Creator: Riggan, E. H.
Collection number: 2366-z
View finding aid.
Abstract: The collection is an account book, with cash account entries chiefly dated 1854-1864, kept by an individual, presumably E. H. Riggan, who apparently lived in or near Mecklenburg County, Va. [The most frequent references in the volumes to locations are Boydton (Mecklenburg County) and Lawrenceville (Brunswick County, Va.), although there are references to other locations, such as Richmond and Petersburg, Va., and Raleigh and Warrenton, N.C.; appearances of Riggan’s name in the account book and elsewhere suggest that he or she may have made the entries.] The book includes records of payments received for bacon, beef, sugar, oats, tobacco, wheat, and other products, and of payments made for items such as buttons, boots, butter, apples, coal, and confectioneries, and for labor, such as sewing and farm work. Some entries refer to slave hires and cash given to slaves for corn, tobacco, coal, and extra work. Entries in 1863 record work done by slaves on fortifications. There are occasional records of payments for dental procedures, and a few notes in the front of the volume on predicting weather, horse breeding, and growing fruit trees.
Repository: Southern Historical Collection
Collection Highlights: Some entries refer to slave hiring and to cash given to slaves in exchange for corn, tobacco, coal, and extra work. Entries during 1863 record slave labor on fortifications.