Series XII: Mercer Salt Works Business Records, 1851-1856

Extent:

6 volumes

Scope and content:

Historical Information:The Mercer Salt Works, one of the major suppliers of salt to West Virginia, was located at the junction of New River and Lick Creek in Mercer County, West Virginia, which is now in Summers County, West Virginia. The salt works employed white laborers and hired enslaved Black and multiracial laborers to work the furnace. Several enslaved laborers were hired from Augusta County, Va. enslavers, including Thomas J. Michie and Alexander Turk. The salt works was destroyed on 10 August 1862 by the 23rd Ohio Regiment under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Rutherford B. Hayes, who was stationed at Camp Green Meadows near the Bluestone River.

Scope and Content:Mercer Salt Works Business Records consist of a daybook; Salt A Ledger; Ledger E; cashbook; "Wood Account and Negro Clothing" Ledger; and an account ledger.

Physical location:

State Records Center; Library of Virginia

Access and use

Contents