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A Guide to the John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963 SC 0122

A Guide to the John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963 SC 0122


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Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University

880 Madison Drive
MSC 1704
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/

Chris Bolgiano and Lu Chima, September 1996; Alicia Henneberry, September 2013

Repository
Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University
Identification
SC 0122
Title
John W. Wilson Collection1766-1963
URL:
http://ead.lib.virginia.edu/vivaxtf/view?docId=jmu/vihart00263.xml
Quantity
.39 Cubic Feet 2 boxes
Language
English .
Abstract
This collection is comprised of a variety of documents, including letters, deeds, indentures, receipts, and accounts, all relating to Jacob Bear, Benjamin Graves, Jacob Sipe, and the Dean (Deane, Deen) and the Harnsberger family.

Administrative Information

Conditions Governing Use

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Acquisition Information

Donated by John "Bill" Wilson Jr. of Port Republic, Virginia in December 1995.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963, SC 0122, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Processing Information

In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 3012.

Biographical / Historical

The Mount Vernon Iron Furnace was located in Brown's Gap, Virginia, and was started by the Faussett family. It was built in 1848 and was operated by the Miller family, John F. Lewis, and a variety of others until 1878.

Scope and Content

The John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963, consists of a variety of documents (receipts, deeds, accounts, and letters) relating mostly to Jacob Bear, Benjamin Graves, Jacob Sipe, and the Dean (Deane, Deen) and Harnsberger (Hansberger) families of Rockingham, Madison, Orange, and Augusta counties, Virginia from 1766 to 1963. Of particular interest are the 1842 Elk Run Class Book; the 1858-59 Housekeeping Book, which lists household and farm items needed for life at the time; and accounts of the Mt. Vernon Iron Works (Rockingham County) from 1878-1879.

Arrangement

This collection is arranged chronologically with oversize documents housed together.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

  • African Americans -- Virginia
  • Augusta County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
  • Bear family
  • Bear family -- Correspondence
  • Bear, Jacob
  • Bear, Jacob -- Wills
  • Business -- History -- Sources
  • Dean family
  • Dean family -- Correspondence
  • Deeds -- Virginia
  • Deeds of trust
  • Elk Run class book
  • Estate planning
  • Farm management -- Sources
  • Graves family
  • Graves family -- Correspondence
  • Graves, Benjamin
  • Harnsberger family
  • Harnsberger family -- Correspondence
  • Home economics -- Accounting
  • Home economics -- Equipment and supplies
  • Housekeeping -- Sources
  • Iron industry and trade -- Virginia
  • Madison County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
  • Mt. Vernon Iron Works (Rockingham County. Va.)
  • Orange County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
  • Real property -- Virginia
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
  • Rural families
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Surveys
  • Sipe family
  • Sipe family -- Correspondence
  • Sipe, Jacob
  • Slave bills of sale
  • Trust indentures

Bibliography

Wayland, John Walter. A History of Rockingham County, VA. Ruebush-Elkins Co.: Dayton, VA, 1912.

Significant Persons Associated With the Collection

  • Bear, Jacob
  • Bear, Jacob -- Wills
  • Graves, Benjamin
  • Sipe, Jacob
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Significant Places Associated With the Collection

  • Augusta County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
  • Madison County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
  • Orange County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
  • Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
  • Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Surveys
Back to Top

Container List

Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 1
1787-1827
1787-1827
  • Two wills of Jacob Bear
    1787, 1827
  • Two account pages of B. Graves with J. Brock
    1800-1801
  • Land survey for Margaret Sipe by Joseph Mauzy
    1813
  • Purchase of dower right of land of widow of John Mungeo by Henry Mungeo
    1814
  • Distillery tax bill of Benjamin and John Graves
    1814
  • Page of purchases by Benjamin Graves of Simeon Graves
    1815
  • Notice of land sale (fragment), signed Tho. Eddins and Benjamin Graves
    1816
  • Notices (7) of property auction of Wm. Collins, deceased, of Orange County
    1816
  • Indemnification of B. Graves and T. Eddins as Adm. of Wm. Collins estate
    1816
  • Indenture for land to Jacob Runkle by George Cook
    1817
  • Receipt for board and tuition, B. Graves
    1818
  • Joel Banks promises to pay B. Graves
    1820
  • Summons for Richard Kinse[y?]
    1820
  • Letter from R. Kinsey to B. Graves re: tobacco
    1823
  • Letter from R. Kinsey to B. Graves re: deed of trust
    1824
  • Letter from George McClammer to B. Graves re: money owed
    1827
  • Land rent agreement between Paul Lingle and Wm. Johnson, Rockingham County
    1827
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 2
1830-1848
1830-1848
  • Appointment of attorney by Joseph Haynes, re: estate of Geo. Berry, Rockingham County
    1830
  • Appointment of attorney by Lewis Berry
    1834
  • Letter from Elizabeth Hopkins to parents in Harrisonburg from school in Mt. Airy, Va.
    1838
  • Henry Keneagy of August County promises to pay Jacob Sipe, re: blooms of iron
    1840
  • Indenture for land to C. Yancey and J. Conrad by G. Blankenbaker
    1841
  • Agreement between Wm. Harper and J. Sipe
    1842
  • Elk Run Class Book (photocopy)
    undated
  • Receipt of payment by J. Sipe
    1842
  • Receipt of payment by J. Sipe
    1843
  • J. Sipe promises to pay Isaac Hardesty
    1844
  • Letter to Francis J. Hopkins from her sister
    1845
  • Letter to J. Sipe from John Haven re: will
    1846
  • Testimony concerning will of Margaret Sipe
    1847
  • Appointment of attorney Thomas King of Augusta County by Peyton Stanforth of Ohio
    1847
  • B&O RR Co. receipt for 60 barrels flour from W. Harper
    1847
  • Letter to J. Sipe from Eli Cook re: check
    1848
  • Deed for land sold to T. Carpenter by J. Sipe
    1848
Mixed Materials box: 1 folder: 3
1851-1963
1851-1963
  • Receipt of payment from J. Sipe
    1851
  • Letter to J. Sipe from John Hour
    1852
  • Agreement to sell land between A.W. Hudson and C.B. Yancey
    1852
  • "T.K. Harnsburger's Book", listing housekeeping and farming articles bought
    1858
  • Land plat of John Deane
    1861
  • Letter to Bettie from Frannie [Hopkins?]
    1863
  • Deed dividing land among Dean family
    1866
  • Deed for land to John Dean by Morgan Dean
    1870
  • Letter to B. Graves from S. Graves re:money
    1878
  • Letter to B. Graves from son A. Graves re: Mill Farm Seminary
    1879
  • List of articles sold from J. Harnsbarger estate, Elizabeth Harnsbarger estate (photocopy)
    1880, 1884
  • Deed for land to T. Dean by John Dean
    1881
  • Receipt of Payment from T. Dean
    1882
  • Letter to W.R. Grains from T.K. Harnsberger re: land
    1894
  • Extract from letter to Gen. J. Roller from W.E. Barry, Texas Scout, re: Civil War Story
    1907
  • Letter to Thos. K. re: graduation (written on Randolph-Macon Monthly, Ashland, VA letterhead)
    1910
  • Letter to C. J. Harnsberger from C. Bryant re: genealogy
    1915
  • A Brief Narrative, written for his grandchildren, by Lunsford L. Lewis, photocopy
    1915
  • Bills (3) of F.H. Blackburn at Root Gen'l. Merchandise
    1916
  • Harnsberger family newsletter with genealogical notes
    1963
Oversize materials
1766-1879
  • Mixed Materials box: OV 1 folder: 1
    Deed of Land to John Garth
    1766
  • Mixed Materials box: OV 1 folder: 1
    Indenture (fragment) between J. Maggott and H. Powel
    1804
  • Mixed Materials box: OV 1 folder: 1
    Land petition on dispute between C. Fudges and Adam Hansberger
    1808
  • Mixed Materials box: OV 1 folder: 1
    Survey of disputed land between S. Conrad and J. Harnsberger
    1819
  • Mixed Materials box: OV 1 folder: 1
    Deed for land of James Deen
    1827
  • Mixed Materials box: OV 1 folder: 1
    Deed (fragment) for land to E. Hansbarger by P. Parratt
    1833
  • Mixed Materials box: OV 1 folder: 1
    Accounts of Mt. Vernon Iron Works
    1878-1879
  • Mixed Materials box: OV 1 folder: 1
    Deed for land of T. Deane
    1885