Zechariah Johnston papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
Washington and Lee University, Leyburn Library
Special Collections and Archives
James G. Leyburn Library
Washington and Lee University
204 W. Washington Street
Lexington, VA 24450
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Tom Camden
Phone: (540) 458-8649
Phone: (540) 463-8109
Fax: (540) 463-8964
Terms of access:

The materials from Washington and Lee University Special Collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. The user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used should be fully credited with the source. Permission for publication of this material, in part or in full, must be secured with the Head of Special Collections.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Zechariah Johnston Papers, WLU Coll 0006, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.

In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections staff to verify the appropriate format.

Summary

Extent:
2.5 Linear Feet 2 document cases, 1 oversize folder
Creator:
Graham, John Alexander
Language:
English .
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Zechariah Johnston Papers, WLU Coll 0006, Special Collections and Archives, James G. Leyburn Library, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA.

In some cases the citation format may vary. Please contact Special Collections staff to verify the appropriate format.

Background

Scope and content:

The Zechariah Johnston papers includes personal, business, political correspondence to and from Zechariah Johnston. Correspondents include family members and notable Virginians of his era. The collection also includes correspondence received by Thomas and James Johnston. In addition to correspondence, the collection includes resolutions, bills, petitions, and notices of or concerning the Virginia Assembly during Johnston's tenure as a delegate from Augusta County (1778-1792) and Rockbridge County (1797-1798). This includes Johnston's copy of an unsigned manuscript draft titled "Memorial and Remonstrance" by James Madison concerning religious freedom and his arguments for separation of church and state. There are also deeds and property descriptions, tax rolls, business and account records, including documents pertaining to enslaved persons owned by Johnston; business and accounting records (1796-1845) of Thomas Johnston, a son of Zechariah Johnston, two letters from William Graham, first rector of Liberty Hall Academy, to Zechariah Johnston, and the will and estate inventory of Ann Johnston. Other highlights include student notes or lectures from Liberty Hall Academy, a poem to reverends William Graham and Samuel Houston, and a petition from Augusta County residents to the Virginia Assembly regarding fishing rights in the South River. There are ephmeral items as well.

Biographical / historical:

"Zachariah Johnston was born in 1742 in Augusta County, Virginia, to William Johnston and Ann Johnston. He attended Liberty Hall Academy and later was a trustee of Washington College. Johnston was a prosperous farmer by the time the American Revolution began. In 1776, he was appointed a captain in the county militia. Johnston's company actively patrolled against Indian uprisings, and, in 1781, participated in the Virginia campaign which led to Lord Cornwallis' surrender. Representing Augusta County in the House of Delegates from 1778 to 1791, Johnston was chair of the House committee on religion and helped pass the "act for establishing religious freedom" in 1786. After he moved to Rockbridge County, Virginia, in 1792, he represented that county in the House of Delegates in 1792 and 1797-1798. An opponent of paper money, and a proponent of court reform and payment of British debts, Johnston supported the federal Constitution in 1788. As Augusta County's representative to the ratifying convention, he was influential in having his section of the state unanimously vote for ratification. In the 1790s, Johnston was interested in connecting Virginia's western rivers to the Potomac River. Johnston owned three plantations in Rockbridge County, one in Augusta County, and lands in Kentucky. He married Ann Robertson (d. 1818), and they had eleven children. He died 7 January 1800 in Rockbridge County." - Library of Virginia

Acquisition information:
Two letters were a gift from John A. Graham.
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard