Buckingham furnace lands: records concerning sale, 1833-1837

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:
1 Folder (8 items)
Creator:
Auditor of Public Accounts
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

These records are part of Auditor of Public Accounts. Administration of State Government: State-Owned Property - Escheats. This series contains correspondence and receipts concerning the sale of the Buckingham Furnace lands. Each receipt contains the date, the amount received, the name of the person from whom the money was received, and the reason for the payment. Records cover the following dates: 1833-1834 and 1836-1837.

Biographical / historical:

In May 1776, John Bellendine and John Reveley petitioned the Fifth Revolutionary Convention for an advance of funds to construct a blast furnace, foundry, and other structures for the manufacture of iron for military use. By 1781, a blast furnace had been built in Buckingham County and a foundry was operating in Westham, near Richmond. The furnace operated only briefly, however, and by 1784 the sheriff of Buckingham County threatened to sell the furnace land for taxes owed. Apparently the land escheated to the state and was rented out, but poorly maintained. On February 28, 1822 the General Assembly passed an act appointing one agent to collect rents and find new tenants. Evidently the plan proved unsatisfactory, for on February 23, 1822 the General Assembly authorized the sale of the property. The heirs of John Reveley received a portion of the proceeds.

Acquisition information:
No acquisition information is available.
Arrangement:

This collection is arranged alphabetically by type of record.