Henry County (Va.) Business Records, 1841-1898

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:
8 volumes
Creator:
Henry County (Va.) Circuit Court
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Henry County (Va.) Business Records, 1841-1898, is comprised of various records created by individuals and companies in pursuit of documenting business activities in and around Newport News (Va.). Represented records largely consists of bound volumes such as ledgers, day books, and account books.

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 safe keeping 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 record exhibits appeared both in chancery causes and in judgments, these records serving as exhibits for business dissolution cases, debut suits, and contract disputes.

Locality History: Henry County was named for Patrick Henry, who was the first governor of the commonwealth of Virginia. It was formed from Pittsylvania County in 1776. The county court first met on 20 January 1777. Part of Patrick County was added later in 1858. The county seat was previously in Martinsville but has been moved near Collinsville.

Acquisition information:
These records came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Henry County in undated accessions.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into eight series:

  • Series I: Business Records of John H. Matthews, 1868-1875
  • Series II: Business Records of John H. Matthews and Company, 1872-1874
  • Series III: Business Records of T.C. Shelton, 1841-1843
  • Series IV: Business Records of Trent and Davis, 1892-1893
  • Series V: Business Records of an Unidentified Business, 1855
  • Series VI: Business Records of an Unidentified General Store, 1898
  • Series VII: Business Records of an Unidentfied Grocery Store, 1897-1898
  • Series VIII: Business Records of an Unidentified Mercantile Business, 1882-1883

Physical location:
State Record Center-Archives Annex, Library of Virginia
Physical description:
.