William Tandy Burrus Ledger

Collection — Box: 1, Bound Volume: 1

Identifier: Mss. Acc. 2009.131

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Based on information gathered by Special Collections staff in 2011, there appear to be three possible creators of the ledger: William Tandy Burrus (1766 or 1776-1831), WTB (?-prior to 1836?), or William Stevens (1773-1843).

The ledger (200 pp., 15 pages are missing in the front, several pages are missing in back, and several halves of pages are missing) records transactions for miscellaneous merchandise, wheat and tobacco. The contra page shows payments were mostly made in cash, but are sometimes recorded as 'sundries' or other goods. He also lists Family Expenses on page 92, Household Stuff on page 108, and Bills Receivable on page 134.

The ledger has additional notations beginning on page 194 written in a different handwriting from the original creator, the entries of which include a range of dates between 1883 and 1895. These entries are consistent with the use of the manuscript as a ledger by the second creator.

A notation on the first page reads "Lancelot Burrus Book, Given to him by his Mother, January 1, 1881.” Lancelot Burrus was a common name within the Burrus family serving as the name of both the son and grandson of William Tandy Burrus as well as his nephew and great-nephew.

There is also a bookplate in the front of book for William Stevens. William Stevens was the brother of Elizabeth Stevens who married into the Burrus family.

William Tandy Burrus was born in either 1766 or 1776 in St. Thomas Parish in Orange County, Virginia. He married Martha Slaughter Burrus. "Burris" is sometimes spelled "Burris" or "Burruss." He was the son of Thomas Burrus and Francis Tandy Burrus and had two brothers (Thomas Burrus and Roger Tandy Burrus) and three sisters. He was a prominent land owner in Orange County, Virginia who also served as a witness for legal documents and as Justice of the Peace. He had five daughters and five sons including Lancelot Burrus. This Lancelot Burrus also had a son named Lancelot Burrus. William Tandy Burrus died in 1831 in Orange County, Virginia.

William Tandy Burrus was the son of Thomas Burrus who was the son of Thomas Burrus and the brother of the William Tandy Burrus discussed previously. His mother was Elizabeth Stevens. He married Philadelphia Burrus and died sometime before the writing of his father's will in 1836 perhaps in Clark County, Kentucky where the Burrus family had landholdings. This branch of the Burrus family also had a number of descendants named Lancelot Burrus, including the son of William Tandy Burrus, one of whom might be the owner of the ledger in 1881.

Elizabeth Stevens, wife of Thomas Burrus, had a brother named William Stevens who is perhaps the William Stevens referred to on the name plate on the inside cover of the ledger. William Stevens was the son of John Stevens, a prominent member of the Orange County community. In his will, John Stevens mentions a store and house occupied by his son William Stevens. William Stevens was born of June 22, 1773 and died in January of 1843. He married Margaret Mill on February 9, 1801. The Stevens and Burrus family appear to be closely connected in terms of both status, marriage, and their participation in the community.

Some names included in the ledger are:

Jackson Mills

Charles Mills

William Chiles

Henry Chiles

Jacob Graves

William M. Daniel

Elijah Quesenberry

Joseph Chandler

Jacob Williams

Smith Stubblefield

Moses Quesenberry

John Pollock

Miss Salley Atkins

Miss Betsey Bell

Robert Terrill

William Terrill

Thomas Adams

John Page

Lewis Brockman

Austin Right

Joseph L. Hawkins

Nathaniel Middlebrook

William Quesenberry

Roger Bell

Reverend Aaron Bledsoe

William Wells

Alexander Homes

Henry Tandy Jr.

Colby Smith

Gentry Atkins

Thomas Payne

Joseph Bell

Mrs. Mary Robertson

Reverend George Morris

Mrs. Judith Embree

James Perry

Captain Thomas Ellis

John Pettis

Joseph Woolfolk

Thomas Woolfolk

Miss Suzannah Atkins

John Payne

Elizabeth Coleman

Edmond Burrus

John Smith

Roger Burrus

Thomas Clayton

James Adams

Roger Slaughter

Zachariah Sherby

Caleb Lindsay

Peter Montague

George Scott

Wisdom Atkins

Roger Mallory

Clayborn Graves

Hezekiah Dickenson

Thomas Oaks

Mrs. Rebeckah Brockman

Thomas Goodwin

Joseph Pleasants

Elisha Adams

Miss. Winney Quesenberry

Henry Clemmons

Jarrod Banks

Nicholas Bickers

Captain Thomas Bell

Timothy Chandler

Samuel Grady

Peter Hoffman and Son

Dr. Joseph Duke

Miss. Peggy Daniel

Colby Cowherd

Absolom Smith

James Smith

John Pendleton

Benjamin Stephens

Richard Stephens

John Stevens

Benjamin Cave

Dates

Creation: 1801-1895

Creator

Burrus, William Tandy, 1776-1831 (Person)

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 publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Biographical / Historical

Based on current information gathered by Special Collections, there appear to be three possible creators of the ledger: William Tandy Burrus (1766 or 1776-1831), WTB (?-prior to 1836?), or William Stevens (1773-1843).

William Tandy Burrus was born in either 1766 or 1776 in St. Thomas Parish in Orange County, Virginia. He married Martha Slaughter Burrus. "Burris" is sometimes spelled "Burris" or "Burruss." He was the son of Thomas Burrus and Francis Tandy Burrus and had two brothers (Thomas Burrus and Roger Tandy Burrus) and three sisters. He was a prominent land owner in Orange County, Virginia who also served as a witness for legal documents and as Justice of the Peace. He had five daughters and five sons including Lancelot Burrus. This Lancelot Burrus also had a son named Lancelot Burrus. William Tandy Burrus died in 1831 in Orange County, Virginia.

William Tandy Burrus was the son of Thomas Burrus who was the son of Thomas Burrus and the brother of the William Tandy Burrus discussed previously. His mother was Elizabeth Stevens. He married Philadelphia Burrus and died sometime before the writing of his father's will in 1836 perhaps in Clark County, Kentucky where the Burrus family had landholdings. This branch of the Burrus family also had a number of descendants named Lancelot Burrus, including the son of William Tandy Burrus, one of whom might be the owner of the ledger in 1881.

Elizabeth Stevens, wife of Thomas Burrus, had a brother named William Stevens who is perhaps the William Stevens referred to on the name plate on the inside cover of the ledger. William Stevens was the son of John Stevens, a prominent member of the Orange County community. In his will, John Stevens mentions a store and house occupied by his son William Stevens. William Stevens was born of June 22, 1773 and died in January of 1843. He married Margaret Mill on February 9, 1801. The Stevens and Burrus family appear to be closely connected in terms of both status, marriage, and their participation in the community.

References:

Finding Guide Burrus Family: Papers, 1802 – 1869. Section 1. Call Number Mss1 B9468 a 1-11.

Fisher, Theresa A. Marriages of Orange County, Virginia, 1757-1880. Westminster: Willow Bend Books, 2006. Pages 34-35, 232.

Hawthorne, Bess L. "Thomas Burris, Ancestor of Kentucky Pioneers." Genealogies of Kentucky Families From the Register of the Kentucky Historical Society: A-M (Allen-Moss). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1981. Pages 107-111.

Knorr, Catherine Lindsay. Marriages of Orange County, Virginia 1747-1810. Pine Bluff: The Perdue Company, 1959. Pages 15, 84.

Maxwell, Cheryl Gunn. "William Tandy Burruss Family Bible Orange County, Virginia." Accessed 7 September 2011. http://www.cgmaxwell.net/Bibles/BibleWmTandyBurruss.html.

Sparacio, Ruth and Sam Sparacio. The Antient Press: Virginia County Court Records Will Book Orange County, Virginia 1734-1838. Arlington: The Antient Press, 1987. Pages 18, 105.

Sparacio, Ruth and Sam Sparacio. The Antient Press: Virginia County Court Records Will Book Orange County, Virginia 1821 -1838. Arlington: The Antient Press, 1986. Pages 34, 80-81.

Sparacio, Ruth and Sam Sparacio. Pamunkey neighbors of Orange County, Virginia transcriptions from the orginal files of county courts in Virginia, Kentucky, and Missouri of wills, deeds, order books & marriages as well as some family lines: Lindsay, Mills, Mountague, Stevens and related families and neighbors. McLean: Gateway Press, 1985. Pages iv-v, 308, 358-359, 385, 542, 559-560.

Sparacio, Ruth and Sam Sparacio. Will Abstracts of Orange County, Virginia, 1778-1821. McLean: Rith L. and Sam Sparacio, 1985. Pages 26-27, 79.

"William Tandy Burrus (1776-1831)." Last Modified 18 June 2011. Accessed 7 September 2011. http://www.geni.com/people/William-Tandy-Burrus/6000000008008985212.

"William Tandy Burrus – Martha Slaughter." Diana, Goddess of the Hunt – for Ancestors!. Accessed 7 September 2011. http://dgmweb.net/FGS/B/BurrusWilliamTandy-MarthaSlaughter.html.

Vogt, John and T. William Kethley, Jr. Orange County Marriages, 1747-1850. Athens: Iberian Press, 1984. Pages 29-30.

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (1 box) : 1 volume, 200 pages

Language

English

Additional Description

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Purchase.

Bibliographical Note

William Tandy Burrus was born in either 1766 or 1776 in St. Thomas Parish in Orange County, Virginia. He married Martha Slaughter Burrus. "Burris" is sometimes spelled "Burris" or "Burruss." He was the son of Thomas Burrus and Francis Tandy Burrus and had two brothers (Thomas Burrus and Roger Tandy Burrus) and three sisters. He was a prominent land owner in Orange County, Virginia who also served as a witness for legal documents and as Justice of the Peace. He had five daughters and five sons including Lancelot Burrus. This Lancelot Burrus also had a son named Lancelot Burrus. William Tandy Burrus died in 1831 in Orange County, Virginia.