A Guide to the John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963: SC 0122

A Collection in
Special Collections
Collection Number SC 0122

Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University

Special Collections
Carrier Library
James Madison University
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
USA
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Email: library-special@jmu.edu
URL: http://www.lib.jmu.edu/special

Processed by: Chris Bolgiano and Lu Chima, September 1996; Alicia Henneberry, September 2013

Repository

Special Collections, James Madison University

Collection Number

SC 0122

Title

John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963

URL:

http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=jmu/vihart00263.xml

Extent

.39 cubic feet; 2 boxes

Creator

Wilson, John W.

Language

English

Abstract

This collection is comprised of a variety of documents, including letters, deeds, indentures, receipts, and accounts, all relating to Jacob Bear, Benjamin Graves, Jacob Sipe, and the Dean (Deane, Deen) and the Harnsberger family.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963, SC 0122, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

Donated by John "Bill" Wilson Jr. of Port Republic, Virginia in December 1995.

Processing Information

In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 3012.

Biographical / Historical

The Mount Vernon Iron Furnace was located in Brown's Gap, Virginia, and was started by the Faussett family. It was built in 1848 and was operated by the Miller family, John F. Lewis, and a variety of others until 1878.

Scope and Content

The John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963, consists of a variety of documents (receipts, deeds, accounts, and letters) relating mostly to Jacob Bear, Benjamin Graves, Jacob Sipe, and the Dean (Deane, Deen) and Harnsberger (Hansberger) families of Rockingham, Madison, Orange, and Augusta counties, Virginia from 1766 to 1963. Of particular interest are the 1842 Elk Run Class Book; the 1858-59 Housekeeping Book, which lists household and farm items needed for life at the time; and accounts of the Mt. Vernon Iron Works (Rockingham County) from 1878-1879.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically with oversize documents housed together.

Index Terms

Subjects:

African Americans -- Virginia
Augusta County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
Baer family
Baer family -- Correspondence
Bear, Jacob
Bear, Jacob -- Wills
Business -- History -- Sources
Dean family
Dean family -- Correspondence
Deeds -- Virginia
Deeds of trust
Elk Run class book
Estate planning
Farm management -- Sources
Graves family
Graves family -- Correspondence
Graves, Benjamin
Harnsberger family
Harnsberger family -- Correspondence
Home economics -- Accounting
Home economics -- Equipment and supplies
Housekeeping -- Sources
Iron industry and trade -- Virginia
Madison County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
Mt. Vernon Iron Works (Rockingham County. Va.)
Orange County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
Real property -- Virginia
Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
Rural families
Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Surveys
Sipe family
Sipe family -- Correspondence
Sipe, Jacob
Slave bills of sale
Trust indentures

Bibliography

Wayland, John Walter. A History of Rockingham County, VA. Ruebush-Elkins Co.: Dayton, VA, 1912.

Container List

1787-1827, 1787-1827

Folder 1
Two wills of Jacob Bear, 1787, 1827
Folder 1
Two account pages of B. Graves with J. Brock, 1800-1801
Folder 1
Land survey for Margaret Sipe by Joseph Mauzy, 1813
Folder 1
Purchase of dower right of land of widow of John Mungeo by Henry Mungeo, 1814
Folder 1
Distillery tax bill of Benjamin and John Graves, 1814
Folder 1
Page of purchases by Benjamin Graves of Simeon Graves, 1815
Folder 1
Notice of land sale (fragment), signed Tho. Eddins and Benjamin Graves, 1816
Folder 1
Notices (7) of property auction of Wm. Collins, deceased, of Orange County, 1816
Folder 1
Indemnification of B. Graves and T. Eddins as Adm. of Wm. Collins estate, 1816
Folder 1
Indenture for land to Jacob Runkle by George Cook, 1817
Folder 1
Receipt for board and tuition, B. Graves, 1818
Folder 1
Joel Banks promises to pay B. Graves, 1820
Folder 1
Summons for Richard Kinse[y?], 1820
Folder 1
Letter from R. Kinsey to B. Graves re: tobacco, 1823
Folder 1
Letter from R. Kinsey to B. Graves re: deed of trust, 1824
Folder 1
Letter from George McClammer to B. Graves re: money owed, 1827
Folder 1
Land rent agreement between Paul Lingle and Wm. Johnson, Rockingham County, 1827

1830-1848, 1830-1848

Folder 2
Appointment of attorney by Joseph Haynes, re: estate of Geo. Berry, Rockingham County, 1830
Folder 2
Appointment of attorney by Lewis Berry, 1834
Folder 2
Letter from Elizabeth Hopkins to parents in Harrisonburg from school in Mt. Airy, Va., 1838
Folder 2
Henry Keneagy of August County promises to pay Jacob Sipe, re: blooms of iron, 1840
Folder 2
Indenture for land to C. Yancey and J. Conrad by G. Blankenbaker, 1841
Folder 2
Agreement between Wm. Harper and J. Sipe, 1842
Folder 2
Elk Run Class Book (photocopy), undated
Folder 2
Receipt of payment by J. Sipe, 1842
Folder 2
Receipt of payment by J. Sipe, 1843
Folder 2
J. Sipe promises to pay Isaac Hardesty, 1844
Folder 2
Letter to Francis J. Hopkins from her sister, 1845
Folder 2
Letter to J. Sipe from John Haven re: will, 1846
Folder 2
Testimony concerning will of Margaret Sipe, 1847
Folder 2
Appointment of attorney Thomas King of Augusta County by Peyton Stanforth of Ohio, 1847
Folder 2
B&O RR Co. receipt for 60 barrels flour from W. Harper, 1847
Folder 2
Letter to J. Sipe from Eli Cook re: check, 1848
Folder 2
Deed for land sold to T. Carpenter by J. Sipe, 1848

1851-1963, 1851-1963

Folder 3
Receipt of payment from J. Sipe, 1851
Folder 3
Letter to J. Sipe from John Hour, 1852
Folder 3
Agreement to sell land between A.W. Hudson and C.B. Yancey, 1852
Folder 3
"T.K. Harnsburger's Book", listing housekeeping and farming articles bought, 1858
Folder 3
Land plat of John Deane, 1861
Folder 3
Letter to Bettie from Frannie [Hopkins?], 1863
Folder 3
Deed dividing land among Dean family, 1866
Folder 3
Deed for land to John Dean by Morgan Dean, 1870
Folder 3
Letter to B. Graves from S. Graves re:money, 1878
Folder 3
Letter to B. Graves from son A. Graves re: Mill Farm Seminary, 1879
Folder 3
List of articles sold from J. Harnsbarger estate, Elizabeth Harnsbarger estate (photocopy), 1880, 1884
Folder 3
Deed for land to T. Dean by John Dean, 1881
Folder 3
Receipt of Payment from T. Dean, 1882
Folder 3
Letter to W.R. Grains from T.K. Harnsberger re: land, 1894
Folder 3
Extract from letter to Gen. J. Roller from W.E. Barry, Texas Scout, re: Civil War Story, 1907
Folder 3
Letter to Thos. K. re: graduation (written on Randolph-Macon Monthly, Ashland, VA letterhead), 1910
Folder 3
Letter to C. J. Harnsberger from C. Bryant re: genealogy, 1915
Folder 3
A Brief Narrative, written for his grandchildren, by Lunsford L. Lewis, photocopy, 1915
Folder 3
Bills (3) of F.H. Blackburn at Root Gen'l. Merchandise, 1916
Folder 3
Harnsberger family newsletter with genealogical notes, 1963

Oversize materials, 1766-1879

Box:Folder OV 1 folder: 1
Deed of Land to John Garth, 1766
Box:Folder OV 1 folder: 1
Indenture (fragment) between J. Maggott and H. Powel, 1804
Box:Folder OV 1 folder: 1
Land petition on dispute between C. Fudges and Adam Hansberger, 1808
Box:Folder OV 1 folder: 1
Survey of disputed land between S. Conrad and J. Harnsberger, 1819
Box:Folder OV 1 folder: 1
Deed for land of James Deen, 1827
Box:Folder OV 1 folder: 1
Deed (fragment) for land to E. Hansbarger by P. Parratt, 1833
Box:Folder OV 1 folder: 1
Accounts of Mt. Vernon Iron Works, 1878-1879
Box:Folder OV 1 folder: 1
Deed for land of T. Deane, 1885

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

Wilson, John W.

A Collection in Special Collections Collection Number SC 0122