Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Goss family papers
MSS 16398
Archival Resource Key
/repositories/3/resources/815
4 Cubic Feet
7 document boxes, 2 oversize folders
1820-2014
1820-1930
English
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Provenance
Accession 2017-0193 Purchased, 30 October 2017; Elizabeth Cocke Coles Fund, 2017/2018. Accession 2018-0033 Donated by Atwell W. Somerville, Jr., 30 October 2017.
Historical Note
Ebenezer Walker Goss of Somerset Virginia (1820-1885), son of the Reverend John W. Goss (1775-1838), married Ann Carter Nalle (1824-1907) and they had five children, Ann "Nannie" C. Goss Walker (1848-1928)who married Robert Walker, Jane Goss Claiborne (1853-1922)who married Robert Claiborne, Rosa Goss Turner (1857-1923) who married Mortimer A. Turner (school teacher at Woodberry Forest), Mary Botts Goss (1858-1881),Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1861-1914), and Ebenezer Lee Goss (1863-1934).
Most of the letters in the collection are to Charlotte "Lottie" Goss who took care of her mother in Somerset, Virginia. Lottie suffered from serious bouts of asthma and was engaged to J. Frank Lobingier who lived in Pomona, California. Mr. Lobingier was also devoted to caring for his mother. Lottie's health and the couple's devotion to their family is mentioned frequently in his letters from 1880 to 1909 as a delay in their becoming married. Instead of marriage, "Lottie" visited friends and helped her brother Lee take care of their farm.
Preferred Citation
MSS 16389, Goss family papers, Albret and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia.
Scope and Contents Note
The Goss family papers (1820-2014; 4 cubic feet) contain Civil War letters and documents including a pardon for Ebenezer Walker Goss from President Andrew Johnson in 1865, manuscript receipts of goods sold to the Confederate Army, enslaved person receipts, and papers (mostly correspondence) related to their 19th and early 20th century family in Somerset, Virginia. Business records reflect their apple orchard, farming, and dairy business which was maintained by Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1861-1914), and her brother Ebenezer "Lee" Goss,(1863-1934). The family papers also contain correspondence with William and Marion du Pont about horses and dogs. There are also letters from suitors, particularly J. Frank Lobingier, pursuing Charlotte "Lottie" Goss (1880-1909), from around the country. Miss Goss lived for a while in Pomona California, and Saltito, Mexico. The family papers also contain photographs and genealogy describing their family history in Virginia.
Arrangement
The collection has been arranged into Six series.
letters (correspondence)
United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Correspondence
Business records
Civil War related letters and documentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1749491863-1865EnglishScope and ContentsLetters from Leigh Page and J. L. Kemper,1864, requesting Ebenezer Goss be transferred from infantry to cavalry,as he is too old (45) to be in the infantry but is an excellent horseman; Certificate for Goss' substitute for service in the C.S.A; Parole certificate dated May 16, 1865; William Seward acknowledgement of President Andrew Johnson's pardon of Goss, November 8, 1865; and receipts of goods sold to the Confederate government on Sept.25, 1863.
There is also an enslavement receipt and a letter from James W. Walker to his daughter Fanny dated Madison, October 28, 1862 in which he complains of the Yankees and the fact that they took 9 of his "Negro" men.
Civil War letters and documentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1749651863-1865English1 [X030899324]1Scope and ContentsLetters from Leigh Page and J. L. Kemper,1864, requesting Ebenezer Goss be transferred from infantry to cavalry,as he is too old (45) to be in the infantry but is an excellent horseman; Certificate for Goss' substitute for service in the C.S.A; Parole certificate dated May 16, 1865; William Seward acknowledgement of President Andrew Johnson's pardon of Goss, November 8, 1865; and receipts of goods sold to the Confederate government on Sept.25, 1863.
Andrew Johnson pardon of Ebenezer Goss (oversize)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1749681865 August 19EnglishP-421Letters and receipts pertaining to enslavementArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1749711862-1863English1 [X030899324]2Scope and ContentsThere is an enslavement receipt and a letter from James W. Walker to his daughter Fanny dated Madison, October 28, 1862 in which he complains of the Yankees and the fact that they took 9 of his "Negro" men.
Family and personal correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1749771868-1925; undatedEnglishScope and ContentsFamily correspondence (1868-1925) relates to the health, activities, and financial situations of family members and includes John W. Goss to his son Ebenezer Goss; Lee Goss with his sister Ann "Nannie" Goss Walker; Ann Carter Nalle Goss to her daughter Charlotte "Lottie" Goss; letters from Rosa Goss Turner; Mortimer A. Turner to Charlotte Goss, and letters from R. Mason Nalle and Joseph G. Walker. Personal correspondence includes letters from J. Frank Lobingier who seriously courted Charlotte Goss from 1880 to 1909. There are also letters from other boyfriends charging her with unrequited love for them.
Family correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1749781868-1894English1 [X030899324]3Family correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1749991895-1899English1 [X030899324]4Family correspondence Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750461901-1911English1 [X030899324]5Family correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750601913; 1925; undatedEnglish1 [X030899324]6Personal correspondence J. Frank Lobingier to Rob S. WalkerArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750611893English1 [X030899324]7Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750621880'sEnglish1 [X030899324]8Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750631891-1892English1 [X030899324]9Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750641893English1 [X030899324]10Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750651894English1 [X030899324]11Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750661895English1 [X030899324]12Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750671896English2 [X030899325]1Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750681897English2 [X030899325]2Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750691898English2 [X030899325]3Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750701899English2 [X030899325]4Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750711900English2 [X030899325]5Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750721901English2 [X030899325]6Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750731902English2 [X030899325]7Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750741903-1905English2 [X030899325]8Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750751906-1907English2 [X030899325]9Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750761908English2 [X030899325]10Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750771909English2 [X030899325]11Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. Frank Lobingier to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/175078undatedEnglish2 [X030899325]12Personal correspondence (boyfriend) Glarnier Terrell to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750791881-1898English2 [X030899325]13Personal correspondence (boyfriend) O. J. Wise to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750801882-1883English2 [X030899325]14Personal correspondence (boyfriend) Horace Stringfellow to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750811882-1905English3 [X030899326]1Scope and ContentsIncludes letters from "H" and one letter from Nisbut Reid to Charlotte Goss.
Personal correspondence (boyfriend) L. H. Strother to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750821887English3 [X030899326]2Personal correspondence (boyfriend) Thomas Barbour to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750831888English3 [X030899326]3Personal correspondence (boyfriend) J. McRobert to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750841889-1890English3 [X030899326]4Personal correspondence (boyfriend) Frank P. Firey to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750851892English3 [X030899326]5Personal correspondence (boyfriend) Tom Hardy Smith to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750861892English3 [X030899326]6Personal correspondence Alfred J. Stofer to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750871895-1900English3 [X030899326]7Personal correspondence R. H. Willis to Charlotte GossArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750881897English3 [X030899326]8Personal correspondence (friends)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750891878-1889English3 [X030899326]9Personal correspondence (friends)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750901890-1896English3 [X030899326]10Personal correspondence Mrs. L. H. Pruitt Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750911891-1901English3 [X030899326]11Personal correspondence (friends)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750921897-1899English4 [X030899327]1Personal correspondence (friends)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750931900-1929English4 [X030899327]2Personal correspondence (friends) Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/175094UndatedEnglish4 [X030899327]3Ebenezer Lee Goss general correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/175095 1870; 1915-1921English4 [X030899327]4Scope and ContentsIncluded is a letter from Governor of Virginia Westmoreland Davis
Business correspondence and ledgersArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750991811-1929EnglishScope and ContentsBusiness correspondence relating to debts, stocks, and provisions for their farm and including legal deeds for Somerset.
Ebenezer Lee Goss business correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751241854; 1874-1890English4 [X030899327]5Ebenezer Lee Goss business correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751251896-1915English4 [X030899327]6Scope and ContentsIncludes letter from Lee Goss to Robinson Riley about the coffee industry in Venezuela (1896 April 1st); letter from Lee Goss requesting a man to run his farm business; letters from State Veterinarian J. G. Ferneyhough.
Ebenezer Lee Goss business correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750961916-1919English4 [X030899327]7Ebenezer Lee Goss business correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750971920-1927; undatedEnglish4 [X030899327]8Marion and William Dupont Scott correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1750981914-1920English5 [X030899328]1Financial and legal papersArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751001811-1883English5 [X030899328]2ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751011845-1879English5 [X030899328]3ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751021880-1890English5 [X030899328]4ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751031891English5 [X030899328]5ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751041896-1900English5 [X030899328]6Scope and ContentsIncludes receipt for stud services
ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751051902-1909English5 [X030899328]7ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751061907-1913English5 [X030899328]8ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751071910-1914English5 [X030899328]9ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751081916English5 [X030899328]10ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751091916English6 [X030899329]1ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751261916English6 [X030899329]2ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751101917English6 [X030899329]3ReceiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751111919-1927English6 [X030899329]4Bank receiptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751121907-1921English6 [X030899329]5Scope and ContentsIncludes samples of checks written by Goss family
Account books and notebooksArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751211830-1910English7 [X030899330]2Scope and ContentsCharlotte Goss and Lee Goss account books and notebooks
Genealogy researchArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751161833-2014EnglishScope and ContentsIncludes typed manuscript, "Life of John Goss". There is also genealogy of the Nalle family.
Genealogy researchArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751141833-2014English6 [X030899329]6Genealogy research NalleArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751151994English6 [X030899329]7Photographs and photocopiesArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751171880; 1941; undatedEnglishScope and ContentsPhotographs of Somerset home, Charlotte Goss, Rosa Goss Turner, Ebenezer Lee Goss, Ann Carter Nalle Goss, James Goss, J. Frank Lobingier, and Horace Stringfellow
Photographs (oversize)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/175118UndatedEnglishOS Box P-42[X030899331]Scope and ContentsPhotographs of Somerset Farm and some family members
PhotographsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751191880; 1941; undatedEnglish6 [X030899329]8Scope and ContentsPhotographs of Somerset home, Charlotte Goss, Rosa Goss Turner, Ebenezer Lee Goss, Ann Carter Nalle Goss, James Goss, J. Frank Lobingier, and Horace Stringfellow
Photocopies of photographs and letters in the collectionArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/175120English6 [X030899329]9MiscellaneousArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/1751221839-1897EnglishScope and ContentsIndex rerum (1839) by the Reverend John Todd belonging to Ebenezer Goss, newspaper clippings, artwork, and programs including an invitation to President William McKinley's inaugural ball (1897)
Empty envelopes and stampsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/175361UndatedEnglish7 [X030899330]3