Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have been transferred to the James Madison University Special Collection Library. For more information, contact the Special Collections Library Reference Desk (library-special@jmu.edu).

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the James Madison University Special Collections Library to use this collection.

Provenance

The papers were purchased by Dale Harter and Pat Turner Ritchie at an auction held by Jeffrey Evans & Associates before being donated to Special Collections. The papers came from a Rockingham County, Virginia estate.

Preferred Citation

[identification of item], [box #, folder #], Michael Baker Estate Papers, 1810-1839, SC 0120, Special Collections, Carrier Library, James Madison University, Harrisonburg, Va.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated to Special Collections in July 2010 by Dale Harter.

Processing Information

In order to streamline the process of applying collection numbers, Special Collections staff completed a large-scale renumbering campaign in the spring of 2017.  This collection was previously cataloged as SC 2100.

Bio/Historical Note

Michael Baker (1747-1803) was a large landholder and store owner in Brocks Gap in northwest Rockingham County. His store, located at the mouth of Lairs Run, served customers from Runions Creek, Bergton, Dry River, Criders, and Pendleton County, West Virginia. Baker also owned a house lot, tanyard, a slaughterhouse and lot in Georgetown, Maryland, and acreage in Greenbrier County, West Virginia. His estate was almost three times as large as any other estate in Rockingham County during 1800-1810. Michael and his wife, Elizabeth, who died in December 1824, had twelve children. Many of the children, including Sarah, Catharine, Isaac, Abraham, and John, are referred to in the documents within this collection.

Scope and Content

The Michael Baker Estate Papers,1810-1839, consists of one folder of receipts, legal notes, correspondence, and the sale bill of the Michael Baker estate.

Comprised of thirteen documents, this collection contains the 1810 sale bill from the Michael Baker estate, legal notes and notices of received payments pertaining to the division of assets from the Elizabeth Baker estate, and a letter written by John Baker referencing the sale of land in Brocks Gap.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged chronologically in one folder.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Baker family -- Records and correspondence
• Estate records
• Merchants -- Virginia -- Rockingham County -- Records and correspondence
• Rockingham County (Va.) -- History, Local -- Sources
• Virginia -- History, Local -- Sources