Administrative Information

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Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Caffrey and Carpenter versus Wellington Gordon exhibit book, 1847-1854. Local government records collection, Fauquier County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia.

Acquisition Information

This item came to the Library of Virginia in shipments of court papers from Fauquier County.

Historical Information

An act of the General Assembly passed 9 February 1811 authorized formation of the Rappahannock Company for the purpose of opening and improving navigation of the Rappahannock River from the basin at Fredericksburg to the mouth of Carter's Run in Fauquier County. Construction on the canal was intermittent over the next thirty years due to natural and financial obstacles. Wellington Gordon was hired as contractor to complete the project but resigned in 1847 November after a severe flood caused serious damage to the canal. Caffrey and Carpenter was one of the companies contracted by Gordon to work on the Rappahannock Canal.

Scope and Content

Caffrey and Carpenter versus Wellington Gordon exhibit book, 1847-1854, records contracts, proposals from various companies, and specifications related to the construction of dams and locks for a canal along the Rappahannock River. It was used as evidence to prove Gordon's failure to complete construction of the canal.

Index Terms

Persons:

• Gordon, Wellington.

Corporate Names:

• Fauquier County (Va.) Circuit Court.
• Rappahannock Company (Fauquier County, Va.)

Subjects:

• Canals -- Design and construction.
• Canals -- Virginia -- Fauquier County.
• Dams -- Virginia -- Fauquier County.
• Locks (Hydraulic engineering) -- Virginia -- Fauquier County.

Geographical Names:

• Fauquier County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.
• Rappahannock River (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Contracts -- Virginia -- Fauquier County.
• Local government records -- Virginia -- Fauquier County.
• Proposals -- Virginia -- Fauquier County.
• Specifications -- Virginia -- Fauquier County.