Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Walter G. Hudgins Records, 1850-1894. Accession 24667, Business records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

Gift of Dr. W. Raymond Thomas, 1956 August 24.

Biographical/Historical Information

William Houlder Hudgins (1825-1895) was a merchant at Cricket Hill, Mathews County, Virginia, from 1850 until 1868. The store was maintained until 1872 by his brother Walter G. Hudgins. William H. Hudgins was a justice of the peace, a commissioner in chancery, a commissioner of accounts, and tax assessor for Mathews County at various times until his death in 1895.

Scope and Content Information

The records are those of a general store which sold dry goods, hardware items, and groceries. The volumes include: daybooks, 1865-1867, 1889-1894; ledgers, 1859-1867, 1872-1882, 1884; cashbook, 1869-1871; order books, 1869; small bills due the store, 1869-1870; accounts with area Negroes, 1869-1870; and personal memorandum book.

Loose items include bills, receipts, and accounts with customers and suppliers. It appears that most of the store merchandise was obtained from wholesalers in Baltimore, Maryland. Also included are items, mainly circular notices, related to Chesapeake Lodge No. 89 and Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Included is a copy of the constitution and bylaws of the Chesapeake Lodge, 1851.