Rev. James Whitehead Diary, 1798-1889, undated

Collection Overview

Title: Rev. James Whitehead Diary, 1798-1889, undated

ID: 001/01/MSS 0000-656

Creator: Whitehead, James, Rev. (-1808)

Extent: 2.0 Folders

Arrangement: Arranged in original order. Loose materials have been separated.

Date Acquired: 00/00/0000

Languages: English [eng]

Scope and Contents of the Materials

One 1804-1808 diary of the Reverend James Whitehead of Christ Church in Norfolk, Virginia. Includes transcribed copies of letters and loose materials found in various places within the diary. The diary was written in a book of Weems's Washington Almanack for the year 1804.

Biographical Note

Reverend James Whitehead was the rector for Christ Church, Elizabeth River parish in Norfolk, Virginia. He was involved with the church in Norfolk from 1789 to 1806 and oversaw the construction of a new building across the street from the 1739 building. Whitehead took over as rector of Christ Church, St. Paul's parish in Baltimore, Maryland on March 24, 1806. Whitehead was married to Clarissa Stark. He died on August 21, 1808 in Bath County, Virginia.

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions: This collection is open to all researchers.

Use Restrictions: The status of copyright for these materials is governed by Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. C.). Copyright restrictions may apply.

Acquisition Source: Unknown

Preferred Citation: Rev. James Whitehead Diary, MSS 0000-656, Sargeant Memorial Collection, Norfolk Public Library, Norfolk, Virginia.

Processing Information: Processed January 15, 2017.

Box and Folder Listing

Box 9: Filing Cabinet Manuscripts

Folder 1: Diary, Rev. James Whitehead, 1804-1808

The first section of the diary is titled, "From the historical and descriptive sketches of Norfolk by William S. Forrest, 1853, Extracts Hugh Blair Grigsby." This section came with a note: "Copied by Francis Hill Skinner, granddaughter of Rev. James Whitehead. The unfinished letter from Edinburgh probably from Alexander Whitehead?..." Some of the first few pages are torn.

The second section of the diary includes a list of people baptised, married, and buried by Reverend James Whitehead beginning in January 1804 and ending approximately November 15, 1804.

The third section of the diary begins with a diary entry written by Reverend James Whitehead on June 23, 1808 for a journey to Virginia Springs and ends on July 9, 1808 in Bath County, Virginia. The last page is followed by a page of pasted obituaries for Reverend James Whitehead, Clarissa Whitehead, Sarah S. Whitehead, and Charles William Skinner.

The fourth section of the diary is titled "Letter of James H. Skinner to Rev. C. J. Gibson, Petersburg, Virginia, Staunton, November 5, 1889." This section came with a note: "Copy by Frances Hill Skinner, in duplicate of letter. Written by her brother James H. Skinner on their grandmother Stark's family."

The remainder of the diary must be flipped to the end and turned upside down. Includes an account of renters and sums paid in January 1804. Also includes a section titled "Memorandums concerning Bourke's Assault" in 1804.

Folder 2: Loose Papers, 1798-1875, undated

Item 1: Clipping, For Rent on Rothery's Lane, undated: Norfolk, Virginia. Clipping was located on the first written page of the diary.
Item 2: Correspondence, H. W. Ducachet to Captain Charles W. Skinner, 1838 January 29: Written in Norfolk, Virginia and sent to the USS Warren. Letter was located between page 2 of Rev. James Whitehead's June 24, 1808 diary entry and the almanac page for November 1804.
Item 3: Clipping, Obituary for Tazewell Taylor, 1875 December 2: Southern Churchman, Alexandria, Virginia. Written by F. H. S. Clipping was located between the last page of Rev. James Whitehead's July 7, 1808 diary entry and the page with 4 pasted obituaries.
Item 4: Correspondence, Unknown to "Dear Brother", 1798 January 31: Written in Edinburgh, Scotland. Incomplete letter. Letter was located between the almanac page "Tables of Gold" and the first transcribed page of a letter from James H. Skinner to Rev. C. J. Gibson of Petersburg, Virginia.