Administrative Information

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open to all researchers.

Publication Rights/Restrictions on Use

Before publishing quotations or excerpts from any materials, permission must be obtained from the Curator of Manuscripts and Rare Books, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.

Preferred Citation

Robert Pleasants Account Book, Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.

Acquisition Information

In the possession of Swem Library before 1939.

Biographical/Historical Information

Robert Pleasants was born at "Curles," Henrico County, Virginia and lived his entire life there. He was an active member of the Society of Friends. His brother Samuel Pleasants (1737-1807) was a successful merchant in Philadelphia. Sometime after 1771, he entered into a mercantile company (Robert Pleasants & Co.) which did business as a consignment tobacco exporter. He organized an abolition society in 1790.

Scope and Content Information

Pleasants' account book kept in Henrico County, Virginia covers the years, 1771-1778, and concerns the export and shipping of tobacco and other crops. It includes the religious diary, 1821-1824, of Mary W. (Pleasants) Mosby.

Related Material

Other collections pertaining to this collection are located at Haverford College Library. There are three such collections at this institution consisting mostly of correspondence of Robert Pleasants.

Virginia: in the High Court of Chancery, March 16, 1798. [microform] : Between Robert Pleasants, son and heir of John Pleasants, dee'd. Plif. and Mary Logan, widow and administratix of Charles Logan, and devisee of John Pleasants and Jonathan Pleasants, 16 March 1798. 18 pages. Item available on microform format. Collection number: EVANS 38963

Papers, 1750-1936, Manuscripts Collection, Special Collections, Magill Library, Haverford University. Papers of Anthony Benezet (1713-1784), 1750-1936 (bulk 1750-1784). 60 items. (1 box) Collection number: 852

American Friends' Letters, Manuscripts Collection, Special Collections, Magill Library, Haverford University. American Friends' Letters, ca. 1676-1986. ca. 406 folders. (19 boxes) Collection number: 851

Separated Material

Other items of Robert Pleasants' are located within the Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library.

Robert Pleasants Ledger, Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary. Robert Pleasants Ledger, 1769-1824, 1769-1777. Collection number: Mss. MsV Ame101

Robert Pleasants Letterbook, Manuscripts and Rare Books Department, Swem Library, College of William and Mary. Robert Pleasants Letterbook, 1771-1781. Collection number: Mss. MsV Cp9

Index Terms

Persons:

• Mosby, Mary W. Pleasants, fl. 1821- 1824.

Geographical Names:

• Henrico County (Va.)--History--18th century.
• United States--History--Revolution, 1775-1783.

Occupations:

• Merchants--Virginia--History--18th century.

Additional Separated, Related and Bibliographic Material

Bibliography