Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

John E. Fletcher Papers, 1858-1884. Accession 31718, Personal Papers Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Purchased.

Biographical/Historical Information

John E. Fletcher was born 9 April 1837 in Loudoun County, Virginia, to William Fletcher (1804-1862) and Harriet Lake Fletcher (1808-1857). He was a farmer in Fauquier County, Virginia, with his brother Isaac (1835-1918). Fletcher also was captain of the Rectortown Company, part of the 44th Virginia militia. After the Civil War, Fletcher became a teacher and eventually moved to Greene County, Virginia. In 1880 he was appointed postmaster of Fletcher in Greene County. He married Lou W. Taylor (b. 1851) 21 January 1880, and they had four children. Fletcher died 12 March 1906.

Scope and Content Information

Papers, 1858-1884, of John E. Fletcher (1837-1906) of Fauquier and Greene Counties, Virginia, consisting of: personal papers, military papers, military rosters, and photographs. Personal papers contain promissory notes, 1858-1861; receipts, 1859-1864; correspondence, 1860-1865; military passes, 1864-1865; list of items taken by Union troops, 1865; and appointment, 27 August 1884, as postmaster of Fletcher, Greene County. Military papers includes military orders for the Rectortown Company, 44th Virginia militia; exemption from service papers, 1861; and miscellaneous papers, including receipts and powers of attorney. Military rosters contains rosters for the Rectortown Company commanded by John E. Fletcher. Photograph is of John E. Fletcher taken in Boston, Massachusetts in 1865, and notes.

Of particular interest are the promissory notes by John E. Fletcher, Isaac Fletcher, and William Fletcher for the hire of slaves; letter from Ida Dulany concerning John E. Fletcher's failure to provide clothes for the children of the slave he hired from her; letter concerning the death of Edward C. Castleman; military passes and letter concerning Fletcher's trip to Fort Warren, Boston, Massachusetts, to recover the body of Aquilla Glascock; list of items taken by Union troops from the farms of John Fletcher, William Fletcher, and Solomon Hoge; and the military rosters for the Rectortown Company, 44th Virginia militia, commanded by John E. Fletcher.

Organization

Organized in four series: I. Personal papers. II. Military Papers. III. Military Rosters. IV. Photograph.