A Guide to the Lancaster County (Va.) Business Records, 1796-1936 Lancaster County (Va.) Business Records, 1796-1936

A Guide to the Lancaster County (Va.) Business Records, 1796-1936

A Collection in
the Library of Virginia


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Library of Virginia

The Library of Virginia
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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: Library of Virginia staff

Repository
Library of Virginia
Title
Lancaster County (Va.) Business Records, 1796-1936
Physical Characteristics
21 volumes; 0.1 cubic feet (1 folder) .
Collector
Lancaster County (Va.) Circuit Court
Location
Library of Virginia
Language
English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Lancaster County (Va.) Business Records, 1796-1936. [include volume title]. Local government records collection, Lancaster 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 Lancaster County in 2004 under the accession numbers 41565 and under an undated accession.

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 P. Connelly and Greg Crawford between 2000 and 2003.

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: Lancaster County was named probably for the English county. It was formed from Northumberland and York Counties sometime between 26 March and 16 September 1651. The county court first met on 1 January 1652. The county seat is Lancaster.

Scope and Content

The business records of Lancaster County consist of account books, daybooks, journals, a testimonal book, ledgers, and loose records.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into 13 series:

Series I: Business Records of Benjamin Waddey, 1809-1836
Series II: Business Records of B.F. Smith Fire-Proof Construction Company, 1893-1898
Series III: Business Records of Eubank and Dunaway, 1855-1856
Series IV: Business Records of the Hammell Oyster Company, 1929-1936
Series V: Business Records of John S. Chowning, 1855-1857
Series VI: Business Records of Stokeley Towles, 1796-1800
Series VII: Business Records of the Thomas West Tavern, 1809-1815
Series VIII: Business Records of an Unidentified Business, 1838-1842
Series IX: Business Records of an Unidentified General Store, 1839-1846
Series X: Business Records of an Unidentified Merchant, 1796-1801
Series XI: Business Records of Waddey and Payne, 1832-1835
Series XII: Business Records of Warner Eubank, 1845-1850
Series XIII: Business Records of West and Adam, 1804-1809

Related Material

Additional Lancaster 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 Benjamin Waddey, 1809-1836
Physical Location: State Records Center
2 volumes.

Historical Information: Benjamin owned a general store in the town of Lancaster, which conducted business during the mid-nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: The business records of Benjamin Waddey consist of a daybook and a cash account book.

  • Barcode Number 1128157: Cash Account Book of Benjamin Waddey 1809-1815

    The volume recorded, on a daily basis, cash received by Benjamin Waddey's general store from merchandise sold. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, items sold, quantity of each item sold, and total amount of cash received for items sold. Items sold include spices, liquor, dry-goods, powder, molasses, nails, soap, brimstone, and paper. Volume is in poor condition due to damaged spine.

  • Barcode Number 1128151: Daybook of Benjamin Waddey, 1834-1836

    The volume recorded, in chronological order, the daily transactions of an Benjamin Waddey's general store. Information recorded in the daybook includes name of customer, date of transaction, merchandise purchased, quantity purchased, price of each item, and amount owed. Merchandise sold includes spices, nails, dry-goods, clothing, cigars, saw files, pocket knives, cheese, paper, cologne, bacon, and tin cups. Volume is in poor condition due to damaged spine.

Series II: Business Records of the B.F. Smith Fire-Proof Construction Company, 1893-1898
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume.

Historical Information: The B.F. Smith Fire-Proof Construction Company was founded in Alexandria, Virginia in 1897 by Bartholomew Smith and headquartered in Washington D.C. Smith focused his firm on drawing the interest of county clerks' offices and courthouses as the loss of public records to fire was a frequent problem of the era. The construction company built public buildings in North Carolina and Virginia between 1897 and 1914.

Scope and Content: The business records of the B.F. Smith Fire-Proof Construction Company consist of a testimonial book. The volume consists of testimonial letters from local governments in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia attesting to work performed by the company. The company specializes in constructing fire proof structures. This volume is directed at Counties that may be contemplating building or remodeling governmental structures that house valuable records.

  • Barcode Number 0007895610 : Testimonial Book of the B.F. Smith Fire-Proof Construction Company, 1893-1898
Series III: Business Records of Eubank and Dunaway, 1855-1856
Physical Location: State Records Center
2 volumes

Historical Information: Eubank and Dunaway was a general store that conducted business during the mid-nineteenth century in the town of Lancaster Court House, Virginia. Warner Eubank was one of the partners in the business. He also served as county clerk of Lancaster County during the following years, 1856-18884.

Scope and Content: The business records of Eubank and Dunaway consist of a journal and an account book.

  • Barcode Number 1102311: Journal of Eubank and Dunaway, 1855-1856

    The journal was used as a daybook recording transactions as they occurred on a daily basis from June 1855-June 1856. Information found in each entry includes name of customer, items purchased, and the amount owed. Merchandise sold include raisins, dry-goods, knives, wine, boots, plate glass, and onions. Volume is in poor condition due to torn spine.

  • Barcode Number 1163661: Account Book of Eubank and Dunaway, 1856

    The account book of Eubank and Dunaway is divided into three sections. The first section recorded a list of bonds with interest due Eubank and Dunaway. Information found in entries include name of bondholder, number of bonds held, date bond was due, amount of interest owed, and the total amount owed or paid. The second section records a list of accounts for 1855 to be collected by James R. Stephens. Information found in each entry includes name of customer and amount to be collected. The third section records an inventory of stock taken March 1856 of Eubank and Dunaway. Information found in each entry includes name of item, quantity of item, price per item, and total value of item. Items in stock include beaver, strychnine, dry-goods, table cloths, hair brushes, dishware, and pocket knives.

Series IV: Business Records of the Hammell Oyster Company, 1929-1936
Physical Location: Library of Virginia
0.1 cubic feet; 1 folder.

Historical Information: Hammell Oyster Company conducted business in Lancaster County during the early twentieth century. It planted and harvested oysters in the James and Rappahannock Rivers. Ansley B. Hammell and his son Hopkins J. Hammell were partners in the business.

Scope and Content: The business records of the Hammell Oyster Company consist of loose leaf documents which documented the company finances, business practices, and matters relating to the planting and harvesting of oysters in the James and Rappahannock Rivers. Receipts, 1933-1935, show profits and expenditures for sale of oysters and supplies. Also included are company minutes, 1933, detailing business practices.

  • Barcode Number 1134993: Hammell Oyster Company Documents, 1929-1936
Series V: Business Records of John S. Chowning, 1855-1859
Physical Location: State Records Center
2 volumes

Historical Information: John S. Chowning owned a general store in the town of Merry Point, which conducted business during the mid-nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: The business records of John S. Chowning consist of a daybook and a journal.

  • Barcode Number 1128162: Daybook of John S. Chowning, 1855-1857

    The daybook recorded in chronological order the general store's daily transactions. Information recorded in the daybook includes date of transaction, name of customer, merchandise purchased, quantity purchased, price of each item, and amount owed. Merchandise sold includes oysters, silk handkerchiefs, dry goods, clothing, fish, whiskey, cheese, turpentine, shoes, spices, and starch.

  • Barcode Number 1128155: Journal of John S. Chowning, 1855-1859

    The daybook recorded the accounts of individual customers each month. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, name of customer, merchandise purchased, quantity purchased, price of each item, and amount owed. Transactions recorded in journal for October 1855 - October 1857 are a duplicate of transactions found in daybook for the same time period.

Series VI: Business Records of Stokeley Towles, 1796-1800
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume

Historical Information: Stokeley Towles was a lawyer in Lancaster County, Virginia during the late eighteenth century. He also served as Commonwealth's Attorney in both Richmond and Lancaster counties.

Scope and Content: The business records of Stokeley Towles consist of a ledger, labelled "Ledger C." The ledger recorded the accounts of individual clients. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, legal service rendered, form of payment, and amount owed or paid. Legal services include drawing up legal documents, offering legal advice, and representing clients in chancery and judgment suits. Form of payments include cash, credit, and barter such as use of enslaved people for a certain period of time. Volume also includes accounts that record payments for services rendered by Towles on behalf of the Commonwealth of Virginia and as Commonwealth's Attorney in both Richmond and Lancaster counties.

  • Barcode Number 1128147: Ledger C of Stokeley Townes, 1796-1800
Series VII: Business Records of the Thomas West Tavern, 1809-1815
Physical Location: State Records Center
4 volumes

Historical Informtation: Thomas West owned a tavern located at Lancaster Courthouse in Lancaster County during the early 19th century.

Scope and Content: The business records of the Thomas West Tavern consist of daybooks and ledgers. The daybooks record transactions on a daily basis. Entries include name of customer, date of transaction, items purchased or services rendered, amount owed and paid. The ledgers record the individual accounts of customers and the tavern's controlling accounts. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, form of transactions, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Transactions include renting rooms, serving meals, selling alcoholic drinks, and feeding horses. Alcoholic drinks served include brandy, grog, julip, toddy, whiskey, and wine. Payments made by cash and credit. The tavern's controlling accounts include expense account, cash account, bonds receivable, and bonds payable. Ledger C includes an index that lists names of customers in alphabetical order and page numbers where customers account could be found.

  • Barcode Number 1128156: Ledger A of the Thomas West Tavern 1809
  • Barcode Number 1184640: Daybook of the Thomas West Tavern, 1811
  • Barcode Number 1184641: Daybook of the Thomas West Tavern, 1811-1812
  • Barcode Number 1128171: Ledger C of the Thomas West Tavern, 1813-1815
Series VIII: Business Records of an Unidentified Business, 1838-1842
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume

Scope and Content: The business records of the unidentified business consist of a ledger. The ledger records the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, form of transaction, page number of transaction found in corresponding journal or daybook, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Volume does not contain detailed information regarding items sold by the merchant. Rather, it uses the general term "merchandise." Payments made by cash and credit. Volume includes an index at the front that lists customers' names in alphabetical order and page numbers where customers' accounts can be found. Volume is in poor condition due to damaged spine. Several pages were torn from volume.

  • Barcode Number 1128159: Ledger of an Unidentified Business, 1838-1842
Series IX: Business Records of an Unidenified General Store, 1839-1846
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume.

Historical Information: The unidentified general store conducted business in Lancaster County during the mid-nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: The business records of the unidentified general store consist of an account book. It recorded the indivdual accounts of customers. Information found in each entry include date of transaction, items purchased, quantity of items purchased, and total amount owed and paid. Items purchased include whiskey, candles, coffee, dry goods, knives, shoes, clothing, and spices. Items paid by cash and credit. The volume includes an index listing the names of customers in alphabetical order and the page number where their accounts can be found.

  • Barcode Number 1163666: Account Book of an Unidentified General Store, 1839-1846
Series X: Business Records of an Unidentified Merchant, 1796-1801
Physical Location: State Records Center
3 volumes

Historical Information: The unidentified merchant conducted business in Lancaster County, Virginia during the late 18th century.

Scope and Content: The business records of the unidentified merchant consist of three ledgers. They record the accounts of individual customers and the merchant's controlling accounts. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, form of transaction, page number of transaction found in corresponding journal or daybook, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Volume does not contain detailed information regarding items sold by the merchant. Rather, it uses the general terms "sundries" and "merchandise." The merchant also hired out enslaved people to customers. Payments made by cash, credit, labor, hire of enslaved people, or barter of items such as corn, wheat, tobacco, chickens, fodder, and brandy. The merchant's controlling accounts include merchandise account, corn account, expenses account, cash account, wheat account, and beans account. Ledger F includes an index at the front that lists customers' names in alphabetical order. All three volumes are in poor condition. Ledgers C and E have pages missing.

  • Barcode Number 1128163: Ledger C of an Unidentified Merchant, 1796-1797
  • Barcode Number 1128169: Ledger E of an Unidentified Merchant, 1799-1800
  • Barcode Number 1128175: Ledger F of an Unidenified Merchant, 1800-1801
Series XI: Business Records of Waddey and Payne, 1832-1835
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume.

Historical Information: Waddy and Payne was a general store that conducted business in Lancaster County during the mid-nineteenth century.

Scope and Content: The business records of Waddey and Payne consists of a ledger. It recorded the accounts of individual customers and the store's controlling accounts. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, merchandise sold, quantity of items sold, price per item, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Items sold include shoes, bacon, candles, alum, dry goods, clothing, coffee, pencils, tobacco, spices, nails, and scissors. Payments made by cash, credit, and labor. The store's controlling accounts include wheat account, bean account, and corn account. Volume includes an index at the front that lists customers' names in alphabetical order and page numbers where customers' accounts can be found. Volume is in poor condition due to damaged spine.

  • Barcode Number 1128152: Ledger of Waddey and Payne, 1832-1835
Series XII: Business Records of Warner Eubank, 1845-1850
Physical Location: State Records Center
1 volume

Historical Information: The general store owned by Warner Eubank conducted business in Lancaster County Court House, Virginia during the mid-nineteenth century. He also served as county clerk of Lancaster County during the following years, 1856-1884.

Scope and Content: The business records of Warner Eubank consist of a ledger. It recorded the accounts of individual customers and the store's controlling accounts. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, form of transaction, page number of transaction found in corresponding journal or daybook, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Volume does not contain detailed information regarding items sold by the merchant. Rather, it uses the general terms "sundries" and "merchandise." Payments made by cash and credit. The merchant's controlling accounts include merchandise account, bond account, cash account, and interest account. Volume includes an index at the front that lists customers' names in alphabetical order and page numbers where customers' accounts can be found.

  • Barcode Number 1128158: Ledger of Warner Eubank, 1845-1850
Series XIII: Business Records of West and Adam, 1804-1809
Physical Location: State Records Center
2 volumes

Historical Information: West and Adam was a general store that conducted business in Lancaster Court House, Virginia, during the early 19th century. It was owned by Thomas West and John Adam. Information found in the volumes were used as evidence in court cases heard in Lancaster County.

Scope and Content: The business records of West and Adam consist of a daybook and a ledger. Both volumes are in poor condition.

  • Barcode Number 1128153: Ledger of West and Adam, 1804-1809

    The ledger recorded the accounts of individual customers and West and Adam's controlling accounts. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, form of transaction, page number of transaction found in corresponding daybooks, amount owed, form of payment, and amount paid. Volume does not contain detailed information regarding items sold by the merchant. Rather, it uses the general terms "sundries" and "merchandise." For more detailed information regarding items sold see corresponding daybook. The merchant's controlling accounts include merchandise account, bonds payable, bonds receivable, tobacco, corn, and cash account.

  • Barcode Number 1157866: Daybook of West and Adam, 1806-1807

    The daybook recorded transactions as they occurred on a daily basis from March 1806 - June 1807. Information found in each entry includes name of customer, items purchased, quantity of items purchased, cost per item, amount owed, and amount paid. Merchandise sold include clothing, brandy, spices, dry-goods, scissors, knives, pipes, and almanacs. Payments made predominantly by cash and credit. Information in daybook was transferred to the customer's individual account in corresponding ledger.