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John McGill papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-0043

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of incoming letters, financial records, records of the William Shepherd estate, and J. Hopkins Brothers and Company records all ranging in date from 1827 to 1849. The bulk of the incoming letters are from Baltimore merchants, and describe their claims--name, date, amount and terms. Often, this information was placed on a separate piece of paper. In some cases, the statement and not the letter has survived; these are filed with the incoming letters by merchant name. The second series consists of McGill's financial records (1829-1849) and includes receipts for purchases, daybook entries of accounts McGill had with various merchants, and receipts for payments received from McGill as settlement for debts. McGill administered the financial accounts of J. Hopkins Brothers and Company. This series contains daybook entries of transactions and receipts for accounts payable and receivable. Claims against the estate of William Shepherd form the fourth series. This also includes an account of slaves hired out by the estate in 1838.

Dates

  • Creation: 1827-1849

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information.

Collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical Note

John McGill was a lawyer in Urbana, Virginia (in Middlesex County), and flourished between 1827 and 1848. He acted as a collection agent for Baltimore firms owed outstanding debts by Virginians residing in King and Queen, Gloucester, Middlesex, King William and Matthew counties (between Richmond and the Rappahannock River).

In addition to his collection duties, McGill had power of attorney for some firms, most notably that of J. Hopkins Brothers and Company, a large grocer. The business was located at Pratt Street Wharf (c. 1829-1938), and later at Lombard and Grant Streets (c. 1839-?). This give McGill the responsibility of both collecting debts owed to the firm and acting on accounts payable.

McGill administered the estate of fellow Virginian, Colonel William Shepherd, a resident of Churchville in Middlesex County. It is not clear if he was a relative or business associate. Receipts and daybook entries in the collection outline the disposition of the estate.

Biographical information was gleaned from the collection.

Extent

0.71 Cubic Feet (1 legal size document box, 1 legal half-size document box)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

John McGill was a lawyer in Urbana, Virginia (in Middlesex County), and flourished between 1827 and 1848. The collection consists of incoming letters, financial records, records of the William Shepherd estate, and J. Hopkins Brothers and Company records all ranging in date from 1827 to 1849. The bulk of the incoming letters are from Baltimore merchants.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The papers were purchased by the University library in 1939 from H. R. Hughes of Richmond, Virginia.

Processing Information

Finding aid prepared by Margaret Burri in 1988. At some point, part of the papers dealing with J. Hopkins Bros. and Company were placed in the Johns Hopkins University Collection and then transferred to the Johns Hopkins Collection. When the McGill Papers were processed in 1988, this alienated portion was reunited with the company records already in the McGill Papers.

Title
John McGill papers
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
The Sheridan Libraries
Special Collections
3400 N Charles St
Baltimore MD 21218 USA