Franklin County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863-1864

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:

Franklin County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863-1864. Local government records collection, Franklin County (Va.) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

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

Franklin County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863-1864. Local government records collection, Franklin County (Va.) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

The Franklin County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families is made up of four folders. One folder contains the county orders of 1864 to levy taxes upon the county to provide for the support of indigent soldiers' families. Three folders contain reports of indigent soldiers' families, including names of the soldiers and family members, number of children per family, the amount of money provided to each family and for what use. The reports record that funds were to be used for provisions, shoes and clothing.

Biographical / historical:

Franklin County was named for Benjamin Franklin and was formed from Bedford and Henry Counties in 1785.

Throughout the Civil War, the principal responsibility for Virginia's indigent soldiers' families lay with the locality. The Virginia State Convention in 1861 gave the responsibility entirely to counties and incorporated towns and authorized whatever actions had already been taken. Acts of Assembly in 1862 and 1863 expanded the localities' powers to provide for their needy, and in 1863 some minimal state assistance was added in. At first relief was provided as money, but as the monetary system collapsed, relief was distributed in kind. Agents of the court maintained lists of eligible families, gathered goods for distribution and paid for them, and impressed supplies if necessary. Virginia was unique amongst the southern states in that it assigned the provisioning of needy families almost solely to the locality.

Acquisition information:
These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Franklin County (Va.).
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.1 cu. ft. (4 folders)