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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
SCRC Staff, Ellen Strong; Karen King
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Custodial History
The collection ID was formerly Mss. 85s P91.
Preferred Citation:
Prentis Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Gift
Processing Information:
Processed by Ellen Strong in 1985.
Family History:
Information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
The papers, 1807-1855, of the Prentis family of Williamsburg, Virginia, and of various members of the Riddick and Bowdoin families of Nansemond County, Va. Includes legal documents and accounts, 1807-1830, concerning the settlement of the estate of Joseph Prentis (1754-1809); will of Susan Bowdoin; correspondence of Joseph Prentis, Jr. and license, issued to Peter Bowdoin Prentis to practice law.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Bowdoin family
- Bowdoin, Susan, d. 1835
- Certificates
- Correspondence
- Legal documents
- Nansemond County (Va.)--History--19th century
- Riddick family
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--19th century
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Williamsburg (Va.)--History--19th century
Container List
Private will of Joseph Prentis, Williamsburg Va., dividing his property equally among his four children Joseph, John B., Eliza, and Mary Ann; some property to be sold to pay his debts; various bequests to friends including Mr. and Mrs. Fulwar[?] Skipwith and Alex. Green. Includes the September 2, 1917 Court of Quarterly Sessions held for the city of Williamsburg ordering Joseph Prentis' will to be recorded. Signed by Leonard Henley, Clerk Hustings Court. Also includes September 22,1817, by William McClandish, presiding Justice of the Court of Hustings for the City of Williamsburg, certifying that Leonard Henley is clerk of the Court of Hustings for the City of Williamsburg.
Includes the last will and testament of Joseph Prentis, Sr. of Williamsburg, Va., inventory of his slaves; and account of the sales of the estate, listing purchaser and amount paid.
Transferred from MsV/Aa8.
Account of the sales of the estate of Joseph Prentis, deceased, Williamsburg, Va., kept by Robert Anderson, listing household items and names of purchasers.
Account of the administration of the estate of Joseph Prentis in account with Joseph Prentis, Jr., the acting executor, and signed by William Browne, Jessee sic Cole, and Robert Saunders, who were appointed by the Court of Hustings of the City of Williamsburg.
Notice that Josiah Riddick, executor of William Riddick, deceased, had settled all "matters of difference" with Thomas Swepson, executor of Robert M. Riddick deceased, and exonerates the estate of Robert M. Riddick from all "contracts, actions, and causes of actions" which existed between Robert M. Riddick and him.
Copies of legal records relating to the settlement of the estate of Robert Moore Riddick, December 13, 1819 - December 31, 1827 (Joseph Prentis, "administrator de bonis non") Nansemond Co. court record, including the substance of his will; inventory and appraisement of his slaves; inventory of his estate, 1820-1827; including accounts for medical and other expenses of his slaves; and the final settlement of the estate, June, 1827.
Statement of the settlement of the estate of Robert M. Riddick, deceased, November 27, 1809 - January 1, 1820 Includes copy, February 4, 1820 of the settlement of the account of Robert M. Riddick, deceased, in the presence of Joseph Prentis, administrator, with Thomas Swepson, signed by R. H. Baker and Thomas P. Smith, Nansemond County, Va.
Final settlement by Joseph Prentis, Suffolk, Va., of the estate of his father Joseph Prentis among himself, his brother John B., and his sisters Eliza B. and Mary Anne.
Letter from Joseph Prentis, Jr., Suffolk, Va., to his son Joseph Prentis, at Colonel Woodley's Seminary near Smithfield, Va. He has taken his wife to Old Point Comfort, Va., to try to restore her health by the "salt bath"; the rest of the family is well except for Maria Louise who has the "whooping cough"; hopes he has recovered from his "indisposition"; mentions the tickets his son has won at school.
Will of Susan Bowdoin in which she leaves legacies to the Bible Society, the Episcopal Education Society, Courtney Cocke, Joseph Prentis, Margaret Susan Webb, Mari Anna Saunders Riddick, Mrs. Susan Parker, Peter Bowdoin, Eliza B. Vickery; appoints as executors Joseph Prentis and Dr. Robert H. Webb; witnessed by Mary Jones and William Shepherd. Including a document dated April 17, 1835, signed by John T. Kilby, stating that the will was recorded in Nansemond, Co., Va., Court.
License to practice as an attorney and counsellor granted to Peter Bowdoin Prentis of Nansemond Co., Va. Signed by Philip Norborne Nicholas, Abel Parker Upshur, and Richard H. Baker, Va. Supreme Court.
Letter from William E. Jordan, Quaker Neck, to Mr. Prentice, n.p. He received his brother's letter, sends thanks; considers himself under obligation to him for his kindness.