as bond and receipt until repayment. Receipt of loan acknowledged in writing by Tho(ma)s Garth. In third hand, both Jesse and T. Grath with notations of $50.00 written. 2pp. ALS. Including typescript.
Describes exact measurements for planks neeeded for roofing materials.1p. ALS.
Discusses his recovery; inquires about family's health; replies to previous question regarding total loans to Jesse; estimates $971.48; would like repayment but is aware of recent misfortunes; own health compells him t oresolve financial matters; is agreeable to suggestion that enslaved persons be repayment. 1p. ALS.
Scope and Contents Realizes own death is near; wants to resolve question of loans as quickly and as easily as possible; if Jesse brings or send it, money should be in N. Carolina bills; if executors call for it, they may demand "the best money" as compensation; doesn't mean to alarm him over either loan or impending death; trusts both will be quickly resolved. 2pp. ALS.
Scope and Contents Trip home took 22 days due to inclement weather, poor health, and a bad axle; he and Lucy are in good health; she has gained weight; hopes all are well; spring in Kentucky is "bakcwards" as tobacco is planted before corn; tobacco in New Orleans is at $4.00 and rising, corn is $1.25/bushel. 2pp. ALS.
Gives particulars pertaining to upcoming trip to Richmond; invites Sarah to come. 1p. ANS.
Scope and Contents Arrived last night at cousin Winston Garth's; the axeltree broke again; Aunt Unity (?) is ill; had a daughter nine days ago; the doctor is doubtful of her recovery; Winston at the land sales; will leave in morning to join him as little time to explore the land before the sale starts on the 22nd; trip took 26 days and cost $38.74, besides swapping horses as mentioned previously; horses are fine; averaged 23 or24 miles/day; met many old acquaintances on way; met Rowland Gouch near Huntsville, who used to live at the Barracks (?) and knew everybody in Albemarle; corn crops in Virginia surpass those elsewhere; cotton does well in some areas and less well in others. 2pp. ALS. Including ANS from Susan Garth, Morgan Co., Alabama, to her parents (in-law), Jesse Garth and wife, Charlottesville, Virginia, October 7, 1833, concerning trip; describes Aunt Unity's condition; please pass on news to her own parents; won't write until Jesse B. returns and situation with Aunt Unity resolved. 1p.
Scope and Contents Concerned that has had no reply to letters since left Virginia; dissapointed that country site was not at Walker; choice was result of speculation only; unpopularity will end in petition to change it at next legislative meeting; party spirit runs high; strongest party is Constitutional Nullifiers; offered $6.00/acre; had paid $1.50/acre; will soon sell; intends to join Winston Garth in Chickasaw land sale in summer and fall; describes area and its name; extremely wet winter and spring; much livestock drowned and many roads closed; warns brothers no to be partners with William (?) Garth, as he only wants their money and has since caused own trouble with Winston; requests any old accounts to be settled and money forwarded; health is good, hopes some will move out to good farm land and horses. 3pp. ALS. Including ANS from Susan Garth, Okachickoma, Yalabusha Co., Mississippi, to parents (in-law) Jesse Garth and wife, Charlottesville, Virginia, concerning cost of living and decision to teach; thinks have done well for first year; she and sister (?) Polly miss family. 1p.
Scope and Contents Suicide note copied by Julius A. Harris for Jesse Garth. Letter explains reasons for action- her reaction to his confession of lying about buying paintings prevented him from relating details of lie about buying furniture; never had the money and unable to borrow it from friends or relatives; apologizes for the anguish has caused; her love, generosity, and affection are not enough to balance his deception; asks for forgiveness; explains his lies were never intended to be painful or deceptive; he only wanted her to be happy and has sincerely loved her; advises her to ask Mr. Cock to take her and children to Nelson, (Kentucky?) immediately. 2ppp. ACYS of ALS.
Scope and Contents Empathizes with sister's dental discomforts and gives advice; describes own health; reassures mother (in-law?) about her weight; asks after Sarah; describes baby son, Egbert, about his growth and achievements; describes spring and garden produce; agree would be nice to live closer to family, but accepts the situation; asks parents and sibling to visit. 3pp. ALS.
Family recovering from the measles; concerned that brother and his family may move to Florida; sends condolences to enslaved person named Johnson, little news other than domestic concerns; misses family and hopes to see them but uncertain of when could visit; likens baby daughter Elizabeth to other relatives; asks parents to address next letter to husband, J. Goodman, if they want J. to write them in return. 2pp. ALS.
Scope and Contents Expresses relief at news that mother-in-law (Elizabeth) is recovering; announces recent birth of daughter, as yet unnamed; relates prince of produce; has gotten letter from Uncle Garland that father's estate had finally been settled; asks him to verify the information as a business prospect depends on the amount he'd receive; comments that he hopes Thomas G. is no longer an ardent Jackson-Van Buren adherent; asks that the letter be forwarded to his father-in-law, Jesse Garth.
Describes recent business trip which included stops in New Orleans, Mobile, Selma, Tuscaloosa, Greensboro, Huntsville, and Nashville; relates many failures due to first high land prices then a sharp fall; describes own prospects and estimates own profits; requests Jesse and Uncle Briteberry inquire about possibility of sending his cattle to New York; relates family news. 2pp. ALS.
Scope and Contents Relates incident of son (?), Sam's accident with hastily loaded wagon of logs and his suprising survival; asks if Jesse has any interest in buying team of mules and gives price he'd consider; inquires after mother and sister (Elizabeth?). 2pp. ALS.
Describes recent weather and speculates on harvest; describes political excitement over issue of emancipation; explains why he believes it won't pass; asks for news about family friend, May Summer; discusses cholera experience; exchanges family news. 2pp. ALS.
Discusses plans to visit parents in late fall or early winter; describes crops and estimates profits; expresses concern for brother's salvation. 2pp. Incomplete.
Scope and Contents Business correspondence with various merchants predominately in Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as Milton, Bourbon Co,. Kentucky Correspondents include: Anderson & Blair; D & E Anderson; Edward Anderson; John Cothrac (?); Anderson & Woodson; Luther W. George; Anderson, Wookson, & Bigges; Thomas Gilmer; A.F. Bigges; Anderson, Blair, & Anderson; B. Brown, Jr.; and J. Garth. Contentd pertain to various concerns, such as prices of commodities, sale of farm produce, tobacco trading, loans, banking matters, accounts with company, establishing a neighborhood school, opening a new store, and payment of accounts. 29 items.
Scope and Contents Business correspondence with various merchants predominately in Richmond and Charlottesville, Virginia, as well as Hydraulic Mills, Virginia Correspondents include: Blair & Anderson; Beverly Blair; Deane & Edwards; John D. Brown (?); Charles Brown; Robert Enrastreny (?); Andrews Samper (?); Deane & Brown; B.C. Flannagan; James O. Walters; W. & B. Brown; T. Garth; W. Hatch; and N. N. Wallace. Contents pertain to various concerns, such as accounts with company, tobacco trading, prices of commmodities, sale of cattle, land question, fabric patterns and types, arranging delivery of dairy products with neighbor, proposal to burn (for clearing purposes) adjoining lands by a neighbor, information about sale of farm produce, and possible lumbering information. 23 items.
Jesse Garth's promissory notes, loans, and acknowledgements of debts. 115 items.
Receipts for payments made by either Jesse or Elizabeth Garth. 98 items.
Receipts for payments made by either Jesse, Elizabeth, or Brightberry Garth. 78 items.
Receipts for payments made by either Jesse or Elizabeth Garth. 68 items.
Receipts made by either Jesse or Elizabeth Garth. 121 items.
Scope and Contents Accounts and bills, with various creditors, including: Brown, River, &Co.; Brown, Watson, & Co.; William Galt; James Horsley; Richard Bibb; J. Kelly & Co.; and James & Samuel Leitch for such items as paper, a variety of fabrics, sewing accessories, liquor, farmwork, household goods, staples (i.e. coffee, tea, loaf sugar, brown sugar, salt, pepper, spices.), hardware, shoes, a shawl, suspenders, exercise book, New York Reader, and tobacco trade. Family members mentioned are J., John, Jesse, and W. Garth. 45 items.
Scope and Contents Accounts, bills, and lists, with various creditors, including: R. Anderson, Asa Davey, S.F. Hoy, Branham & Jones, John H. Craven, David Owens, Abraham Johnson, Anderson & Blair, Charles Brown, M.D., James & Samuel Leitch. Items involved included farm labor, building materials and supplies for house, partial total of year's produce, tobacco trade, day work at lumbermill and blacksmithing. Purchases include steel, iron, farm implements, horse furniture, liqour, household goods, staples (i.e. salt, spices, loaf suger, coffee.), necklace, tortoise comb, glass lens, various types shoes, various fabrics, sewing accessories, gloves, blankets, brrass candlesticks, razor, suspenders, dressing glass, china coffee cups, serving bowls, wine glasses, tumblers, and various school books. Family members mentioned include Thomas, Sarah Anne, Polly, "son Jesse", Brightberry B., "Bez'l", Garland, and Jesse Garth. 59 items.
Scope and Contents Accounts, bills, and lists with various creditors, including: Edmund Anderson; John Winn; Kelly & Norris; Jesse Lewis; David Owens; Branham & Bibb; John C. St. John; Anderson, Woodson, & Bigges; Joseph Bishop; George Wolfe; Luther W. George; David Isaacs; George Toole; Joel W. Brown; and G.W. Vaughan. Items involved include: tobacco trade, blacksmithing, labor, house rent, bill of sale for the "Miller Mare", and (apparently) stud service. Purchases include: household goods, hardware, iron, timber, leather and leather goods, liqour, shoes, gloves, sewing accessories, various fabrics, cotton stockings, tea set, staples (i.e. spices, loaf sugar, salt, coffee, tea), cigars, and books (English Reader, Picketts Expositor and Goldsmith's English). Family members mentioned are B., Jesse, W., Thomas (son), Brightberry (son), Thomas G., W. David, and James F Garth. 68 items.
Scope and Contents Accounts and bills with various creditors, including: Anderson, Woodson, & Bigges; John Gay; John Shiflete; Samuel Dumul (?); Joseph Robinson; M.E. Kelly, N. Barksdale, Dabney Madison; W. Snyder; Jacob C. Lupiton; and Louis Leschot. Items include: iron, tobacco trade, staples (i.e. coffe, tea, loaf sugar, brown sugar, salt, spices), books (Christian's Blackstone, Tate's Digest, Wheaton's, Hall's Digested Index, dicitionary, copybook, geography and atlas), various fabrics and sewing accessories. Women's account with Jane Isaacs for dresses, bonnets, ostrich feathers, various fabrics, and patterns. Family members include T.G., Lucy E.B., and Mrs. and Mr. Jesse Garth. 49 items.
Scope and Contents Accounts and bills with various creditors including: N. Burnley; W. Dawson; B. Ficklin & Son; J.C. Lupton; E. Hansbarger; Beverley Blair; E & J Mosely; W. Fellows; E.L. Watson & Co.; Michie & Madison; Timberlake & Magruder; J & S Leicht; and Louis Leschot. Among variety of work, household, and personal items involved are: medical bills, newspaper subscriptions, school books, list of supplies for building a house, materials needed for wedding gown, parasol, whale bones, and lock & bolt. Family members mentioned are: W. Garth, Miss E. Garth, Mrs. E. Marth, Mrs. J. Garth, Jesse Garth, and Jesse Garth "senior". 87 items.
Scope and Contents Accounts and bills with various creditors including: B. Ficklin & Son; W. Garth; J.C. Lupton; Sample & Leitch; W. Dawson; N. Burnley; Charles Brown; M.D., A. Watson; B.C. Flannagan & Co.; G.T. Owens; and Deane & Brown. Among variety of work, household and personal items involved are medical bills, itemized listing of day labor and an order of forks. Family members mentioned are: B.B. Garland, Garland, Mrs. E. B. Garth, Mrs. W. Garth, Elizabeth Garth, J. Garth, and Jesse Garth. 89 items.
Scope and Contents Accounts and bills with various creditors including: Jones & Habban; N. Burnley; B.C. Flannagan & Co.; A. Sample; J.W. Jones; G.T. Owens; Payne & Novis; G. Moore; and Hassan & Boyle. Among variety of work, household, and personal items involved are mousetraps and an engraved head and footstone. Family members mentioned are: Miss Garth, Miss E. Garth, Mrs. Garth, and Jesse Garth. 22 items.
Scope and Contents Accounts, bills, and lists. Among the items are: hotel bills, blank cashier's check, bill for stable, bill for 18 sq. house, bill for timber, bill for tobacco, freight and commission, various grocery and/or household supply bills, accounts with D & E Anderson, Weartenbaker, B. Brown, R & H Neilson, A. Woods, and B.C. Flannagan & Co., blacksmithing and hardware bills, and accounts for Mrs. Garth and a Miss Garth, and various fragments. 60 items.
Garth family accounts with Samuel and James Leitch. Merchandise includes: hardware, dyestuffs, liqour, household goods, gun powder, staples and groceries, stationary, penknives, sewing accessories, various fabrics, books, an entire set of china (including serving dishes), parasol, fiddlestrings, various shoes, gloves, beavermitts, gents' gloves, gentleman's stockings cotton and silk ladies stockings, raisons and a copy of The Virginia Housewife. 19 items.
Scope and Contents Jesse Garth's account book, showing debtors as John Benson, George Wolfe, Elijah Brown, David Isaacs, George Tool, (?) Medener, Abe Norris, Mathew Carsy, Samuel Leitch, N. Watson, (?) Coleman, Gennings Maupin, Lowel Brown, and Francis Dyer. Items involved pertain to lumber and/or farm products. 1 item.
Jesse Garth's accounts with John R. Jones, for a wide variety of personal, household, and hardware merchandise, including: buckskin gloves, coal bellows, vest pattern, parasol, and square iron. 3 items.
Scope and Contents Jess Garth's accounts with Timberlake & Magruder, for such items as bran, flour, cotton bales, plaster, freight, and drayage. 5 items
Jesse Garth's accounts with Beverly Blair, pertaining to tobacco trade. 4 items.
Scope and Contents Jesse Garth's Accounts with B. & J. Moseley, for a variety of household goods; grocery items and sewing and fabric accessories. 6 items.
Jesse Garth's accounts with William W. Via, for a variety of customized blacksmithing products. 8 items.
Garth Family documents of the enslaved. Predominately bills of sale listing names of sellers, amount paid, date of purchase, and enslaved names and/or ages. Also, a note of Jesse and Brightberry Garth as cosigners of loan for Jesse B. Garth. Also, a bill of hire for three enslaved persons for a month. 14 items.
Garth Family land Records. Include land deeds, surveys, plats and court hearings. 20 items.
Jesse Garth's tax receipts, indicating rate of millage and total due. Majority are handwritten, although a number of printed blanks are included. Several paid by Elizabeth Garth. 86 items.
Payments ordered by county and/or supreme courts to be made by Jesse Garth. 22 items.
Scope and Contents Miscellaneous documents involve: a list of boarders compiled for Miss Sarah A.J. Garth (n.d.); an inventory of books (n.d.); a Whig election ticket for 1851; a tanning recipe; a recipe for tomato catsup; a recipe for curing rheumatic pains; and an inventory of "grandmama's things belonging to the house" by Jesse T.(?) Garth. 8 items.
Miscellaneous documents within the collection but as yet uncertain of relationship to the Garth family include: Henry Mill's 1816 account with Bezaleel Brown; George Williams' accounts with Samuel Leitch, 1824-1829; William Garland's July 1823 fine by the clerk of Albemarle Co., receipts by Benjamin Brown and John H. Craven; land patent on April 1, 1864, for Christian M. Shafer and C.P. Matthews; April 10, 1868, application for patent generating gas; and agreement to sale of land on April 11, 1872. 8 items.
Legal documents pertaining to a variety of concerns such as: George Gentry's will; subpoenas; description of trial proceedings; copies of court proceedings; legal advice; guardianship records; a copy of John W. Grover's will, stock certificate for the James River and Kanawha and Co. 19 items.