Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Preferred Citation

Brunswick County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1861-1865. Local government records collection, 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 Brunswick County (Va.).

Historical Information

Brunswick County was named for the duchy of Brunswick-Luneburg, one of the German possessions of George I. It was formed in 1720 from Prince George County, but county government was not organized until 1732. In the latter year, Brunswick County was enlarged by the addition of parts of Surry and Isle of Wight Counties.

Throughout the Civil War, the principal responsibility for Virginia's indigent soldiers' families lay with the locality. The Virginia State Convention in 1861 gave the responsibility entirely to counties and incorporated towns and authorized whatever actions had already been taken. Acts of Assembly in 1862 and 1863 expanded the localities' powers to provide for their needy, and in 1863 some minimal state assistance was added in. At first relief was provided as money, but as the monetary system collapsed, relief was distributed in kind. Agents of the court maintained lists of eligible families, gathered goods for distribution and paid for them, and impressed supplies if necessary. Virginia was unique amongst the southern states in that it assigned the provisioning of needy families almost solely to the locality.

Scope and Content

The Brunswick County (Va.) Reports of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1861-1865 is made up of reports and accounts of funds gathered and supplies distributed to indigent soldiers' families. These reports include the names of soldiers and family members and the needs of the families or the supplies provided to each family and the cost of thse items. Lists of indigent soldiers included with these records include detailed descriptions of the fate of the soldiers and their family situations, inlcuding the number of children in the family. The reports record where funds came from, who they were distributed to and exactly who and what the money was to be used for, listing specific amounts foods such as bacon, corn, flour, and coffee and household items such as wool.

Arrangement

Chronological.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Brunswick County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Families of military personnel--Virginia--Brunswick County
• Poor--Virginia--Brunswick County
• Public welfare -- Virginia -- Brunswick County

Geographical Names:

• Brunswick County (Va.)--History--19th century
• Brunswick County (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865

Genre and Form Terms:

• Accounts--Virginia--Brunswick County
• Local government records--Virginia--Brunswick County
• Reports--Virginia--Brunswick County