Legal Papers, 1723-1981
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Contains articles of agreement, sale bills including those for the enslaved people, estate settlements, land office records, land surveys, road orders, wills, deeds, bonds, depositions, tax records, military records, and warrants. Contains grants from Lord Fairfax when Berkeley County was still a part of Frederick County, Virginia. Both the Snodgrass and the Henshaw families had members that were justices of the peace, militia leaders, county office holders, and members of the Virginia House of Delegates. Some the legal papers reflect their positions in these offices. A large group of legal papers concerns the acquisition of land and estate settlements. The Turner and Gorrell families had intermarried with the Snodgrasses and Henshaws, and their estate settlements are included in the collection as well. The surveys contain the names of early settlers. Schools, roads, fugitives from slavery, and the trafficking of enslaved persons also are concerns which occupy the papers.
Folders titled "Estate settlements (Abraham & William Gorrell)," "Estate settlements (John Gray)," "Estate settlement (Robert Snodgrass)," and "Estate settlement (Thomas Turner)" include wills, inventories, and appraisals with the names of enslaved people. Some of the warrants in this collection are regarding individuals who fled from slavery.
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Access note. Collection contains fragile materials in the form of glass plate negatives and may require extra assistance from staff. Contact Research Services for access.
Access note. Some materials in this collection are digitized audiovisual materials that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.
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