Records of the Virginia War Offce, 1780/1782

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:

Use microfilm when available.

Preferred citation:

Records of the Virginia War Office, 1780-1782. Accession 54300. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Summary

Creator:
Virginia. War Office.
Preferred citation:

Records of the Virginia War Office, 1780-1782. Accession 54300. State government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

Virginia War Office Records include Account book, 1781; Journal, 1781; Minute book, 1781-1782; Letterbooks, 1780-1782; Index to letterbooks, 1781-1782. There are non-related in this collection (described below) that fall outside of these dates.

For additional records see the Governor's Executive Papers for this time period.

See also Miscellaneous Reel 4266, Correspondence of William Davies, Commissioner of the War Office, 1780-1782. Includes incoming correspondence and is part of the Robert Alonzo Brock Collection.

Biographical / historical:

When it abolished the Board of War in 1780, the General Assembly established the position of Commissioner of the War Office at its May 1780 session to replace it. The position was to be appointed by the governor, with advice of council (Chapter XXIV). The War Office was created to oversee recruits' vouchers, officers' commissions, returns from county lieutenants, military claims to land warrants, and pension certificates during the Revolutionary War.

A year later the powers of the Commissioner were extended (Chapter XV, May 1781).

The office was abolished in Oct 1782 in an attempt at economy at the close of hostilities and the duties appertaining thereto were transferred to the executive or his designee (Chapter XIV).

Colonel George Muter, the first commissioner, resigned his position on March 22, 1781, and was replaced by Colonel William Davies.

Acquisition information:
Acquired prior to 1905.
Arrangement:

Arranged alphabetically.

Physical description:
11 volumes.