Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Johnston Family Papers, Accession # 11295, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

These items were purchased from Jerry N. Showalter, Ivy, Virginia, by the University of Virginia Library on March 27, 1997.

Scope and Content Information

This collection consists of the papers of the Johnston Family, of Rockbridge County, Virginia, ca. 170 items, ca. 1781-1876, chiefly financial & legal papers and correspondence. Correspondents include: Robert White to Thomas Johnston of Lexington, Virginia, re business (1805 Mar 20); Francis Mills to Thomas Johnston re his attempts to build a workable threshing machine (1807 Jun 16); Jane McGughan to her brother, George McGughan, expressing anxiety about his condition and whereabouts (1808 May 4); David R. Edley to Thomas Johnston re discounting his note at the bank (1826); [L.S.?] Mitchell to Thomas Johnston concerning controversy over a land deal in the past (1834 Jul 21); David Hoffman to Thomas Johnston re business (1842 Jan 21); James A. Turner to William G. Johnston re business (1842 Feb 15); and [Edley & ?, Attorneys] to Reuben Grigsby re the estate of Thomas Johnston (1849 Feb 2).

Most of the remaining letters are from William G. & Paulina Johnston and Jane S. Lewis to their brother, James Johnston. Subjects include slavery and grief over a slave, Lu, who was sold away from the family before she could be bought or hired by Paulina (1851 Sep 20); the cost of food and other expenses in Lynchburg and controversy over the estate of "old man Tallert" (1853 May 22); description of a trip home, their reception, and a break-in at Mr. Lewis' store while they were away (1853 Nov 16); fatigue from nursing the sick (1854 Dec 13); the unhappiness of Jane Lewis at their move from Mt. Meridian to the foot of Humpback Mountain, Augusta County on the Howardsville Turnpike, the religious devoutness of her neighbors, and worry about her mother (1856 Nov 22); and some concern about the possibility of war in Bedford County, Virginia (1861 Mar 5).

The financial and legal papers include: accounts, receipts, promissory notes, account of the estates of Ann(e) Johnston and Zachariah Johnston, deposits, a fine for being absent at the time of muster (1812 April 11), indenture, and articles of agreement, chiefly pertaining to Thomas Johnston, James Johnston (son of Thomas ?), John Johnston (brother of Thomas ?), and Jane S. Lewis (daughter of Thomas Johnston and wife of B.F. Lewis).