Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Unidentified Law Firm Ledger, 1886-1893. Local government records collection, Petersburg (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from the City of Petersburg.

Historical Information

The unidentified law firm operated in the Petersburg, Virginia, area during the nineteenth century.

It is possible that this law firm was connected to the Gilliam family of Petersburg, Va. A loose letter in the ledger, dated 10 February 1893, is addressed to Uncle Jimmie and signed Julian Gilliam. The Cocke and Gilliam law firm, known earlier as the Davies and Cocke law firm, practiced law during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries in Petersburg, Va. The firm also practiced in the surrounding counties of Dinwiddie, Chesterfield, Prince George, and Surry, and in the Supreme Court of Appeals and United States Courts in Richmond.

Richard B. Davis was one lawyer listed in the ledger as a co-partner in the firm. Born in 1845 in Norfolk County, Va., Davis was a graduate of both Randolph-Macon College and the University of Virginia. Davis served for three years in Company E, Twelfth Virginia Regiment and saw action in the battles of Seven Pines, Chancellorsville, second Manassas, Gettysburg, and Petersburg. After the war, Davis began practicing law in Petersburg.

Scope and Content

Ledger, 1886-1893, contains a chronological listing of business activities listed under either the name of the client or lawyer. Each entry includes date, type of transaction, and monies debited and credited. Transactions document fees paid for cases argued, travel expenses, and costs for attending court sessions. Included in the ledger is an expense account that details both professional and personal expenses. Entries document monies paid for business travel, office rent, theater tickets, clothing, Christmas presents, tobacco, insurance policies, books, lumber, and tuition and travel expenses for family members. Also included in the ledger is an entry for a farm account for 1891, which records taxes paid and purchases for livestock and seed.

Index Terms

Subjects:

• Farms--Virginia.
• Gilliam family.
• Law firms--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Lawyers--Virginia--Petersburg.

Geographical Names:

• Petersburg (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Ledgers (account books)--Virginia--Petersburg.
• Local government records--Virginia--Petersburg.

Added Entry - Personal Name:

• Davis, Richard B.

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Cocke and Gilliam.