The Virginia Historical Society owns the 1812-1813 letterbook for the Oxford Furnace Iron Works, which operated in Campbell County from before the Revolutionary War until about 1870. David Ross acquired Oxford Furnace in 1776 and made munitions and supplies for the Continental Army as well as household, farm, and industrial wares.As Dew researched the letterbook and other sources, he found a fascinating story of early 19th century life in Central Virginia.Ross lived in Petersburg and his Oxford operation grew to over 24,000 acres with four plantations, grist mill, a batteau fleet,blast furnaces, and forges. Except for a white manager, a miller, and a carpenter, other work was done by a slave force of over 225 people with a slave named Abram in charge of the iron works. The slaves grew the crops, milled grain, operated the boats hauling iron to Richmond,and did the skilled work of turning iron ore into products. http://www.lynchburgmuseum.org/muse_news_summer06.pdf Okay no more googling ;-) Sarah in Texas