Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Weaver-Brady Papers, Accession 38-98-c, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

Gift, June 18, 1990

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

This collection consists of twenty-seven items, 1819-1831, electrostatic copies of letters and documents pertaining to the legal cases of William Weaver versus John Doyle and T[homas ?] Mayburry heard in the Rockbridge and Augusta County courts. These items were placed in the Library by Charles Dew, Fellow of the Carter G. Woodson Institute, University of Virginia, on June 18, 1990, who believes the originals have been stolen and these copies constitute the only surviving record.

The earlier documents appear to pertain to a controversy over a debt owed to William Wilson incurred by Thomas Mayburry (1819) and the taking of a disposition from Thomas M. Jolly concerning the Retreat Furnace purchased from Wilson (1821). There is also a letter from Mayburry discussing Weaver's dispute with Mayburry over the accounts of Etna Furnace (1827 Sep 17). Mention is made concerning the hiring of slaves (1826 Dec 17; 1828 Jan 7) and arrangements to provide blankets for them (n.d).

The majority of documents, 1826-1831, pertain to the suit of Doyle v Weaver apparently over the charge that John Doyle mismanaged the Bath Iron Works . William Weaver 's answer to Doyle's complaint is dated December 15, 1831. Documents originate from the following locations: Etna Furnace , Lydia Furnace , Union Forge , Buffalo Forge , and Bath Iron Works .