Guide to the Page Family Papers , Mss. 94 P14

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Conditions Governing Access

The course work material in this collection contains grade reports which were restricted until May 2014. 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.

Preferred Citation

Page Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Sotheby's Auction

Acquisition Method:

Purchase, Mss. Acc. 1993.40, 1 item.

Purchase, Mss. Acc. 1994.37 (Mss94 P14), 7 items.

Purchase, Mss. Acc. 1999.10, 1 item.

Purchase, Mss. Acc. 2000.21, 1 item

Purchase, Mss. Acc. 2001.06B, 1 item

Processing Information

Processing Information: Processed by Ellen Strong in 1995 and 2003.

Finding Aid Revision History: Anne Johnson in 2009 and updated in 2011.

Other Note: A PDF document of this inventory is available for Mss. 94 P14 and 1999.10.

Biographical / Historical

John Page (April 17, 1744 - October 11, 1808) was a figure in early United States history. He served in the U.S. Congress and as Governor of Virginia.

Page was born and lived at Rosewell Plantation in Gloucester County. His great grandfather was Colonel John Page (1628-1692), an English merchant from Middlesex who emigrated to Virginia with his wife Alice Lucken Page and settled in Middle Plantation. He was the brother of Mann Page III.

John Page was graduated from the College of William and Mary in 1763, where he was a friend and the closest college classmate of Thomas Jefferson, having exchanged a great deal of correspondence. He then served under George Washington in an expedition during the French and Indian War. He was a delegate to the state constitutional convention in 1776. He also served during the American Revolutionary War as an officer in the Virginia state militia, raising a regiment from Gloucester County and supplementing it with personal funds. During that war, he attained the rank of colonel.

Page was also involved in politics. He became the Lieutenant Governor of Virginia and served 1776-1779. He was then a member of the Virginia House of Delegates 1781-1783 and 1785-1788. Page was elected to the First United States Congress and reelected to the Second and Third, and to the Fourth as a Republican. Overall, he was Congressman from March 4, 1789 to March 3, 1797.

After his terms in Congress, he was again a member of the Virginia House of Delegates in 1797, 1798, 1800, and 1801. He became the Governor of Virginia in 1802 and served to 1805. After being governor, he was appointed United States commissioner of loans for Virginia and held office until his death in Richmond, Virginia on October 11, 1808.

He was interred in St. John's Churchyard in Richmond.

Scope and Contents

Correspondence (11 letters) of members of the John Page (1744-1808) family of "Rosewell," Gloucester County, Va. regarding local, national, and international politics, the American Revolution, family news (Lowther and Page families), the semaphore, and fashion. Correspondents include Mann Page, Jr., Margaret (Lowther) Page, John Page, St. George Tucker, Stevens Thomson Mason, David Meade Randolph, Henry Tazewell, Philip (Filippo) Mazzei and George Weedon. Subjects also include John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, John Burgoyne, Viscount Howe, George and Martha Washington, Alexander Hamilton and Edmund Pendleton.

Container List

Series 1: Letters related to the family of John Page (Mss 94 P14)

Scope and Contents

Seven letters related to Page family members, which came down through the Page family. Includes letter by St. George Tucker, 18 Dec. 1794 (telegraph), two letters by Margaret Lowther Page, 16 Feb. 1793 & 22 Jan. 1795 and Mann Page 9 June 1777.

Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 19 Item: 1
Item 1: Mann Page, Jr, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to his brother John Page, Williamsburg, Virginia
1777 June 9
Scope and Contents
Letter, Mann Page, Jr, Philadelphia, to his brother John Page, Williamsburg, VA, June 9, 1777. Agrees with his (JP) remarks that removal from public office [Congress] is no disgrace provided no reflections were thrown on the character of the person removed. More detail on the other items can be found in the the PDF Inventory.
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 1 Item: 2
Item 2: Margaret Page to John Page
1793 February 16
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 1 Item: 3
Item 3: St. George Tucker to John Page
1794 December 18
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 1 Item: 4
Item 4: Margaret Page to sister
1795 January 22
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 1 Item: 5
Item 5: Steven Mason to [John Page?]
1801 March 7
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 1 Item: 6
Item 6: John Page to Mr. Stuart
1803 October 26
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 1 Item: 7
Item 7: David Meade Randolph
1822 October 1

Series 2: Letters by John Page (Additions to Mss 94 P14)

Scope and Contents

Four letter (additions to Mss94 P14) written by John Page.

Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 2 Item: 8
Item 8 (Acc. 1993.40): John Page to Henry Tazewell
1798 June 11
Scope and Contents
(Addition, Mss. Acc. 1993.40): Concerns Republicanism versus Federalism; Alexander Hamilton's ambitions; and whether or not Page would run again for Congress.
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 2 Item: 9
Item 9 (Acc. 1999.10): John Page to General George Weedon, Williamsburg, Virginia
1777 November 7
Scope and Contents
(Addition, Mss. Acc. 1999.10) ALS of John Page to General George Weedon, Williamsburg, 7 Nov. 1777 regarding military matters of the Revolution including forts on the Delaware; Cornwallis assaulting Fort Mifflin; mention of Howe, Burgoyne; Pearce's letter was foolish; queries Rowland's rifle scheme; "fine figure" Burgoyne and his troops will "cut in England".
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 2 Item: 10
Item 10 (Acc. 2000.21): John Page, Richmond, Virginia to "Dear Sir"
1804 May 24
Scope and Contents
(Addition, Mss. Acc. 2000.21) Letter, 24 May 1804, of John Page, Richmond, Va. to "Dear Sir". Explains why he never repaid a debt of one hundred dollars plus interest to recipient's father who has since died; sends payment of one hundred and forty four dollars. 1 p. ALS.
Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 10 Oversize_Folder: 2 Item: 11
Item 11 (Acc. 2001.06B): John Page, New York, N.Y., to Philip Mazzei, Paris, France
1789 April 8
Scope and Contents
(Addition, Mss. Acc. 2001.06B) Letter, 8 April 1789, of John Page, New York City, to Philip Mazzei, Paris, France. Expresses renewed friendship with Mazzei; laments the loss of his wife two years before; thanks God for his children who resemble their mother; remarks on Mazzei's "Recherches sur Etats Unis" even though he dissapproved of the new government; congratulates Mazzei on his new appointment and asks him to give his love to Mr. Jefferson. 1 p. ALS. Note: Endorsement on verso shows Jefferson forwarded Page's letter to Mazzei. See Thomas Jefferson to James Madison, 18 June 1789, in Julian P. Boyd, ed. "The Papers of Thomas Jefferson" XV, 195.