STAUNTON – Augusta County Clerk of Circuit Court R. Steven Landes announced today that the Circuit Court Clerk’s Office has loaned two important historic land record documents to the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia for the ‘E Pluribus Unum’ exhibit, which explores how maps were not just used for geographical records, but also as tools for politics and diplomacy. The redrawn 1807 Benjamin Borden Patent, and the 1749 Thomas Lewis Staunton Town Plat were loaned for the exhibit which opened last Friday and will run until March 31 in the Museum’s Visitor Center.

     “The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is pleased to partner with the Frontier Culture Museum by loaning these significant historic records for use with the ‘E Pluribus Unum’ exhibit,” Landes said. “Both the 1807 Benjamin Borden Patent and 1749 Thomas Lewis Staunton Town Plat are important local land documents, and we are happy to see them utilized so visitors to the Museum learn more about them. We are looking forward to continuing to partner with the Museum for future projects.”

     “We are very honored and grateful for the opportunity to include the Benjamin Borden Patent and the Thomas Lewis Staunton Town Plat as part of our newest exhibit entitled ‘E Pluribus Unum’,” said Norman C. “Butch” Smiley III, CEO and Executive Director of the Frontier Culture Museum of Virginia.  “These historical documents, on loan to us through the generosity and support of the Augusta County Circuit Court, help to provide our visitors with a unique opportunity to trace some of the intricate narratives within the settling of the Shenandoah Valley. Because both documents are local cartographic treasures, we think that they will be of special interest to those within our community who experience the ‘E Pluribus Unum’ exhibit in our Visitor Center.”

     The Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is in downtown Staunton at the Augusta County Courthouse. The Clerk serves as the recorder of deeds and probate judge, issues marriage licenses and is the official court administrator for all civil and criminal cases. The Clerk creates and maintains all court files and records, prepares court orders and jury lists, contacts jurors and issues summons and court processes. More information about the services of the Augusta County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office can be found online at https://www.co.augusta.va.us/government/circuit-court-clerk.