Goss family papers, 1820/2014, bulk 1820/1930

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
170 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Special Collections Public Services & Reference Staff
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

The collection is open for research use.

Preferred citation:

MSS 16389, Goss family papers, Albret and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.

Summary

Extent:
4 Cubic Feet 7 document boxes, 2 oversize folders
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

MSS 16389, Goss family papers, Albret and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.

Background

Scope and content:

The Goss family papers (1820-2014; 4 cubic feet) contain Civil War letters and documents including a pardon for Ebenezer Walker Goss from President Andrew Johnson in 1865, manuscript receipts of goods sold to the Confederate Army, enslaved person receipts, and papers (mostly correspondence) related to their 19th and early 20th century family in Somerset, Virginia. Business records reflect their apple orchard, farming, and dairy business which was maintained by Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1861-1914), and her brother Ebenezer "Lee" Goss,(1863-1934). The family papers also contain correspondence with William and Marion du Pont about horses and dogs. There are also letters from suitors, particularly J. Frank Lobingier, pursuing Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1880-1909), from around the country. Miss Goss lived for a while in Pomona California, and Saltito, Mexico. The family papers also contain photographs and genealogy describing their family history in Virginia.

Biographical / historical:

Ebenezer Walker Goss of Somerset Virginia (1820-1885), son of the Reverend John W. Goss (1775-1838), married Ann Carter Nalle (1824-1907) and they had five children, Ann "Nannie" C. Goss Walker (1848-1928)who married Robert Walker, Jane Goss Claiborne (1853-1922)who married Robert Claiborne, Rosa Goss Turner (1857-1923) who married Mortimer A. Turner (school teacher at Woodberry Forest), Mary Botts Goss (1858-1881),Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1861-1914), and Ebenezer Lee Goss (1863-1934).

Most of the letters in the collection are to Charlotte "Lottie" Goss who took care of her mother in Somerset, Virginia. Lottie suffered from serious bouts of asthma and was engaged to J. Frank Lobingier who lived in Pomona, California. Mr. Lobingier was also devoted to caring for his mother. Lottie's health and the couple's devotion to their family is mentioned frequently in his letters from 1880 to 1909 as a delay in their becoming married. Instead of marriage, "Lottie" visited friends and helped her brother Lee take care of their farm.

Acquisition information:
Accession 2017-0193 Purchased, 30 October 2017; Elizabeth Cocke Coles Fund, 2017/2018. Accession 2018-0033 Donated by Atwell W. Somerville, Jr., 30 October 2017.
Arrangement:

The collection has been arranged into Six series.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard