James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
John W. Wilson Collection
Wilson, John W.
SC 0122
/repositories/4/resources/207
0.39 cubic feet
2 boxes
1766-1963
This collection is comprised of a variety of documents, including letters, deeds, indentures, receipts, and accounts, all relating to Jacob Bear, Benjamin Graves, Jacob Sipe, and the Dean (Deane, Deen) and the Harnsberger family.
English
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963, SC 0122, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Acquisition Information
Donated by John "Bill" Wilson Jr. of Port Republic, Virginia in December 1995.
Processing Information
In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 3012.
Biographical / Historical
The Mount Vernon Iron Furnace was located in Brown's Gap, Virginia, and was started by the Faussett family. It was built in 1848 and was operated by the Miller family, John F. Lewis, and a variety of others until 1878.
Scope and Content
The John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963, consists of a variety of documents (receipts, deeds, accounts, and letters) relating mostly to Jacob Bear, Benjamin Graves, Jacob Sipe, and the Dean (Deane, Deen) and Harnsberger (Hansberger) families of Rockingham, Madison, Orange, and Augusta counties, Virginia from 1766 to 1963. Of particular interest are the 1842 Elk Run Class Book; the 1858-59 Housekeeping Book, which lists household and farm items needed for life at the time; and accounts of the Mt. Vernon Iron Works (Rockingham County) from 1878-1879.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Bibliography
Wayland, John Walter. A History of Rockingham County, VA. Ruebush-Elkins Co.: Dayton, VA, 1912.
Elk Run class book
Rural families
Iron industry and trade -- Virginia
Housekeeping -- Sources
Home economics -- Accounting
Home economics -- Equipment and supplies
Farm management -- Sources
Slave bills of sale
Business -- History
Estate planning
Trust indentures
Deeds of trust
Deeds -- Virginia
African Americans -- Virginia
Real property -- Virginia
Rockingham County (Va.) -- History
Madison County (Va.) -- History
Orange County (Va.) -- History
Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Surveys
Augusta County (Va.) -- History
Bear, Jacob
Graves, Benjamin
Sipe, Jacob
Bear family
Graves family
Sipe family
Dean family
Harnsberger family
Bear family -- Correspondence
Bear, Jacob -- Wills
Mt. Vernon Iron Works (Rockingham County. Va.)
Graves family -- Correspondence
Sipe family -- Correspondence
Dean family -- Correspondence
Harnsberger family -- Correspondence
/repositories/4/archival_objects/48901787-182711Deed of Land to John Garth/repositories/4/archival_objects/49481766OV 11Two wills of Jacob Bear/repositories/4/archival_objects/489117871827Two account pages of B. Graves with J. Brock/repositories/4/archival_objects/48921800-1801Indenture (fragment) between J. Maggott and H. Powel/repositories/4/archival_objects/49491804OV 11Land petition on dispute between C. Fudges and Adam Hansberger/repositories/4/archival_objects/49501808OV 11Land survey for Margaret Sipe by Joseph Mauzy/repositories/4/archival_objects/48931813Purchase of dower right of land of widow of John Mungeo by Henry Mungeo/repositories/4/archival_objects/48941814Distillery tax bill of Benjamin and John Graves/repositories/4/archival_objects/48951814Page of purchases by Benjamin Graves of Simeon Graves/repositories/4/archival_objects/48961815Notice of land sale (fragment), signed Tho. Eddins and Benjamin Graves/repositories/4/archival_objects/48971816Notices (7) of property auction of Wm. Collins, deceased, of Orange County/repositories/4/archival_objects/48981816Indemnification of B. Graves and T. Eddins as Adm. of Wm. Collins estate/repositories/4/archival_objects/48991816Indenture for land to Jacob Runkle by George Cook/repositories/4/archival_objects/49001817Receipt for board and tuition, B. Graves/repositories/4/archival_objects/49011818Survey of disputed land between S. Conrad and J. Harnsberger/repositories/4/archival_objects/49511819OV 11Joel Banks promises to pay B. Graves/repositories/4/archival_objects/49021820Summons for Richard Kinse[y?]/repositories/4/archival_objects/49031820Letter from R. Kinsey to B. Graves re: tobacco/repositories/4/archival_objects/49041823Letter from R. Kinsey to B. Graves re: deed of trust/repositories/4/archival_objects/49051824Letter from George McClammer to B. Graves re: money owed/repositories/4/archival_objects/49061827Land rent agreement between Paul Lingle and Wm. Johnson, Rockingham County/repositories/4/archival_objects/49071827Deed for land of James Deen/repositories/4/archival_objects/49521827OV 11/repositories/4/archival_objects/49081830-184812Appointment of attorney by Joseph Haynes, re: estate of Geo. Berry, Rockingham County/repositories/4/archival_objects/49091830Deed (fragment) for land to E. Hansbarger by P. Parratt/repositories/4/archival_objects/49531833OV 11Appointment of attorney by Lewis Berry/repositories/4/archival_objects/49101834Letter from Elizabeth Hopkins to parents in Harrisonburg from school in Mt. Airy, Va./repositories/4/archival_objects/49111838Henry Keneagy of August County promises to pay Jacob Sipe, re: blooms of iron/repositories/4/archival_objects/49121840Indenture for land to C. Yancey and J. Conrad by G. Blankenbaker/repositories/4/archival_objects/49131841Agreement between Wm. Harper and J. Sipe/repositories/4/archival_objects/49141842Elk Run Class Book (photocopy)/repositories/4/archival_objects/4915undatedReceipt of payment by J. Sipe/repositories/4/archival_objects/49161842Receipt of payment by J. Sipe/repositories/4/archival_objects/49171843J. Sipe promises to pay Isaac Hardesty/repositories/4/archival_objects/49181844Letter to Francis J. Hopkins from her sister/repositories/4/archival_objects/49191845Letter to J. Sipe from John Haven re: will/repositories/4/archival_objects/49201846Testimony concerning will of Margaret Sipe/repositories/4/archival_objects/49211847Appointment of attorney Thomas King of Augusta County by Peyton Stanforth of Ohio/repositories/4/archival_objects/49221847B&O RR Co. receipt for 60 barrels flour from W. Harper/repositories/4/archival_objects/49231847Letter to J. Sipe from Eli Cook re: check/repositories/4/archival_objects/49241848Deed for land sold to T. Carpenter by J. Sipe/repositories/4/archival_objects/49251848/repositories/4/archival_objects/49261851-196313Receipt of payment from J. Sipe/repositories/4/archival_objects/49271851Letter to J. Sipe from John Hour/repositories/4/archival_objects/49281852Agreement to sell land between A.W. Hudson and C.B. Yancey/repositories/4/archival_objects/49291852"T.K. Harnsburger's Book", listing housekeeping and farming articles bought/repositories/4/archival_objects/49301858Land plat of John Deane/repositories/4/archival_objects/49311861Letter to Bettie from Frannie [Hopkins?]/repositories/4/archival_objects/49321863Deed dividing land among Dean family/repositories/4/archival_objects/49331866Deed for land to John Dean by Morgan Dean/repositories/4/archival_objects/49341870Letter to B. Graves from S. Graves re: money/repositories/4/archival_objects/49351878Accounts of Mt. Vernon Iron Works/repositories/4/archival_objects/49541878-1879OV 11Letter to B. Graves from son A. Graves re: Mill Farm Seminary/repositories/4/archival_objects/49361879List of articles sold from J. Harnsbarger estate, Elizabeth Harnsbarger estate (photocopy)/repositories/4/archival_objects/493718801884Deed for land to T. Dean by John Dean/repositories/4/archival_objects/49381881Receipt of Payment from T. Dean/repositories/4/archival_objects/49391882Deed for land of T. Deane/repositories/4/archival_objects/49551885OV 11Letter to W.R. Grains from T. K. Harnsberger re: land/repositories/4/archival_objects/49401894Extract from letter to Gen. J. Roller from W.E. Barry, Texas Scout, re: Civil War Story/repositories/4/archival_objects/49411907Letter to Thos. K. re: graduation (written on Randolph-Macon Monthly, Ashland, VA letterhead)/repositories/4/archival_objects/49421910Letter to C. J. Harnsberger from C. Bryant re: genealogy/repositories/4/archival_objects/49431915A Brief Narrative, written for his grandchildren, by Lunsford L. Lewis, photocopy/repositories/4/archival_objects/49441915Bills (3) of F.H. Blackburn at Root Gen'l. Merchandise/repositories/4/archival_objects/49451916Harnsberger family newsletter with genealogical notes/repositories/4/archival_objects/49461963