Plantation, Slaveowner, Virginia Gov. James Barbour Appoints James Beaty As LT. In The 57th Regt., 6th Brigade, 2nd Division Of Militia

JAMES BARBOUR (June 10, 1775-June 7, 1842) was an American plantation and slave owner, lawyer, politician and planter. He served as a delegate from Orange County, VA, in the Virginia General Assembly and as speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates. He was the 18th Governor of Virginia and the first Governor to reside in the current Virginia Governor’s Mansion. After the War of 1812, Barbour became a U.S. Senator (1814-1825) and the United States Secretary of War (1825-1828)

Offering a somewhat diminutive document, a 6 1/4 x 6 1/4 military appointment of James Beaty signed by Barbour as the governor of Virginia.  Beaty was appointed Lieutenant in the 57th Regiment, 6th Brigade and 2nd Division of the Militia of the Commonwealth on January 1, 1812. The appointment was made just before the War of 1812 began (June 18, 1812-February 18, 1815).

On December 26th, 1812, the British declared a blockade of the Chesapeake Bay and began destroying ships entering, departing or sailing upon the bay. Several hundred encounters between the British and merchant vessels during the blockade have been documented.

The document has been attached to heavier paper stock and the verso contains a manuscript poem, praising Virginia. The verso is slightly missing the top margin.

“Virginia my country my home/I long to behold thee again/Thy cliffs breaking out to the form/Of the wild and tempestuous main/Virginia dear land of my birth/Oh often the cold moon must wane/Thou brightest and best of the earth/Before I behold thee again.”   

Several insignificant newspaper clippings attached on the verso.

Document has staining but is still very readable and solidly attached to the paper stock, which has added to its stability.  

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