Newspaper Tidbit: Conservative Meeting

Alexandria Gazette

1/7/1868

CONSERVATIVE MEETING.—At a meeting held in Brentsville, Prince William county, Va., on Monday, January 6, 1868, C. W. C. Dunnington, Esq., was called to the Chair, and Dr. Carter Berkeley appointed Secretary.

The Chairman explained the object of the meeting to be to organize the Conservative party of the county, in accordance with the recommendation of the State Executive Committee.

On motion of Col. Nicol, the Chair appointed Messrs. Allen Howison, Lawrence Cole, Crawford Cushing, and John Hammill a committee to report suitable persons as committees of the four magisterial districts.

After consultation, the committee reported the following names, to wit:

Dist. No. 1 – Edwin Nelson and Dr. M. B. Weedon.

Dist. No. 2 – Dr. M. Ish and Colonel Basil Brawner.

Dist. No. 3 – F. A. Weedon and William Bryan.

Dist. No. 4 – Capt. J. E. Herrell, and Col. Edmund Berkeley.

On motion, it was, Resolved, That the committee have power to fill any vacancies which may occur in their body.  The proceedings were ordered to be published in the Alexandria Gazette and Richmond Enquirer.  The meeting then adjourned.

Will Book: William Fitzhugh Inventory (Slaves Only)

In addition to Wills that left slaves and other "property" to specific heirs, county Will Books include accounts and inventories of estates that can include important genealogical information.  In this Inventory, an occupation and the names of parents are mentioned. 

WILLIAM FITZHUGH Inventory

(Slaves only)

Prince William County Will Book I, pg. 41

2 July 1804

IN OBEDIENCE to an Order of Prince William Court bearing date July second 1804 directing us the Subscribers to Inventory and apprays the Est. of WILLIAM FITZHUGH decd being first sworn we have proceed’d as follows to wit.

One Negro man named BENJAMIN (a carpenter) - $263.33

One Negro Man named GEORGE - $333

One Woman named MARY - $300

One Mulatoe lad named BRAXTON - $300

One Mulatoe man named RANDOLPH - $400

One decriped man named ABINGO - $100

One Negro girl named PEGGY - $260

One Negro boy named BARNETT - $200

Oen Mulatoe woman LUCY & child ROSANNA - $300

One Mulatoe woman named FANNY - $200

One Negro woman named DAPHNY - $300

One Negro boy named REUBEN - $200

One Mulatoe child named NELLY (daughter of FANNY) - $80

One Mulatoe child named SIDNEY (Lucy’s daughter) - $150

One Mulatoe boy named FRANK (son of Lucy) - $60

One Mulatoe child named BEVERLY (son of Lucy) - $80

One Negro boy named ROBERSON (son of Mary) - $100

Amount of Negroes - $3,576.33

Bill of Sale: Burroughs to Tackett and Grigsby

Researching slave ancestors can be a challenge, but every day more resources and period records are finding their way onto the Internet. One such resource is Afrigeneas, which has been online for ten years.

In addition to slave schedules and census records, county Deed and Will books can also provide a wealth of information.

Burroughs to Tackett and Grigsby Bill of Sale
Prince William County Deed Book 1, pg. 77

Know all men by these presents that I Benjamin Burroughs of the County of Prince William and State of Virginia for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred and fifty pounds current money of Virginia to me in hand paid by William Tackett and James Grigsby of the County and Commonwealth aforesaid (the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge and thereof do acquit and discharge the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors and administrators) have granted bargained & sold and by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said William Tackett & James Grigsby, their heirs Executors, administrators & assigns, one negro man named Abraham and one negroe woman named Mary to have & to hold the said two slaves Abraham & Mary to them the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors admors & assigns, and I the said Benjamin Burroughs do for myself my heirs executors and admors warrant and for ever defend the aforesaid property to them the said William Tackett and James Grigsby their heirs executors & assigns against me my heirs executors & administrator, and against any and every other person or persons whatsoever. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 5th day of March 1800.

Benjamin Burroughs {seal}

Signed and sealed and delivered in presence of }
Hugh Davis, A. Lithgow Jr.
Allen Lowden, Thos. A. Smith

At a Court contd. And held for Prince Wm. County the 6th day of May 1800. This bill of sale from Ben. Burroughs to Wm. Tackett and Jas. Grigsby was proved by the oath of Alex. Lithgow Junr. And Thos. A. Smith and ordered to be recorded.

Teste. John Williams

Certificate: Tebbs to Muschett

W. J. Tebbs to Charles M. Muschett Certificate
Prince William County Deed Book 1, pg. 78

I hereby certify that Charles M. Muschett this day made oath before me that his removal to the State of Virginia was with no intention to evade the act preventing the further importation of slaves within the Commonwealth nor has he brought with him or will cause to be brought any slave with an intent of selling them and that none of the slaves now in his possession to wit Mary, Charles & Anna have been imported from Africa or any of the West India Islands since the 1st day of November 1778. Given under my hand this 15th day of April 1800.

W. J. Tebbs

At a Court contd. And held for Prince Wm. County the 3d day of June 1800. This certificate of slaves imported from W. J. Tebbs to Chs. M. Muschett was presented to the Court and ordered to be recorded.

Teste. John Williams

Deed: Hayes to Harrison Mortgage

David Hayes to Mathew Harrison Mortgage
Prince William County Deed Book 1, pg. 75

Know all men by these presents that I David Hayes for and in consideration of the sum of five shillings to me in hand paid by Mathew Harrison the receit [sic] whereof I do hereby acknowledge have bargained sold & delivered unto said Harrison a sorrel horse with a small blaze in his face & a little __ped. And the said horse I do for ever warrant & defend unto the said Harrison his executors admrs or assigns for ever Provided nevertheless in case the said Hayes shall well & truly pay James Wigginton the sum of twenty pounds for which sum he has this day passed his obligation to said Wigginton in which obligation the said Harrison has joined the said Hayes as security then this deed & bill of sale shall be null and void otherwise to remain in full force and virtue. Signed sealed & delivered this 17th day of March 1800.

In presence of
John Williams, J. Lawson, J. Wigginton

David Hayes {seal}

At a Court held for Prince Wm. County the 5th day of May 1800. This Mortgage from David Hayes to Matthew Harrison was proved by the oaths of John Lawson and John Williams and ordered to be recorded.

Teste. John Williams

150th Commemoration of First Battle of Manassas

Hot Day for History at Battlefield

Gentleman Jim Robinson

Gentleman Jim has unique spot in history: "He's not a household name in the annals of Civil War history and he wasn't known for amazing inventions or accomplishments."

Will: John Edges

JOHN EDGES Will

Prince William county Will Book C, pg. 133

16 July 1737; proved 26 Jun 1738

IN THE NAME OF GOD AMEN I John Edges of the County of Prince William in Virginia being very sick and week in body, but of perfect sence and sound disposing memory thanks be to God do make and ordain this my last Will and Testament in manner and form following.  First I give and bequeath to my Soul into the hands of Almighty God that gave it trusting in my Saviour Jesus Christ to have a joyful Resurrection at the last day, and my body to the Earth to be buried in the Christian Burial at the discretion of my Executrix hereafter mentioned.  Second, I give unto Rachel Spiller Wife of William Spiller Sun one Negro lad called Harry and one Negro Woman named Ginny enduring her natural life and at her Decease then it is my Will that my Kinswoman Elizabeth Maguire shall have the said two Negros Harry & Ginny, her & her heirs for ever but and if the said Negro Woman should have any Children that then the said Rachel Spiller shall have the Disposal of the said Negro Childrens to give to whomsoever she pleases.  Thirdly, I give to Rachel Spiller all the rest of my personal Estate abeit of what kind, nature or quality soever enduring the natural life of the said Rachel Spiller and after her Decease to my Kinswoman Elizabeth Maquire who is now bound to William and Rachel Spiller and to her and her heirs for ever.  Lastly, I do hereby order constitute and appoint my loving friend Rachel Spiller to be my sole Executrix of this my last Will and Testament.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 16^th day of July Anno Domini 1737.

Signed Sealed & acknowledged by

JOHN H. EDGES

In the Sight and Presence of

LEWIS TACKETT

MARY M. TACKETT

FRNACES LIASON

At a Court held for Prince William County June 26, 1738.

This Will was presented in Court by Rachel Spiller the Executrix within named who made oath thereto and the same being proved by the Oath of the Witnesses to it subscribed was admitted herewith and on the motion of the said Executrix and her performing what is usual in such Cases Certificate was granted her for obtaining a [illegible] thereof in [illegible].

Newspaper Tidbits

Richmond Times Dispatch – January 19, 1911

WANTED, DOCTOR: A GOOD LOCATION at Brentsville, Va.  Also merchant for this town; dwelling house and storeroom combined; for sale or rent.  Inquire of DR. W. J. BELL, Bristow, VA.

Richmond Times Dispatch – April 7, 1908

CAPTAIN W. F. WILLIAMS. – Bristol, VA, April 6.  Captain W. F. Williams, sixty-six years old, a native of Brentsville, Prince William county, VA, died here to-night of pneumonia.  He was captain of Company A, Fourth Virginia Regiment of the Confederate army.  For many years he was prominently connected with the railroads here.  Two sons and three daughters survive.  His only surviving sister, Mrs. Somerville, resides at Manassas.

Richmond Times Dispatch – November 5, 1916

APPOINTED DEPUTY SHERIFF. MANASSAS, VA., November 4. Judge J. B. T. Thornton has appointed J. P. Kerlin of Nokesville, deputy sheriff of Prince William County.  Mr. Kerlin was selected by Charles A. Barbee, sheriff, to succeed the late John M. Hooe.  McDuff Green, of Aden, has been appointed to fill the vacancy caused by Mr. Kerlin's resignation as supervisor from the Brentsville District.

Daily National Intelligencer – July 14, 1825

BRENTSVILLE, VA., JULY 8, 1825 – Joseph Bergess, who was sentenced to be hanged, by the Superior Court of Law for Prince William county, held in October last, for the murder of Charles Gollyhorn, was executed near Brentsville, this day, in presence of a large number of spectators, who had assembled to witness the scene.

Pittsfield Sun – July 4, 1867

The death is announced near Brentsville, Prince William County, Va., of Wm. Washington, aged 74 years, nephew of Col. Washington of the Revolutionary army, and third cousin of Gen. George Washington.  His brother, Col. Henry Washington, of the District of Columbia, survives.  The deceased served with distinction throughout the war of 1812.

Alexandria Gazette – May 22, 1832

DIED, Wednesday last, at Brentsville, Prince William County Va., Philip D. Dawe, Esq., Clerk of Pr. Wm. County Court, aged 50 years.

Newsletter: Brentsville Neighbors - July 2011

The July issue of Brentsville Neighbors can be found at RELIC.

Deed: Georgie LYNN, et al to Louisianna SULLIVAN

I thought this Deed was especially interesting because it mentions the half acre set aside for the Cole family cemetery in Independent Hill.  It also lists the "surviving heirs at law" of the will of Lawrence Cole (one of whom, Earl Lynn, is his grandson and my grandfather).

14 April 1933
GEORGIE LYNN, Et Al. To LOUISIANNA SULLIVAN

Prince William Co. Deed Vol. 109, pg. 268

This deed made this 14^th day of April, 1933, by and between GEORGIE LYNN, widow, ELIZABETH ASHBY, widow, MOLLIE HOWELL, and SAMUEL B. HOWELL, her husband, P.M. COLE and MAGGIE O. COLE, his wife, and EARL LYNN, parties of the first part, (the said Georgie Lynn, Elizabeth Ashby, Mollie Howell, P.M. Cole, and Earl Lynn being all of the surviving heirs at law of LAWRENCE COLE, deceased), and LOUISIANNA SULLIVAN, party of the second part:

WITNESSETH, that, for and in consideration of the sum of ten dollars to them in hand paid, and other valuable considerations, receipt whereof is here acknowledged, the said parties of the first part have granted, bargained and sold and by these presents do grant, bargain, sell and convey, with general warranty of title, unto the said party of the second part the following described lot or parcel of land, to-wit:

All of that certain lot or parcel of land lying and being situate in Coles Magisterial District, Prince William County, Virginia, adjoining the lands of Sullivan and Oleyar and being the second one-half acre of land referred to in the first paragraph of the will of the late Lawrence Cole, recorded in Will Book T Prince William County Clerk’s office; less and except, however, so much of the said one-half acre of land as is now fenced as a burying ground the same being a Lot 30 feet or acre.  The said parties of the first part reserve for themselves and their heirs the right of ingress and agree to and from the said lot that is excepted from this conveyance through the present entrance on the Independent Hill-Joplin Road.

Witness the following signatures and seals:

George Lynn (Seal)

Mollie Howell (Seal)

Samuel B. Howell (Seal)

Elizabeth Ashby (Seal)

P. M. Cole (Seal)

Maggie O. Cole (Seal)

Earl Lynn (Seal)

State of Virginia,

County of Prince William, to-wit:

I, R.C. Linton, (Justice of the Peace) in and for the county aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, do certify that Elizabeth Ashby, P.M. Cole, and Maggie O. Cole, whose names are signed to the writing hereto annexed, bearing date on the 14^th day of April, 1933, have acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid.  My commission expires

Given under my hand the 31 day of October, 1933.  R. C. Linton J.R.

State of Virginia,

City of Alexandria, to-wit:

I, Virginia Reveley, a Notary Public in and for the City aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, do certify that Georgie Lynn, whose name is signed to the writing hereto annexed, bearing date on the 14^th day of April, 1933, have acknowledged the same before me in my City aforesaid.  My commission expires August 19, 1933.

Given under my hand the 3^rd day of June, 1933.  Virginia Reveley, N.P.

State of Virginia,

County of Elizabeth City, to-wit:

I, C.B. Markham, a notary public in and for the county aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, do certify that Earl Lynn, whose name is signed to the writing hereto annexed, bearing date on the 14^th day of April, 1933, have acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid.  My commission expires Jan. 20, 1945.

Given under my hand the 21^st day of Aug., 1942.  C.B. Markham N.P.

State of California,

County of Los Angeles, to-wit:

I, J.M. Cassidy, a notary public in and for the county aforesaid, in the State of California, do certify that Mollie Howell and Samuel B. Howell, whose names are signed to the writing hereto annexed, bearing date on the 14^th day of April, 1933, have acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid.  My commission expires

Given under my hand and notarial seal the 11^th day of July, 1933.  J. M. Cassidy, N.P.

Notary Public in and for the County of Los Angeles, State of California.  My commission expires Apr. 19, 1937.

NOTARY PUBLIC SEAL.

In the Clerk’s office of the Circuit Court of Prince William County, Virginia, August 24, 1942, this Deed from Georgie Lynn, et al to Louisianna Sullivan with certificate attached, was this day admitted to record at 2:40 p.m.

Leamon Ledman, Clerk

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