William Fleming Collection, 1773-1802

Access and use

Location of collection:
Colonial Williamsburg
John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library
Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
P.O. Box 1776
Williamsburg, VA 23187
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Douglas Mayo
Phone: (757) 565-8521
Phone: (757) 565-8520
Fax: (757) 565-8528
Restrictions:

There are no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Librarian/ Associate Curator of Rare Books and Manuscripts, and the holder of the copyright, if not the Rockefeller Library at Colonial Williamsburg.

Preferred citation:

Guide to the William Fleming Collection, Manuscript MS 96.12, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Summary

Creator:
William Fleming.
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Guide to the William Fleming Collection, Manuscript MS 96.12, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation

Background

Scope and content:

This collection includes several documents pertaining to Fleming's term as a Court of Appeals judge, such as notes on cases and Governor Beverley Randolph's official appointment of Fleming to the Court of Appeals. Financial and legal documents relating to Fleming's personal affairs are also present. They encompass receipts, bonds, accounts, and tax records. A list of taxable personal property includes the names of 46 slaves he owned.

In addition, a few documents are present which concern other individuals. They include a license for Robert Stanard to practice law, a writ for arrest, and a copy of a bill of chancery. These may be papers Fleming acquired in the course of operating his law practice.

Individuals mentioned in the documents include: John Banks; Thomas Blane; Thomas Bolling; Adam Craig; John Fleming; Thomas Fleming; William Fleming; Robert Gilliam; Daniel Mayo; William Mayo; Thomas Nelson; Beverley Randolph; Philip Sansum; Warner Servis; William Thomas; and John Wood.

Biographical / historical:

William Fleming was born to John and Mary (Bolling) Fleming in Cumberland County, Va. Fleming studied law at the College of William and Mary and graduated in 1763. He held various political positions, including serving in the House of Burgesses and the House of Delegates, acting as a delegate to the Virginia Convention held in 1775-1776, and serving as a delegate from Cumberland County to the Continental Congress. In December 1788, Fleming received an appointment to the first Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and served as a judge for this court until 1824.

Acquisition information:
Gift, 1996.
Arrangement:

Chronologically arranged.

Physical description:
14 items.