A Guide to the John Hook Records, 1763-1829
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Accession Number 22174
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference)
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
© 2004 By the Library of Virginia. All rights reserved.
Processed by: Alex Lorch
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
John Hook, Records, 1763-1829. Accession 22174, Business Records Collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.
Acquisition Information
Purchased in June 1927 except negative photostats made from manuscripts lent to the library by Felix Hargrett in October 1943.
Alternative Form Available
Letter books, 1763-1772, 1774-1784, also available on microfilm (Miscellaneous reel 642).
Biographical Information
John Hook (1746-1808) was the son of Henry Hook, a manufacturer of Glasgow, Scotland. John Hook arrived in the United States from Scotland in 1858. He married Elizabeth Smith of Goochland County circa 1772. They then settled in New London, Bedford County, where he kept a store until 1784, when he moved to Halesford, Franklin County. Hook was a party in a number of lawsuits, the most notable being the sequestration proceedings brought against him by Richmond merchant and former partner David Ross.
Scope and Content
Records, 1763-1829, of John Hook (1746-1808), a merchant of Bedford and Franklin Counties, Virginia. Includes three letter book volumes, 1 August 1763-28 May 1772; 1 June 1772-May 1774; 30 July 1774-16 April 1784, containing information on Hook's mercantile activities and partnerships, analyses of trade opportunities, and dealings with several Scottish merchants prominent in colonial Virginia. Correspondence between Hook and David Ross (ca. 1739-1817) also appears in the letter books along with letters from and to other members of the Hook family. This collection also includes correspondence, 1772-1809, 1829, and n.d., both to and from John Hook concerning his business affairs and lawsuits stemming from his business dealings. There also are separate series containing legal files pertaining to David Ross' lawsuits and a building plan for a store in New London, Bedford County, Virginia.
Arrangement
Arranged into the following four series: I. Letter books, 1763-1784; II. Correspondence, 1772-1808, 1829; III. Legal Files, 1775-1809, and n.d.; and IV. Building Plan, 1772.
Contents List
Includes three letter book volumes, 1 August 1763-28 May 1772; 1 June 1772-May 1774; 30 July 1774-16 April 1784, containing information on Hook's mercantile activities and partnerships, analyses of trade opportunities, and dealings with several Scottish merchants prominent in colonial Virginia.
Arranged chronologically.
- Box 2
Folder 1-3
1
Letterbook, 1 August 1763-28 May 1772
- Box 1
Folder 1
2
Letterbook, 1 June 1772-14 May 1774
- Box 2
Folder 4-6
3
Letterbook, 30 July 1774-16 April 1784
Includes letters both to and from John Hook. Topics include prices of goods, trade and market conditions, military operations during the Revolutionary War, and the progress of the legal suits to which Hook was a party. Principal correspondents are Edmund Randolph, David Ross, and Andrew Lewis. This is correspondence that was not bound into letterbooks, as is the case with Series I.
Arranged chronologically.
- Box 1
Folder 2
4
Letter. David Ross, Richmond, Virginia, to John Hook, Bedford Courthouse, Bedford County, Virginia, 10 February 17721 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
5
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to John Hook, Bedford Courthouse, Bedford County, Virginia, 10 March 17721 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
6
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to John Hook, Bedford Courthouse, Bedford County, Virginia, 11 March 17722 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
7
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to John Hook, Bedford Courthouse, Bedford County, Virginia, 23 March 17721 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
8
Letter. David Ross, Richmond, Virginia, to John Hook, Bedford Courthouse, Bedford County, Virginia, 5 May 17723 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
9
Letter. David Ross, Richmond, Virginia, to John Hook, Bedford Courthouse, Bedford County, Virginia, 4 June 17722 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
10
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to John Hook, Bedford Courthouse, Bedford County, Virginia, 22 April 17732 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
11
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, 4 May 17731 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
12
Letter. David Ross to John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, 19 February 17761 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
13
Letter. David Ross, Oxford Iron Works, Bedford County, Virginia, to John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, October 17763 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
14
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, 30 October 17762 p.
- Box 1
Folder 2
15
Letter. David Ross, Oxford Iron Works, Bedford County, Virginia, to John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, 30 November 17762 p.
- Box 1
Folder 3
16
Letter. James Holliday, Wincheter, Virginia, to John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, 6 July 17782 p.
- Box 1
Folder 3
17
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, 21 July 17782 p.
- Box 1
Folder 3
18
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, 23 August 17783 p.
- Box 1
Folder 3
19
Letter. David Ross, Petersburg, Virginia, to Alexander Baine, Fort Lewis, Virginia, 2 June 17804 p.
- Box 1
Folder 3
20
Letter. John Hook, Manchester, Virginia, to William Smith, Franklin County, Virginia, 22 October 17921 p.
- Box 1
Folder 3
21
Letter. John Hook, Hailsford, Franklin County, Virginia, to Philemon Smith, 1 June 17931 p.
- Box 1
Folder 3
22
Letter. John Hook, Richmond, Virginia, to William Smith, Franklin County, Virginia, 7 November 17961 p.
- Box 1
Folder 3
23
Letter. John Hook, Hailsford, Franklin County, Virginia, to William S. Crawford, Amherst County, Virginia, 16 March 18004 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
24
Letter. Cornelius Pate, Big Lick, Botetourt County, Virginia, to John Hook, Hailsford, Frankling County, Virginia, 8 January 18021 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
25
Letter. William M. Hening, Charlottesville, Virginia, to John Hook, Hailsford, Franklin County, Virginia, 19 March 18023 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
26
Letter. Edmund Randolph, Richmond, Virginia, to John Hook, Hailsford, Franklin County, Virginia, 17 March 18031 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
27
Letter. Andrew Lewis, Richmond, Virginia, to John Hook, Franklin County, Virginia, 24 December 18051 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
28
Letter. Andrew Lewis, Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia, to John Hook, Franklin County, Virginia, 10 February 18061 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
29
Letter. John Hook, Jr., Lynchburg, Virginia, to John Hook, Hailsford, Franklin County, Virginia, 10 October 18062 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
30
Letter. Andrew Lewis, Richmond, Virginia, to John Hook, Franklin County, Virginia, 22 December 18061 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
31
Letter. W. A. Burwell, Washington, D. C., to John Hook, Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia, 4 January 18073 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
32
Letter. John Hook, Hailsford, Franklin County, Virginia, to Alexander Smith, Wythe County (?), Virginia, 2 March 18072 p.
- Box 1
Folder 4
33
Letter. John Hook, Richmond, Virginia, to Bowker Preston, Hailsford, Franklin County, Virginia, 12 June 18071 p.
- Box 1
Folder 5
34
Letter. Edmund Randolph to John Hook, Franklin County, Virginia, 20 February 18081 p.
- Box 1
Folder 5
35
Letter. John Hook to Patrick Hendren, 11 June 18082 p.
- Box 1
Folder 5
36
Letter. William Wirt, Richmond, Virginia, to John Hook, 28 June 18083 p.
- Box 1
Folder 5
37
Letter. Philip Norborne Nicholas, Richmond, Virginia, to John Hook, Richmond, Virginia, 4 August 18083 p.
- Box 1
Folder 5
38
Letter. Edmund Randolph, Spring Farm, Virginia, to John Hook, 18 September 18081 p.
- Box 1
Folder 5
39
Letter. John Hook to David Ross, 2 October 18081 p.
- Box 1
Folder 5
40
Letter. Peachy R. Gilmer, Liberty, Bedford County, Virginia, to Bowker Preston, Goose Creek, Virginia (?), 17 November 18292 p.
Principally contains the non-correspondence files pertaining to John Hook's lawsuits and legal affairs. Of note are documents concerning charges brought against Hook by the Bedford County Committee of Safety as an enemy to the Revolution. A letter from Hook addressing the charges along with his subsequent loyalty oath also are included.
Arranged chronologically. Non-dated items arranged alphabetically at the end of the series.
- Box 1
Folder 6
41
Resolution of Bedford County Committee of Safety in re: John Hook, 23 May 17751 p.
- Box 1
Folder 6
42
Answer of John Hook to charges of Charles Lynch, June 17752 p.
- Box 1
Folder 6
43
Letter. John Hook, New London, Bedford County, Virginia, to Bedford County Committee of Safety, 17 June 17751 p.
- Box 1
Folder 6
44
Memorandum of Bedford County Committee of Safety in re: John Hook, 26 June 17752 p.
- Box 1
Folder 6
45
Memorandum of Bedford County Committee of Safety, 17762 p.
- Box 1
Folder 6
46
Memorandum in re: William Ray and Robert Griffith, October-November 17761 p.
- Box 1
Folder 6
47
Complaint of John Hook against Colonel William Mead, et. al., 18 January 17772 p.
- Box 1
Folder 6
48
Release of John Hook from Public Goal, 19 January 17771 p.
- Box 1
Folder 6
49
Oath certificate of Samuel Hairston, 10 October 17771 p.
- Box 1
Folder 7
50
Certification of Bourne Price in re: payment for services to John Chaplin, 17 November 17831 p.
- Box 1
Folder 7
51
Declaration by Patrick Henry in suit John Calloway v. John Thompson, 17893 p.
- Box 1
Folder 7
52
Answer of John Hook in suit David Ross v. John Hook, 20 August 18013 p.
- Box 1
Folder 7
53
Deposition of Stephen Smith in suit David Ross v. John Hook, 14 June 18082 p.
- Box 1
Folder 7
54
Lawsuit receipt of James Graham, February 18091 p.
- Box 1
Folder 7
55
Declaration by Edmund Randolph in suit John Hook v. Swinfield Hill and Company, n.d.2 p.
- Box 1
Folder 7
56
Declaration in the suit John Hook v. David Ross, n.d.3 p.