Overton Family Papers
Scope and Contents
Papers, 1727-1918, chiefly 1781-1875, of members of the related Overton, Ragland, Claybrooke and Hart families of Louisa County, Va. and Haywood Co., Tenn. The early papers are primarily legal documents, accounts and account books of John Ragland and Samuel Ragland and correspondence of the children of Samuel Ragland. After 1797, the collection concerns the legal and business papers of Samuel Overton, Thomas Overton, Waller Overton and Sally Overton Claybrooke. After 1810, the collection concerns the Claybrooke family in Tennessee.
There are also papers of James Malcolm Hart, farmer and schoolteacher which concern education, the Civil War and Reconstruction. Prominent correspondents include Peter Johnston, John Marshall, Dabney Minor, Garrett Minor, John Minor and Edmund Randolph.
There are accounts of Francis Jerdone and accounts concerning the boarding of horses; a legal opinion given by Edmund Pendleton; a letter of Jane R. Riordan concerning her learning the millinery trade; and a manuscript volume of distillery tax due in Spotsylvania County, Va.
Some folder numbers were skipped when originally processed. In 2019, the collection was checked and all material has been accurately noted in the inventory.
Dates
- Creation: 1727-1961
- Creation: Majority of material found in 1781-1875
Creator
- Riordan, Jane Robertson (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Family History:
Extent
8.50 Linear Feet
Acquisition Information:
Acc. 1981.09 was received on 4/10/1981. Other gifts.
General
Other Information:
National Inventory of Documentary Sources in the United States available from Chadwyck-Healey, Inc., 1021 Prince Street, Alexandria, Va.
Processing Information:
Processed by Ann Lewis in 1978. Box and Folder List compiled by Emily Eklund, SCRC staff, from October to November 2010.
Genre / Form
Topical
- Education--Virginia--History
- Haywood County (Tenn.)--History--19th century
- Horses--United States--History--19th century
- Horses--Virginia
- Legal documents
- Louisa County (Va.)--History--18th century
- Louisa County (Va.)--History--19th century
- Millinery--Virginia
- Reconstruction (U.S. history, 1865-1877)
- Spotsylvania County (Va.)--History
- United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Title
- Guide to the Overton Family Papers
- Author
- Finding Aid Authors: Ann Lewis.
- Date
- 2007-07-13
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- The collection description/finding aid is written in English
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Research Center Repository