Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

Use microfilm copy, Richmond (Va.) Reel 998.

Preferred Citation

Manchester (Va.) Finance Committee Minute Books, 1878-1910. Richmond (Va.) Reel 998, Local government records collection, Richmond (City) Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219.

Acquisition Information

These original volumes came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of court papers from the City of Richmond.

Reel 998 was generated by Backstage Library Works through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Preservation Program.

Historical Information

Manchester was established as a town by the General Assembly in November 1769. According to this act, "the honorable William Byrd hath lately laid out a parcel of his lands at Rocky Ridge, at the falls of the James River, in the county of Chesterfield, in lots and streets for a town." Directors and trustees were appointed and the town was named Manchester. The town was incorporated on February 27, 1834. On March 20, 1874, a city charter was approved by the General Assembly and the city was divided into 4 wards. Three members from each ward served on the City Council, the main governing body of the city along with the mayor. On April 15, 1910, the city of Manchester was officially annexed to the City of Richmond with the provisos that a free bridge would be constructed to connect Manchester with Richmond and that Manchester would retain a courthouse. Today the area is also known as South Richmond. The town of Manchester was named probably for Manchester Parish in Chesterfield County. The parish in turn was named either for George Montague, fourth duke of Manchester, or for the town of Manchester, England.

According to the city's charter, "the city council shall have authority to...appoint such committees, as they may deem proper for the regulations of their proceedings and for the convenient transaction of business."

Scope and Content

Manchester (Va.) Finance Committee Minute Books, 1878-1910, provide a comprehensive overview of the city's financial condition. The first volume dates from 1878-1902 and numbers 209 pages. The second volume dates from 1902-1910 and numbers 370 pages and the last volume dates from 1910 and numbers 19 pages. Taken as a whole, the volumes include the reports of the City's Treasurer, Auditor and Commissioner of Revenue as well as the City Collector of Delinquent Taxes; recommendations made to City Council; bills approved to pay for city services--fire, police, alms house, etc. and fines collected in the Mayor's Court. A series of loose documents, 1902-1910, were filmed at the beginning of each volume.

Related Material

Additional Richmond City Government Records can be found on microfilm at the Library of Virginia. Consult "A Guide to Virginia County and City Records on Microfilm"

A wonderful history of Manchester, "Old Manchester and Its Environs, 1769-1910" was published in 1993 by noted local historian, Benjamin B. Weisiger III and is found in the Library of Virginia's book collection.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Richmond (Va.) Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Committees--Virginia--Manchester.
• Municipal government--Virginia--Manchester.
• Public records--Virginia--Manchester.

Geographical Names:

• Manchester (Va.)--History.
• Richmond (Va.)--History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Bills (invoices)--Virginia--Manchester.
• Local government records--Virginia--Manchester.
• Minute books--Virginia--Manchester.
• Reports--Virginia--Manchester.
• Resolutions (administrative records)--Virginia--Manchester.

Added Entry - Corporate Name:

• Manchester (Va.) City Council.

Adjunct Descriptive Data