Smyth County (Va.) Salt Delivery Account, 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:
Smyth County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Smyth County (Va.) Salt Delivery Account, 1864, records the amount of salt delivered by Stuart Buchanan and Company and Charles Scott and Company.

Biographical / historical:

Smyth County was named for Alexander Smyth, a former congressman from Virginia who died in 1830 while efforts were underway to create the county. The county was formed in 1832 from Washington and Wythe Counties The county seat is Marion.

During the Civil War in Virginia, large demands for salt from the military, the government, and the citizenry meant that salt had to be rationed. The General Assembly passed several laws beginning on 9 March 1862 to facilitate this rationing to the people of Virginia. The ration was based on an allowance of twenty pounds of salt per person per year (see Acts of the Assembly, 1 October 1862). A commissioner of the salt controlled the distribution at the county level once a county was delivered its allotment. The commissioner was appointed by the county court.

Acquisition information:
This item came to the Library of Virginia under the accession number 35569.
Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
4 p.