Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

John B. Christian Ledger, 1817-1837. Local government records collection, Augusta County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in transfers of court papers from Augusta County under the accession number 43658.

Historical Information

John B. Christian was a merchant in Augusta County, Virginia, in the early nineteenth century. Christian dealt primarily in the grocery and grain trades selling items such as wheat, corn, sugar, and coffee.

Scope and Content

The John B. Christian Ledger, 1817-1837, records the accounts of individual customers. Each customer account includes separate entries for purchases and payments made. Purchases were not detailed but rather include the prices per unit and the total purchase price made for that day. However, details were provided for payments made toward account balances. John B. Christian accepted cash, bartered items (whiskey, butter, livestock, hats, etc.), and labor (hauling, carpentry work, etc.) as payments. Beginning in 1829, customer accounts include the items purchased. Examples of items purchased include flour, bran, wheat, corn, rye, beef, sugar, and coffee. In addition to the customer accounts, the back of the volume was used to record the number and weights of hogs butchered.

Related Material

For additional information see the Augusta County Chancery Cause, Anthony Beard versus Heirs of John B. Christian. It can be found in the Local Records Collection at the Augusta County Courthouse. The index number is 1842-027.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Christian, John B.

Subjects:

• Butchers--Virginia--Augusta County.
• Consumer goods--Virginia--Augusta County.
• Grain trade--Virginia--Augusta County.
• Grocery trade--Virginia--Augusta County.
• Merchants--Virginia--Augusta County.

Geographical Names:

• Augusta County (Va.)--History--19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Business records--Virginia--Augusta County.
• Ledgers (account books)--Virginia--Augusta County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Augusta County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data