Memoranda Books of Richard M. Scott, Sr.

Containers:

Box 3, Folder 1-3

Extent:

3 folder(s)

Scope and content:

The memoranda books of Richard M. Scott, Sr. record agricultural and horticultural events, social visits, activities of enslaved laborers, deaths and births of slaves, and inventories of property, such as the one concerning house linens, knives and forks, earthenware and plate at "Bush Hill" (February 4, 1812). He mentions the anniversaries of the tragic death of his wife, who died in 1812 from injuries sustained in the Richmond Theater fire of December 26, 1811.

He also writes about trips to the District of Columbia, the invasion of the Capitol by the British during the War of 1812 (August 24 and 28, 1814), trips to Warm Springs in Bath County, Virginia, for his health, and a fire at Bush Hill involving the servant hall, barn, stables, equipment and straw (April 8, 1823). Scott also mentions his blacksmith shop to be built by Henry Morris, a free man of color for a dollar a day (August 5, 1824), attended the funeral of "negro Betty, a free woman, wife of my servant Moses" (October 7, 1824), gave a holiday to his servants (slaves) to witness the entry and reception of General Lafayette on the 16th of October (October 23, 1824) and included a list of spirits and wine on hand (July 24, 1824).

Mentions the marriage of his servant and gardener, Townshend Crump, to Molly Turner, a servant of [J].E. Marshall (October 7, 1825); Daniel, a free man of color, a blacksmith, cutting chestnut for charcoal (February 15, 1826), and the death of Thomas Jefferson (July 4, 1826). Other topics include the marriage of his servant, Moses Johnston, to Kitty, "Mrs. James H. Hooe's colored servant girl" (December 27, 1826), the death of his brother, David Wilson Scott (1827 September 23, 1827), the bottling of 238 bottles of wine (November 8, 1827), his marriage to Eleanor Douglas Marshall (November 25, 1828), and the birth of a son (August 28, 1829).

Located in Box 1 Folder 6, there is a copy of typed excerpts from the memoranda books and diaries of Richard M. Scott, Sr. and Richard M. Scott, Jr.

Access and use