A Guide to the Lunenburg County (Va.) Business Records, 1835-1924 Lunenburg County (Va.) Business Records, 1835-1924

A Guide to the Lunenburg County (Va.) Business Records, 1835-1924

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia


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Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/

© 2024 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.

Processed by: Greg Crawford

Repository
Library of Virginia
Title
Lunenburg County (Va.) Business Records, 1835-1924
Physical Characteristics
8 volumes.
Collector
Lunenburg County (Va) Circuit Court
Location
Library of Virginia
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Many of the business volumes are fragile and should not be handled, please check alternative form available heading for volumes that have been microfilmed. Please use microfilm if available.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Lunenburg County (Va.) Business Records, 1835-1924. [include volume title]. Local government records collection, Lunenburg County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These records came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Lunenburg County in 2007 under the accession number 43095, in 2008 under accession number 43641, and under an undated accession.

Alternative Form Available

Please see Lunenburg County Microfilm index in the Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm available on the Library of Virginia website for full listing.

"Negro Trading" Book of Beasley, Jones, and Wood, 1835-1851 is available as microfilm Lunenburg County Reel 410

John A. Bishop's Daybook 1, 1855-1857 is available as microfilm Lunenburg County Reel 382

John A. Bishop's Daybook 2, 1857-1858 is available as microfilm Lunenburg County Reel 382

Lewiston Plan Road Co. Minute Book, 1853-1855 is available as Lunenburg County Reel 382

Richard S. Forrest Shop Book, 1853-1855 is available as microfilm Lunenburg County Reel 410

Tobacco Grower's Cooperative Association Contract Book, 1921-1925 is available as Lunenburg County Reel 381

Processing Information

Prior to 2024, the various business records in this collection were originally described as individual records, but they have been consolidated into one large business record for the locality.

These records were processed by Greg Crawford and Sarah Nerney between 2003 and 2008.

Encoded by J. Taylor: October 2024.

Historical Information

Context for Record Type: Business Records, both volumes and loose records, are in some cases transferred to the Library of Virginia as components of court record transfers. These business records in some cases were simply stored in the local court building for safe keeping by business owners. In other cases, business records (particularly ledgers, account books, etc.) may have been filed in a court case as an exhibit. These business record exhibits appeared both in chancery causes and in judgments, these records serving as exhibits for business dissolution cases, debut suits, and contract disputes.

Locality History: Lunenburg County was named for King George II, duke of Brunswick-Lüneburg, a German possession of England's Hanoverian kings. It was formed from Brunswick County by an act that took effect on 1 May 1746. Part of Lunenburg County was added in 1777. The county seat is Lunenburg.

Scope and Content

Lunenburg County (Va.) Business Records, 1844-1924 is comprised of various records created by individuals and companies in pursuit of documenting business activities in and around Lunenburg County (Va.). Represented records largely consist of bound volumes such as account books, daybooks, minute books and memorandum books.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into seven series:

Series I: Business Records of Beasley, Jones, and Wood, 1835-1851
Series II: Business Records of Captain John C. Epes, 1844-1849
Series III: Business Records of John A. Bishop, 1855-1857
Series IV: Business Records of the Lewiston Plank Road Company, 1853-1855
Series V: Business Records of Richard S. Forrest, 1853-1855
Series VI: Business Records of the Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association, 1921-1924
Series VII: Business Records of an Unidentified Iron Furnace, 1847-1848

Related Material

See also: Lunenburg County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1743-1921 (Bulk 1887-1913)

See also: Lunenburg County (Va.) Free and Enslaved Records, 1802-1865

Records related to free and enslaved people of Lunenburg County and other localities are available on Virginia Untold: The African American Narrative Digital Collection at the Library of Virginia.

Additional Lunenburg County Court Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm"

Contents List

Series I: Business Records of Beasley, Jones, and Wood, 1835-1851
Physical Location: Library of Virginia
1 volume.

Scope and Content: The business records of Beasley, Jones and Wood consist of a "Negro trading" account book.

  • Barcode Number 1188539: "Negro Trading" Account Book of Beasley, Jones, and Wood, 1835-1851

    The account book is composed of lists of sales of enslaved people and lists of accounts generated as part of the business. The volume was created as part of a partnership between Richard R. Beasley, Robert R. Jones, and William H. Wood who purchased enslaved people in Virginia and sold them in Mississippi and New Orleans. The majority of the volume consists of lists of the sales of enslaved people. The lists record the name of the enslaved person, the price of purchase, and the price of sale. Some lists give ages and occupations for the enslaved persons. Some notes exist about the hires of enslaved persons, to whom hired, and the price of the hire. Some of the lists are titled "Natcheze", "carried to the South" or "sold by William H. Wood Port Gibson [Mississippi]". There are notes about an enslaved female named Hester who claimed to be a free person. Other notes and accounts concern the settlement of the partnership of Beasley and Wood and other accounts of the business. There is a list of land and enslaved persons purchased in Lunenburg in 1840 that also includes purchases of livestock and other goods. Another person named in the account book who appears to be involved with the business is a William H. Williams.

    The volume was used as an exhibit in the Lunenburg County Chancery Cause, 1860-026: Christopher Wood, etc. vs. Exr. of William H. Wood. The pages have been scanned and added to the casefile; see images 350-370.

Series II: Business Records of Captain John C. Epes, 1844-1849
Physical Location: Library of Virginia
1 volume

Historical Information: Captain John Cross Epes was an agent who acted as the southern link of the trading partnership Sneed & Epes, a Lunenburg-based firm that was engaged in the business of buying, transporting, and reselling enslaved people.

Scope and Content: The business records of Captain John C. Epes consists of a memorandum book. The volume contains miscellaneous information related to Epes's transporting and selling of enslaved people. A portion of the book was used as a travel journal that gives a brief account of Epes's journey from his home in Gainesville, Alabama to Lunenburg Court House, Virginia. The book includes entries related to the purchase and sell of enslaved people on behalf of Sneed & Epes, as well as accounts of related expenses incurred by Epes over the course of the journey, such as additional clothing for several of the enslaved. Entries record names of enslaved people and their initial and final purchase price. It also lists names of people enslaved by Daniel S. McCormick.

Also included in the business records is a letter dated August 27, 1847, written by Richard J. Epes of Jackson, Mississippi to his brother Captain John C. Epes at Lunenburg Court House, Virginia. In the letter, Richard Epes makes reference to his brother transporting and selling enslaved people.

  • Barcode Number 0007848112: Captain John C. Epes Memorandum Book, 1844-1849
Series III: Business Records of John A. Bishop, 1855-1857
Physical Location: State Record Center
2 volumes

Historical Information: John A. Bishop was an ordinary keeper (innkeeper) who ran a tavern in Lunenburg County during the mid-nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: The business records of John A. Bishop consists of two daybooks. The daybooks record the individual accounts of Bishop's tavern. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, form of transactions, amount owed, and amount paid. Transactions include renting rooms, serving meals, selling drinks, renting stables for horses, and feeding horses.

  • Barcode Number 1176933: John A. Bishop Daybook, 1855-1856
  • Barcode Number 1176905: John A. Bishop Daybook, 1857
Series IV: Business Records of the Lewiston Plank Road Company, 1853-1855
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume

Historical Information: An act of the General Assembly passed March 21, 1853, authorized formation of the Lewiston Plank Road Company to construct a road from a point on the Richmond and Danville Railroad by way of Lewiston in Lunenburg County to some point on the Meherrin River or to the Lunenburg Plank Road. Capital stock was set at $30,000 with the Board of Public Works authorized to subscribe to 3/5 or $18,000. The construction was to begin within two years, with completion by five years. An increased in capital stock was authorized March 29, 1858 by $10,000 to complete the project.

Scope and Content: The business records of the Lewiston Plank Road Company consists of a minute book. The volume recorded the meetings of the company's president and board of directors. Information found in the minutes includes date and location of meetings, names of those present, and decisions made by the board of directors related to the miscellaneous activities of the company.

  • Barcode Number 1176879: Lewiston Plank Road Company Minute Book, 1853-1855
Series V: Business Records of Richard S. Forrest, 1853-1855
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume.

Historical Information: Richards S. Forrest operated a blacksmith shop that conducted business in Lunenburg County during the mid-nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: The business records of Richard S. Forrest consists of an account book. The volume recorded the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, type of transaction, service rendered, amount owed, and amount paid. Services rendered include adding or removing horseshoes; laying, sharpening and mending tools; and repairing buggies.

  • Barcode Number 1176932: Richard S. Forrest Account Book, 1853-1855
Series VI: Business Records of the Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association, 1921-1924
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume.

Historical Information: The Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association was first organized in North Carolina in February 1922. It was a cooperative marketing association composed of tobacco producers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.

Scope and Content: The business records of the Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association consists of a contract book. The contract book recorded the marketing agreement made between the cooperative and its members in Lunenburg County and contracts signed by the individual members acknowledging this agreement. Information contained in the contracts include the name and address of the member; date contract was signed; amount of tobacco produced in a given year; number of acres planted; and the type of tobacco grown (dark or bright). The contract includes an index listing the the names of cooperative members in alphabetical order and the page number where their contracts can be found.

  • Barcode Number 1177149: Tobacco Growers Cooperative Association Contract Book, 1921-1924
Series VII: Business Records of an Unidentified Iron Furnace, 1847-1848
Physical Location: Library of Virginia
1 volume.

Historical Information: The "negro book" was possibly maintained by Washington F. Plunkett, an ironmaster in Appomattox County. The iron furnace was possibly Stonewall Mills Furnace.

Scope and Content: The business records of the unidentified iron furnace consists of one "negro book." The book recorded purchases made by the enslaved laborers who worked at the unidentified iron furnace. The enslaved laborers who performed work beyond their required tasks were compensated in cash or in goods from the ironmaster's store. Each entry is made under the name of the enslaved laborer and recorded the goods purchased, the money owed or paid, or if paid in labor what labor was done. Transactions between the enslaved laborers are also recorded in the book. Examples of goods purchased include sugar, clothing, shoes, tobacco, cloth, molasses, etc. Examples of extra work performed by enslaved laborers resulting in payments of goods include: stocking coal, wheeling dust, cording wood, stripping wood, working on Sunday and holidays.

  • Barcode Number 1157709: "Negro Book" of an Unidentified Iron Furnace 1847-1848