Virginia Central Railroad Company Rental Receipt,
Scope and Content
This collection contains a rental receipt for the labor of Isaac, an enslaved man. The receipt was issued by the Virginia Central Railroad Company in 1855 to Mrs. Elisabeth S. Lindsay and promises a payment of $175 to Lindsay after the one year rental period ends. The receipt is a check-sized form made out to Mrs. Elisabeth S. Lindsay. The receipt promises to pay Mrs. Lindsay $175 in exchange for the enslavement of Isaac to the railroad for the year 1856. The document also states that money is to be paid after the first day of January 1857 and that the railroad must return Isaac with a hat and blanket and be well clothed
. The receipt is signed by E. Fontaine, president of the Virginia Central Railroad Company. The back of the document bares the signature of Lindsay and states that the sum was paid out on January 15, 1857.
Dates
- 1855 - 1857
Creator
- Virginia Central Railroad Company (Organization)
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
Use Restrictions
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.
Historical Note
The Virginia Central Railroad Company started as the Louisa Railroad Company. Formed in 1836, the Louisa Railroad Company built several railroad lines in south and central Virginia. In 1850, the company name was changed to the Virginia Central Railroad Company. The company's trains and tracks became vital to the Confederacy during the Civil War, transporting men and supplies throughout Virginia. Most of the rail lines belonging to the Virginia Central Railroad Company were destroyed by order of Generals Ulysses S. Grant and Phillip Sheridan. Although heavily damaged at the end of the Civil War, the railroad was rebuilt and fully operational by the end of 1865. The Virginia Central Railroad Company merged with the Covington and Ohio Railroad in 1868 to form the Chesapeake and Ohio Railroad.
Extent
0.1 Cubic Feet (1 folder)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection contains a rental receipt for the labor of Isaac, an enslaved man. The receipt was issued by the Virginia Central Railroad Company in 1855 to Mrs. Elisabeth S. Lindsay and promises a payment of $175 to Lindsay after the one year rental period ends.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by material type.
Acquisition Information
The Virginia Central Railroad Company Rental Receipt was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in 2014.
Processing Information
The processing, arrangement, and description of the Virginia Central Railroad Company Rental Receipt was completed in July 2015.
- Title
- A Guide to the Virginia Central Railroad Rental Receipt, 1855-1857
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Ryan Mair
- Date
- 2015, 2022 (CC0 1.0)
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Revision Statements
- 2022-10-14: Updated description to person-first language when discussing enslaved people. adw
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