Special Collections Research Center
spcoll@wm.eduFinding Aid Authors: Special Collections Staff.
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:
Beverley Papers, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Acquisition Information:
Purchased: 73 items, 5/01/1927.
Biographical Information:
The following biographical sketch is not meant to be exhaustive but merely a brief genealogical sketch of the main contributors/creators of this collection. A more definitive source on the Beverley genealogy can be found in the book, The Beverley family of Virginia; descendants of Major Robert Beverley, 1641-1687, and allied families, by John McGill. Robert Beverley (d.1800) was born in "Blandfield" Virginia. He received his education in England and was elected to the state legislature in 1780 but never took his seat. He married Maria Carter (1745-1817) of "Sabine Hall" Richmond County, Virginia. Together they had the following sixteen children: William Beverley (1763-1823), Maria Beverley (1764-1824), Robert Beverley (1766-1767), Robert Beverley (1769-1843), Lucy Beverley (1771-1854), Burton Beverley (1772-1781), Carter Beverley (b. 1774), Byrd Beverley (b. 1775), James Mills Beverley (1776-1779), Anna Munford Beverley (1778-1830), Munford Beverley (1779-1820), Peter Randolph Beverley (b. 1780), Evelyn Byrd Beverley (1782-1836), McKenzie Beverley (b. 1783), Jane Bradshaw Beverley (1784-1814), Harriet Beverley (1786-1829).
The fourth child of Robert Beverley (d.1800), Robert Beverley (1769-1843), like his father, was also educated in England. He married Jane Tayloe (1774-1816) and lived in "Blandfield." Together they had the following six children: William Bradshaw Beverley (1791-1866), Maria Beverley (d. 1822), Rebecca Tayloe Beverley (d. 1822), James Bradshaw Beverley (b. 1797), Jane Bradshaw Beverley (1805-1822), and Roberta Beverley. Three of the children contracted typhoid fever and died in 1822 upon a visit home to "Blandfield" to visit their parents.
The fifth child of Robert Beverley (d.1800), Lucy Beverley (1771-1854) married Brett Randolph (1766-1828) of "Curles Neck," Henrico County, Virginia in 1789. They had the following eleven children: a son Randolph (1790-1790), Capt. Edward Brett Randolph (1792-1848), Dr. Robert Carter Randolph (1793-1854), Richard Randolph (1795-1885), Victor Moreau Randolph (1797-1876), John Thomson Randolph (1800-1819), Benjamin Franklin Randolph (1801-1802), Benjamin Franklin Randolph (1803-1890), Ryland Randolph (1805-1853), Theoderick Bland Randolph (b. 1807), and Ann Maria Randolph (1811-1845). Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki: .
Scope and Contents
Chiefly letters written to Robert Beverley (1769-1843) of "Blandfield," Essex County, Virginia and Georgetown, D.C. from his sister Lucy (Beverley) Randolph, her husband Brett Randolph and their son Richard Randolph, Jr. (1795-1885). The letters concern slaves given to Lucy Beverley Randolph and her children by her father Robert Beverley (d. 1800), and held in trust by her brother Robert Beverley, some of which were sold to pay debts incurred by her husband.
Also includes letters concerning the lawsuit Beverley v. Pickett, Scott et al. in chancery; the will of John Randolph of Roanoke; and letters, 1830, from John H. Peyton and William Augustine Washington concerning litigation over claims to George Washington's Kanawha lands; and William Byrd's lottery.
Arrangement of Materials:
Organization: This inventory is organized into one series of letters. All other material not included these series is listed separately. Arrangement: Series 1, containing letters, is arranged chronologically by date with those items lacking a date located at the end of the series.
Subjects and Indexing Terms
- Agriculture--Virginia--History--18th century
- Correspondence
- Essex County (Va.)--History--19th century
- Lotteries--United States
- Receipts (financial records)
- Slavery--Southern States--History
- Slavery--Virginia--19th century
Container List
Item 1: Lucy Randolph, at Sandy Ford, to her brother, Robert Beverley, Jr., at Blandfield, Essex County, 13 April 1796 Item 2: Brett Randolph, at Curles, [Henrico County], to Robert Beverley, Jr., at Sans Souci, [Culpeper County], 6 June 1796 Item 3: Brett Randolph, Prince Edward [County], to Robert Beverley, Jr., at Sans Souci, Culpeper County, 26 June 1796 Item 4: Brett Randolph, Prince Edward [County], to Robert Beverley, Jr., Culpeper County, 10 August 1796 Item 5: Lucy Randolph, at Sandy Ford, to Robert Beverley, Jr., at Sans Souci, Culpeper [County], 28 October 1796 Item 6: Brett Randolph, Jr., to Robert Beverley, Jr., at Sans Souci, Culpeper [County], 4 December 1796 Item 7: Brett Randolph, Prince Edward [County], to Robert Beverley, Jr., at Sans Souci, Culpeper County, 14 January 1797 Item 8: Brett Randolph, Jr., Prince Edward [County], to Robert Beverley, Jr., Culpeper County, 19 August 1797 Item 9: Lucy Randolph, at Curles, [Henrico County], to Robert Beverley, Jr., at Sans Souci, Culpeper [County], 29 March 1798 Item 10: Lucy Randolph, at Curles, [Henrico County], to Robert Beverley, Jr.., 6 May 1799 Item 11: Brett Randolph, Jr., at Richmond, to Robert Beverley, Jr., Culpeper County, 24 September 1799 Item 12: Brett Randolph, at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 10 May 1800 Item 13: Brett Randolph, at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, [Essex County], 28 July 1800 Item 14: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 19 September 1800 Item 15: Brett Randolph, [Culpeper County], to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 7 January 1801 Item 16: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 7 March 1801 Item 17: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 18 March 1801 Item 18: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 3 June 1801 Item 19: Brett Randolph, [Culpeper County], to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Essex County, 17 August 1801 Item 20: Brett Randolph, at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, 2 September 1801 Item 21: Brett Randolph, Jr., Culpeper County, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, 8 September 1801 Item 22: Brett Randolph, [Culpeper County], to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 25 October 1801 Item 23: Brett Randolph, at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, [Essex County], 14 July 1802 Item 24: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Mansfield, 2 February 1803 This letter includes an account of Robert Beverley with Brett Randolph. Item 25: Brett Randolph, [at Fredericksburg], to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 11 July 1804 Item 26: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Pittsville Post Office, [Essex County], 25 July 1804 Item 27: Brett Randolph, at B[owling ] Green, [Caroline County], to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 14 August 1804 Item 28: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County), 12 December 1804 Item 29: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, [Essex County], 19 December 1804 Item 30: Brett Randolph, at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 24 January 1805 Item 31: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 27 February 1805 Item 32: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, [Essex County], 20 March 1805 Item 33: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, [Essex County], 27 March 1805 Address changed to "the Reeds." Item 34: Brett Randolph, at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's [Post Office], [Essex County], June 1805 Item 35: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, [District of] Columbia, 2 February 1810 Item 36: Brett Randolph to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, [D. C.], 21 July 1813 Item 37: Lucy Randolph, at The Gift, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, 16 July 1815 Postmarked Culpeper, Virginia. Item 38: Richard Randolph, at Alexandria, to his uncle, Robert Beverley, at Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, Virginia, 23 July 1815
Item 1: William Robinson, at Haward, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, near Loyd's [Post Office], Essex County, 5 February 1817 Postmarked Alexandria. Item 2: Brett Randolph, at Richmond, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, Essex [County], 10 December 1817 Item 3: Brett Randolph, at Richmond, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's [Post Office], Essex County, Virginia, 19 December 1817 Item 4: J. A. Carrington, at Richmond, to [ ? ], 24 October 1821 Item 5: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Richmond, to Robert Beverley, at Fredericksburg, 24 October 1821 Item 6: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Richmond, to Robert Beverley, at Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, 12 December 1821 Item 7: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Williamsburg, to Robert Beverley, at Norfolk, January 1823 Item 8: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Richmond, to Robert Beverley, at Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, Virginia, 5 April 1823 Item 9: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 24 April 1823 Item 10: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Richmond, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 21 June 1823 This letter includes a statement of the account of Robert Beverley with Thomas B. B. Baber, administrator of Col. William Saunders. Item 11: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Up and down, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, 31 October 1825 Item 12: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 1 October 1826 Item 13: V. Moreau Randolph, at Richmond, Virginia, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, D. C., 28 November 1826 Item 14: Richard Randolph, Jr., Spotsylvania [County), to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 9 October 1827 Item 15: Two letters written on the same page, October-November 1827
Richard Randolph, Jr., at Culpeper, to Philip Harrison, at Fredericksburg. 19 October 1827.
P[hilip] Harrison to [ ? ]. 4 November 1827. Item 16: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Culpeper, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 2 December 1827 Item 17: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Culpeper, to Philip Harrison, at Fredericksburg, 23 December 1827 Item 18: Richard Randolph, Jr., to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 4 February 1828 Postmarked Culpeper Court House, Virginia. Item 19: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 14 May 1828 Item 20: Three letters written on the same page, January 1829 - April 1930
John H. Peyton, at Staunton, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia. 16 January 1829.
R[obert] Beverley, to William A[ugustine] Washington. 28 January 1830.
William Augustine Washington to Robert Beverley. April 1830. Item 21: Richard Randolph, Jr., Fauquier County, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, 24 January 1831 Item 22: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Culpeper, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, June 1831 Item 23: Richard Randolph, Jr., to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, 22 December 1833 Postmarked Stevensburg, [Culpeper County], Virginia. Item 24: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, Virginia, 30 June 1834 Item 25: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, 15 August 1834 Item 26: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Fredericksburg, to Robert Beverley, at Blandfield, Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, 7 October 1834 Item 27: Richard Randolph, Jr., to Robert Beverley, at Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, 11 December 1834 Postmarked Culpeper C. H. Item 28: Robert Beverley to [ ? ], Undated Item 29: Robert Beverley to [ ? ], Undated Copy. Item 30: Richard Randolph, Jr., to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, D. C., Undated 2 letters. Item 31: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Culpeper, to Robert Beverley, near Loyd's Post Office, Essex County, Undated Item 32: Richard Randolph, Jr., at Culpeper Court House, to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, Undated Item 33: Richard Randolph, Jr., to William Beverley, at Georgetown, District of Columbia, Undated Item 34: A cover sheet of a letter addressed to Robert Beverley, at Georgetown, D. C, Undated