Collections : [Library of Virginia]

James Dryden Smith Shop Book, 1794, records the accounts of individual customers. Each account lists transactions in chronological order. Information found in each entry includes date of transaction, type of transaction, item purchased or service rendered, and amount owed. Items sold include nails, hooks, and screws. Services rendered include adding or removing horseshoes and making, sharpening, and repairing metallic items such as farm instruments, wagon wheels, bridle bits, and chain links.

Letter dated November 13, 1860, written by J.S. Moore of Andersonville, Indiana, to Dr. Thomas Moore of Virginia. The letter relates to matters of health, agriculture, and politics. J.S. Moore describes an outbreak of diptheria and "lung fever" or pneumonia in Georgia. He writes about the improving agricultural economy in Georgia that he boastfully compares to the state of Indiana. Moore cites as evidence the abundant wheat crop in Georgia due in large part to the adoption of the seed drill by Georgia farmers and the draining of marsh lands for agricultural use. He also points to the role played by the state's vast railroad system in making Georgia an agricultural giant. The political matter Moore writes about is the impact on the nation, specifically the South, of Abraham Lincoln's election as President of the United States. Moore held a negative opinion regarding the South's plan for secession. He argues that the South should wait until Lincoln or the Republicans commit an overt act against the region so that the South could justify such a rash act. Moore writes favorably about Lincoln and the Republican party saying that their positions on issues such as slavery have been misrepresented by the leaders of the Democratic Party. He proceeds to share his negativie opinions of the Democratic Party blaming its leadership for the ill feelings between North and South.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Chancery Causes, 1781-1958, consists of cases concerning issues of equity brought largely by residents of the county and filed in the circuit court. These cases often involve the following actions: divisions of estates or land, disputes over wills, disputes regarding contracts, debt, divorce, and business disputes. Other less prevalent issues include freedom suits, permissions to sell property, and disputes concerning trespass. Predominant documents found in these chancery causes include bills (documents the plaintiff's complaint), answers (defendant's response to the plaintiff's complaint), decrees (court's decision), depositions, affidavits, correspondence, lists of heirs, deeds, plats, wills, records involving enslaved individuals, business records or vital statistics.

Rockbridge County (Va) Coroners' Inquisitions, 1862-1911, are investigations into the deaths of individuals who died by a sudden, violent, unnatural or suspicious manner, or died without medical attendance. Causes of death found in coroners' inquisitions include murder, infanticide, suicide, domestic violence, exposure to elements, drownings, train accidents, automobile accidents, and natural causes, or as commonly referred to in the 19th century, visitation by God. Documents commonly found in coroners' inquests include the inquisition, depositions, and summons. Criminal papers such as recognizance bonds can be found in coroner inquisitions. Information found in the inquisition include the name of the coroner, the names of the jurors, the name and age of the deceased if known, gender and race of the deceased, and when, how, and by what means the deceased came to his or her death. If the deceased was African American, the inquest would identify the deceased as a slave or free person if known. If the deceased was a slave, the inquest would include, if known, the name of the slaveowner and the slaveowner's residence. Information found in the depositions include the name of the deponent and his or her account of the circumstances that led to the death of the deceased. Slaves were deponents in coroner investigations.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Court Record, 1838 Dec. 4. The collection contains a document removed from Rockbridge County court records, a contract leasing property in Albemarle County from Richard Morris to Abbagale Harlan.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Court Records, 1822-1846, consist of one civil suit and two commonwealth causes.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Democratic Executive Committee Records, 1901-1911, contain committee minutes, 1901-1904, and loose papers, 1901-1911. The minutes document the selection of candidates to run for local and state offices and the appointment of committee members for each election district in the county. The loose records are comprised of petitions, a notice encouraging Democratic voters to pay the poll tax before the upcoming election, resolutions pertaining to the selection of candidates and the management of elections, a sample ballot, undated; a pamphlet describing the primary plan adopted by the Democratic State convention at Richmond 1904 June 10, rules for the senatorial primary election to be held 1911 September 7, and a letter from the Virginia State Republican Committee, 1905 June 13, pertaining to plans to allow candidates of both parties to speak at the courthouse.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Deposition of John Davidson, February 1825. Consists of a deposition taken in Lexington, Virginia, for a Highland County, Ohio, Court of Common Pleas case, James Davis vs. Abraham Roads. The testimony pertains to Abraham Roads' purchase from James Davis of a tract of land in Rockbridge County in 1791.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Executor of Hugh Adams vs. Legatees of Hugh Adams, 1860. The cause concerns the settlement of the estate of Hugh Adams and his wish that his slaves be emancipated, his estate sold, and the proceeds used to transport the emancipated slaves to Liberia. Other smaller bequests in his will were for various family members. The majority of the suit is composed of estate accounts as the executor tried to settle the estate and encountered various difficulties in his attempt to carry out the intent of Adams's will.

Rockbridge County (Va.) Free Negro and Slave Records, 1836-1864. The collection is comprised of free negro registrations, 1836-1860; applications and petitions to remain in the state, 1841-1855; petitions for voluntary reduction to slavery, 1859-1862; a photocopy of the index to register of free negroes, 1831-1860; and various free negro and slave records, 1849-1864.