Box 5

Scope and Contents From the File: The Wickham family papers (1704-1950; 9.5 cubic feet) consist of papers of Richmond, Virginia and “Hickory Hill” plantation in Hanover County, Virginia, including the families of John Wickham (1763-1839), his son, William Fanning Wickham (1793-1880), grandson, Williams Carter Wickham (1820-1888), and great-grandson, Henry Taylor Wickham (1849-1943). The collection contains business correspondence, chiefly concerning legal and agricultural pursuits; family correspondence with...

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Discusses arrangements for the support of Mr. Harrison’s children and his disappointment with Dr. Selden.

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Letter of introduction from Henry Clay for Mr. Bainbridge of Kentucky to John Wickham.

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Kerr requests copies of any ordinances or laws concerning lands either given or planned to be given by the state of Virginia to the officers and soldiers who served in either the Continental Army or the Virginia state militia for use in the United States Court in Ohio.

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Discusses the best way to secure the claim of Dr. McClurg for surgeon pay during his service in the Continental Army, keeping in mind that the United States will soon find a use for surplus money and mentions Henry Clay as doing a great deal of good [in Congress?].

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Recommends that they make sure that Dr. [James] McClurg’s will is recorded in Kentucky.

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Notifies Wickham that he has located among his scorched papers enough information to send him a transcript of all he knows or remembers about the bonds of Mr. Balfour and invites him to visit Studley, Virginia.

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Mentions the health concerns of family members and friends in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Describes the worsening physical condition of Walter [Maclurg Wickham?] in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Notifies Wickham about the death of Walter [Maclurg Wickham?] in Baltimore, Maryland.

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Requests Wickham provide the wording to a decree that would enable a sale of his property in Richmond, Virginia, to proceed since his power of attorney, Mr. Botts, was unable to perform his duties.

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One letter, March 24, 1820, incomplete, last page only, John Randolph of Roanoke writes concerning Stephen Decatur’s death. In a second letter, April 1, 1820, part of the letter and autograph signature excised, John Randolph of Roanoke thanks Wickham for his indulgence and civility in the matter of his father’s estate and mentions [Littleton Waller] Tazewell’s move to Norfolk.,

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Topics include: request for advice on a business proposition concerning property offered by Mr. Page as security for the payment of Tazewell’s stock (July 4 and 9, 1819); Tazewell’s current ill health (November 26, 1819); criticism of President John Quincy Adams and a description of a duel between Henry Clay and John Randolph of Roanoke (April 8, 1826); and damages suffered during a hurricane (October 14, 1838).

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Letters concerns legal work performed by Wickham for Richardson.

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Expresses concern over several outbreaks of cholera among citizens and enslaved laborers on the plantation.

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Writes from White Sulphur Springs about the convalescence of Susan [Decatur Wickham (1819 -1831)].

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John Wickham addresses business matters in his absence on a trip to Philadelphia, sending four letters from stops in Washington, Baltimore, New York and Philadelphia.

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He discusses the prospects for the wheat crop, the demand for flour in [American] towns and South America, and reports on his conversations with Mr. Haxall about pricing if the crop is delivered early (May through August 1830) and the last letter mentions their pleasant stay at the Sulphur Springs and Sweet Springs and the journey home, the drought in Kentucky and Ohio, and “this new explosion in France” (September 24, 1830).

Scope and Contents Wickham writes to his son William F. Wickham with concerns about his wheat crop, a notification of an outbreak of disease at Howard School for boys from Jonathan Loring Woart, and the preoccupation of the Virginia General Assembly over internal improvements (January 29 and May 30, 1834); the design of a mill powered by water (February 21, 1834); discussions about the Bank of Virginia and the elections (April 17 and 21, 1834); discussions about possible schools for their boys and rumors of a...

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Wickham writes to his son William F. Wickham with concerns about his wheat crop (July 6, 1837) and to his sons at the University of Virginia, George and Littleton W.T. Wickham with advice about their studies, especially geology and the study of soils, and their visit to the Natural Bridge (May 15, 1837).