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Special Collections Research Center
William & Mary Special Collections Research CenterEarl Gregg Swem Library
400 Landrum Dr
Williamsburg, Virginia
Business Number: 757-221-3090
spcoll@wm.edu
URL: https://libraries.wm.edu/libraries-spaces/special-collections
Finding Aid Authors: Cynthia B. Brown and Ellen Strong.
Administrative Information
Conditions Governing Use:
Before reproducing or quoting from any materials, in whole or in part, permission must be obtained from the Special Collections Research Center, and the holder of the copyright, if not Swem Library.
Conditions Governing Access:
Collection is open to all researchers. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, such as the Virginia Public Records Act (Code of Virginia. § 42.1-76-91); and the Virginia Freedom of Information Act (Code of Virginia § 2.2-3705.5). Confidential material may include, but is not limited to, educational, medical, and personnel records. If sensitive material is found in this collection, please contact a staff member immediately. The disclosure of personally identifiable information pertaining to a living individual may have legal consequences for which the College of William and Mary assumes no responsibility.
Preferred Citation:
Blair Family Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchase of 1 item from Charles Hamilton Auction in 11/1957; purchase of 1 item from J. B. Blackford in 1968; gift of 1 item by Thomas J. Pullen in 1972; purchase of 1 items from Charles Hamilton Auction in 8/1981; purchase of 1 item from Kenneth W. Rendell in 4/1986; and purchase of 1 item from Spencer L. Timm and William C. Allison in 6/1986.
Processing Information:
Processed by Cynthia B. Brown in 1983.
Scope and Contents
An artificial collections of papers concerning the Blair family of Williamsburg. Includes land grant, 1741, signed by James Blair (1655-1743); document, 1768, signed by John Blair (1689-1771) concerning Loudoun County, Va. justices of the peace; depositions, 1787 and n.d., of John Blair (1732-1800) concerning a lawsuit in the Superior Court of Chatham County, Ga. (Margaret Eustace vs. Seth John Cuthbert) which concerned the estate of his brother, James Blair (1741-1772); deposition, November 24, 1786, of Patrick Henry in the lawsuit of Margaret Eustace vs. Seth John Cuthbert; and letter, 1792, of John Blair to Samuel Meredith concerning payment to Robert Greenhow. A page from a book with a drawing of John Blair and the caption, "First Grand Master of Masons of Virginia." Commission from John Blair, Esqr President and Commander in Cheif (Chief) of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, to Richard Dobson giving him permission to "enlist men for his Majestys Service for the Regiment forthwith to be raised and to be under the Command of the Honble William Byrd, Esqr..." Dated April 15, 1758 and signed by John Blair. Written during John Blair's first term as Acting Governor.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Blair family
- Blair, James, 1741-1772
- Blair, John, 1687-1771
- Correspondence
- Cuthbert, Seth John, d. 1788
- Dobson, Richard
- Eustace, Margaret
- Greenhow, Robert, b. 1761
- Legal documents
- Loudoun County (Va.)--History--18th century
- Orders (military records)
- Virginia--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
- Williamsburg (Va.)--Colonial Period--History
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Blair, James, 1656-1743
- Blair, James, 1741-1772
- Blair, John, 1687-1771
- Blair, John, 1732-1800
- Cuthbert, Seth John, d. 1788
- Dobson, Richard
- Eustace, Margaret
- Greenhow, Robert, b. 1761
- Henry, Patrick, 1736-1799
- Meredith, Samuel
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Virginia--History--Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775
- Williamsburg (Va.)--Colonial Period--History
Container List
Medium Oversize Folder contains: Grant for 400 acres of land in Goochland County, VA, to Thomas Evans. Signed by James Blair, President of Council and Commander and Chief of Colony and Dominion at Williamsburgh[sic] July 6, 1740. Transcript included.
Document signed by John Blair as President of the Council, authorizing the following Justices of the Peace of Loudoun County,VA, to administer oaths: Francis Lightfoot Lee, James Hamilton, Nicholas Minor, Josias Clapham, George West, Francis Peyton, John McElhaney [sic], [McIlhaney], James Lane, Craven Peyton, Philip Noland, William Carr Lane, Leven Powell, John Minor, WIlliam Douglass, Thomas Lewis, Simon Triplet, Stephen Donaldson, WIlliam Smith, George Summers, Fleming Patterson, Elijah Chinn. S.
- Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 12 Oversize Folder: 1
Land Grant to Thomas Evans1741 July 6Scope and Contents
Grant for 400 acres of land in Goochland County, Virginia to Thomas Evans. Signed by James Blair, President of the Virginia Council. Includes transcript.
- Mixed Materials Manuscripts Oversize Box 12 Oversize Folder: 2
Document Authorizing Justices of the Peace of Loudoun County,VA, to Administer Oaths1768 June 15Scope and Contents
Document signed by John Blair as President of the Council, authorizing the following Justices of the Peace of Loudoun County,VA, to administer oaths: Francis Lightfoot Lee, James Hamilton, Nicholas Minor, Josias Clapham, George West, Francis Peyton, John McElhaney [sic], [McIlhaney], James Lane, Craven Peyton, Philip Noland, William Carr Lane, Leven Powell, John Minor, WIlliam Douglass, Thomas Lewis, Simon Triplet, Stephen Donaldson, WIlliam Smith, George Summers, Fleming Patterson, Elijah Chinn. S.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Folder: 1
Patrick Henry Deposition in Lawsuit between Margaret Eustace vs Seth John Cuthbert1786 November 24Scope and Contents
Deposition of Patrick Henry in the lawsuit of Margaret Eustace versus Seth John Cuthbert in Superior Court of Chatham County, Georgia regarding her claim for compensation for her daughter Catharine (Eustace) Blair Cuthbert's living expenses while she lived with her before marriage to Cuthbert. Witnessed by George Wythe and Jerman Baker. Transcript included.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Folder: 1
John Blair Deposition in the Lawsuit of Margaret Eustice [Eustace] versus Seth John Cuthbert1787 December 29Scope and Contents
Deposition of John Blair in the lawsuit of Margaret Eustice [Eustace] versus Seth John Cuthbert in the Superior Court of Chatham County, Georgia, in which Blair discusses the lawsuit of Catherine [Eustace] Blair [Cuthbert, widow of James Blair] versus John Blair in the Chancery Court of James City, Virginia which concerned her dower right.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Folder: 2
John Blair Deposition Concerning James Blair EstateundatedScope and Contents
Deposition sighed by John Blair concerning a case involving his deceased brother's, John Blair, estate, in which his brother's widow's second husband, Seth J. Cuthbert, is the defendant.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Folder: 3
John Blair to Samuel Meredith Concerning Payments1792 September 12Scope and Contents
John Blair, Williamsburg, VA to Samuel Meredith, Treasurer of the United States, Philadelphia, PA. Requests payment of $166.00 "and two-thirds of a dollar" to Robert Greenhow, charging against his salary. On verso, from Robert Greenhow, Williamsburg, orgering payment to JOhn Barnes with Barnes' receipt, dated 1792 September 12.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Folder: 4
Robert Dobson Commission to Enlist Men1758 April 15Scope and Contents
Commission from John Blair, Esqr President and Commander in Cheif (Chief) of the Colony and Dominion of Virginia, to Richard Dobson giving him permission to "enlist men for his Majestys Service for the Regiment forthwith to be raised and to be under the Command of the Honble William Byrd, Esqr..." Dated April 15, 1758 and signed by John Blair. Written during John Blair's first term as Acting Governor.
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Folder: 5
Drawing of John Blair from a Book with the caption, "First Grand Master of Masons of Virginia."undatedScope and Contents
A page from a book with a drawing of John Blair and the caption, "First Grand Master of Masons of Virginia."
- Mixed Materials box: 1 Folder: 6
Family Tree and Biographical Notesundated