Lynchburg (Va.) Weigh Master's Books, 1827-1860

Access and use

Location of collection:
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Archives Reference Services
Phone: (804) 692-3888
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Lynchburg (Va.) Weigh Master's Books, 1827-1860. Local government records collection, Lynchburg (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Summary

Creator:
Lynchburg (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Lynchburg (Va.) Weigh Master's Books, 1827-1860. Local government records collection, Lynchburg (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Lynchburg (Va.) Weigh Master's Books, 1827-1860, are four volumes that record the date, customer name, what weighed (mostly hay, oats, fodder and rye straw), the weight of the goods, and the amount of fee charged for the weighing service. Interspersed throughout are certifications of the weigh master's submission of funds collected to the court. A newspaper clipping is glued into the front of the 1827-1830 book that gives the full text of the city ordinance that details the duties and responsibilities of the city weigh master.

Biographical / historical:

Lynchburg, in Campbell County, was named for John Lynch, the owner of the original town site. It was established in 1786, was incorporated as a town in 1805, and became a city in 1852. Parts of Campbell and Bedford counties were annexed to the city in 1976.

An ordinance passed by the Common Council of the city of Lynchburg on November 30, 1827, established the position of weigh master for the city. The weigh master's duty was the attend to the public scales every day except Sunday from sunrise to sunset for the purpose of weighing in pounds all long forage which may be offered for sale, granting certificates for the same, and keeping a book that corresponded to the certificates. The weigh master charged a fee for weighing the forage which he paid over to the city treasurer every three months accompanied by a transcript of his accounts which was sent to the Common Council. The weigh master was paid $150 per year.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from the city of Lynchburg.
Arrangement:

Arranged chronologically.

Physical location:
State Records Center - Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
4 v.