Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Amherst County (Va.) Reel 131.

Preferred Citation

John A. Rowan Estate Account Book, 1843-1854 (bulk 1843-1844). Amherst County (Va.) Reel 131, Local government records collection, Amherst County 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 Amherst County.

Microfilm reel was generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Program.

Biographical/Historical Information

John A. Rowan, a resident of Lynchburg, Virginia, was a prominent landowner and slaveholder who had estates in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana. He died in 1843.

John Rowan's Silver Creek estate was located in Washington County, Mississippi.

The account book was used as an exhibit in the chancery suit, Elizabeth Rowen and others versus Executor of John A. Rowan and others that began in the late 1840's and ended in the late 1860's. The suit originated in the City of Lynchburg Circuit Court of Law and Chancery; it was transferred to Amherst County Circuit Court; and returned to City of Lynchburg Circuit Court. The suit is not found with the City of Lynchburg chancery suits. It may still be with the Amherst County chancery suits.

Amherst County was named for Major General Jeffery Amherst, British commander in North America during the latter part of the French and Indian War and governor of Virginia from 1759 to 1768. It was formed from Albemarle County in 1761. Islands in the Fluvanna (now the James) River were added in 1770.

Scope and Content

John A. Rowan Estate Account Book, 1843-1854 (bulk 1843-1844), records an inventory of John Rowan's estate in Mississippi called Silver Creek. It includes a list of 72 slaves. Entries record name of slave, occupation, physical description, age, and who married to or children of. Entries related to slaves are repeated twice more in volume with additional columns that record the value of each slave and division of slaves between Rowan's widow Sarah A. Rowan and his Virginia heirs. There are also entries of debts related to Rowan's estate. Volume also records copies of vouchers related to Rowan's estate. Vouchers include the sale of slaves.

Related Material

See also City of Lynchburg Chancery Cause 1873-012 entitled Administrator of John A. Rowan versus Administrator of Samuel Garland and others, Theodore D. Crawford and others versus Robert R. Crawford and others, Administrator of Samuel Garland versus Administrator of John A. Rowan and others, and Administrator of John A. Rowan versus Administrator of Samuel Garland the elder found at the Library of Virginia.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Rowan, John A. d. 1843.

Corporate Names:

• Amherst County, Va. Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Administration of estates -- Mississippi -- Washington County.
• African Americans. -- History.
• Decedents' estates -- Mississippi -- Washington County.
• Partition of decedents' estates -- Mississippi -- Washington County.

Geographical Names:

• Amherst County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.
• Washington County (Miss.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Account books -- Virginia -- Amherst County.
• Estate inventories -- Mississippi -- Washington County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Amherst County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data