James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
Robert Stephen papers
Stephen, Robert, 1767-1851
SC 0243
0.08 cubic feet
1 folder
1815-1849
The Robert Stephen Papers, 1815-1849, primarily document the taxes paid by Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) resident, Robert Stephen. The tax receipts document the taxes Stephen paid to the sheriff of Greenbrier County and include taxes paid for enslaved persons, cattle, and land.
English
.
Access Restrictions
Collection open to 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.
Use Restrictions
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 #], Robert Stephen Papers, 1815-1849, SC 0243, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, VA.
Acquisition Information
Purchased from Ebay auction in June 2017 and directly from the seller in August 2017.
Provenance
These materials were sold by Cowan's Auctions on March 23, 2017 as part of a larger lot of Greenbrier County manuscript materials. The lot (# 226) was described as "Parish Polls Mentioning Taxes for a Number of Slaves and Business Licenses for Greenbrier County, Virginia (West Virginia), ca. 1810s to 1830s."
Bio/Historical Note
Robert Stephen (alternately appearing as Steven, Stevens, and Stephens) was born in Augusta County, Virginia on September 22, 1767. Stephen married Mary Craig (1767-1838), who was also born in Augusta County, on November 14, 1788 in Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia). Stephen was a land owner, enslaver, and proprietor of Stephen's Ferry at Fort Spring along the Greenbrier River. Stephen died February 24, 1851 and is buried at McVey-Stephen Cemetery in Greenbrier County.
Scope and Content
The Robert Stephen Papers, 1815-1849, primarily document the taxes paid by Greenbrier County, Virginia (now West Virginia) resident, Robert Stephen. The collection is comprised of 13 documents. The tax receipts document the taxes Stephen paid to the sheriff of Greenbrier County and include parish levies and taxes paid for enslaved persons, cattle, and land. A tax receipt for E. R. Skeggs of Greenbrier County is also included.
Additional documents include receipts for Stephen's annual subscriptions to the National Intelligencer, a national newspaper of record, and the Alleghanian.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically in one folder.
Bibliography
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVL6-C2BD : 13 December 2015), Robert Stephen, 1851; Burial, Fort Spring, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States of America, McVey-Stephen Cemetery; citing record ID 92322907,Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
"Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVL6-C2B8 : 11 July 2016), Mary Craig Stephen, 1838; Burial, Fort Spring, Greenbrier, West Virginia, United States of America, McVey-Stephen Cemetery; citing record ID 92322991,Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.
"Greenbrier County Marriage Records," West Virginia Division of Culture and History, http://www.wvculture.org/vrr/va_view.aspx?Id=10975990&Type=Marriage (accessed August 14, 2017).
Price, William T. Historical Sketches of Pocahontas County, West Virginia. Marlinton. WV: Price Brothers Publishers, 1901.
Receipts (Acknowledgments) -- West Virginia -- Greenbrier County
Business records -- West Virginia -- Greenbrier County -- Sources
Taxation -- West Virginia -- Greenbrier County -- 19th century
Tax assessment -- West Virginia -- Greenbrier County -- 19th century
Tax collection -- West Virginia -- Greenbrier County -- 19th century
Greenbrier County (W. Va.) -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
Greenbrier County (W. Va.) -- Economic conditions -- 19th century -- Sources
Receipts (financial records)
Tax records
Slavery -- Virginia -- History -- 19th century
Robert Stephen papers1815-1849, undated11