Creator: Territorial Governor (RG 2).

Collection Summary: A series of ledgers in which civil and military appointments and commissions made during the territorial period (1798-1817) were entered. Most of the entries have been made in tables listing the appointee, office appointed to, district or county in which to serve office, and occasional remarks (usually date or notice of resignation). The following offices are included in the ledgers:
•    Attorneys at Law (short lists are sometimes found in the 1812-1818 ledger, but more often, attorneys are listed among other appointments and commissions)
•    City Magistrates
•    Clerks of Court, City Clerks
•    Conservators of the Peace
•    Constables
•    Coroners
•    County Surveyors
•    Indian Traders (Persons licensed to trade with Indian tribes – see 1811 in “1805-1812 Ledger”) 
•    County Treasurers
•    Judges (Justices of the: Peace, Court of Common Pleas, Superior Court of Equity, County Probate, Quorum, Court of General Quarter Sessions, Orphans Court)
•    Keepers of Weights and Measures
•    Military (All ranks and posts)
•    Notaries Public
•    Rangers
•    Sheriffs
•    Tax Collectors and Assessors
There are periodic notations that a transcript of the latest appointments and commissions has been sent to the U.S. Secretary of State. A single page (page 90) in the 1812-1818 ledger is devoted to 1818: “Commissioner of Health and Police for the City of Natchez;” otherwise, the date range for that ledger is 1812-1817. Generally, the ledgers are arranged by county or military unit. The pages in the 1812-1818 ledger have been bound in somewhat irregularly – following the commissions in chronological order is therefore slightly difficult.

Access Restrictions: These materials are restricted due to age and fragility. Microfilm copies are available in the Library Microfilm Room.

Date(s): 1798-1818.

Volume: 1.25 Cubic Feet.

Finding Aid Created By: Colby Cox in March 2025.

Related Materials: TBD.

Record Group History: The Territorial Governor of Mississippi was the figure selected by the U.S. Congress to be the leading political figure of the Mississippi Territory. The Office of the Territorial Governor was created on April 7, 1798 when the creation of the Mississippi Territory was authorized. The Territorial Governor initially had full power over the creation of legislation until a general assembly was formed to represent the state in May of 1800. The Territorial Governor additionally served as the commander-in-chief of the Mississippi militia and was given authority over affairs with native peoples. The office was abolished once Mississippi became a full state in 1817.

Collection Inventory:
Box Content 

Box Number

1798-1802: Ledger (pages 116-154) [MF #2040]00092
1805-1812: Ledger [MF #4527]00087
1812-1818: Ledger [MF #4731]00083