James Madison University Libraries Special Collections
880 Madison DriveMSC 1704
Harrisonburg, Virginia 22807
Telephone: (540) 568-3612
library-special@jmu.edu
URL: https://www.lib.jmu.edu/special/
Chris Bolgiano and Lu Chima, Alicia Henneberry
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use
The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collections Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Acquisition Information
Donated by John "Bill" Wilson Jr. of Port Republic, Virginia in December 1995.
Preferred Citation
[identification of item], [box #, folder #], John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963, SC 0122, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.
Processing Information
In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017. This collection was previously cataloged as SC 3012.
Biographical / Historical
The Mount Vernon Iron Furnace was located in Brown's Gap, Virginia, and was started by the Faussett family. It was built in 1848 and was operated by the Miller family, John F. Lewis, and a variety of others until 1878.
Scope and Content
The John W. Wilson Collection, 1766-1963, consists of a variety of documents (receipts, deeds, accounts, and letters) relating mostly to Jacob Bear, Benjamin Graves, Jacob Sipe, and the Dean (Deane, Deen) and Harnsberger (Hansberger) families of Rockingham, Madison, Orange, and Augusta counties, Virginia from 1766 to 1963. Of particular interest are the 1842 Elk Run Class Book; the 1858-59 Housekeeping Book, which lists household and farm items needed for life at the time; and accounts of the Mt. Vernon Iron Works (Rockingham County) from 1878-1879.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged chronologically.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- African Americans -- Virginia
- Augusta County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Bear family
- Bear family -- Correspondence
- Bear, Jacob
- Bear, Jacob -- Wills
- Business -- History -- Sources
- Dean family
- Dean family -- Correspondence
- Deeds -- Virginia
- Deeds of trust
- Elk Run class book
- Estate planning
- Farm management -- Sources
- Graves family
- Graves family -- Correspondence
- Graves, Benjamin
- Harnsberger family
- Harnsberger family -- Correspondence
- Home economics -- Accounting
- Home economics -- Equipment and supplies
- Housekeeping -- Sources
- Iron industry and trade -- Virginia
- Madison County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Mt. Vernon Iron Works (Rockingham County. Va.)
- Orange County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Real property -- Virginia
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Rural families
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Surveys
- Sipe family
- Sipe family -- Correspondence
- Sipe, Jacob
- Slave bills of sale
- Trust indentures
Bibliography
Wayland, John Walter. A History of Rockingham County, VA . Ruebush-Elkins Co.: Dayton, VA, 1912.Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Bear, Jacob
- Bear, Jacob -- Wills
- Graves, Benjamin
- Sipe, Jacob
- Wilson, John W.
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Augusta County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Madison County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Orange County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Rockingham County (Va.) -- History -- Sources
- Shenandoah River Valley (Va. and W. Va.) -- Surveys
Container List
- Mixed Materials [1000898371] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Deed of Land to John Garth1766
-
Two wills of Jacob Bear17871827
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Two account pages of B. Graves with J. Brock1800-1801
- Mixed Materials [1000898371] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Indenture (fragment) between J. Maggott and H. Powel1804
- Mixed Materials [1000898371] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Land petition on dispute between C. Fudges and Adam Hansberger1808
-
Land survey for Margaret Sipe by Joseph Mauzy1813
- 1814
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Distillery tax bill of Benjamin and John Graves1814
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Page of purchases by Benjamin Graves of Simeon Graves1815
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Notice of land sale (fragment), signed Tho. Eddins and Benjamin Graves1816
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Notices (7) of property auction of Wm. Collins, deceased, of Orange County1816
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Indemnification of B. Graves and T. Eddins as Adm. of Wm. Collins estate1816
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Indenture for land to Jacob Runkle by George Cook1817
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Receipt for board and tuition, B. Graves1818
- Mixed Materials [1000898371] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Survey of disputed land between S. Conrad and J. Harnsberger1819
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Joel Banks promises to pay B. Graves1820
-
Summons for Richard Kinse[y?]1820
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Letter from R. Kinsey to B. Graves re: tobacco1823
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Letter from R. Kinsey to B. Graves re: deed of trust1824
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Letter from George McClammer to B. Graves re: money owed1827
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Land rent agreement between Paul Lingle and Wm. Johnson, Rockingham County1827
- Mixed Materials [1000898371] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Deed for land of James Deen1827
-
Appointment of attorney by Joseph Haynes, re: estate of Geo. Berry, Rockingham County1830
- Mixed Materials [1000898371] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Deed (fragment) for land to E. Hansbarger by P. Parratt1833
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Appointment of attorney by Lewis Berry1834
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Letter from Elizabeth Hopkins to parents in Harrisonburg from school in Mt. Airy, Va.1838
- 1840
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Indenture for land to C. Yancey and J. Conrad by G. Blankenbaker1841
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Agreement between Wm. Harper and J. Sipe1842
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Elk Run Class Book (photocopy)undated
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Receipt of payment by J. Sipe1842
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Receipt of payment by J. Sipe1843
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J. Sipe promises to pay Isaac Hardesty1844
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Letter to Francis J. Hopkins from her sister1845
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Letter to J. Sipe from John Haven re: will1846
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Testimony concerning will of Margaret Sipe1847
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Appointment of attorney Thomas King of Augusta County by Peyton Stanforth of Ohio1847
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B&O RR Co. receipt for 60 barrels flour from W. Harper1847
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Letter to J. Sipe from Eli Cook re: check1848
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Deed for land sold to T. Carpenter by J. Sipe1848
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Receipt of payment from J. Sipe1851
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Letter to J. Sipe from John Hour1852
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Agreement to sell land between A.W. Hudson and C.B. Yancey1852
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"T.K. Harnsburger's Book", listing housekeeping and farming articles bought1858
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Land plat of John Deane1861
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Letter to Bettie from Frannie [Hopkins?]1863
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Deed dividing land among Dean family1866
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Deed for land to John Dean by Morgan Dean1870
-
Letter to B. Graves from S. Graves re: money1878
- Mixed Materials [1000898371] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Accounts of Mt. Vernon Iron Works1878-1879
-
Letter to B. Graves from son A. Graves re: Mill Farm Seminary1879
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List of articles sold from J. Harnsbarger estate, Elizabeth Harnsbarger estate (photocopy)18801884
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Deed for land to T. Dean by John Dean1881
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Receipt of Payment from T. Dean1882
- Mixed Materials [1000898371] box: OV 1 folder: 1
Deed for land of T. Deane1885
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Letter to W.R. Grains from T. K. Harnsberger re: land1894
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Extract from letter to Gen. J. Roller from W.E. Barry, Texas Scout, re: Civil War Story1907
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Letter to Thos. K. re: graduation (written on Randolph-Macon Monthly, Ashland, VA letterhead)1910
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Letter to C. J. Harnsberger from C. Bryant re: genealogy1915
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A Brief Narrative, written for his grandchildren , by Lunsford L. Lewis, photocopy1915
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Bills (3) of F.H. Blackburn at Root Gen'l. Merchandise1916
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Harnsberger family newsletter with genealogical notes1963