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 1787, Thomas Jefferson sent George Wythe a long letter accompanied by several boxes of books. The books included se...
09/16/2026

in 1787, Thomas Jefferson sent George Wythe a long letter accompanied by several boxes of books. The books included several gifts for Wythe as well as volumes for Bishop James Madison, John Page, and Jefferson's nephew, Peter Carr. https://wythepedia.wm.edu/index.php?title=Thomas_Jefferson_to_Wythe,_16_September_1787

Wythe's books included titles by Polybius, Claude Etienne Savary, and Pierre-Augustin Guys. Jefferson also sent several copies of his own 'Notes on the State of Virginia' for 10 of his friends and acquaintances as well as another 37 "for such young gentlemen of the college as mr. Wythe from time to time shall think proper, taking one or more for the college library."

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

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