A Guide to the Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts - Commissioner for Commonwealth to Settle Claims with the United States Records, 1777-1795

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

Extent:
.90 cu. ft. (2 boxes)
Creator:
Virginia Auditor of Public Accounts (1776-1928)
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Commissioner for Commonwealth to Settle Claims with the United States Records, 1777-1795, are housed in two boxes and arranged alphabetically into two series. Series have been designated for Series I: Commissioner Records and Series II: Ledgers, Lists of Supplies Issued. Included are accounts, correspondence, ledgers, and vouchers relating to the Virginia Commission to Settle Claims with the United States arising from the Revolutionary War.

Biographical / historical:

The Virginia Commission to Settle Accounts Between the State and the United States for Claims Arising from the Revolutionary War was established by the General Assembly during its session begun in May 1782. Colonel William Davies (1749-1805) was appointed commissioner for Virginia soon thereafter; he closed the Richmond office and moved to Philadelphia in 1789 and then to New York City. By 1794 the claims had been submitted to the United States for settlement. Under Davis' zealous guardianship, Virginia emerged with the largest credit of any state for wartime expenditures. In 1800 Davies was appointed collector of the customs for Norfolk and Portsmouth by President John Adams.

Acquisition information:
Transferred from the Auditor of Public Accounts in 1913. Includes Accession 76 and Accession 13648 (March and October 1913).
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in the following series:

  • Series I: Commissioner Records, 1781-1795 (bulk 1788-1793)
  • Series II: Ledgers, Lists of Supplies Issued, 1777-1791 (bulk 1777-1780)