Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Will: Maryann Harrison


Will of Maryann Harrison
PWCo Will Book I, pg. 8-9
Dated 4 November 1803; Admitted: 2 January 1804

In the name of God Amen I Maryann Harrison do make and ordain this my last will and testament.  I desire all my just debts to be paid.  I bequeath to my granddaughter Maryann Hereford my negro boy David and I desire that the same boy may by my Executor hereafter named be found out to have such trade as my said Executor may think his genuine and ability best adapted to and that when he acquires his trade he may be delivered to my said Granddaughter.

I bequeath to my daughter Maryann Dade the use of all my other slaves for three years subject to the payment of thirty six pounds to my son Matthew Harrison for a chair given her and in case my said daughter Maryann Dade should survive three year or leave issue then I bequeath to my said daughter or her issue as the case may be all my other slaves as afsd.  My son in law Dade is a man of merit if his conduct to me requires an apology for making this limitation and as such I say nothing but the needy circumstances of my daughter Catharine of the easy circumstances in which he would induce me to make the limitation.  In case my daughter Maryann Dade should die without issue before the expiration of three years I desire that all my slaves except the said David be sold to such masters as they may choose provided they will give as much as the appraisement and the monies arising there from paid to my daughter Ann Catharine Hereford.  I have lately purchased a lottery ticket in case the same should draw a prize I desire that my Executor will dispose of the proceeds among my two daughters in such manner and proportion as his discretion may direct him.  The residue of my estate I bequeath to my daughter Ann Catharine Hereford.  I appoint and constitute my son Mathew Harrison my Executor of this last will and testament expecting he will charge no commission of nothing more than for monies advanced for necessary expenses.  I request my son, Mathew to purchase a pair of ear rings and present them to my granddaughter Maria Harrison as a small remembrance of my impressions of her affectionate and dutiful conduct towards me.  In testimony whereof I have subscribed my name and affixed my seal this 4th November in the year of our Lord 1803.

Mary Ann {X} Harrison {Seal}

In presence of the subscribers and
Attested by them at the request
Of the Testator. Harrison
Mary ___ Hegges (?)
Wm. Barnes

At a court held for Prince William County January 2nd, 1804.

This last will and testament of Maryann Harrison dec'd was presented to the Court by Mathew Harrison the Executor therein named who made oath thereto according to law and being proved by the oaths of Mathew Harrison and William Barnes was ordered to be recorded.  And the said executor having performed what is usual in such cases certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste, John Williams

Friday, September 23, 2011

Upcoming Events at Historic Sites in PWCo.

September 24 - 9th Annual Rippon Lodge Harvest Festival
11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; $5 per person, free for children under six  * FREE for the first 400 people *
Rippon Lodge has a long and diverse past from its Colonial America beginnings until today.  Lectures and demonstrations will be ongoing throughout the day from local history, gardening, and nature groups.  Enjoy music, food, crafts, kids games and activities.  House and cemetery tours will be offered all day.     
Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge VA 22192, 703-499-9812

October 1-2 - Brentsville World War II Weekend
11am – 4pm, Free
Join World War II living historians to learn about daily life for soldiers in the Europe and Pacific Theatres. Axis and Allied soldiers will be portrayed with equipment, armaments and historic military vehicles. Learn about the home front and the many ways that citizens supported the war effort. View a diverse exhibit of original WWII artifacts displayed in the ca.1928 One-Room Schoolhouse.
Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA 20136, 703-365-7895

October 1-2 - Historic Hams and Delectable Dairy
11am -4pm; $10 per person, children under 6 free
Ben Lomond plantation attempted to be a self-sustaining farm.  As much as possible the food needed for the plantation was grown on location.  During the fall all of the food was prepared for storage.  Join site staff with hands-on activities about 19th century food preparation including butter and cheese making, salting and smoking of meat. 
Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr, Manassas, VA 20109, 703-367-7872

October 8, 9, 22, 23 - Bristoe Station Battlefield Guided Tours
11am-3pm, tours leave on the hour, donations accepted
Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of the battlefield. Learn about Camp Jones and the two battles that took place here in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin on the hour and depart from the kiosk in the parking  lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Last tour at 3 pm. 
Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, Corner of Iron Brigade Unit Ave and 10th Alabama Way, Bristow, VA 22111, 703-366-3049 

Monday, September 19, 2011

Will: Jesse Warder


JESSE WARDER Will
Prince William County Will Book M, pg 164
03 Nov 1823; proved 02 Feb 1824

No all persons that I JESSE WARDER of the County of Prince William & State of Virginia doath this third day of November eighteen hundred & 23 make this my last will and testament whereas, I give to my son WILLIAM one bed & furniture thereto & one cow & calf.  I allso give to my sun WALTER WARDER one bed & furniture & one cow & calf.  I also give to my daughter ELIZABETH one bed and furniture and one cow and calf, and I allso give my daughter ELIZABETH forty dollars in cash.  I give and bequeath unto my afectionate wife MILFOARD WARDER all the balance of my stock househoalds and kitchen furniture and crop on hand and allso my negroes JAMES, JACK and MARIAH all of which she is to have and to hoald for her oan support during her natural life, that is after all my just debts are paid and after my wifes death, my desire is that the property may be divided between my five children, to my daughter MARY STONEL, JNO. WARDER, and his wife, WILLIAM WARDER, WALTER WARDER and ELIZABETH WARDER.  At the death of my sun JOHN and his wife the property shall go to their children.  I allso give to my sun JOHN WARDERs children two beds and furniture two tables to chairs one lume one spining wheal and cords and one iron pot.  Such said utensils are now in the possession of my sun JOHN for the benefit of his children.  This being my last will and testament I now appoint my suninlaw RICHARD STONAL and my sun WALTER WARDER as my soal executors as witness whereof I have hereunto afixed my mark as the day and date above menchioned.

JESSE WARDER

Teste,
JOHN WILLIAMS, JAMES WILLIAMS, THOMAS LINDSAY

At a Court held for Prince William County February 2 1824.  This last will and testament of JESSE WARDER decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oath of JOHN WILLIAMS is ordered to be certified and at a court of quarterly sessions held for said county June 7th 1824.  RICD. STONNEL one of the Executors named in the last will and testament of JESSE WARDER decd. came into court and having made oath to the same and taken the oath of an Exor. and performed what is usual in such cases, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste, P. D. DAWE

Saturday, September 10, 2011

Newspaper Tidbit: Districting the County

Alexandria Gazette
May 15, 1852

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY.  The Commissioners appointed by an act of the Legislature of Virginia, passed April 2nd, 1852, to district the County of Prince William, met at the Court House of said County, pursuant to notice, on the 15th April, 1852, and proceeded to district the County, as follo9ws, viz:--

District No. 1. Shall begin at Cedar Run Bridge, and be bound thence with the Dumfries road to Davis's; thence with the Occoquan road to Powell's Run; thence with said Run to Potomac River; thence with said river to the Stafford line; thence with said line and the Fauquier line to Cedar Run; and thence with said run to the beginning.  Elections in this district shall be held in the town of Dumfries, and at the dwelling house of Lawrence Cole.

District No. 2. Shall embrace the residue of the territory below Occoquan and Cedar Run.  Elections in this district shall be held in the town of Occoquan, and at the residence of Courtney Reeves.

District No. 3. Shall be bounded south by Occoquan and Cedar Run to Bull Run; thence with said Bull Run to Ball's Ford; thence with the road to Newmarket; thence with said road by Brewer's Spring to Piney Branch; thence with said Branch to Broad Run; thence with said run to Langyher's Upper Mill; thence with the mill road to Chappel Spring and Greenwich Road; thence with said road to Greenwich; thence to the Fauquier line south of C. Halderman's; and thence with said line to Cedar Run.  Elections in this district shall be held at the Court House, and at the School House of Sally Kincheloe, near Buckhall Branch.

District No. 4. Shall embrace the residue of the territory above Cedar Run.  Elections in this district shall be held in the town of Haymarket, and at Sudley Mills.

Monday, September 5, 2011

September Programs with Prince William County Historic Preservation

September 10
The Deadliest Enemy

 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.; $7 per person, free for children under six

 During the quiet winter of 1861-62 men were still dying long after the Battle of First Manassas.  Disease killed more Civil War soldiers than combat and both armies were especially hard hit during the first winter of war.  Please join site staff for guided, hands-on tours about the soldiers’ deadliest enemy.  Tours begin on the hour.  Last tour at 3 pm. 

Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Drive, Manassas, VA 20109, (703) 367-7872



September 10

Sears, Roebuck & Co., Julius Rosenwald and the Creation of Black Schools in the South Lecture

1pm, free

Join Dennis P. Van Derlaske of the Prince William County Historical Commission for a fascinating lecture on how a retired executive from a major American retailer championed the creation of schools for African-Americans in the early 20th century south.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 365-7895



September 10, 11, 24 and 25

Bristoe Station Battlefield Guided Tours

11am-3pm, tours leave on the hour, donations accepted

Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of the battlefield. Learn about Camp Jones and the two battles that took place here in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin on the hour and depart from the kiosk in the parking  lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Last tour at 3 pm. 

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, The parking lot is located off of Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 366-3049



September 17  

Nature Trail Walk

1:00 p.m.; $5 per person, free for children under six

Take a guided tour along the nature trails at Brentsville and learn about plants and animals that live in this part of Virginia. 

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 365-7895



September 17  

Bluegrass at Brentsville

1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.; $10 per person, free for children under six

Enjoy the lively sounds of a bluegrass band on the grounds of Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre while enjoying tastes of local wines and food.  Bands include Skystone, Rattlesnake Hill and King Street Bluegrass Band.  Guided tours of the historic buildings will be available throughout the day. 

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA 20136, (703) 365-7895



September 24

            9th Annual Harvest Festival

11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.; $7 per person, free for children under six

Rippon Lodge has a long and diverse past from its Colonial America beginnings until today.  Lectures and demonstrations will be ongoing throughout the day from local history, gardening, and nature groups.  Enjoy music, food, crafts, kids games and activities.  House and cemetery tours will be offered all day.     

Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge VA 22192, (703) 499-9812



September 24

Potomac Blockade Boat Tour

4:30p.m. – 7:30 p.m.; $20.00 per person; reservations required.

Cruise along the Potomac River shoreline and view sites that were critical to the Confederate forces’ successful blockade of Washington D.C. from September 1861 through March 1862. Local historians will discuss the significance of the Blockade and of the gun batteries and camps that supported the Confederate efforts. The cruise will include the preserved batteries at Freestone Point and Possum Nose, as well as Evansport and Shipping Point.  No pets please. Not appropriate for children under six. Tour will leave from the dock at Leesylvania State Park.  Optional 2 p.m. walking tour to Freestone Point will leave from Lee’s Hill Trailhead.    Please call (703) 792-4754 for more information and to make reservations.  Leesylvania State Park, 2001 Daniel K Ludwig Drive, Woodbridge, VA 22191, (703) 730-8205

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Microfilm Scanning @ RELIC

I'm very excited about the new equipment installed last week at RELIC.  This wonderful local resource for county history and genealogy recently connected a computer with Microsoft Office Document Imaging software to a microfilm reader.  Researchers now have the ability to print hard copies (as usual) and/or scan a digital image of the microfilm image and save it to a Flash Drive.  Images can be saved as Tagged Image File Format (TIFF) or Microsoft Document Imaging Format (MDI) to the flash drive and then used on your home computer.

I had the opportunity to play with the new scanner last weekend when I started abstracting PWCo Will Book I as a RELIC volunteer project.  Instead of having to sit by the microfilm reader typing on a laptop or printing page after page for transcription later, I was able to use the new software to scan and download 60 pages to my flash drive.  Much easier!!  (And free!)

There are, of course, a few things to note.  The scanner is unable to clean up a dark or grainy image.  Pretty much what you see on the microfilm reader screen is what you'll get on the digital image.  Any "noise" (i.e., microfilm scratches, shadows, streaks from the film image) will transfer to your scan and must be cleaned with a graphics program (Adobe Photoshop, for instance).  Also, you must bring your own flash drive!  RELIC cannot provide one for you.

There is currently only ONE scanner available, connected to ONE microfilm reader.  RELIC hopes to obtain another in the near future.  I'm certainly happy with one scanner over no scanner, but I expect that this one device is going to become popular (and busy!) very, very quickly.  If that becomes the case, RELIC may have to find a way to manage how long a single user can monopolize the scanner if there's someone waiting to use it.