A Guide to the Cumberland County (Va.) Lists of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Barcode numbers: 1156174
Library of Virginia
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Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
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© 2013 By The Library of Virginia. All Rights Reserved.
Processed by: Greg Crawford
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Preferred Citation
Cumberland County (Va.) Lists of Indigent Soldiers' Families, 1863. Local government records collection, Cumberland County (Va.) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
Acquisition Information
These items came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Cumberland County.
Historical Information
Cumberland County was named for William Augustus, duke of Cumberland, third son of King George II. It was formed from Goochland County in 1749.
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 Cumberland County (Va.) Lists of Indigent Soldiers' Families includes names individuals, number of children per family, status of soldier in the Confederate army, and the amount of provisions provided to each family.
Arrangement
Chronological.
Index Terms
- Cumberland County (Va.) Circuit Court
- Families of military personnel--Virginia--Cumberland County
- Poor--Virginia--Cumberland County
- Tax collection--Virginia--Cumberland County
- Cumberland County (Va.)--History--19th century
- Cumberland County (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865
- Accounts--Virginia--Cumberland County
- Lists--Virginia--Cumberland County
- Local government records--Virginia--Cumberland County
Corporate Names:
Subjects:
Geographical Names:
Genre and Form Terms:
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Cumberland County (Va.)--History--19th century
- Cumberland County (Va.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865