A Guide to the William Allason Records, 1722-1847
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 13
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Processed by: Jim Greve
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
William Allason. Records, 1722-1847. Accession 13, Business records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
Purchased 1912.
Biographical/Historical Information
Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1731. Son of Zacharius Allason and Isbel Hall. He arrived in Virginia in 1757 as a supercargo for the Glasgow firm of Baird and Walker. Began own mercantile business at Falmouth in King George County, Virginia, later Stafford County open store in Winchester, Virginia under the direction of his brother David in 1761. Allason received and shipped goods to London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Whitehaven, Leads, Bristol and the West Indies. William Allason died in 1800. David Allason continued the operation of the Falmouth store after William's death.
Scope and Content Information
Correspondence, letter books, daybooks, ledgers and miscellaneous items relating to the operation of a mercantile business in Falmouth (King George County) and Winchester, Virginia by William and David Allason. The correspondence reflects the various aspects of extensive mercantile endeavor, as well as personal relationships between family members and friends. Allason corresponded with Lord Dunmore before and after Dunmore fled Virginia, and he maintained a close association with Lord Fairfax, acting as his factor, buying and selling his slaves and engaging people to collect quitrents for the Fairfax proprietary. Other correspondents include Alexander Baine, Robert Beverley, Nathaniel and Robert Burwell, Charles and Landon Carter, John Harvey, Abraham Hite, Neil Jamieson, Charles Marshall, James Mercer, General Daniel Morgan, Hugh Nelson, Mann Page, Robert Rose, David Ross, Andrew Sprowle, Col. John Taylor, Benamin Waller, John and Warner Washington, Ralph Wormeley, George Wythe and Isaac Zane.
Records identifed as Allason's during his service as agent for Baird and Walker include: daybook for a concern belonging to Baird and Walker, 1759-1769; ledger of sundry goods, 1757-1762; ledger for cargo, 1759; and ledger, 1751-1752.
Other volumes include: daybooks, 1761-1800; ledgers, 1760-1801; cash sales, 1764-1782; invoice and inventory books, 1760-1796' balances due, 1766-1792; memorandum books, 1757-1800; and tobacco books 1757- 1763, 1786-1804.
Account books of the Shenandoah store operated by David Allason include: day book, 1761-1763; and ledgers, 1761-1763. Records of his operation of the Falmouth Store include: daybooks,1775-1777, 1786-1804; and ledgers, 1783-1801.
Other volumes include: daybook and journal of private transaction, 1757-1769; daybook of Pine Forest Sawmill, 1787-1793; record of planks saved, 1787-1789; transaction at River Run mill, 1786-1787; and transaction for William Kirk's estate, 1781-1786.