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Contact Information
Patricia W. & J. Douglas Perry Library
Norfolk, Virginia 23529-0256
telephone (757) 683-4483
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The Papers of Eloise Word Skewis
Historical Sketch
The dominant family branch for Eloise Word Skewis are the Claibornes of New
England and America. Other branches include the Kilbys, and the Harrisons of
James River.
The Claibornes of England and America are an ancient family that derived its
name from the manor of Cleburne or Cliborne in Westmoreland, England, near the
river of Eden. The manor is named in Doomsday Book (A.D.1086) and the family
were for many generations lords of this place. The first of the line appearing
in pedigrees is Hervey, to whom Henry II granted moiety of the manor of Cliborne.
The first of the Claiborne line to come to America was William Claiborne. He
was born about 1587 and is first noticed in June 1621, when the Virginia Company
engaged him to go to Virginia as surveyor. William came to Virginia with Governor
Wyatt in 1621. In 1625 Governor Yeardley appointed him Secretary of State for
the Colony and member of the Council. In 1642, the King appointed William as
Treasurer of Virginia for life. He held several other public offices throughout
his life. In 1631, William created a trading settlement on Kent Island in the
Chesapeake. There he held many business contacts with several persons in London.
Scope and Contents
The material in this collection dates from 1777 to 1907. This material includes
personal and business correspondence, legal documents, newspaper clippings,
and other personal and business papers. Of particular historical note are originals
of Confederate currency and bonds. Of genealogical significance are family trees
for the Claibornes and the Harrisons.
Arrangement
Materials are arranged chronologically within each series and sub-series.
Series Descriptions
This collection is divided into four series: I. Correspondence; II. Legal and
Business Papers; III. Newspaper Clippings; and IV. Miscellaneous.
Series I: Correspondence is divided into two sub-series: A. Personal
and B. Business.
Sub-series A: Personal contains personal correspondence dating from
1853 to 1907. The material is mainly correspondence among family members.
Sub-series B: Business contains business correspondence dating from
1842 to 1907. This material is primarily related to purchases, money owed, and
workers.
Series II: Legal and Business Papers is divided into two sub-series:
A. Legal Papers and B. Business Papers.
Sub-series A: Legal Papers contains deeds, contracts, receipts, and
court documents dating from 1777 to 1886,
Sub-series B: Business Papers contains tax documents, receipts, bank
statements, bonds, promissory notes, credit bills, stock and bond certificates,
certificates of indebtedness, bank notes, account books, and court orders dating
from 1800 to 1899.
Series III: Newspaper Clippings contains a small number of undated and
miscellaneous newspaper clippings, probably from the Baltimore Sun.
Series IV: Miscellaneous contains various miscellaneous and oversize
items. Included are original Confederate currency and bonds, membership certificates
for the Daughters of the American Revolution, an 1868 Life Insurance policy,
an 1787 land indenture, and family trees for the Claiborne's of England and
America and the Harrison's of James River.
Provenance
Gift of Eloise Word Skewis, April 1979.
Accession #: A78-38.
Access
The collection is open to researchers without restrictions. Questions about
literary property rights should be directed to the Special Collections Librarian.
Size
1 Hollinger Document Case, 1 Oversize Box, 1 tubular poster container. 2.1
linear feet.
Contents Listing
Series I: Correspondence
Sub-series A: Personal
Box 1
Folder 1: Personal Correspondence
1. Letter - Martha Finley to Mrs. Lucy Terry January 8, 1853
2. Letter - John F. Claiborne to Cousin Bill, September 19, 1853
3. Letter - B.B. Walker to Colonel William C. Grasty, July 12, 1855
4. Letter - John L. Grasty to "My dear Brother" September 18, 1855
5. Letter - Thomas Kilby to James Kilby, July 24, 1879
6. Letter - Lou (?) to "My dear Father", December 7, 1879
7. Letter from Daniel Scott to Mr. Reed, August 19, 1907
8. Original Valentine greeting - February 14 (yr unknown) to James Kilby
Sub-series B: Business
Folder 2: Business Correspondence
1. Letter - William L. Pannill to Mr. Joseph Dickinson, October 19, 1842
2. Letter, E.D. Wallis to Colonel William Rison, May 18 1857
3. Letter - Kent Paine to Messrs. Grasty and Rison, November 13, 1860
4. Letter - Samuel 0. Hicks to Messrs. Grasty and Rison, December 15, 1860
5. Letter - Murray, Finney and Shelton to Grasty and Rison, February 12, 1861
6. Letter - A.B. Rucker to Messrs. Grasty and Rison, February 16, 1861
7. Letter A. Y. Stokes to Messrs. Grasty and Rison, May 1, 1863
8. Letter from John S. Reese to Messrs. Grasty and Rison, January 31, 1866
9. Letter - B.P. Baker to James R. Saunders December 12, 1871 (a survey of a
piece of land)
10. Letter from George Reed to James T. Kilby, August 28, 1907
Series II: Legal and Business Papers
Sub-Series A: Legal papers
Folder 3: Deeds, Contracts, Judgments 1777-1826
1. Copy of a legal document dated April 14, 1777, Lunenburg County, Virginia
in regard to the estate of the late Lightfoot Calliham
2. Inventory and appraisement of the estate of Lightfoot Calliham, Lunenburg
County, Virginia recorded in the court held for Lunenburg County, December 10,
1778
3. Promissory Note of John Faris to pay Narfieto Scruggs one pound, five shillings,
six pence, March 18, 1808
4. Note of James Mustain of Pittsylvania County to Philip L. Grasty of the same
county. (Promissory note, May 22, 1811)
5. Indenture (deed) dated March 19, 1813 between William Russell of Pittsylvania
County and John Holliway whereby Holliway held certain property in trust as
a security for the payment of a debt to Daniel and Obediah P. Terry also of
Pittsylvania County
6. Note signed by Jeremiah Compton for sum of money owed to Philip L. Grasty
of Pittsylvania County, Virginia, August 26, 1818
7. Deed of Bargain and Sale from George and Maria Tucker to George W. Johnson
December 19, 1818 - property in Danville, Virginia
8. Copy of a judgement in the case of Knox v. Martin 1818
9. Contract between William C. Franklin of Pittsylvania County and Samuel Stone
of Danville for the hire of a Negro (slave) for the year 1827, December 29,
1826
Folder 4: Deeds, Contracts, Judgments 1830-1886 & n.d.
1. Contract for the hire of a Negro slave girl for the year 1830 between Moses
Echols and Isaac Allen
2. Deed of gift from James Garland of Pittsvlvania County, Virginia to his niece
Jane Augustus James Garland Stone conveying to her Moriah (a slave) and her
two infant children (about three weeks old), dated April 26, 1831
3. Record of a friendly suit in chancery brought by Preston Hardy and Lewis
Hardy of Jackson County, Georgia against John Hardy of Pittsylvania County,
VA, executor of the estate of Benjamin Hardy - October 15, 1836
4. Bill of Complaint of Eustace Hunt in the county court of Pittsylavania County,
Virginia, 1841 (a copy)
5. A list of property given Mrs. Eliza Catharine Robinson, Samuel H. Williams,
Trustee, September 23, 1842
6. Deed between James R. Saunders and his wife Diana and Virginius S. Kilbv
and his wife Ophelia conveying c. 200 acres of land in Cypress Township Nansemond
County to the Kilbys, July 10, 1871
7. Copy of a court order dated September 16, 1873, Pittsyivania Circuit Court;
Bank of Virginia and plaintiffs vs. Edward I. Collier and Defendants
8. Deed of Bargain and Sale - Jerusha Norfleet to Thomas Kilby, March 6, 1875
- property in Suffolk, Virginia
9. Deed between David S. Keen and Phillip L. Grasty, all of Pittsylvania County,
VA transferring a tract of 99-1/2 acres of land in Pittsylvania
10. Memorandum of articles left by Mr. Collins to divide between A.M. Kilby,
Patsey Kilby and Lizzy Smith (n.d.)
11. Will of Harriet Collins - distribution of personal articles, undated
Sub-Series B: Business Papers
Folder 5: Receipts, Statements, Bonds 1800-1819
1. List of taxes owed by Mr. James Garland in the county court of Franklin
from September 1, 1812 to September 1, 1813
2. Receipt for payment - Jonathan Jones to the clerk of Henry County Court -
1815
3. Statement of account of W. Barnett with Samuel Stone August - December 1815
4. Statement of Account of Mr. Robert C. Carter with Samuel Stone June-Nov 1819
5. Statement of account of Mr. W.L. Quinn with Samuel Stone, Nov. 1819
6. Note listing a certificate, counterfeit note, etc...
Folder 6: Receipts, Statements, Bonds 1820-1829
1. Receipt for payment of a judgement obtained against John Henry, January
17, 1820
2. Statement of account of Messrs. Lewis and Cabell February 28, 1820 with Samuel
Stone
3. Statement of account of Mr. James Garland with James H. Williams, January,
1822 - January 1, 1823
4. Statement of account of Mr. James Garland with John Williams, 1822-1823
5. Receipt of G.H. Thompson for payment from James Garland, March 18, 1823
6. Copy of a court order of Pittsylvania County Superior Court, September 1825
that James F. Quinn pay Samuel Stone his expenses as a witness
7. Copy of a court order of Pittsylvania County Superior Court that James F.
Quinn pay Samuel Stone's expenses as a witness, September 1825
8. Statement of legal expenses - Philip L. Grasty - January, 1826
9. Statement of account Captain James M. Williams with Samuel Stone, 1828-1834
10. Statement of account of Mr. James Garland with James H. Stone for the year
1829
Folder 7: Receipts, Statements, Bonds 1830-1835
1. Promissory Note - August 6, 1831 - J. Garland to Samuel Stone
2. Receipt on the inspectors at Pannils Warehouse for charges incurred in the
storage of tobacco by Stone and Pannill, October 1831
3. Receipt on the inspectors at Pannils Warehouse for charges incurred in the
storage of tobacco by Stone and Pannill, October 1831
4. Statement of account Claiborne with Wilson (?) 1932-1834
5. Statement of account Sam Stone with Sam Pannill, 1834
6. Statement of account of Captain William Worsham with S. Ellis for 1834-1837
Folder 8: Receipts, Statements, Bonds 1836-1839
1. Statement of account of Samuel Stone by Hagood, Neal and Williams, (April-November,
1836)
2. Receipt for payment by Messrs. Hagood and Claiborne to Len Ganett and Sons,
March 15, 1837
3. List of H. I. Claiborne's credit bills, spring 1837
4. Statement of account of James Garlant (Garland?) with Thomas Davis, June-December
1837
5. Statement of account of Captain Samuel Stone with Hagood and Claiborne April
1837-January 1839
6. Receipt for $1,050.00 paid by Samuel Claiborne to Samuel Stone for the purpose
of buying slaves, March, 1838
7. Statement of account of Stephen R. Neal with Captain Samuel Stone, 1838-1839
8. Statement of account of Messrs. Goderick and Tally with William Rison. December
1838 - February 1839
9. Statement of account Hagood and Claiborne with Captain Samuel Stone 1839
10. Statement for the Purchase of a Negro, June 2, 1839
Folder 9: Receipts, Statements, Bonds 1840-1849
1. Cashier of the Danville office of the Bank of Virginia - note to William
Worsham, March 30, 1840
2. Receipt for payment by postmaster William Grastv at Mount Airy, VA, July
10, 1840
3. Bill for the sale of a barouch (sic)plus interest nine years overdue from
E. Rosson to Mr. Whitmell P. Tunstali, March 23, 1841
4. Statement of Account for the year 1843 services provided by Elijah Rosson
for James and Allen Jones
5. Receipt for payment of $400.00 by Samuel Stone as part of a judgement against
him brought by Stone Enos 1843
6. Statement of account of Messrs. S. and William Ayres with Samuel Stone, August
- October, 1843
7. Statement of account of Robert W. Williams with Captain Samuel Stone, 1843-1844
8. Report by James L. Denny, cashier of the Bank of Virginia office at Danville,
of a list of bonds deposited by John Dickinson, trustee for William Linn - when
collected, the bonds were to be applied to Mr. William Linn's debt -January
13, 1844
9. Receipt for $5.49 received from B.B. Walker, Postmaster at Mount Airy, Va.,
by Robert M. Jordan, July 2, 1849 - Note written by Robert Jordan on reverse
side
Folder 10: Receipts, Statements, Bonds 1850-1859
1. Stock certificate of Suffolk Savings Bank - September 1, 1852 - Thomas J.
Kilby
2. Receipt for $250.00 paid on April 23, 1853 by Thomas J. Kilby on a bond held
by David B. Beaton against Benjamin Riddick
3. Receipt for payment by Thomas J. Kilby on a bond held by David Beaton against
Benjamin Riddick, June 30, 1855
4. Receipt for payment by Thomas J. Kilby, February 1856 on a bond held by David
E. Beaton against Benjamin Riddick, February, 1856
5. Receipt for payment by William Rison to George W. Trent, August 26, 1856
6. Message of the agent of the Richmond and Danville Railroad, December 18,
1857 addressed to Grasty and Rison
Folder 11: Receipts, Statements, Bonds 1860-1869
1. Receipt for payment by William C. Grasty to John S. Glasgow, August, 1861
2. Certificate for purchase of $200.00 in Confederate bonds, March 19, 1864
by Samuel Ward, Petersburg, VA
3. Certificate of purchase of $200.00 in Confederate bonds, March 19, 1864 by
John Batten, Petersburg, VA
4. Certificate for purchase of $1,000.00 in Confederate bonds, March 19, 1864
by Albert Brinkley, Petersburg, VA
5. Certificate for the purchase of $2,300.00 in Confederate bonds by Mills Rodgers,
March 19, 1864, Petersburg, VA
6. Certificate for the purchase of $300.00 in Confederate bonds by Jonas Wilkins,
March, 1864, Petersburg, VA
7. Certificate for the purchase of $1,000.00 in Confederate bonds by John F.
Pinner March 19, 1864, Petersburg, VA
8. Certificate for the purchase of $600.00 in Confederate bonds by James Riddick
of Williamsburg (?) March 19, 1864, Petersburg, VA
9. Certificate for purchase of $100.00 in Confederate bonds by Amos Harrell,
March 19, 1864, Petersburg, VA
10. Stock certificate indicating that T.J. Kilby has fifty-two shares of stock
in the Bank of the City of Petersburg, March 22 1864
Folder 12: Receipts, Statements, Bonds 1870-1899
1. Receipt for payment in full of a life insurance policy for Thomas J. Kilby,
April 13, 1873
2. Certificate of indebtedness of the Commonwealth of Virginia to Thomas Kilby,
September 5, 1873-July 1, 1872 - unpaid interest on the regular debt
3. A stock certificate for one share in The Suffolk Collegiate Institute. The
stock was owned by Kilby, Parker and Co. of Suffolk, certificate dated September
29, 1876
4. Note of V.S. Kilby for $1,000 owed to Thomas J. Kilby, May 29, 1877
5. Savings Account book - The Farmers Bank of Nansemond, Suffolk, Va. - account
of V.S. Kilby, Suffolk, Va, 1889
6. Stock Certificate - The Suffolk Street Railway Company of Suffolk, Virginia
-one share - Virginius S. Kilby, June 13, 1893
Series III: Newspaper Clippings
Folder 13: Newspaper Clippings
1. Assorted clippings - probably from the Baltimore Sun
2. Clipping in re: estate of William Keyser
3. Clipping in re: Union Army and Confederate Army strength
Series IV: Miscellaneous
Folder 14: Miscellaneous Materials
1. Confederate currency $5
2. $200.00 bond of the Confederate States of America
3. Notification of membership in the National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution for Miss Jennie Clark Grasty, November 7, 1899
4. Envelope of sketches and paper cut outs
Box 2 (oversize)
1. Confederate bond for $500.00
2. Facsimile copy of the bail bond of Jefferson Davis, accepted by US Court
at Richmond, November, 1867
3. Envelope containing art work
4. Pittsylvania County of Virginia Post Office Account Statement from December
31, 1843 to March 31, 1844
5. 1906 Daughters of the American Revolution membership certificate for Mrs.
Mary Claiborne Kilby
6. Piedmont Real Estate Insurance Company Life Insurance Policy for Thomas Jefferson
Kilby in 1868
7. 1787 Indenture for the lands of John Owen, Deceased
Container 1 (oversize)
1. Family Tree for the Harrison's of James River
2. Family Tree for the Claiborne's of England and America
Revised: 7/14/08
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