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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterSpecial Collections Staff.
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
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.
Robert Preston Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Purchase of 512 items from George Scheer on 3/27/1939; purchase of 2 items from Mrs. Brockenbrough Lamb 3/30/1939 and 72 items on 3/20/1941.
Papers of Robert Preston, surveyor of Washington County, Virginia, dated 1780-1864. Includes on site notes of land surveyed, without plats. Mostly unprocessed and the vast majority of items has not been described yet.
Includes letters, from relatives in Ireland; financial and legal documents; surveys; plats; and memorandum books.
Includes certificate, 22 December 1779, issued by the College of William and Mary appointing Robert Preston surveyor of Washington County, signed by Thomas Jefferson.
Some surveys for land in Montgomery County, Virginia.
Agreement between William Strother Madison and Robert Preston for the division of the surveyor's fees in Washington County, Virginia, 1777.
All accessions combined.
The current arrangement into folders is the result of preliminary sorting only. It may change once it has been reviewed, finalized and described to provide proper access.
Letters by James P. and John Preston referring to the College have been transferred to the College Papers Collection. [Date of transfer unkown]
Receipts, land transaction documents and correspondence, accounts and other legal documents concerning surveying and the buying and selling of land. Many names included from Washington County, Virginia and other parts of Virginia, Kentucky and other places. Memo books, survey accounts and survey journals.
Arranged alphabetically. Includes land survey description with plats for most of the documents. Most surveys are in Washington County, Virginia. Names include Oliver Alexander, Moses Ashbrooks, Joel Barker, Thomas Berry, Abraham Bird, William Bradshaw, Jesse Catechim (?), Robert Crow, William Bryant Ferguson, William Gill, John Griffith, John Hapton, Michael Immel (Russell County), John Jones, James Keys, Adam King, William King, Labelle Main, Anderson Marxhall, Newell Suppord, (La. County), Anderson B. Mathews (partly in Rockbridge County), James Matthews (assigned to Jacob Halenstine, Peter Mink and John Griffith), Robert McKnight, Christopher Parkey, Robert Preston (Fayette County, part of W.H. Hardin claim and part sold to Bryan Ferguson), Samuel Robinson, Andrew Rupe (on same Military Warrant: Nimrod Hughes, Joseph Strother, Andrew Buchanan, Thomas Jameson, Barthalemew Neal, Bazell Talbert, Ruben Bradley, Elisha Dungeans, John Craig, William Chrsitian, James Reid and John Crump), Isaac Shelby (other names: Thomas Shelby, George Lindemond, William Wilkerson, John Carson, Evan Shelby), Samuel Thompson (assignee of James Harris), David White, Nicholas Washburn, Fenten Williams,
Organized by year.
Organized by year.
Organized by year.
Organized by year.
Organized by year. Includes undated ledger alphabetical by name.
Bound survey entrees with a few loose pages. Over 100 pages.
3 pieces of loose papers with survey notes. Includes a few personal transactions.
5 partially bound memo pads and loose papers with surveys notes. Names included with surveys.
Leather billfold notebook with some survey notes. Surveys are possibly both in Ireland and in Virginia. Very few pages have notes.
Papers of Robert Preston, surveyor, dated 1780-1864. Agreement between William Strother Madison and Robert Preston for the division of the surveyor's fees in Washington County, Virginia, 1777; and certificate issued by William and Mary College and signed by Thomas Jefferson, governor of Virginia, appointing Robert Preston surveyor of Washington County, 1779.
Letters from family and friends in Ireland.
Undated letter from Robert Preston, Esquire, Andrew Laird, Breahead to Robert Preston, Washington County, Virginia, North America. Addressed "Dear Cuzen" and writes about family news.
May 1, 1773 bill binding John Laird of Cloughmore, city of Londonberry with bond as executorship. Signed by John Breden and John Laird.
Partnership bond between William Strother Madison and Robert Preston agreeing to divide surveyors fees for Washington County, Virginia, March 25, 1779.
Copy of Certificate nominating Robert Preston as surveyor for Washington County, Virginia, December 20, 1779. On verson, signed by Thomas Jefferson, Governor. Original in Surveying Collection.
Includes accounts of items bought by Robert Preston, Derry, from James Preston
Correspondents are Cousin Alexander and Rebeca Dean who tell of Alexander's loss of an arm, prices of goods and rent for their lands at Burnfoot, Mr. and Mrs. Davenport (cousin), news of war; Uncle James Preston of Derry who greets Robert as "Robin" and writes of family matters and George Douglass (proprietor of the Londonderry Journal); Brother James Preston who writes of family and money matters; Brother Thomas Preston; John and Sarah Teague of Ballybeg with local news; Aunt Margaret Jennet Ferman with family news.
Letter from John Donnelly, Ireland and Scotland, to Robert Preston, Washington County, Virginia, commenting on dissatisfaction in Ireland. 1773.
May 10, 1793: Bill for goods bought by Robert Preston, Washington County, Virginia, of James Preston (drapery business) in Derry, Ireland.
Letters from family and friends Ireland. Some correspondence with business associates.
Includes letter from James and Sarah Preston from Donegall, Ireland, in praise of King George, May 2, 1805: ""...And as you treated of a belov'd Jefferson, I must also give way to my pen whom I cannot restrain from joining this paper in favor of a more illustrious and renowned man (I mean) our lawful sovereign King George who is a terror to evil doers and the supporter of such as do well whose arm is extended to corrcet tyranny and trample rebellion under his feet."
Includes letter from James Preston, Londonderry, to Robert Preston, April 18, 1811: " "But if that damned prohibition of joint intercourse with Britain and its colonies takes place the effects will be felt severely by Irishmen but I hope the rulers of political policy will in bothe sides see the madness they are about to commit occasioned by the Tyrant of the World (Boneparte) who has that bewitching influence over blinded Nations as to entangle in his delusion until he has sucked their vital blood and brought the body to a perfect skeleton huge monster envoy of hell whose sole enjoyment is the effusions of human as the cry of the widow and fatherless is harmonious musick in his accursed ears."
Mostly personal accounts for medical, store purchases, house building, and other items. Includes a few documents regarding payments for enslaved individuals. Some land survey receipts may be included in the folder.
Small bound notebook with mostly personal accounts, but also financial accounts of surveyed properties.