Conditions Governing Use

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Conditions Governing Access

The 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

Sir Peyton Skipwith Land Indenture, Special Collections Research Center, William & Mary Libraries.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by James and Gale Chapman, January 2022

Biographical / Historical

William Byrd III was born in Charles City County in 1728. Byrd sudied law at Middle Temple in London, England. He was a member of the Virgnia House of Burgesses from 1754 to 1756 and the Governor's Council from 1756 to 1775. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth Carter in 1748 then, after her death in 1760, he married Mary Willing in 1761. He had a total of fifteen children, five with Elizabeth Carter and ten with Mary willing. He served as a colonel in 2nd Virginia Regiment then succeeded George Washington as the commander of the 1st Virginia Regiment. Byrd conducted business in Williamsburg, Virginia and bought a house there in the 1770s. Bird died of suicide in January 1777.

Content Description

A 1765 indenture for 3000 acres of land in Mecklenburg county, Virgina between William Byrd III and Sir Peyton Skipwith. There is speculation that Sir Peyton Skipwith won the land in this indenture from William Byrd III in a card game. Skipwith built the Prestwould Plantation where he lived on this land.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged by item.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Mecklenburg County (Va.)
• Mecklenburg County (Va.)--History