Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Robert O. Epes Sales Journal and Cashbook, 1873-1876, 1881. Local government records collection, Petersburg (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from the city of Petersburg under the accession number 43614.

Historical Information

Robert O. Epes operated a glass and china business in Norfolk, Virginia, and a feed, seed, agricultural implements, and hardware business in Petersburg, Virginia.

The journal and cashbook were used as exhibits in the chancery suit Administrator of Robert O. Epes versus A. Rosentock and Company, etc., heard in the City of Petersburg Circuit Court.

Petersburg was formed from parts of Dinwiddie, Prince George, and Chesterfield counties. A garrison and fur trading post called Fort Henry was established in 1645 on the site of the Indian village of Appamattuck. The present name, suggested in 1733 by William Byrd II, honors Peter Jones, Byrd's companion on expeditions into the Virginia backcountry. Petersburg was established in 1748 and incorporated as a town in 1784. In the latter year the towns of Blandford, Pocahontas, and Ravenscroft were added to Petersburg. It was incorporated as a city in 1850. Petersburg was enlarged by annexation from both Prince George and Dinwiddie counties in 1972.

Scope and Content

Robert O. Epes Sales Journal and Cashbook, 1873-1876, 1881, record Epes' business activities as a china and glass merchant in Norfolk, Virginia, from 1873 to 1876 and as a feed, seed, agricultural implements, and hardware merchant in Petersburg, Virginia. The journal records transactions as they occurred on a daily basis. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, name of customer, items purchased, quantity of items purchased, and total amount of sales. The cashbook records on an almost daily basis cash received and cash paid out. It includes the names of individuals and accounts the businesses received cash from and paid cash to.

Related Material

For additional information see the City of Petersburg Chancery Cause, Administrator of Robert O. Epes versus A. Rosentock and Company, etc. It can be found in the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia web site. The index number is 1882-048.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Epes, Robert O.

Corporate Names:

• Petersburg (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Agricultural implements -- Virginia -- Petersburg.
• Farm supplies -- Virginia -- Petersburg.
• Feeds -- Virginia -- Petersburg.
• Glass trade -- Virginia -- Norfolk.
• Hardware stores -- Virginia -- Petersburg.
• Merchants -- Virginia -- Norfolk.
• Merchants -- Virginia -- Petersburg.
• Porcelain -- Virginia -- Norfolk.
• Seed supply -- Virginia -- Petersburg.

Geographical Names:

• Norfolk (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.
• Petersburg (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Business records -- Virginia -- Norfolk.
• Business records -- Virginia -- Petersburg.
• Cashbooks -- Virginia -- Norfolk.
• Cashbooks -- Virginia -- Petersburg.
• Journals (accounts) -- Virginia -- Norfolk.
• Journals (accounts) -- Virginia -- Petersburg.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Petersburg.

Adjunct Descriptive Data