Squire Bosworth Papers
Scope and Content
This collection contains papers of Squire Bosworth, a physician and county court clerk of Randolph County, Virginia (later West Virginia). The collection includes correspondence of Bosworth, other members of his family, and seemingly unrelated individuals. Among the correspondence are several post-American Civil War letters written by family and friends, discussing the political climate of the day in Virginia and West Virginia as well as Reconstruction issues in North Carolina and Virginia. Also among the correspondence is a letter from Squire Bosworth filing a claim against the U. S. government for services he rendered as a physician during the war. An 1849 letter from E. D. Wilson of Philippi provides information on area politics and mentions the growing urbanization of Beverly, (West) Virginia. Also within the correspondence are several letters addressed to Bosworth in his capacity as Randolph County court clerk.
Among the legal papers in the collection is an 1848 bill of sale for a female enslaved person named Huldah, purchased by Squire Bosworth from Peter Buckey. The collection also contains a summons ordering Squire Bosworth to appear before a local voter registration board to explain why his name should not be stricken from the local roll of voters. Also contained are deeds, marriage certificates, Bosworth's medical license, and a certificate granting local patent rights to a hillside plow improvement. The collection also contains several documents relating to attempts by John W. Bosworth, acting as the executor of his father's estate, to secure a claim against the U. S. government for goods confiscated by the army during the Civil War.
Dates
- 1848 - 1892
Creator
- Bosworth, Squire, 1785-1870 (Person)
- Bosworth family (Randolph County, Va. (now WV)) (Family)
Language of Materials
The materials in the collection are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Reproduction and Use
The copyright status of this collection is unknown. Copyright restrictions may apply. Contact Special Collections and University Archives for assistance in determining the use of these materials.
Reproduction or digitization of materials for personal or research use can be requested using our reproduction/digitization form: http://bit.ly/scuareproduction. Reproduction or digitization of materials for publication or exhibit use can be requested using our publication/exhibition form: http://bit.ly/scuapublication. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives (specref@vt.edu or 540-231-6308) if you need assistance with forms or to submit a completed form.
Biographical Note
Squire Bosworth, the son of Joshua Bosworth, was born in Montgomery, Massachusetts in 1785. He moved with his family to what is northwestern Virginia (now West Virginia) while still young. After teaching school in Parkersburg and Beverly, Bosworth studied medicine under a Dr. Dolbear and established his practice in Beverly. He served for a time as Randolph County court clerk and as deputy sheriff and represented Randolph and Tucker counties in the Virginia General Assembly. Bosworth married Hannah Buckey, daughter of Peter Buckey, in 1816, and the couple would have ten children: John W., Squire N., George W., Elam B., Rebecca, Lucy, Harriet, Martha, Christina, and Mary. Squire Bosworth died in Beverly, West Virginia in 1870. His son, John W. Bosworth, would also become a physician. Another son, Squire N. Bosworth, served during the American Civil War in the 31st Virginia Infantry. Following the war, Squire N. Bosworth married Florence A. Brown (daughter of Bernard L. Brown). He worked as a dry goods merchant and served for many years as Beverly's postmaster.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Abstract
The collection contains the papers of Squire Bosworth, a physician and county court clerk of Randolph County, Virginia (later West Virginia), including correspondence, legal papers, and financial documents.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged by document type, then chronologically.
Source of Acquisition
The Squire Bosworth Papers were purchased in two lots from the same source in May 2010. The first lot was comprised entirely of materials dated prior to 1865; the second, of materials dated from 1865 to 1892, plus a single undated letter.
Existence and Location of Copies
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Squire Bosworth Papers by Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech, is licensed under a CC0 (https://creativecommons.org/share-your-work/public-domain/cc0/).
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Squire Bosworth Papers commenced in July 2010 and was completed in August 2010.
- Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, March 12, 1849 (Ms2010-060)
- Receipt, for Subscription to The Richmond Examiner (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, December 4, 1853 (Ms2010-060)
- Receipt, for Subscription to The Central Presbyterian (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, April, 1869 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, Unidentified to 'Uncle,' Bridgewater Va., October 6, 1867 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, Alfred H. Reiss to Squire Bosworth, Baltimore Md., February 3, 1865 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, 'B' (Sunny Manse) to 'Pa & Ma,' January 3, 1868 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, E. D. Wilson to B. L. Brown, Philippi Va. (now WV), February 16, 1849 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, John W.. Bosworth to 'Pa' (Squire Bosworth), Fishersville Va., September 2, 1867 (Ms2010-060)
- Claim Testimony Transcipt, John W. Bosworth, n.d. (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, Mollie D. B. to 'Pa,' Philippi WVa., September 20, 1869 (Ms2010-060)
- Interrogatories on Merits of Claim, n.d. (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, 'Sister Bee' (Sunny Manse) to 'Bro,' n.d. (Ms2010-060)
- Summons, Votes for the Recorder, Randolph County Va., 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, M. A. Root to Squire Bosworth, Philadelphia Pa., March 21, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, from Attorney George A. King regarding Bosworth claim, Court of Claims, August 24, 1892 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, 'Sister Bee' (Sunny Manse) to 'Bro Newt,' June 29, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, from Attorney George A. King regarding Bosworth Claim, August 24, 1892 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, Squire Bosworth to E. B. French, Beverly WVa., December 24, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Interrogatories on Loyalty, n.d. (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, Benj. H. Smith to Squire Bosworth, Wheeling WVa., July 21, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Promissory Note, Signed by S. N. Bosworth, Beverly WV., January 22, 1892 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, Frank McIntosh to John. W. Bosworth, Richmond County NC., January 1, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, John B. Smith to Squire Bosworth, Waynesboro Va., December 1, 1865 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, Mollie to 'Mr. Bosworth,' Cumberland County Va., February 26, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, 'John' (John W. Bosworth) to 'Pa' (Squire Bosworth), Baltimore Md., February 22, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, 'Newt' (Squire Newton Bosworth) to 'Friend,' Camp Pegram's Brigade, September 6, 1864 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, William H. Richardson to Squire Bosworth, July 17 1859 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, J. H. Arbogast to Squire Bosworth, Waynesboro Va., October 14, 1865 (Ms2010-060)
- Letter, William [Ewin?] to B. L. Brown, St. George [WVa.?], August 31, 1865 (Ms2010-060)
- Pay Voucher, for Election Officer, Randolph County Va., 1860 (Ms2010-060)
- Bill of Sale, for Female Slave Named Huldah, Randolph County Va., 1848 (Ms2010-060)
- Deed, Granting Squire Bosworth Regional Patent Rights to William H. Babbit's Improvements to the Hillside Plow, Randolph County Va., July 18, 1856 (Ms2010-060)
- Certificate of Election, Abraham Hulton, Justice of the Peace, Randolph County Va., June 24, 1860 (Ms2010-060)
- Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, February 25, 1853 (Ms2010-060)
- Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, April 4, 1854 (Ms2010-060)
- Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, June 11, 1855 (Ms2010-060)
- Receipt, for Subscription to The Whig (Newspaper), Squire Bosworth, December 9, 1855 (Ms2010-060)
- Marriage License, Marshall Schoonover and Eliza Louk, Randolph County Va., May 9, 1861 (Ms2010-060)
- Summons, From State of West Virginia, Randolph County to Squire Bosworth, July 10, 1866 (ms2010-060)
- Medical License, S. Bosworth, Morganstown WV., May 17, 1866 (Ms2010-060)
- Squire Bosworth Papers, 1848-1892 (Ms2010-060)
- Petition, Filed in Claim of Squire Bosworth Estate Against U.S. Government for Wartime Losses, November 6, 1888 (Ms2010-060)
- Certificate of Election, Justices of the Peace, Randolph County Va., June 24, 1860 (Ms2010-060)
- Summons for Archibald Earl, Witness in Matter of Senter v. Cottell, Randolph County Va., August 6, 1860 (Ms2010-060)
- Marriage Certificate, Mary M. Chenoweth and Hicman Triplett, Randolph County Va., January 19, 1861 (Ms2010-060)
- Marriage License, Chenoweth B. Hart and Rhoda J. Lewis, Randolph County Va., April 25, 1861 (Ms2010-060)
- Title
- Squire Bosworth Papers, 1848-1892
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- John M. Jackson, Archivist
- Date
- 2010 (CC0 1.0)
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and University Archives, Virginia Tech Repository
Special Collections and University Archives, University Libraries (0434)
560 Drillfield Drive
Newman Library, Virginia Tech
Blacksburg Virginia 24061 US
540-231-6308
specref@vt.edu