Woolfolk Family Papers, 1775-1893

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

Summary

Creator:
Woolfolk family; Maury family; Woolfolk, John George, 1750-1819; Woolfolk, Jourdan, b. 1796; Woolfolk, Pichegru; Woolfolk, John William; Pickering, Timothy, 1745-1829; Ryland, Robert, 1805-1899; Waller, Benjamin.
Abstract:
Correspondence and business records of members of the Woolfolk family of Caroline County, Virginia, dating 1775-1893. The Woollfolk family was engaged in two firms and a stage line.
Language:
English

Background

Scope and content:

Papers of the Woolfolk family of Caroline County, Virginia including correspondence and accounts of John George Woolfolk, Jourdan Woolfolk, Pichegru Woolfolk and John William Woolfolk. The collection includes correspondence, accounts and vouchers for the stage line run by the Woolfolk family (Allen & Woolfolk; Jourdan Woolfolk & Company; and Woolfolk & Hoomes). Includes records of routes, rates, supplies, arrangements for layover of passengers and mail contracts of the Potomac Steamboat and Stage Company as well as papers concerning stock purchases in the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad. Also includes bound account books for the stage lines. Note: Includes letters written by James Lyons, Timothy Pickering, Robert Ryland and Benjamin Waller; letters of and accounts concerning members of the Maury family; and lists, 1829 and 1837, of vaccinated slaves. Lot 2 consists of about 6000 pieces of papers of the Woolfolk Family of Caroline County, Virgini, dated 1793-1876. There are financial records relating to the stage line and mailservice, records relating to agricultural business, correspondence, insurance records, military records, records relating to the erection of Antioch Baptist Church, and copies of newspapers.

Biographical / historical:

The Woolfolk family originally emigrated from Wales. John George Woolfolk (1750-1819) ran a stage line and had a contract to carry the mail. His sons Pichegru Woolfolk and Jourdan Woolfolk continued the stage line. Jourdan had a son, John William Woolfolk, among other children.

Acquisition information:
Gift: 3,980 items, 5 November 1937. Gift: 6,000 items, 27 June 1939.
Arrangement:
Organization

Organized into 14 series. Lot 1 comprises series 1-7. Lot 2 comprises series 8-14. There is a certain overlap between some of the series of lot 1 and 2. Lot 2 is has not been processed beyond the Series arrangement. Series 1: Correspondence relating to the stage line; Series 2: Accounts and vouchers of the stage line; Series 3: Other papers relating to the stage line and the Richmond, Fredericksburg, and Potomac Railroad; Series 4: Correspondence of the Woolfolk family; Series 5: Papers of various persons, A-Z; Series 6: Other Papers; Series 7: Bound volumes; Series 8: Papers relating to the stage and mail service operated by members of the Woolfolk Family; Series 9: Papers relating to members of the Woolfolk Family, A-Z; Series 10: Papers relating to the estate of John Hoomes; Series 11: Subscription lists, invoices and receipts relative to the erection of Antioch Christian Church, Bowling Green, Virginia; Series 12: Records of the Caroline troop of cavalry, 1816-1820; Series 13: Newspapers; Series 14: Miscellaneous.

Arrangement

Lot 1: The series are arranged chronologically, with the exception of series 5, which is arranged alphabetically by last name and chronologically within. Lot 2: Series 9 is arranged alphabetically by last name; the other series of Lot 2 have not been further arranged at this point.

Physical description:
Lot 1: 3,980 items; Lot 2: 6,000 items.