A Guide to the Thomas Miller Papers, 1773-1852
A Collection in
the Library of Virginia
Collection numbers Barcode numbers 1147142-1147154/Goochland County (Va.) Reels 122-139
Library of Virginia
The Library of Virginia800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
USA
Phone: (804) 692-3888 (Archives Reference)
Fax: (804) 692-3556 (Archives Reference)
Email: archdesk@lva.virginia.gov(Archives)
URL: http://www.lva.virginia.gov/
© 2002 By the Library of Virginia.
Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Jim Greve, 21 May 2001
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
There are no restrictions.
Use Restrictions
Use microfilm copies, Goochland County (Va.) Reels 122-139.
Preferred Citation
Thomas Miller Papers, 1773-1852. Accession 38114, Goochland County Circuit Court Records, Goochland County (Va.) Reels 122-139, Local government records collection, The Library of Virginia, Richmond, Va. 23219.
Acquisition Information
Transferred from Goochland County Circuit Court under the accession number 38114.
Microfilm reels were generated by Backstage Library Works in 2010 through the Library of Virginia's Circuit Court Records Program.
Biographical/Historical Information
Thomas Miller was born in Goochland County, Virginia on 20 March 1754. He was the son of William Miller and Mary Heath. He was an attorney, deputy sheriff and sheriff of Goochland County, a member of the Virginia House of Delegates, and a planter with estates in Goochland, Spotsylvania, and King William Counties. He married Constance Massie, the daughter of Maj. Nathaniel Massie and Betsy Watkins. Thomas Miller died at his residence Lavallie in Goochland County on 27 April 1819.
James B. Ferguson was one of Thomas Miller's executors. He was born circa 1781, and was also a planter and member of the Virginia House of Delegates. He married Sally Gay, the daughter of Willam Gay and Judith Scott.
Scope and Content Information
Papers, 1754-1819, of Thomas Miller (1754-1819) of Goochland County, Virginia, as well as the executor of his estate James B. Ferguson (b. ca. 1781), also of Goochland. Includes correspondence, subject files, accounts, receipts, papers of William Gay and William Pope, and oversize items. This collection is part of the Goochland County Circuit Court Records.
The correspondence covers the years 1781-1848 and is divided into letters to and from Thomas Miller, and those to and from James B. Ferguson. Topics covered in the Thomas Miller letters mainly concern business matters relating to the operation of his vast land holdings in Goochland, Spotsylvania, and King William Counties, and his various plantations, including Byrd, Lavallie, Manskin Lodge, Slab City, and Woodville. Subjects include the purchase, sale, and shipments of corn, wheat, flour, and timber produced on his plantations, as well as the sale and hire of slaves to work the land. Many of these letters are written by the overseers of his properties.
A large proportion of the letters are financial in nature as well, and deal with his acting as security for loans, as well as the loaning of money himself, to various individuals. There are orders for payments of money and for goods. There are letters from brokerage and mercantile houses in Richmond, including Gallego, Richard & Company and Lewis Perkins & Company, which sold Miller's products, and also advanced him his needed capital.
Thomas Miller was an attorney, and many of his letters deal with his duties representing various clients, including notices of his intention to take depositions in court cases. Miller was also deputy sheriff and sheriff of Goochland County. There are a few letters relating to his duties in these positions, including the issuing of executions.
Likewise, the letters of James B. Ferguson are business and financial in nature. Many of them are written by Miller's sons, who inherited their father's estate after his death. James B. Ferguson was one of Miller's executors. There are also many letters from Joseph S. Watkins, with whom Ferguson had numerous business dealings. There is also a letter from Watkins detailing his candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates in 1832.
The estate papers concern the estates of Obediah Daniel, Gideon Hatcher, Thomas Miller, John Salmon, and Matthew Vaughan. Material found in this series includes accounts, attorneys', clerks' and sheriffs' fee bills, bonds, correspondence, fifas, receipts, sales, and suit papers.
The subject files contain a variety of material, including advertisements, affidavits and depositions, agreements, bonds, clerks' and sheriffs' fee bills, deeds, fifas, various lists, powers of attorney, promissory notes, slave bills of sale, suit papers, and other items. There are also files, interfiled in this series alphabetically by name, for individuals with whom Miller had extensive business dealings.
There are series containing accounts and receipts, both arranged by year. Within the receipts series is a group of receipts for Miller's wheat crop.
There are two series of personal papers of William Gay (1745-1815) and William Pope. Gay's daughter Sally married James B. Ferguson. His papers include accounts, a bond, clerks' fee bills, correspondence, deeds, promissory notes, receipts and a tax bill. The material is business-related, much of it between Gay and John Tabb (1736-1798) of Amelia County. The William Pope papers include accounts, attorney's fees, correspondence, powers of attorney, and suit papers. The majority of these papers relate to William Pope's activities as attorney for Col. John Syme (1727-1805) of Rocky Mills, Hanover County.
The series of oversize items includes accounts, deeds, inventories and appraisements of the estate of Thomas Miller, a lease, lists of judgments recovered against Thomas Miller's executors, and suit papers.
Arrangement
I. Correspondence. II. Estate Papers. III. Subject Files. IV. Accounts V. Receipts. VI. William Gay Papers. VII. William Pope Papers. VIII. Oversize.
Related Material
See also Goochland County Judgments at the Library of Virginia for civil suits that involved Thomas Miller.
See also Goochland County Chancery Causes available on the Chancery Records Index at the Library of Virginia web site for chancery suits that involved Thomas Miller and his estate.
Index Terms
- Daniel, Obediah, d. 1790.
- Ferguson, James B., ca. 1781-
- Gay, William, 1745-1815.
- Hatcher, Gideon, d. 1807.
- Miller, Thomas, 1754-1819.
- Pope, William.
- Salmon, John, d. ca. 1799.
- Syme, John, 1727-1805.
- Tabb, John, 1736-1798.
- Vaughan, Matthew, d. ca. 1799.
- Watkins, Joseph S.
- Miller family.
- Gallego, Richard and Company (Richmond, Va.)
- Lewis Perkins and Company (Richmond, Va.)
- African Americans -- History.
- Plantation owners -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
- Plantations -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
- Plantations -- Virginia -- King William County.
- Plantations -- Virginia -- Spotsylvania County.
- Slaves -- Virginia.
- Goochland County (Va.) -- History -- 18th century.
- Goochland County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.
- Accounts.
- Agreements.
- Bonds.
- Deeds -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
- Estate administration records -- Virginia -- Goochland County.
- Financial records.
- Judicial records.
- Letters (correspondence)
- Personal papers.
- Promissory notes.
- Receipts.
Persons:
Family Names:
Corporate Names:
Subjects:
Geographical Names:
Genre and Form Terms:
Significant Places Associated With the Collection
- Goochland County (Va.) -- History -- 18th century.
- Goochland County (Va.) -- History -- 19th century.
Contents List
The correspondence covers the years 1781-1848 and is divided into letters to and from Thomas Miller, and those to and from James B. Ferguson. Topics covered in the Thomas Miller letters mainly concern business matters relating to the operation of his vast land holdings in Goochland, Spotsylvania, and King William Counties, and his various plantations, including Byrd, Lavallie, Manskin Lodge, Slab City, and Woodville. Subjects include the purchase, sale, and shipments of corn, wheat, flour, and timber produced on his plantations, as well as the sale and hire of slaves to work the land. Many of these letters are written by the overseers of his properties. A large proportion of the letters are financial in nature as well, and deal with his acting as security for loans, as well as the loaning of money himself, to various individuals. There are orders for payments of money and for goods. There are letters from brokerage and mercantile houses in Richmond, including Gallego, Richard & Company and Lewis Perkins & Company, which sold Miller's products, and also advanced him his needed capital. Thomas Miller was an attorney, and many of his letters deal with his duties representing various clients, including notices of his intention to take depositions in court cases. Miller was also deputy sheriff and sheriff of Goochland County. There are a few letters relating to his duties in these positions, including the issuing of executions. Likewise, the letters of James B. Ferguson are business and financial in nature. Many of them are written by Miller's sons, who inherited their father's estate after his death. James B. Ferguson was one of Miller's executors. There are also many letters from Joseph S. Watkins, with whom Ferguson had numerous business dealings. There is also a letter from Watkins detailing his candidacy for the Virginia House of Delegates in 1832.
- Thomas Miller
- Box 1 Folder
1
1781
- Box 1 Folder
2
1782
- Box 1 Folder
3
1783
- Box 1 Folder
4
1784
- Box 1 Folder
5
1786
- Box 1 Folder
6
1787
- Box 1 Folder
7
1788
- Box 1 Folder
8
1789
- Box 1 Folder
9
1790
- Box 1 Folder
10
1791
- Box 1 Folder
11
1792
- Box 1 Folder
12
1793
- Box 1 Folder
13
1794
- Box 1 Folder
14
1795
- Box 1 Folder
15
1796
- Box 1 Folder
16
1797
- Box 1 Folder
17
1798
- Box 1 Folder
18
1799
- Box 1 Folder
19
1800
- Box 1 Folder
20
1801
- Box 1 Folder
21
1802
- Box 1 Folder
22
1803
- Box 1 Folder
23
1804
- Box 1 Folder
24
1805 (January-July)
- Box 1 Folder
25
1805 (August-December)
- Box 1 Folder
26
1806 (January-June)
- Box 1 Folder
27
1806 (July-December)
- Box 1 Folder
28
1807
- Box 1 Folder
29
1808
- Box 1 Folder
30
1809
- Box 2 Folder
1
1810
- Box 2 Folder
1
1810
- Box 2 Folder
2
1811
- Box 2 Folder
3
1812
- Box 2 Folder
4
1813
- Box 2 Folder
5
1814 (January-August)
- Box 2 Folder
6
1814 (September-December)
- Box 2 Folder
7
1815 (January-June)
- Box 2 Folder
8
1815 (July-December)
- Box 2 Folder
9
1816 (January-July)
- Box 2 Folder
10
1816 (August-December)
- Box 2 Folder
11
1817 (January-June)
- Box 2 Folder
12
1817 (July-December)
- Box 2 Folder
13
1818
- Box 2 Folder
14
1819
- Box 2 Folder
15
n.d.
- Box 1 Folder
1
- James B. Ferguson
- Box 3 Folder
1
1805
- Box 3 Folder
2
1819
- Box 3 Folder
3
1820
- Box 3 Folder
4
1821
- Box 3 Folder
5
1822
- Box 3 Folder
6
1823
- Box 3 Folder
7
1824
- Box 3 Folder
8
1825
- Box 3 Folder
9
1826
- Box 3 Folder
10
1827
- Box 3 Folder
11
1828
- Box 3 Folder
12
1829
- Box 3 Folder
13
1830
- Box 3 Folder
14
1831
- Box 3 Folder
15
1832
- Box 3 Folder
16
1833
- Box 3 Folder
17
1834
- Box 3 Folder
18
1835
- Box 3 Folder
19
1836
- Box 3 Folder
20
1838
- Box 3 Folder
21
1839
- Box 3 Folder
22
1840, 1842, 1848
- Box 3 Folder
23
n.d.
- Box 3 Folder
1
The estate papers concern the estates of Obediah Daniel, Gideon Hatcher, Thomas Miller, John Salmon, and Matthew Vaughan. Material found in this series includes accounts, attorneys', clerks' and sheriffs' fee bills, bonds, correspondence, fifas, receipts, sales, and suit papers.
- Daniel, Obediah
- Box 4 Folder 1
- Hatcher, Gideon
- Box 4 Folder
2
Accounts
- Box 4 Folder
3
Attorney's Fees
- Box 4 Folder
4-5
Clerk's Fees
- Box 4 Folder
6
Correspondence
- Box 4 Folder
7
Court Orders for Payment of Witnesses
- Box 4 Folder
8
Fifas
- Box 4 Folder
9
Miscellaneous
- Box 4 Folder
10
Power of Attorney
- Box 4 Folder
11
Receipts
- Box 4 Folder
12
Sheriff's Fees
- Box 4 Folder
2
- Miller, Thomas (see also oversize)
- Box 4 Folder
13-14
Accounts
- Box 4 Folder
15
Bond
- Box 4 Folder
16
Clerk's and Sheriff's Fees
- Box 4 Folder
17
Correspondence
- Box 4 Folder
18
Final Settlement of Accounts
- Box 4 Folder
19
Miscellaneous
- Box 4 Folder
20
Receipts
- Box 4 Folder
21
Sales of Negroes
- Box 4 Folder
22
Suit Papers
- Box 4 Folder
13-14
- Salmon, John
- Box 5 Folder 1
- Vaughan, Matthew
- Box 5 Folder
2
Accounts and Receipts
- Box 5 Folder
3
Affidavits and Depositions
- Box 5 Folder
4
Bonds
- Box 5 Folder
5
Correspondence
- Box 5 Folder
6
Fifas
- Box 5 Folder
7
Suit Papers
- Box 5 Folder
2
The subject files contain a variety of material, including advertisements, affidavits and depositions, agreements, bonds, clerks' and sheriffs' fee bills, deeds, fifas, various lists, powers of attorney, promissory notes, slave bills of sale, suit papers, and other items. There are also files, interfiled in this series alphabetically by name, for individuals with whom Miller had extensive business dealings.
- Box 5 Folder 8
Advertisements for Sales of Property
- Box 5 Folder 9
Affidavits and Depositions
- Box 5 Folder
10
Agreements, 1780-1805
- Box 5 Folder
11
Agreements, 1806-1810
- Box 5 Folder
12
Agreements, 1811-1815
- Box 5 Folder
13
Agreements, 1816-1819, 1841
- Box 5 Folder
14
Appeal Bonds, 1801, 1808
- Box 5 Folder
15
Bail Bond, 1783
- Box 5 Folder
16
Bill of Lading, 1816
- Box 5 Folder
17
Bills of Sale
- Box 5 Folder
18
Bonds, 1782-1799
- Box 5 Folder
19
Bonds, 1800-1805
- Box 5 Folder
20
Bonds, 1806-1825
- Box 5 Folder
21
Bonds for Slave Hires
- Box 5 Folder
22
Archibald Bryce & Co.
- Box 6 Folder 1
Capias
- Box 6 Folder 2
Clerk's Fee Bills
- Box 6 Folder 3
Davis, Augustine
- Box 6 Folder 4
Deane, Francis B.
- Box 6 Folder 5
Deane, Thomas
- Box 6 Folder 6
Deeds, 1788-1815
- Box 6 Folder 7
Deeds, 1816-1830 (see also oversize)
- Box 6 Folder 8
Distilled Spirits Inspection Certificate, 1791
- Box 6 Folder 9
Duke, Edmond
- Box 6 Folder
10-11
Ellis & Allen
- Box 6 Folder
12
Eppes, Francis
- Box 6 Folder
13
Executors Bond (copy), 1796
- Box 6 Folder
14
Fee Book, 1785-1787
- Box 6 Folder
15
Fifas
- Box 6 Folder
16
Fleming, William R.
- Box 6 Folder
17
Fowler, Jacob B.
- Box 6 Folder
18
Forbes, Jesse
- Box 6 Folder
19
Freeman, Zachariah
- Box 6 Folder
20
Fuzmore, Isaac Jr.
- Box 6 Folder
21
George, William
- Box 6 Folder
22
Horse Pedigree, 1833
- Box 6 Folder
23
Leake, Joseph
- Box 6 Folder
24
Lists of Hands Collecting Bark and Amounts Paid, 1815
- Box 6 Folder
25
Lists of Negroes
- Box 6 Folder
26
List of Prices for Blacksmith Work, 1784
- Box 6 Folder
27
Lists of Tools and Stock
- Box 6 Folder
28
Lovell, Micajah
- Box 6 Folder
29
Lyle, James
- Box 6 Folder
30
McBride, Minor
- Box 6 Folder
31
McKeand, Willis
- Box 6 Folder
32
Memoranda
- Box 6 Folder
33
Miscellaneous
- Box 6 Folder
34
Morris, Richard
- Box 6 Folder
35
Mutual Assurance Society
- Box 7 Folder 1
Opinions
- Box 7 Folder 2
Orders for Payment of Witnesses
- Box 7 Folder 3
Parrish, Moses
- Box 7 Folder 4
Poindexter, William G.
- Box 7 Folder 5
Pollock, John
- Box 7 Folder 6
Powers of Attorney
- Box 7 Folder 7
Promissory Notes, 1782-1794
- Box 7 Folder 8
Promissory Notes, 1795-1810
- Box 7 Folder 9
Promissory Notes, 1811-1816
- Box 7 Folder
10
Promissory Notes, 1817-1839
- Box 7 Folder
11
Protests
- Box 7 Folder
12
Riddle, Thomas
- Box 7 Folder
13
Royster, Thomas
- Box 7 Folder
14
Sheriff's Fee Bills
- Box 7 Folder
15
Slave Bills of Sale
- Box 7 Folder
16
Slave Runaways
- Box 7 Folder
17
Subpoena
- Box 7 Folder
18
Subscription List, 1830
- Box 7 Folder
19
Suit Papers - Drumwright vs. Vaughan & Miller
- Box 7 Folder
20
Suit Papers - Freeman vs. Miller
- Box 7 Folder
21
Suit Papers - Houchins vs. Miller
- Box 7 Folder
22
Suit Papers - Richardson vs. Toler
- Box 7 Folder
23
Suit Papers - Miscellaneous (see also oversize)
- Box 7 Folder
24
Tax Receipts
- Box 7 Folder
25
Will (portion, unidentified)
- Box 7 Folder
26
Woodson, Joseph
Contains accounts arranged by year.
- Box 8 Folder 1
1773
- Box 8 Folder 2
1782
- Box 8 Folder 3
1783
- Box 8 Folder 4
1785
- Box 8 Folder 5
1786
- Box 8 Folder 6
1787
- Box 8 Folder 7
1788
- Box 8 Folder 8
1789
- Box 8 Folder 9
1790
- Box 8 Folder
10
1791
- Box 8 Folder
11
1792
- Box 8 Folder
12
1793
- Box 8 Folder
13
1794
- Box 8 Folder
14
1795
- Box 8 Folder
15
1796
- Box 8 Folder
16
1797
- Box 8 Folder
17
1798
- Box 8 Folder
18
1799
- Box 8 Folder
19
1800
- Box 8 Folder
20
1801
- Box 8 Folder
21
1802
- Box 8 Folder
22
1803
- Box 8 Folder
23
1804
- Box 8 Folder
24
1805
- Box 8 Folder
25
1806
- Box 8 Folder
26
1807
- Box 9 Folder 1
1808
- Box 9 Folder 2
1809
- Box 9 Folder 3
1810
- Box 9 Folder 4
1811
- Box 9 Folder 5
1812
- Box 9 Folder 6
1813
- Box 9 Folder 7
1814
- Box 9 Folder 8
1815
- Box 9 Folder 9
1816
- Box 9 Folder
10
1817
- Box 9 Folder
11
1818
- Box 9 Folder
12
1819
- Box 9 Folder
13
1820-1829
- Box 9 Folder
14
1834, 1852
- Box 9 Folder
15
n.d.
Contains receipts arranged by year. Within the receipts series is a group of receipts for Miller's wheat crop.
- General Receipts
- Box 10 Folder
1
1781
- Box 10 Folder
2
1782
- Box 10 Folder
3
1783
- Box 10 Folder
4
1784
- Box 10 Folder
5
1785
- Box 10 Folder
6
1786
- Box 10 Folder
7
1787
- Box 10 Folder
8
1788
- Box 10 Folder
9
1789
- Box 10 Folder
10
1790
- Box 10 Folder
11
1791
- Box 10 Folder
12
1792
- Box 10 Folder
13
1793
- Box 10 Folder
14
1794
- Box 10 Folder
15
1795
- Box 10 Folder
16
1796
- Box 10 Folder
17
1798
- Box 10 Folder
18
1799
- Box 10 Folder
19
1800
- Box 10 Folder
20
1801
- Box 10 Folder
21
1802
- Box 10 Folder
22
1803
- Box 10 Folder
23
1804
- Box 10 Folder
24
1805
- Box 10 Folder
25
1806
- Box 10 Folder
26
1807
- Box 10 Folder
27
1808
- Box 10 Folder
28
1809
- Box 10 Folder
29
1810
- Box 10 Folder
30
1811
- Box 10 Folder
31
1812
- Box 10 Folder
32
1813
- Box 10 Folder
33
1814
- Box 10 Folder
34
1815
- Box 10 Folder
35
1816
- Box 10 Folder
36
1817
- Box 10 Folder
37
1818
- Box 10 Folder
38
1819
- Box 10 Folder
39
1820
- Box 10 Folder
40
1821
- Box 10 Folder
41
1822
- Box 10 Folder
42
1823
- Box 10 Folder
43
1826
- Box 10 Folder
44
n.d.
- Box 10 Folder
1
- Receipts for Wheat Crop
- Box 11 Folder
1
1782
- Box 11 Folder
2
1783
- Box 11 Folder
3
1788
- Box 11 Folder
4
1789
- Box 11 Folder
5
1791
- Box 11 Folder
6
1792
- Box 11 Folder
7
1793
- Box 11 Folder
8
1796
- Box 11 Folder
9
1799
- Box 11 Folder
10
1800
- Box 11 Folder
11
1803
- Box 11 Folder
12
1804
- Box 11 Folder
13
1805
- Box 11 Folder
14
1806
- Box 11 Folder
15
1807
- Box 11 Folder
16
1808
- Box 11 Folder
17
1809
- Box 11 Folder
18
1810
- Box 11 Folder
19
1811
- Box 11 Folder
20
1812
- Box 11 Folder
21
1813
- Box 11 Folder
22
1815
- Box 11 Folder
23
1816
- Box 11 Folder
24
1817
- Box 11 Folder
25
1818
- Box 11 Folder
26
1820
- Box 11 Folder
1
There is a series of personal papers of William Gay (1745-1815). Gay's daughter Sally married James B. Ferguson. His papers include accounts, a bond, clerks' fee bills, correspondence, deeds, promissory notes, receipts and a tax bill. The material is business-related, much of it between Gay and John Tabb (1736-1798) of Amelia County.
- Box 12 Folder 1
Accounts
- Box 12 Folder 2
Bond
- Box 12 Folder 3
Clerk's Fee Bill
- Box 12 Folder 4
Correspondence, 1779-1788
- Box 12 Folder 5
Correspondence, 1789-1807
- Box 12 Folder 6
Deeds
- Box 12 Folder 7
Promissory Notes
- Box 12 Folder 8
Receipts
- Box 12 Folder 9
Tax Bill
The William Pope papers include accounts, attorney's fees, correspondence, powers of attorney, and suit papers. The majority of these papers relate to William Pope's activities as attorney for Col. John Syme (1727-1805) of Rocky Mills, Hanover County.
- Box 12 Folder
10
Accounts
- Box 12 Folder
11
Accounts
- Box 12 Folder
12
Correspondence
- Box 12 Folder
13
Powers of Attorney
- Box 12 Folder
14
Suit Papers
The series of oversize items includes accounts, deeds, inventories and appraisements of the estate of Thomas Miller, a lease, lists of judgments recovered against Thomas Miller's executors, and suit papers.
- Box 13 Folder
1-3
Accounts
- Box 13 Folder 4
Deed (Goochland County), 1815
- Box 13 Folder 5
Deed (King William County), 1817
- Box 13 Folder
6-7
Inventories and Appraisements, Estate of Thomas Miller
- Box 13 Folder 8
Lease
- Box 13 Folder 9
Lists of Judgments Recovered Against Thomas Miller's Executors
- Box 13 Folder 8
Suit Papers - Miller vs. Ferguson, Bill, 1826