Peter Saunders Family Papers
Scope and Content
This collection contains correspondence, receipts, and leaflets belonging to Peter Saunders, a farmer from Franklin County, Virginia. The items in this collection dated 1874-1886 contains correspondence to Peter Saunders about his farm as well as receipts and advertisements for farm equipment from various companies, including the Lee, Taylor, and Payne Leaf Tobacco Company, the Watt and Call Sole Agents of Richmond, Virginia, and Poole and Hunt. Additionally, three letters dated January 1884 discuss the appointment of Edward Watts Saunders, Peter Saunders' son, as the judge of Franklin County, Virginia. Three letters dated 1873-1874 are from a person with the initial M addressed to a woman named Annie, who may be Peter Saunders' sister Ann Saunders Preston.
Dates
- 1873 - 1886
Creator
- Saunders, Peter, 1823-1904 (Person)
Language of Materials
The material in this collection is 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
Peter Saunders (1823-1904) was a lawyer and farmer from Franklin County, Virginia. Saunders came from a very well-known family. His grandfather was Peter Saunders, Sr., coined as the "Pioneer of Franklin County," and his father was Judge Fleming Saunders (1778-1858), who enslaved over 150 people. Peter Saunders married Elizabeth Dabney in 1855. Together they had four children. Their oldest son, Edward Watts Saunders (1860-1921), was a member of Congress, judge of the Circuit Court, and a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Peter Saunders had a sister named Ann M. Saunders (1825-1911) who married in 1846 to Thomas L. Preston, professor at the University of Virginia and grandson of Col. William Preston.
External Sources:
United States Federal Census, 1860.
"Fleming Saunders" entry, findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118549296/fleming-saunders, accessed on September 27, 2024.
National Register of Historic Places, Bleak Hill, Callaway, Franklin County, Virginia, National Register #10244018, https://www.dhr.virginia.gov/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/033-0002_Bleak_Hill_2002_Final_Nomination.pdf, accessed on September 27, 2024.
"Ann M. Saunders" in the Virginia, U.S., Select Marriages, 1785-1940, ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/2346591:60214/, accessed on September 27, 2024.
"Anna Mariah Saunders Preston" entry, findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83199701/anna_mariah_preston, accessed Oct. 23, 2024.
"Edward W Saunders" in the Virginia, U.S., Death Records, 1912-2014, ancestry.com, https://www.ancestrylibrary.com/discoveryui-content/view/255817:9278, accessed Oct. 23, 2024.
"SAUNDERS, Edward Watts, 1860 – 1921", Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, https://bioguide.congress.gov/search/bio/S000077, accessed Oct. 23, 2024.
"Edward Watts Saunders" entry, findagrave.com, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/33419197/edward-watts-saunders, accessed on September 27, 2024.
Extent
0.2 Cubic Feet (1 box)
Abstract
This collection contains correspondence, receipts, and leaflets belonging to Peter Saunders (1823-1904), a lawyer and farmer from Franklin County, Virginia. Additionally, three letters dated January 1884 discuss the appointment of Peter Saunders' son, Edward Watts Saunders (1860-1921), as the judge of Franklin County, Virginia. Edward W. Saunders would go on to be a member of Congress, judge of the Circuit Court, and a justice of the Supreme Court of Appeals. Three letters dated 1873-1874 are from a person with the initial M addressed to a woman named Annie, possibly Peter Saunders' sister Ann M. Saunders (1825-1911), who married Col. William Preston's grandson and professor Thomas L. Preston.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged by correspondent. Each folder is arranged chronologically with undated materials at the end.
Source of Acquisition
The Peter Saunders Family Papers was purchased by Special Collections and University Archives in July 2021.
Rights Statement for Archival Description
The guide to the Peter Saunders Family 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 Peter Saunders Family Papers was completed in September 2024.
- Title
- Peter Saunders Family Papers, 1873-1886
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Zoe Brooks, Graduate Assistant
- Date
- 2024 (CC0 1.0)
- 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