Warren County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1862-1864

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

Summary

Creator:
Warren County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

The Warren County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families is primarily made up of reports supplies and funds supplied to the families of indigent soldiers. These reports include the names of soldiers and family members, the amount of money or supplies provided to each family. Also included are agents' bonds which provide funds to agents to purchase and distribute supplies for the families and agents' expenditure reports. The reports record the exact quantity and cost of foods distributed to the families such as corn, wheat, salt, flour and beef. Occasionally, funds were provided for services instead of or as well as food, such as hauling wood.

Biographical / historical:

Warren County was named for Joseph Warren, the revolutionary patriot who sent Paul Revere and William Dawes on their famous rides and who was killed at the Battle of Bunker Hill. The county was formed from Frederick and Shenandoah counties in 1836.

In 1865 the Virginia General Assembly passed an act for the relief of indigent soldiers and sailors of Virginia who have been disabled in military service and the widows and minor children of soldiers and sailors who have died in the service. The act required county and corporation courts of the commonwealth to make and maintain lists of indigent solidiers and sailors in their localities and to make an allowance in money or supplies to provide for the indigent soldiers or their families. Counties charged with this task levied taxes to raise funds, appointed overseers to create lists of soldiers and families and maintained reports on the money and supplies provided to eligible individuals and families.

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Warren County (Va.).
Arrangement:

Chronological.

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.05 cu. ft.