Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Wednesday's Child: Thomas Bernard Castle (1922)

Prince William News
5 January 1922

FUNERAL OF FORMER TOWN BOY

Thomas Bernard Castle, Six-Year Old Son of Army Captain, Buried Here

Thomas Bernard Castle, six-year old son of Capt. and Mrs. Bosier Castle, at one time a resident of Manassas, died last week in Texas, where his father is stationed with the army. His death came as the result of complications which set in after an attack of whooping cough suffered several weeks ago.

When the little fellow's father was serving with the American expeditionary forces overseas during the recent world conflict, Bernard and his mother resided in Manassas, at the home of Mrs. A. A. Maloney.

The deceased's body was brought to Manassas for burial, and was laid to rest Wednesday in the Manassas cemetery, funeral services being conducted by Rev. T. D. D. Clark from the Manassas Baptist Church.  Capt. Castle attended his little son's funeral, but, on account of illnss, Mrs. Castle could not attend.

The pallbearers were Messers. J. B. Leachman, B. H. Lewis, Ashby Lewis, Jr., and John Maloney.

Monday, January 21, 2019

Deed: Copin to Barnes (1866)

Deed:  Copin to Barnes
PWCo Deed Book 26, pg. 334

This Deed made the seventh day of August in the year one thousand eight hundred and sixty-six between Pamelia A. Copin of the first part and Jane W. Barnes col'd [colored] of the second part, both of the County of Prince William in the State of Virginia. Witnesseth that in consideration of the [sum] of eighteen dollars the said Pamelia A. Copin doth grant unto the said Jane W. Barnes (col) with general warranty, a certain lot or parcel of land situated in the said county, on the north eastern border of the land of the said Pamelia A. Copin, north of a certain branch and adjoining the land of Isaac W. Dans, and containing six acres. The said Pamelia A. Copin warrants that she has the right to convey the said land to the grantee; that she has done no act to encumber the said land, that the Grantee shall have quiet possession of the said land free from all encumbrances and that the said party of the first part will execute such further assurances of the said land as may be requisite.  Witness the following signature and seal

Pamelia A. Copin {seal}


State of Virginia
County of Prince William, to wit

I R. W. Wheat a Justice of the Peace for the County aforesaid in the state of Virginia do certify that Pamelia A. Copin whose name is signed to the writing above bearing date on the 7th day of Aug. 1866 has acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid. Given under my hand the 7th day of August 1866

R. W. Wheat  (j.d.)


In the Clerks Office of Prince William County Court October 12th 1866

This deed from Copin to Barnes with the certificate annexed was received in said office and admitted to record.

Teste M. B. Sinclair  Clerk



Sunday, January 13, 2019

Sunday's Obituary: William Peyton Larkin (1930)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
5 November 1930

JUDGE OF ELECTION DIES WHILE SEATED IN POLLING PLACE

Wellington, VA., November 5 -- William Peyton Larkin, prominent farmer of Prince William County, died here yesterday while sitting in the polling place where he was one of the judges of election.  Mr. Larkin had not felt well for several days, but arose at his usual hour on Tuesday morning and went to the polls, where he was stricken with a heart attack while talking with the other election officials and died instantly.

Mr. Larkin was a brother of James R. Larkin, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, who died in Manassas on October 17, and had been prominent in county activities for many years.  He was born in Lynchburg, Va., on February 21, 1869, and had been a resident of the county since 1890.

Surviving are the widow, Mrs. Lucy Adams Larkin; two sons, Peyton of Manassas and Lucien of Wellington; five daughters, Mrs. W. S. Brower (Elizabeth) of Catharpin, Mrs. Paul Bieber (Lucy) of Washington, D.C.; Misses Natalie, Lucretia and Maud of Wellington; a brother, Norvel Larkin, Manassas, and two sisters, Mrs. C. M. Larkin and Mrs. J. T. Ashford, Manassas.

Funeral rites will be conducted at Trinity Episcopal Church, Manassas, on Thursday, November 6, at 3 p.m., with Rev. A. Stuart Gibson, rector, officiating. Burial will be in the Manassas Cemetery.




Tuesday, January 8, 2019

Wednesday's Child: Catherine Maria Clarke

Prince William News
5 January 1922

DEATH OF LITTLE CHILD

Little Miss Catherine Maria, two-year old daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Paul E. Clarke, of Minnieville, died this morning after an illness of bronchial pneumonia which set in only a few days ago.  The little one was born near Minnieville on January 9, 1920.  Interment of the remains will be made beside those of her brother, who died shortly after birth a few years ago and who was buried in Greenwood Baptist church cemetery.


Travel Tuesday: First Arrival of Flour by Railroad (1851)

Republic (Washington, DC)
25 November 1851

FIRST ARRIVAL OF FLOUR BY RAILROAD -- On Saturday last Daniel F. Hooe, of this place, received the first load of flour ever brought to town by railroad.  It was sent down by Wm. J. Weir, esq., of Prince William county, via the Orange and Alexandria railroad. The flour was manufactured at Millford Mills, and after being placed in the freight train, reached here in an hour, in "fine order and good condition."  Huzza for internal improvements, and success to the farmers, millers, and traders.

Alexandria Gazette of Saturday


Monday, January 7, 2019

EXPLORE RELIC - January 2019

January 2019 - The Ruth E. Lloyd Information Center for Genealogy and Local History (RELIC)
Start your historical journey here. RELIC's email newsletter highlights upcoming free events and happenings. Genealogy and local Virginia history are our specialty as a service provided by the Prince William Public Library. We're located at Bull Run Regional Library and you can always find more about us at pwcgov.org/relic.
REVEALING THE CARNAGE AND CHAOS OF THE HOSPITALS OF FIRST MANASSAS

On July 21, 1861, Union and Confederate forces clashed just north of Manassas in the first major battle of the Civil War. Within 24 hours, there were about 3,500 causalities; no one was fully prepared. Private homes and buildings in the area served as hospitals staffed by inexperienced surgeons and assistants attempting to care for the wounded. Local historian and author, Paige Gibbons-Backus, will reprise a talk she recently gave at the Annual Conference of Civil War Medicine in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, detailing the challenges and shortages faced in the makeshift hospitals.

Register at 703-792-4540 or relic2@pwcgov.org.
____________________________________

RELIC's Don Wilson will discuss effective research strategies and demonstrate advanced techniques for successfully searching and evaluating free online genealogy/history resources. See how information found in census, newspapers, passenger lists, maps, books, and manuscripts can add detail and interest to your family history.

Friday, January 4, 2019

Friday's Faces from the Past: Lois Chapin (approx 1904)

This family photo is a lost heirloom discovered by a good Samaritan in an antique store in Ashland, Oregon that found its way "home" to my cousin Gentsia.  

It shows Lois Chapin, the daughter of Alyce (Keys) and Paul Chapin.  (
Alyce was the daughter of Henry Armistead and Sarah Frances (Lynn) Keys of Prince William County.)

Lois was born 19 July 1902 and married Solomon L. Van Meter, Jr.  She died 22 August 1963 and is buried along with her husband in Lexington, Kentucky.

(Thank you, Gentsia, for sharing!)


Wednesday, January 2, 2019

Newspaper Tidbit: Hoadly (1921)

Prince William News
29 December 1921

HOADLY

Happy New Year to All

Miss Florella Milstead of Washington is spending the holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Milstead.

Mr. E. M. Garner spent Sunday with Miss Eva Kidwell, of Agnewville.

Mrs. Edith Yates of Washington is spending the holidays with her mother, Mrs Annie Garner and her daughter, Alma Yates, who has been with her grandmother for some time.

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Sprague of Washington are visiting relatives here.

Dr. W. Fewell Merchant of Manassas was in this vicinity several days last week looking after smallpox patients and vaccinating.

Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Reid and daughter, Miss Maxine, were in Washington shopping Saturday.

A horse belonging to Mr. Daniel Reid was kicked by another horse last Friday night.  Mr. Reid's animal suffered a broken leg and had to be killed.