Campbell Family Papers II 1795-1945

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

Extent:
1.00
Creator:
Campbell, Joseph Watson, 1795-1875 Campbell, Amanda M. Rogers, 1800-1875 Sampson, Sarah E. Campbell, ca 1824-1880 Sampson, Stephen E., b. 1813 arrangement
Abstract:
The Campbell Family Papers is a collection of business records, personal documents and photographs belonging to the Campbell and Sampson families of Albemarle County, Virginia dating from 1795 to 1945. The great majority of the documents are the business records of Joseph Watson Campbell (1795-1875). These include tax bills and receipts, accounts between Campbell and various merchants, receipts for goods and services received and rendered, promissory notes and papers relating to other family matters including the execution of the estate of Campbell's father-in-law, John Rogers and the practice of slavery. The collection includes personal correspondence between the children and grandchildren of the Sampson family. Photographs, mostly unidentified, are among the documents included. The remaining documents are those pertaining to his children and grandchildren.
Language:
The papers are in: English

Background

Scope and content:

The Campbell Family Papers is a collection of business records, personal documents and photographs belonging to the Campbell and Sampson families of Albemarle County, Virginia dating from 1795 to 1945. The great majority of the documents are the business records of Joseph Watson Campbell (1795-1875). These include tax bills and receipts, accounts between Campbell and various merchants, receipts for goods and services received and rendered, promissory notes and papers relating to other family matters including the execution of the estate of Campbell's father-in-law, John Rogers and the practice of slavery. The collection includes personal correspondence between the children and grandchildren of the Sampson family. Photographs, mostly unidentified, are among the documents included. The remaining documents are those pertaining to his children and grandchildren.

Biographical / historical:

Joseph W. Campbell was a farmer in Albemarle County, Virginia. Payroll and muster records indicate Joseph served for a time in Captain Samuel Brown’s Company of the 33rd Regiment of the Virginia Militia as a Private during the War of 1812. He is referred to as “Capt. JW Campbell” on a number of documents. He also began a family farm that was approximately 800 acres mostly in Albemarle County with a small portion located in adjoining Louisa County. Campbell grew tobacco, wheat and timber, raised livestock, operated a saw mill and a blacksmithing shop from his farm. Census records and tax statements indicate he was a slave holder. According to the 1820 United States Census, Campbell held six slaves. In 1850 his holdings grew to 26 slaves, both male and female aging from 2 to 65. Later in his life his affairs were overseen jointly with his son-in-law, Stephen F. Sampson. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: <a href="http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Joseph Watson Campbell">http://scrc.swem.wm.edu/wiki/index.php/Joseph Watson Campbell</a>.

Acquisition information:
The materials were acquired by Special Collections Research Center from ebay on 06/06/2007.
Arrangement:

The papers are organized in nine series. Within each series, the papers are arranged in chronological order. The series are: I. Tax Bills, II. General Accounts, III. John Rogers’ Estate (Execution of), IV. Slave Holdings, V. Promissory Notes, VI. Receipts, VII. Correspondence, VIII. Miscellaneous Documents, and IX. Photographs.