Administrative Information

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Preferred Citation

Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Colonel James White, 1839-1873. Local government records collection, Washington County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.

Acquisition Information

This item came in a transfer of court papers from Washington County under the accession number 44413.

Historical Information

James L. White was born on 22 February 1770 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. He moved to Abingdon, Virginia, in 1795. White was a prominent businessman in southwest Virginia. He owned plantations, salt works, iron furnaces, and lead mines in Virginia, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Alabama. Following his death on 20 October 1838, White's estate was valued at almost seven hundred thousand dollars.

The volumes were used as an exhibit in the chancery suit Administrator of James L. White and others vs. Administrator of James White, etc. It was heard in the Washington County Circuit Court. The suit involved a dispute concerning the settlement of White's vast estate.

Scope and Content

Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Colonel James White, 1839-1873, list the type and value of personal property owned by White at the time of his death on his plantations in Washington County, Virginia, and Jackson County, Alabama. The name of his Virginia plantation was Limestone and the name of his Alabama plantation was Bellefont. The inventory and appraisement include a lengthy list of slaves owned by White. Information recorded includes name, gender, age, and value of slaves. The volumes also record transactions made by White's administrators. Entries record date of transcation, form of transaction, and amount owed and paid. The smaller volume is located inside the front cover of the larger volume.

Related Material

For additional information see the Washington County Chancery Causes, Administrator of James L. White and others vs. Administrators of James White, etc. It can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. The index number is 1883-060.

Index Terms

Persons:

• White, James L., 1770-1838.

Family Names:

• White family.

Corporate Names:

• Washington County (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Administration of estates -- Virginia -- Washington County.
• African Americans -- History.
• Slaveholders -- Alabama -- Jackson County.
• Slavery -- Alabama -- Jackson County.
• Slavery -- Virginia -- Washington County.
• Slaves -- Alabama -- Jackson County.
• Slaves -- Virginia -- Washington County.

Geographical Names:

• Jackson County (Ala.) -- History -- 19th century.
• Washington County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Appraisals (records) -- Virginia -- Washington County.
• Estate inventories -- Virginia -- Washington County.
• Estate records -- Virginia -- Washington County.
• Journals (accounts) -- Virginia -- Washington County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Washington County.

Adjunct Descriptive Data