Search

This collection is made up of letters that Thomas L. Shields wrote to his father about his legal career in Batavia, Ohio. Most of the cases he discussed concerned land ownership.

This collection is made up of 44 letters that Thomas L. Shields wrote to his father about his legal career in Batavia, Ohio. He discussed some cases in detail, such as a dispute over the inheritance of lands belonging to the deceased James Mabin and the sale of land in Jefferson County, Virginia (now in West Virginia), that belonged to J. W. Robinson. He also wrote about his work making deeds and described his travels in Ohio and to Virginia. His letter of March 22, 1842, includes a property map and his letter of June 16, 1845, encloses a copied power of attorney. Shields occasionally commented on political issues and court cases and mentioned the United States Congress, military warrants in Virginia, local politics, and the possibility of Texas annexation.