Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Sons of Temperance Account Book, 1851-1874. Local government records collection, Brunswick County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of records from Brunswick County Circuit Court.

This item is located at the State Records Center. Contact Archives Research Services staff for access information, directions, and hours.

Historical Information

Brunswick County was named for the duchy of Brunswick-Lunenburg, one of the German possessions of George I. It was formed in 1720 from Prince George County, but, because of the sparse population, 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.

The Sons of Temperance, a total abstinence society, was founded in New York in 1842. The fraternal order provided assistance for its members, both in remaining temperate, and as a mutual aid society. More broadly, they promoted the societal benefit of abstinence and temperance. In contrast to its immediate predecessor, the Washington Movement, the Sons recruited members from among those already well affected to their cause. Though they refrained from taking public stances on religious and political matters, they did advocate ending the temptation by stopping the production and sale of alcohol. As a mutual aid society, the Sons of Temperance doled out sickness and disability benefits and allotted money to assist with the burial of fellow brothers and their wives. The attractiveness of its benefits led the organization to operate as a secret society, with stringent rules and a highly restricted membership. Allegations of intemperance and other transgressions were routinely investigated and often led to expulsion from the organization.

Scope and Content

Brunswick County (Va.) Sons of Temperance Account Book, 1851-1874. The volume is titled "Lawrenceville Division of Sons of Temperance No. 453, May 22 1851," but it appears to be a personal or business ledger. Tucked into the volume is a personal letter from C. Harrison, 1879 Jan. 12, giving family news from the Harrison home.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Brunswick County (Va.) Circuit Court.
• Sons of Temperance--Lawrenceville Division No. 453 (Lawrenceville, Va.).

Subjects:

• Temperance--Virginia--Societies, etc.

Geographical Names:

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

Genre and Form Terms:

• Account books--Virginia--Brunswick County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Brunswick County.
• Organization records--Virginia--Brunswick County.
• Personal correspondence--Virginia--Brunswick County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data