Jacob Sperry Family Papers

817 THL

Finding aid created by Archives Staff 08/1988. Last revised 12/2021.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: Collection is open to all researchers. 

USE RESTRICTIONS: Restrictions may apply concerning the use, photoduplication, or publication of items in this collection. Consult a member of the archives staff for information concerning these restrictions. The user assumes all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants of copyright.

EXTENT:  0.25 linear feet

DATE: 1779-1847

LANGUAGE OF MATERIALS: English, German. 

ALTERNATIVE FORM AVAILABLE: Selected items from this collection are digitized [GSU Disc 006-02].

SCOPE AND CONTENT: This collection consists of Jacob Sperry’s will dated 1807, Catherine Elizabeth Sperry’s will dated 1847, indentures between John Lantz and Jacob Sperry dated 1779, and the family record in German of Jacob and Elizabeth Sperry, 1790-1805.

BIOGRAPHICAL/HISTORICAL:  Jacob Sperry was born about 1754 to Peter Sperry/Speary and Catherine E. Wolff. He was a member of Daniel Morgan’s Virginia Riflemen, also known as the “Dutch Mess,” and participated in the attack on Quebec with Morgan in 1775 where he was captured. Jacob married Catherine Elizabeth Lauck. Jacob Sperry died in 1808 and is buried in Mount Hebron Cemetery, Winchester, VA. 

BIBLIOGRAPHY: Quarles, Garland R. and Barton, Lewis N., Ed., What I Know About Winchester, The Recollections of William Greenway Russell, 1800-1891, Staunton, VA: McClure Publishing Co., 1972; Virginia General Assembly, Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission, Special Report: Preservation of Revolutionary War Veterans Gravesites in Virginia, Richmond, VA: Commonwealth of Virginia, 2001; Pension application of widow, Catherine. 

CITE AS: Jacob Sperry Family Papers, 817 THL, Stewart Bell Jr. Archives, Handley Regional Library, Winchester, VA. 

ACQUISITION INFORMATION: Acquired as a gift.

ORGANIZATION: 

BOX 1

Sperry, Catherine E.–Indenture for the purchase of Lot 215 in Mt. Hebron Cemetery, 1 leaf, manuscript on printed form

Sperry family–Miscellaneous papers, 1836-1856, unnumbered leaves, manuscript; manuscript on printed form

Sperry family–Miscellaneous papers, 1861-1868, unnumbered leaves, manuscript; manuscript on printed form

Sperry family–Miscellaneous papers, 1876-1889, unnumbered leaves, manuscript; manuscript on printed form

Sperry family–Wills, 1860 and n.d., 2 items, manuscript

Tax receipts of the Sperry family, 1834-1862, unnumbered leaves, manuscript; manuscript on printed form

OVERSIZE

MAPCASE 1, DRAWER 13 

Jacob Sperry—Will, November 5, 1807, manuscript

Family record of Jacob and Elizabeth (Lauck) Sperry, 1790-1805, manuscript in German

Catherine Elizabeth Sperry—Will, 1847, manuscript

Indenture—John and Susannah Lantz to Jacob Sperry, Lot 113, April 2, 1779, manuscript on printed form

Indenture - John Lantz to Jacob Sperry, Lot 113, April 1, 1779, manuscript on printed form