The Wolf Law Library at William & Mary Law School

The Wolf Law Library at William & Mary Law School Academic law library serving the students, faculty, and staff of William & Mary Law School.

in 1806, the 'Richmond Enquirer' reported on the results of the various charges against George Wythe Sweeney. After a ...
09/09/2026

in 1806, the 'Richmond Enquirer' reported on the results of the various charges against George Wythe Sweeney. After a brief trial - and only a "few minutes deliberation" - Sweeney was acquitted of the murder of his great-uncle, George Wythe. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Richmond_Enquirer,_9_September_1806

An indictment against Sweeney for the murder of the mixed-race young man, Michael Brown, was quashed without going to trial. Sweeney was convicted on two counts of counterfeiting checks in Wythe's name but his sentence was never executed. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=George_Wythe_Sweeney

The trial for George Wythe's *alleged* murderer began in 1806. Most believe Wythe's household was poisoned with arseni...
09/02/2026

The trial for George Wythe's *alleged* murderer began in 1806. Most believe Wythe's household was poisoned with arsenic by his great-nephew George Wythe Sweeney. Unfortunately, the only witnesses to the deed were Black and barred from testifying. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Death_of_George_Wythe

Did you know that Homer was George Wythe's favorite author? He had multiple copies of 'The Odyssey' including a 1752 tra...
08/19/2026

Did you know that Homer was George Wythe's favorite author? He had multiple copies of 'The Odyssey' including a 1752 translation by English poet Alexander Pope. In honor of the new film, we offer a few illustrations from Pope's version of Homer's epic. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Odyssey_of_Homer

On July 17, 1806, Thomas Jefferson wrote to George Wythe's executor, William DuVal, offering to purchase various items f...
07/15/2026

On July 17, 1806, Thomas Jefferson wrote to George Wythe's executor, William DuVal, offering to purchase various items from Wythe's estate, including a watch and seal. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Jefferson-DuVal_Correspondence ,_17_July_1806

Jefferson also asked to borrow a silhouette of Wythe that had been given to Wythe's housekeeper and former slave, Lydia Broadnax. He sent the image to Charles Wilson Peale to have the artist copy it and embellish the copy with features and tints. Peale's version, most likely based on a William Bache silhouette, is not known to still exist. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Jefferson-Peale_Correspondence

A lawyer, teacher and judge, George Wythe also spent more than 30 years as a politician. He served in various offices in...
07/08/2026

A lawyer, teacher and judge, George Wythe also spent more than 30 years as a politician. He served in various offices in colonial Virginia including clerk of the House of Burgesses, interim Attorney General, and mayor of Williamsburg.

Wythe represented Virginia in the Second Continental Congress and later in the Constitutional Convention. He also served the Commonwealth as the second Speaker of the House of Delegates. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Wythe_the_Politician (Thanks to our intern, Charlie, for writing the Wythe the Politician page!)

Early July 1776 - where is George Wythe? Not in Philadelphia working on the Declaration of Independence, he's back in Wi...
07/01/2026

Early July 1776 - where is George Wythe? Not in Philadelphia working on the Declaration of Independence, he's back in Williamsburg contributing to the debates regarding Virginia's new constitution and government. There's even a question about whether Wythe actually signed the Declaration when he returned to Philadelphia later that summer: https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Declaration_of_Independence

We do know Jefferson sent Wythe a draft which is believed to be the draft now at the New York Public Library. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Wythe%27s_Lost_Papers

in 1806, The Richmond Enquirer published a small notice stating that the General Court of Virginia had elected to wear...
06/24/2026

in 1806, The Richmond Enquirer published a small notice stating that the General Court of Virginia had elected to wear black arm bands for three months, in memory of George Wythe, who died on June 8th. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Virginia,_June_General_Court,_1806

Address

613 S Henry Street
Williamsburg, VA
23185

Telephone

+17572213260

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when The Wolf Law Library at William & Mary Law School posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The School

Send a message to The Wolf Law Library at William & Mary Law School:

Shortcuts

Share

Category