Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

The collection is without restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

The Papers of Louis D. Jones and Related Families, 1800-1945 , Accession # 11431, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

Purchased by the Library from L. & T. Respess, Charlottesville in July 1998.

Scope and Content Information

There are ca. 835 items, 1800-1945, pertaining chiefly to Louis D. Jones of New Store, Buckingham County  , and also to the Jones and LeGrand families of Buckingham, Prince Edward and Halifax counties  , Virginia. Persons represented include William D. Jones and his sons, Louis D. Jones and Charles W. Jones. Contained are correspondence, accounts, promissory notes, receipts, legal documents, and genealogical material.

Correspondence of the Jones and related families, 1836-1901, concern various topics, including personal and family news, local news, education, estate matters, and business matters. Letters, 1836 and 1837, to Mary Leanna Jones provide some information about female education. An interesting letter, September 4, 1837, from George B. Peters, New Castle, Hardeman County   [Texas], covers a wide variety of subjects. In his letter, Peters discusses his illness of "autumnal bilious fever"; the great current of emigration to Texas; people in all vocations going into the land business, expecting the government to grant a certain amount of land; anticipation of fighting with Mexico; the treaty of alliance between Texas and the Comanche Indians; trouble with parties of robbing Indians; land for sale in the Chickasaw nation; thoughts of moving to Arkansas; making obstetrics his chief study; a complicated birth; and young women using snuff. Two letters discuss social matters, including the antics of the "school girls" (November 17, 1855) and the activities of a fair, including art and food specialties (ca. 1850s). There are letters and papers pertaining to the estate of Monroe W. Jones (November 4, 1859; January 12 and April 19, 1860) and to the estate of Sally C. LeGrand (January 12, 1860; July 28, 1868). There are two letters, December 24, 1860 and January 30, 1861, from R. A. Lancaster, Richmond, concerning financial notes of Charles W. Jones on which his father, William D. Jones, is security and drawer. The hire of three African-Americans and their subsequent arrest for stealing and being placed in Grady's jail for safekeeping is mentioned in the former letter. General Orders #77, Quartermaster General's Office, Washington, D. C., dated December 15, 1865, from M[ontgomery] C[unningham] Meigs (1816-1892), concerns the recovery of public animals which had been branded by the United States. A letter dated February 4, 1867, from "Cora," Southern Female Institute, Richmond, relates that the correspondent is fond of school and Mr. [D. Lee  ] Powell and family and that they have ten boarders and about one-hundred day scholars; and discusses teachers, students, and others associated with the school. There are two official letters, December 10 and 11, 1867, pertaining to the suit of Eliza J. Ransome and Louis D. Jones and the delivery of a horse to Jones. There is a related letter, June 5, 1872, from E[dward] D[avis] Townsend (1817-1893), Adjutant General, War Department. A February 17, 1869 document concerns the reappointment of Louis D. Jones as Justice of the Peace under the "Iron Clad" act of Congress; and, a May 29, 1871 document concerns his election as supervisor for the township of Francisco in Buckingham County  . There is an official letter, January 26, 1875, concerning Jones holding the positions of postmaster and township supervisor simultaneously. On March 2, 1878, Charles W. Jones, Amherst Court House, writes about being busy with his school by day, being pleased with the progress of the students being taught, and that the term of his school has expired. He also discusses local politics, particularly the Barbour Bill and [Virginia] state debt controversy and public debts. A letter of May 4, 1878 details a contract for tanning leather to be used in a case between Louis D. Jones and Edward Evans. A January 1887 letter from H. W. Moss details the financial state of his mother, Phebe Moss prior to her death. On November 24, 1890, Kate Dibrell Walker, Henderson, North Carolina, writes concerning the death of Fousos Dibrell by consumption, family news, life in Henderson, and keeping one woman servant and one man who also works at the factory. A letter of November 24, 1892, from Louis D. Jones, Jr., New Haven, Franklin County  , Missouri, discusses personal and work life in Missouri and mentions the tilling of fruit trees being a rough business; New Haven and its situation on the Missouri River; cattle and hogs being shipped out and wheat being shipped in; and the large mill; and, includes a hand-drawn map of New Haven and nearby railroad towns. There are two letters, October 25 and November 1, 1899, from Ethelyn [Jones], McGaheysville, to Mary (Jones) Forbes, about her plans to get married, dissatisfaction with teaching, and lack of family support.

Correspondence, 1909-1966, of Maben S. Jones pertains to personal, business and genealogical matters. A December 27, 1944 letter comments on the engineering education of Cleveland [ ] Jr. at Pennsylvania State College and that he has African-American boys in his classes. A letter of January 2, 1945 mentions teaching in Charlottesville and the arrival in July of a new superintendent. There are business letters, July 1945 to August 1946, between Jones, The Letter Shop, Columbia, South Carolina, and B. P. Davies, Jr., The Barnwell People-Sentinel, Barnwell, South Carolina. A letter of August 18, 1946 from Dunn, North Carolina, mentions the Stamp Defiance [Chapter of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, Wilmington]; news of family in Hartsfield House near Wake Forest; "John" coming home from war and being inspector of drug stores in the eastern part of North Carolina for the State Board of Pharmacy. On November 25, 1966, Miriam McFarland Callahan writes concerning the LeGrand estate and Keswick estate, claiming that she would like to preserve and restore Keswick.

The majority of the collection consists of the business papers, 1800-1900 and no date, of members of the Jones and Legrand families. These papers include accounts, business and tax receipts, promissory notes, and related business papers. Business papers, 1800-1839, pertain chiefly to the Jones family: Martha W., William D.; and, the LeGrand family: Alexander, Mary, William L., and Sally C.

Items of interest include: note for hire of "Sooky" by William J. Moon from William L. LeGrand (December 27, 1815); promissory note from Grandison G. Wade to pay the rent of a plantation in Halifax and to hire the hands on said plantation to William L. LeGrand (November 16, 1824); and, several accounts with Captain James Anderson and James Watt. Business papers, 1840-1843, pertain chiefly to the Jones family (William D. and Mary S.); and, the LeGrand family (William L. and Sally C.) Items of interest include: notice of "Public Sale" for the residence of William L. LeGrand in Prince Edward County   (November 3, 1840); account to Edward Redford for building a barn and ditching, includes boarding "2 Negro Men" and paying "2 freemen" for labor (August 1841); account of Mary S. Dibrell with Monroe W. Jones trustee, for work on house and lot (June 21, 1843). There are also numerous receipts from the clerk of Prince Edward County  . Business papers, 1844-1849, pertain chiefly to the Jones family - William D., Monroe W., and Mary L.; and, the LeGrand family - Sally C. and John R. Items of interest include: statements to the clerk of Buckingham County   from William D. Jones, trustee for S[ally] C. LeGrand (July, November 1945); account of Mary L. Dibrell with M[onroe] W. Jones, trustee (February 14, 1846); and, a typed copy of account of William D. Jones with Sam B. Christian for medical care (October 7, 1847). There are also receipts from the clerks of Prince Edward and Buckingham counties  . Business papers, 1850-1855, pertain chiefly to the Jones family - William D., Monroe W., and Louis D.; and, the LeGrand family - Sally C. Items of interest include: statement of J. W. Gills, justice of the peace in Buckingham County  , concerning William Routon, a fugitive from justice from Tennessee, and his guard, Louis D. Jones (November 1855). There are also receipts from the clerks of Prince Edward and Buckingham counties  . Business papers, 1856-1858, pertain chiefly to Louis D. and Monroe W. Jones. Business papers, 1859, pertain chiefly to the Jones family - Louis D., William D. and Monroe W.; and, the LeGrand family - Sally C. Items of interest include: list of debts due the estate of Monroe W. Jones (June 24, 1859) and related documents; and, an order to return a convict from Nashville [1859]. There are also receipts from the clerk of Buckingham County  . Business papers, 1860, pertain chiefly to Louis D. and Monroe W. Jones. Items of interest include: bond executed to the administrators of the James R. Anderson estate (March 1, 1860); document re the estate of Monroe W. Jones (July 1860); and, a list of debts due the estate of Monroe W. Jones (ca. 1860) and related documents. There are also receipts from the clerk of Buckingham County  . Business papers, 1861, pertain chiefly to Louis D. Jones. Business papers, 1861-1863, pertain chiefly to the Jones family - Louis D. and William D.; and, the LeGrand family - Sally C. Business papers, 1864-1869, pertain chiefly to the Jones family - Louis D. and William D.; and, the LeGrand family - Sally C. Items of interest include: documents re the sale of one bay mare, public property of the United States, to Louis D. Jones (February 29, 1864 and September 11, 1865); copy of an indenture regarding guardianship and entitlements from the estate of William L. LeGrand (September 20, 1866); and, a note from W. L. Cornish concerning Louis D. Jones' kindness to the officers and men of his army (April 17, 1865). Business papers, 1870-1879, pertain chiefly to the Jones family - Louis D. and William D.; and, the LeGrand family - Baker and Sally C. There are numerous accounts with grocers and dry goods dealers. Items of interest include: an appointment of Louis D. Jones as supervisor of registration and election at the New Store precinct (October 15, 1872). Business papers, 1880-1900, pertain chiefly to Sally C. LeGrand. There is an account of Louis D. Jones with Hoge Military Academy for tuition and board and other school costs (September 13, 1900). There are also some undated business papers which pertain chiefly to Louis D. and Charles W. Jones.

There is limited genealogical data on numerous families, including Gentry, Gilliam, LeGrand, Rolfe, Walker, and Woodson. Items of interest include: one page of a poem, "The Lost Road," with biographical notes on Percy Richard Gray; an obituary of Mrs. Louis D. Jones; and, a hand-drawn map of sites in Buckingham County  , bordered by Prince Edward and Appomattox counties .