A Guide to the Baker Family Papers, ca. 1800-1880 #38-65,-a

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Sharon Defibaugh

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Baker Family Papers, Accession 38-65,-a , Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This collection was given to the University of Virginia Library by the children of William Martin Baker, including Margaret C. Baker, Mary Voorhees Baker, Lucinda Baker, Elizabeth M. Baker, and George G. Baker on October 10, 1931.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of the papers and account books of the Baker family in Louisa County, Virginia, and Gordonsville, Virginia, twenty-one items, ca. 1800-1880. There are two letters from William Baker to his sister Margaret written in May 21 and June 11, 1864, when Baker evidently was serving temporarily under General James Dearing in the 41st Regiment, North Carolina Troop, 3rd Cavalry, concerning personal news, the campaign around Richmond, and the strategic importance of Gordonsville. There is also an undated valentine addressed to "Miss Maggie."

One letter from William Mills, Jr. to his parents, December 15, 1800, written near Frankfort, Kentucky, describes his suffering with ague and fever and his activities in land speculation. He also comments on the fortitude of his sister, apparently with or near him, and a Mr. Winslow who has been very helpful to him in the land business.

Financial documents include a plat of 190 acres of land, located on both sides of Cub Creek, Louisa County, Virginia, surveyed by John Edwards for Edward Hallam, April 10, 1812; a receipt, from Joel Wolfe to Martin Baker, Jr. , Richmond, Virginia, September 6, 18[2]9, for land sold by Samuel Baker; and a bond of Elisha Jackson to Cleavers Baker, August 15, 1839, relating to a lawsuit in Louisa County Court.

Also present is a small account or memorandum book, 1811-1821, for blacksmithing, carpentry, shop work, and grain transactions, with lumber accounts in other hands for 1852 and 1866-1880. Two oversize ledgers include the Day Book of Leroy Chandler & Company of Aspen Dale, Louisa County, Virginia, 1817-1819; and an unidentified ledger for 1878-1879.

There are also eleven oversize certificates of proficiency in Latin, Italian, and other subjects, presented by the School at Gordonsville, Virginia to William M. Baker and Cleavers Baker, 1855-1856.