Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

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Use Restrictions

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Preferred Citation

Powhatan Lodge No. 123 Minute Book, 1874-1914 (bulk 1874-1881). Local government records collection, Powhatan County Court Records. The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000.

Acquisition Information

This collection came to the Library of Virginia in a transfer of records from Powhatan County.

This collection is located at the State Records Center. Contact Archives Research Services for access information, directions, and hours.

Historical Information

Powhatan County was named for the Indian chieftain who ruled the Native American inhabitants of tidewater Virginia in the early seventeenth century. It was formed from Cumberland County in 1777, and part of Chesterfield County was added later.

The Powhatan Lodge No. 123, A.F. & A.M., was organized at Powhatan Courthouse 1874 July 3. The Powhatan Lodge U.D. held its first meeting at Powhatan Courthouse 1874 July 18. The first Masonic Lodge in Virginia was founded in Norfolk probably in 1741, and soon other lodges began in the colony. These lodges were chartered by the various Grand Lodges of England, Scotland, and Ireland. The Grand Lodge of Virginia, the first independent Grand Lodge in the United States, was established in Williamsburg in 1778 with John Blair (1731-1800) serving as the first Grand Master.

Fine Creek Baptist Church (Powhatan County Va.) was constituted circa 1777.

Scope and Content

Powhatan Lodge No. 123 Minute Book, 1874-1914 (bulk 1874-1881). The volume contains minutes and proceedings of the Powhatan Lodge, A. F. & A.M., and the Powhatan Lodge, U.D., 1874-1881; and miscellaneous loose papers, 1880-1914. The minutes begin with a petition to form a lodge and a dispensation from the Grand Lodge of Virginia, and continue with a record of attendance and proceedings of monthly meetings. Loose papers are comprised of copies of court records, including plats, from the eighteenth century, a list of licenses given to merchants, 1880-1881; business letterhead, scattered personal and clerk's correspondence of James A. Tillman, County Clerk, and scattered records (two draft letters and a draft meeting notice, and accounts) of the Ladies Aid Society, Fine Creek Church, 1884.

Index Terms

Corporate Names:

• Fine Creek Church--Ladies Aid Society (Powhatan County, Va.)
• Freemasons--Powhatan Lodge No. 123 (Powhatan Courthouse, Va.)
• Powhatan County (Va.)--Circuit Court.

Subjects:

• Freemasonry--Virginia--Lodges.
• Women--Societies and clubs.

Geographical Names:

• Powhatan County (Va.)--History.

Genre and Form Terms:

• Business letters--Virginia--Powhatan County.
• Charitable societies--Virginia--Powhatan County.
• Letterheads--Virginia--Powhatan County.
• Local government records--Virginia--Powhatan County.
• Minute books--Virginia--Powhatan County.
• Organization records--Virginia--Powhatan County.
• Petitions--Virginia--Powhatan County.
• Plats (maps)--Virginia--Powhatan County.
• Tax and fiscal records--Virginia--Powhatan County.