Washington G. Singleton Papers

171 WFCHS

Scope and Content: This collection contains business correspondence and financial records for W.G. Singleton, Attorney of the U.S. for the Western District of Virginia for President Andrew Jackson.
Note:  Correspondence is addressed to Singleton from other people including family members. However, the bulk regards matters before him in his official capacities as U.S. Attorney and Clerk of the Superior Court. The papers cover 1829-1866.
(4 boxes) Last updated 08/2018.

Biographical/Historical: Washington G. Singleton, son of Joshua Singleton and Nancy Wynne, was born ca. 1798 in Virginia. He married Maria Antoinette Waite on April 26, 1823. Admitted to the practice of law in 1828, he was appointed Attorney for the U.S. for the Western District of Virginia by President Andrew Jackson in 1834. He served in that office until 1842. In 1858, Singleton became Clerk of the Superior Court of the Chancery in 1858. After the court adjourned on September 5, 1864, the court met at Singleton’s home on Cork Street. He and Maria had eight children, all born in Winchester. He continued to practice law until his death in 1866.

Cite As: Washington G. Singleton Papers, 171 WFCHS, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA, USA.

Organization:

Box 1 Correspondence

Revolutionary War Soldier Pensions—letters offering inquiries into pensions of soldiers of the Revolution (March 11, 1834-March 8, 1855); 20 letters (transcribed), printed/typescript. *NOTE: Original letters of transcribed versions filed within correspondence. Folder contains the following:

• Bevine,  Andrew (June 4, 1838)
• Dent, Marshall M. (March 8, 1855)
• Edwards, John S. (May 3, 1853)
• Faulkner, Char Jam (February 9, 1855)
• Gilpin, H.D. (April 13, 1838 and April 18, 1838)
• Goff, Nathan (February 24, 1835)
• Good, M.C. (February 11, 1836)
• Hagman, Peter (March 11, 1834)
• Kinchalore, Thomas (March 15, 1842)
• Lucus, E. (December 18, 1835)
• Moore, Richard W. (October 12, 1838)
• Morris, D.G. (November 25, 1835)
• Points, James (November 29, 1834)
• Sanders, Lewis (December 20, 1835)
• Smith, Alex (January 23, 1835)
• Squires, Asa (July 12, 1839)
• Thomas, J.B. (October 3, 1840)
• Vosburgh, Isaac (August 14, 1835)
• William, H.C. (February 22, 1855)

1829, 1 page, manuscript
1832, 2 leaves, manuscript (photocopy); 1 page, manuscript
1833, 5 pages, manuscript
1834, 2 pages, printed with manuscript notes; 56 pages, manuscript
1835, 64 pages, manuscript
1836, 50 pages, manuscript
1837, 74 pages, manuscript
1838, 51 pages, manuscript
1839, January-April, 47 pages, manuscript
1839, May-December, 52 pages, manuscript

BOX 2 Correspondence

1840, January-June, 42 pages, manuscript; 1 page, manuscript on printed form
1840, July-December, 1 page, printed with manuscript note; 62 pages, manuscript
1841, 2 pages, printed with manuscript note; 76 pages, manuscript
1842, January-May, 73 pages, manuscript
1842, June-December, 87 pages, manuscript
1843, January-May, 53 pages, manuscript
1843, June-December, 65 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, printed

BOX 3 Correspondence

1844 and 1848 letters –signed by James Buchanan, 2 pages, manuscript
1844, 76 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, printed
1845, 81 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, printed with manuscript note
1846, 70 pages, manuscript
1847, 57 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form
1848, 67 pages, manuscript
1849, 68 pages, manuscript
1850, 41 pages, manuscript

BOX 4 Correspondence

1851, 32 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form
1852, 46 pages, manuscript
1853, 52 pages, manuscript
1854, 31 pages, manuscript
1855, 20 pages, manuscript
1856, 8 pages, manuscript
1857, 20 pages, manuscript
1858, 9 pages, manuscript
1859, 20 pages, manuscript
1860, 7 pages, manuscript
No date, 15 pages, manuscript

Legal papers, 1790-1842, 8 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form

Miscellaneous, 9 items, printed:
"Mr. Jefferson's Letters on Subject of Convention," by Samuel Kercheval, 1829, 12 pages
Proceeding, Public Dinner given to Ex-Senator William C. Rives in Albemarle County, no date, 8 pages
Message -- President of the United States, on objections to Bank Bill, 1832, 13 pages
White, Mr. of Tennessee -- speech on prolonging Bank of U. S. charter, 1834, 24 pages
Harris, Hon. Benjamin G. -- House of Representatives, June 14, 1866, 8 pages
Honey Blade Hungarian Grass Seed, pamphlet, 15 pages
Mirror of Mirth, Volume 1, No. 3 ‑Ferguson & Bowen, Winchester, December 19, 1835, 4 pages
Broadside, no date - "To the Freeholders of the District (Frederick & Shenandoah)," 1 leaf
Broadside, no date - "An Address to Parents . . .," John B. Snyder, Woodstock, 1 leaf

Receipts, 1831-1850, 6 leaves, 1 page, manuscript

Religious items, 22 pages, manuscript; 1 leaf, printed

Selected letters of Singleton Family, primarily family data, 2 leaves, manuscript on printed form; 63 leaves, manuscript (photocopy)

Singleton, Obed ‑ report card, Winchester Academy, 1844, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form

Singleton, Washington G. - will, Winchester City Clerk's Office, Will Book 2, page 269, 3 leaves, manuscript (photocopy)

MAPCASE 1, DRAWER 11

Document with seal granting Washington G. Singleton as Deputy Grand Master over Masonic District No. 14 of the Grand Lodge of Virginia. December 17, 1840

See article in “General James Washington Singleton and Colonel Ward Hill Lamon, Local area confidants of Abraham Lincoln” in Winchester-Frederick County Historical Society Journal, Volume XVI, 2004.