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.

Preferred Citation:

William Wirt Letters, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information:

Purchase with Presson Fund (1823 letter), N. Tompkins Gift (1806 letter).

Biographical Information:

Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .

Scope and Contents

Letter from William Wirt, Williamsburg, [Virginia] to John Patterson, Clerk of Court, Mathews County, [Virginia], asking for the record in the case of William Armistead and Company vs Mildred Dixon, executix of Thomas Dixon, lest the appeals case be dismissed. April 12, 1806.

Letter from William Wirt, Washington,, [D.C.] to Littleton Waller Tazewell, 26 September 1823, about the advantages of Washington [D.C.], New York City is "almost the only prosperous point in the Union," his feeling that Tazewell is "expiring in the obscurity of poor down-trodden Norfolk" and his sickness though Washington is healthy.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Executors and administrators--Virginia
• Mathews County (Va.)--History--19th century
• Mathews County (Va.). Court
• New York (N.Y.)--Economic conditions--19th century.
• Practice of law--Virginia--History--19th century
• Washington (D.C.)--Description and travel