Robert Preston Papers

Access and use

Location of collection:
College of William and Mary
Special Collections Research Center
Earl Gregg Swem Library
College of William and Mary
400 Landrum Drive
PO 8795
Williamsburg, VA 23187-8795
Contact for questions and access:
Phone: (757) 221-3090
Fax: (757) 221-5440
Restrictions:

Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.

Terms of access:

Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred citation:

Robert Preston Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Summary

Extent:
1 Linear Feet 2 Century boxes
Creator:
Preston, Robert, circa 1750-1831, Jefferson, Thomas, 1743-1826, Preston Family, and College of William and Mary
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Robert Preston Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Background

Scope and content:

Papers of Robert Preston, surveyor of Washington County, Virginia, dated 1780-1864. Includes on site notes of land surveyed, without plats. Mostly unprocessed and the vast majority of items has not been described yet.

Includes letters, from relatives in Ireland; financial and legal documents; surveys; plats; and memorandum books.

Includes certificate, 22 December 1779, issued by the College of William and Mary appointing Robert Preston surveyor of Washington County, signed by Thomas Jefferson.

Some surveys for land in Montgomery County, Virginia.

Agreement between William Strother Madison and Robert Preston for the division of the surveyor's fees in Washington County, Virginia, 1777.

All accessions combined.

Acquisition information:
Purchase of 512 items from George Scheer on 3/27/1939; purchase of 2 items from Mrs. Brockenbrough Lamb 3/30/1939 and 72 items on 3/20/1941.
Arrangement:

The current arrangement into folders is the result of preliminary sorting only. It may change once it has been reviewed, finalized and described to provide proper access.

Physical facet:
586 items