Roanoke County (Va.) Business Records, 1809-1814

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:

Many of the business volumes are fragile and should not be handled. please check alternative form available heading for volumes that have been microfilmed. Please use microfilm if available.

Terms of access:

There are no restrictions.

Preferred citation:

Roanoke County (Va.) Business Records, 1809-1814. [include volume title]. Local government records collection, Roanoke County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Summary

Extent:
5 volumes
Creator:
Roanoke County (Va.) Circuit Court.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Roanoke County (Va.) Business Records, 1809-1814. [include volume title]. Local government records collection, Roanoke County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Background

Scope and content:

Roanoke County (Va.) Business Records, 1809-1814, is comprised of various records created by individuals and companies is pursuit of documenting business activities in and around Roanoke County (Va.). Represented records largely consists of memorandum books, records the financial transactions of Nathaniel Burwell including the hiring out of slaves. Transactions record the names of individuals who purchased items or hired slaves and the amount paid. Transactions include the names of slaves.

Historical Information:The memorandum books were used as exhibits in the chancery suit Fanny R. Johnston and others versus Executor of Nathaniel Burwell and others heard in the Roanoke County Circuit Court. Nathaniel Burwell was the husband of Lucy Carter who was the daughter of Charles Carter of Shirley Plantation. They were married in 1809 in Charles City County, Virginia.

Nathaniel Burwell Memorandum Books, 1809-1814, records the financial transactions of Nathaniel Burwell including the hiring out of slaves. Transactions record the names of individuals who purchased items or hired slaves and the amount paid. Transactions include the names of slaves.

Biographical / historical:

Context for Record Type:Business Records, both volumes and loose records are in some cases transferred to the Library of Virginia as components of court record transfers. These business records in some cases were simply stored in the local court building for safekeeping by business owners. In other cases, business records (particularly ledgers, account books, etc.) may have been filed in a court case as an exhibit. These business records exhibit appeared both in chancery causes and in judgments. These records serving as exhibits for business dissolution cases, debt suits, and contract disputes.

Locality History:Roanoke County was named for the Roanoke River, which in turn was derived from the English colonists' misunderstanding of the Indian word for the shell beads worn as personal adornment or used for trade. The county was formed from Botetourt County in 1838, and part of Montgomery County was added in 1849. Its area is 248.28 square miles, and the county seat is Salem.

Acquisition information:
These records came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Roanoke County in 2010.
Processing information:

Prior to 2024, the various business records in this collection were originally described as individual records, but they have been consolidated into one large business record for the locality.

The records in this collection were processed at different times in 2010 by Gregory Crawford. Efforts have been taken to identify chancery causes related to these business records as some of these records were used as evidence in court proceedings.

Encoded by Sherri Bagley, October 2024

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged

  • Series I: Nathaniel Burwell Memorandum Books, 1809-1814

Physical location:
Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.