John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
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Guide to the William Fleming Collection, Manuscript MS 96.12, John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Library, Colonial Williamsburg Foundation
Gift, 1996.
William Fleming was born to John and Mary (Bolling) Fleming in Cumberland County, Va. Fleming studied law at the College of William and Mary and graduated in 1763. He held various political positions, including serving in the House of Burgesses and the House of Delegates, acting as a delegate to the Virginia Convention held in 1775-1776, and serving as a delegate from Cumberland County to the Continental Congress. In December 1788, Fleming received an appointment to the first Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals and served as a judge for this court until 1824.
This collection includes several documents pertaining to Fleming's term as a Court of Appeals judge, such as notes on cases and Governor Beverley Randolph's official appointment of Fleming to the Court of Appeals. Financial and legal documents relating to Fleming's personal affairs are also present. They encompass receipts, bonds, accounts, and tax records. A list of taxable personal property includes the names of 46 slaves he owned.
In addition, a few documents are present which concern other individuals. They include a license for Robert Stanard to practice law, a writ for arrest, and a copy of a bill of chancery. These may be papers Fleming acquired in the course of operating his law practice.
Individuals mentioned in the documents include: John Banks; Thomas Blane; Thomas Bolling; Adam Craig; John Fleming; Thomas Fleming; William Fleming; Robert Gilliam; Daniel Mayo; William Mayo; Thomas Nelson; Beverley Randolph; Philip Sansum; Warner Servis; William Thomas; and John Wood.
Chronologically arranged.
Thos. Bolling to Wm. Fleming.
Robert Gilliam to Wm. Fleming.
William Fleming's taxable property in Chesterfield.
William Fleming to the Court of Appeals, signed by Governor Beverley Randolph.
For wheat sold by William Fleming to William Lee, Manchester.
Signed by Thomas Nelson, clerk of the Gloucester County Court, relating to the lawsuit of Blanc (assignee of Young) v. Sansum and Warner Lewis.
Drawn of Wm. Fleming by John Wood.
Signed by Adam Craig.
Written by Judge Fleming in response to Judge John Coalter's objections in the lawsuit Mayo v. Murchie, which concerned land in the City of Richmond.
Signed by Edmund Pendleton, Peter Lyons, and Spencer Roane. Stanard became a judge for the Court of Appeals.
Copy of pp.5-8 of a bill of chancery concerning the lawsuit of Cabbell v. Mayo, a dispute regarding land along the Fluvanna River.