Libraries in Colonial Virginia; Wm. and Mary Qrtly., Vol. 2, No. 3, 1894

Transcribed by Kathy Merrill for the USGenWeb Archives Special Collections Project

************************************************************************
USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in
any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission
to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access.

http://www.usgwarchives.net
***********************************************************************

Libraries in Colonial Virginia

   William and Mary College Quarterly Historical Papers, Vol. 2, No. 3.
   (Jan., 1894), pp. 169-175.

                        LIBRARIES IN COLONIAL VIRGINIA.

   The careful examination of thousands of wills and inventories enables the Editor to say
that books were not rare in Virginia during the Colony.  Very few of the inventories of
personal estates are without mention of them, though a failure to mention is not always
conclusive of their absence.

   As we go back in the records and approach the primitive times of the Colony, the evidence
becomes fainter.  Still, the backwoodsmen of Virginia, in the times of the first Charles,
presented no worse picture than the English gentry as represented by Macaulay(1).

   Some of the Libraries of the Virginia gentry, notably those of William Byrd, Ralph Wormeley,
Richard Lee, &c., were astonishingly rich - many of their books being great folios expensively
illustrated.

   I propose to publish a series of these Libraries, giving the exact language of the
appraisers, who were not always scholars themselves.

   I.  LIBRARY of Col. Ralph Wormely, Esq., of "Rose-
___________________________
   (1) The New England inventories cannot claim superiority.  It would seem, from his inventory,
that Ozias Godwin had no books (1683), and "a Bible and two other books" made up the library
of his son, William Goodwin, (1689).  The "Goodwins of Connecticut" pp. 100, 113.  In the
"Wentsworth Genealogy" fourteen out of thirty-five Massachusetts settlers made their marks in
1639-- p. 73.  "In his 'Colonial Times on Buzzard's Bay', Mr. William Root Bliss shows us how
illiterate the first immigrants to Plymouth were, and how much rubbish is collected in the
museum of Pilgrim Hall in Plymouth.  He shows that, of the first company of settlers whose 
feet are supposed to have assisted in polishing hte old rock, eleven are favorably known.  The
rest are known unfavorably or else only by name" -- New York Critic for Nov. 25, 1893.  Weeden
shows that the wretched education obtained by the masses in New England, till a very late day
was a doubtful competency, to read, write and cipher.  The free schools taught two months in
winter and two months in summer.  See Weeden's "Economic and Social History of New England."

Page 170.

gill", Middlesex Co., b. 1650 - d. 1701(1); matric. Oriell Coll., Oxford, July 14, 1665, 
member Virginia Council and Secretary of the Colony, trustees of William and Mary College, &c.

   Total inventory of Ralph Wormeley, of Middlesex County, as appraised by virtue of an order
of Middlx County Court 3 Novr 1701, "excepting the horses and mares and the in Pamunkey Neck
and freshes of Rappa" is L2,861 6 o.

   Placed mentioned:  "Parlor chamber, chamber over sd. chamber, chamber over the parolor,
nursery, old nurery, room over the Ladyes chamber, Ladies chamber, entry, store, home house
quarter, home house, quarter over the creek, Smiths shopp, Barne, kitchen, Dary, chamber over
the old Dary, flemings quarter, Robinsons quarter, Whitakers quarter, Black Wallnut Quarter."

   At the home house:  "8 English servants, among them a shoemaker, a Tayler & Miller."

                                BOOKS.

   "In Madam Wormeleys closet Books Inventory not valued:

   Oglebees America in folio, Daltons Country Justices, Doctr Willis practice of Physic, Doctr
Andros sermons folio, the history of Great Britain, the Book of homileys, Burnets first part
of the refermacon, the History of ye world in folio, Doctr Burnet's theor. of ye earth, the
reports of Sr Edwd Cook, Dr ffeetley's Book, the Genll History of Spaine folio, Hylings
[Heylin's] Cosmography, the ffamous Doctr Usher Body of Divinity, Doctr Halls treaties in
folio, fifty Comodys & tragedies in folio, a Dixionary, Doctr Andros 96 Sermons in folio,
1 Latin book for the sacremt in fol., Hooker's Eclasaastis [Ecclesiastical] polity, the second
part of Pools annotacons on ye Bible(2), Phillips world of words in Latin, the 8th book of the
Peloponesian warr, Naman the asserian, the History
_______________________________________________
   (1) Will proyed April 7, 1701, hence Hayden 230, errs in stating death, Dec. 5, 1703.
   (2) According to Allibone this consisted of 2 vols. fol., costing, in 1583, 1L 5s.

Page 171.

of Phillip Decoming, a reply to the Jesuits, St. Thoma the History of ye world or an accot of
time, the holy State, enquiry into Humane nature, the princis Cloria, the new world of words
a Latin Dixionary, the history of George Castriat, this history of Scotland, Sr Francis 
Bancon's naturall history, the Spanish and English Dixionary, Rusha (Rushworth's) collection ye
2d vollem & second part, Aphro*isms Civil and Military, the patterne of Catechistical Doctrine,
two Books of Shephard's abridgment, Key of the Bible, the life and Reigne of King Charles,
Rusha Collections, ye 2d part of the Laws of Eclasatical policy, the merchnats mapp of
comerce, Burton mellancholly, the History of the Island of Barbados, the Displaying of
Suposed witchcraft, the reports of Sr Edwd Cook, Experimental natural philosophy, the state of
the Ottamy Expire, Doctr Browns book of Physick, Doct. ffuller's holy state, the life of
Gusmon, the Genll History of ffrance, naturall magick, ffullers wortheys, works of John Boyse,
a treaties of Justification, Josephus a geographicall Dixionary, a Geographical Description of
the four parts of ye workd, the works of Sr Wm Davenant, Doctrr taylor's course of sermons,
the works of John Boyse, Lex. murketoria, a Collection of Travells, ye history of ye Low
Countries, Ambros Perry (Pare? a celebrated French surgeon), Camdan's Brittania, Bishop
Babington's works, the History of the civil warrs of ffrance, the Common prayer book, the
practice of ye Law, the third part of the Institutes of ye Lawe of England, a prospect of ye
most famous parts of the world, an old Latin Book, thorowgood's travells, a chirurgicall old
Book, an Embersee from ye East Indian Compa to ye Grand Tartar, the Dutch annotacons on ye
holy Bible, the Second part of Burnets Reformacon, the civil warrs of Caesar and Pompey, the
Sea Bacon, a new survey of the West Indies, a Description of the Body of man, the first part
of Cook's Institutes, a Collection of the Laws of Virginia, Contemplacons upon the New
Testament, a Concordance to ye Bible, Resolves, a ffrench and English Dixionary, the office &
authority of sheriffs, the Chyrurgans mate, the morning Exercises, an old Law book, an
apology of Christian Divinity, a book of homilieys, jurisdiction of Lawfull authority, the
impartiall history of Ireland, the office of justice of the peace, Experiments in Consort (?),
Culpeper Dispensatory, an Abridgmt of the Eclesastical Laws, Pancreatick Juice, the Earle of
Staffords tryall, a treasis of the gout, the mistery of the Jesuitts, a Dixionary,

Page 172.

the History of the church, the citys and towns of England the Body of Cookery, Doctr Taylor's
holy living and Dying, Divine knowledge, the new naturall Breviam, the value of money, the
naturall faculties of man, the way to health long life and happiness, the mirror of justice,
the compleat Gentleman, the Rudiments of Lantin and Greeke, two treaties of Governmt, sermons
of Divinity, an English Dixionary, Clerks guide, Orations, the foundacons of monarchy,
Gramerthe theaters of Gods judgmts, the English Dixionary, an other dixionary, the whole Duty
of man, the English primrose, Wallers Poems, Howell's Letters,  Historians guide, Sober In-
spections, choice peices of Antiquity, Byfield upon Physick Herberts Divine poems, the
reasonableness of Christianity, Davids Repentance, Reverions by Culpeper, Gallons (Galen's)
art of Physick, Ovid's Tragedy, a small Latin Book, the unlearned Keymiss (Chemist), Culpepers
Last Legacy.

   In Esqr Womeleys closet Books Inventoried not valued:  Glabers (Glauber's) Kimistry, the
State of United Provinces, the colledges of Oxford, Kings of England, Every man [in] his
humor, Ecclesastical History in Latin, a view of all Religions in the world, the Articles of
Visitacon Enquiery, the Laws of Virginia, the present State of England, an old Latin Physick
Book, the wife of Donalimpa, an Introduction to Geography, the Laws of virginia, a Lattin Bible,
an old Law Book, statutes at Large, Church Bible, a Latin Book, the Royall Gravier, Sr Walter

Raleigh, the History of the West Indies, Skill of Music, the Genll History of ffrance, Win-
chestr Schoole, the Laws of Virga., Swinborns wills and testments, Sands travells, a Description
of the Persion monarchy, a conspiracy against Charles the Second, Plutochs Lives in foure
parts, the remains of a greater work, the faith and Doctrine of England, Christian Directory,
the Rustick Sallarom, two books called Doctrinne of Tryangles, ffrench Gramer, the Essays of
Council civil and morall, the poems of Wm Cartwright, the rule for granting passes, Ovids
Destristamas (Des Tristiens), Interest mistaken, A Sacred Dialogue in Lattin, Remains of Sr
Walter Rawleigh, the Book of Lamentacons, mariners, compass, the present state of England, the
English Secretary, the marriners news callender, Englands Beauty, an easy Compendium ffrench,
gramer, Christian Policy, meneimistica, a small French book, a treaties of English particles,
Hudybras the third and last part, no cross no crowne, a Diaolgue of ffrench English & Latin,
a treatis of

Page 173.

afflictions, a Phililogicall comentory, Ovids metamorphosis in Latin, a methematicall book, the
Empiror & Empior by trade, the office of the blessed Virgin Mary, the younge clerks guide an
easy entrance to ye Latin tongue, Poems & Ellogies, a Gramerr, the old world of words, of
Athisem (Atheism) a cronichel of the Intestin warr, A Pathway to knowledge, The negros and
Indians Advocate, christ and ye Church, English horseman, a book of Rates, Reflections upon the
maxims of Solomon, Genteel Siner, Virginia Law Book, the English Secretary, the Universall Body
of Physick, the Laws of New England, the Defence of Constantine, totall Discourse, the works of
John vigoe, Dr. Haymans practical Catechism, Quaries Divine Poems, Doctr of tryangles, London

Dispensitory, six new plays, the history of St. George, norwoods Epitomy, Cabinet of Council,
State of ffrance, the unjust mans doom, a small Latin Book, the art of making wine & Brandy,
magna Britania, the English Physitian, the Elements of the Comon Law, a manuell of millions,
the History of tithes, the country ffarme, a Looking Glass for the times, an Abridgmt for the
Christian Doctrine, an old book of frates, Garden of Parradise, Latin Bible, a Catacasticall
Discourse, country ffarme, a manuell of millions, an Entertainmt for Lent, Remarks of the
Gallants, Geographicall parts of the world in Latin, help to ye English history, Pethagallas
(Pythagoras?) Philosophy, a Dixionary, a Lattin book, the life of St. Augustin, Comentarii, the
office of Justice of the peace, Scorbuto Morbo Libo, Euchiridion Practicum, Religione disce,
mischeife of self-Ignorance Restitution, of Decayed Intelligence, Novo trigidia (?), Resolves,
Jure mauritamo, Virgillis Eloges, the ffrench Gardiner, Rome Exactly Described, a Latin Book,
Rome Described, Hieronimy Ovids Invictalls (Festivals?), Essays and Parradoxes, Cordelious,
Restitution of the Greek Gramer, Senecas morralls, a practical catechisme, Horace, collection
of Statues, choice presidents, a Dixionary of Latin & Greek, Cesiros prince, Johannes Amos
Camen, consideracons of natural philosophy, Doctr burnetts letters, a present for papists,
tryumh of Rome, Doctr colebath, England tryumphs, Aditus, the art of Brewing, Virgell, Ostend 
to be taken by treachery, Gulieni Amesii, the Learned Mad, Q. Curtij Rufi Historiae, Seneca
moralls, the Genuien use & effects of a Gun, treatis of ye Interests of ye prince & ye st_te
of christendom, Historicall Collections, familiara coloquia, Emanuell of millions, the life &
Reign of King Richard, the works of

Page 174.

the great monarch, Honorastisimo, Terentius, Englands Treasure in trade, Manaductia, some
letters containing what is remarkable in Italy, first book of the Discovery of a new world,
a french book.

   The third and last part of Hudibras.  A Book of benefitting, courtior of coubaldy (?), Godly
and fruitfull sermons, sure guide to the french tongue, a Physick book, third book of Cicero,
new Dixionary, Moses and Aaron, Principals of the Gramar, Vindication, new Covenant, Laws of
Virga, Lutrox (Plutarch's) Lives, the new art of Dying, History of Don Quixote, Church Bible;
Jno Donne, espos ffables, Questions concerning the Soule, Golon, Remaines of ye Reverend Jno.
Hailes, the coming man's incaranation, Riders Dixionary concerning princes, an old Book of
Geography, Michael Lord Mountague in french, an old Book of Latin and English sermons, Rich.
Baxter's confession of his faith, pious annotacons upon ye holy Bible, a Book dedicated to ye
nobility of ffrance, Danilis chaemiri, Satirs upon the Jesuitts, treatis of the two Sacrements,
Magisticall estutogicall deviner, History of ye Reigne of Henry 7th, Geographicall history of
Africa, Historia Mundi, a designe of Christianity, an English Exposition, a Discourse touching
the Spanish monarch, Le flores, Copias Dixonary in three parts, God's plea for Nineveth, 
Genll History of Verga new England & ye Sumer Islands, Gower de, the books of televious,
Matalisco mitis mytholo, want of Charlity justly charged, Lectures on the 15th Psalme, ffriendly
Conference between minister and parishioner, priviledges of the Barronage of England, weekes
preparacon towards receiving the Lords supper, eighteen ffrench books.

   II.  LIBRARY of Mr. Mathew Hubard as appears in "an Inventory Made by Mrs. Sibella Huberd
his Relict and administratrix & being apprized according to order of York County Court by mr
Robert Harrison  Mr James Besouth, mr George Gill and mr Daniel Dunbar being sworne by mr
Daniel Wyld one of his maties Justices of the said county of York the xxiith day of August,
1667."  [Matthew Huberd was a merchant and an early justice of York county, and married
Sibella Ham, widow of Jerome Ham, justice and burgess.  From him many of the name of Huberd,
Hubbard, Hubberd, in Virginia, are descended.  The property of Mathew Huberd represents very
fairly the estate of the respectable immigrant, who had lived long enough to see the possibility
of wealth in something else

Page 175.

than cattle and swine.  There were four rooms besides the kitchen, buttery and outhouses, 
7 English servants, 7 horses, 41 cattle, L5 15. worth of plate, in all an estate of 5 or 600
pounds in money, much if it in debts due.

                             "BOOKS.
   Riverius body of Physic fol, Physitians Library fo, Riders dictionary qto, Capt. Smith of
Virginia fol, Benj Johnsons Remaines fol, Purchas pilgrimage fol, A Latine Bible qto, Tutor to
Astronomy qto, culpepers dispensatory qo, Prynne against the Prelacy qto, Exposition of
comandmts qto, Astrea a french Romance qto, Donnes Poems qto, french Accident qto, Youngs
antidote agt friefe qto, A Reply to a Relacon of Land for ffishers conference qto, A bible qto,
Legende Lignea 8to, God a good Master 8to, Esops ffables 8to, practice of piety 8to, Christ
sett forth 8to, A latine comon prayer booke 8to, Miscellany of prayers, Seldens titles of
honor 8to, Culpeppers Anatomy fol, and other old books".  [Valued at L2 10s.]  In addition to
these there were "several bundles of writings nad old bookes of little concernment".  "Mr.
Huberd's bookes of Accompts wherein nothing or very little of credite to the Estate can be
found."

   III.  LIBRARY of Peyton Randolph, Esq., President of the Continental Congress, as appears
from an appraisement taken Jan. 5, 1776.

   "A Library of Books as p. Catalogue, L250."  [Among other items in the appraisemennt are
6 mahogany book pressers at 20s a piece, i do. writing table L3, 1 large mahogany table L5,
1 round table 15s., 1 paper press 10s., 1 clock L5, 1 pair backgammon tables 10s., 30 gallons
of rum L7 10, a parcell of wine in bottles, containing almost a pipe L60, 5 chariot horses
L230, 1 phaeton L15, 1 chariot and 8 harness, 173 head of cattle, 104 hogs, 105 negroes, &c.]