Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Beck Family Papers, Accession 486, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

This collection (# 486 ) was purchased in May 1939.

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

This collection, 1789-1897, n.d., of approximately 325 items contains business papers of the Thomas Beck Family of Amherst County, Virginia . Captain Thomas Beck , who sold corn and grains from his mill and general store, was a lawyer who appears to have practiced law with Captain Charles Mundy . There are papers of the James Davis Family who apparently also owned a general store and were active in local government. Included are receipts, orders, promissory notes, accounts, legal papers, and some correspondence.

Items of interest include: mentions Jesse Back as administrator of Sarah Goodwin and as guardian for David and Spotswood the infant children of " Jane Hugh[e]s late Jane Goodwin . .." (1820 Sep); sale of two slaves, Harry and Andersson , to Jesse Beck (1821 Jul 23); appraisal made on "an Estray Hog," which was declared to be "a spotted boar..." (1825 Feb 25); " James Davis his Book 8th July 1830": a handmade account book containing some Davis family genealogical information (1830 Jul 8); sermon by James Davis (1831 Aug 8); and account book containing records concerning division of Jesse Beck 's [father's] estate and mentions family members and property received (1813-1836).