Rockingham County Legal Documents

Access and use

Location of collection:
James Madison University
Second Floor Room 203, MSC 1704
Carrier Library
James Madison University
880 Madison Drive
Harrisonburg, VA 22807
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tiffany Cole
Phone: (540) 568-3444
Phone: (540) 568-3612
Fax: (540) 568-3405
Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Rockingham County Legal Documents, 1866-1935, SC 0167, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Summary

Extent:
0.08 cubic feet 1 folder
Creator:
Suter, Scott Hamilton
Abstract:
Consists of articles of agreement, deeds, surveys and wills, pertaining to the lease, sale, and transfer of farmland near Keezletown in Rockingham County, Virginia. Government seals are affixed to many of the deeds. Approximately two-thirds are handwritten.
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Rockingham County Legal Documents, 1866-1935, SC 0167, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Background

Scope and content:

Several common Shenandoah Valley names are featured in the documents, among them: Armentrout, Beery, Chapman, Dovel, Harrison, Liskey, Rinker, Rodgers, Sheets, Shifflet, Wise, and Yancey. Information on the practice of farming on shares may be found here. Land values may be determined by sale prices stated. For example, one 1871 deed indicates farmland sold for $20 per acre. An example of poor race relations is found in a 1915 deed that specifies that, "…the Grantee…will not seal or convey said lots to any person not of the Caucasian race." Area landmarks mentioned include Burtner's Mill, the Old Furnace, and the Mountain or Mountain Valley Road among others.

Biographical / historical:

Not applicable.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Scott Suter in March 2005, who purchased them from the Nancy Garber materials sold earlier at Green Valley Auctions.
Processing information:

In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in 2017-2018. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 4039.

Arrangement:

The documents are arranged chronologically in one folder.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard