Sunday's Obituary: Richard Graham

National Intelligencer (DC)
8 August 1857

DEATH OF THE VENERABLE RICHARD GRAHAM

Died at Hazlewood, in the county of St. Louis (Mo.) on the 27th July, Major RICHARD GRAHAM, in the 78th year of his age.  He was the last surviving son of Richard Graham, of Dumfries, Prince William county, Va.  He was brother of George Graham, acting Secretary of War during the administration of President Monroe, and subsequently Commissioner of the General Land Office; of John Graham, first United States District Attorney for Louisiana, Secretary of Legation to Spain, Commissioner to the South American Republics, and Minister Plenipotentiary to Brazil; and of Mrs. Catherine Ramsay, of the city of Washington -- all now deceased.

Major Graham entered the military service during the last war with Great Britain, and served with distinction as Aid-de-Camp on the staff of Major General Harrison.  He participated in all of the perils and hardships of the Northwestern army, and was promoted to the rank of Major for his gallantry and good conduct.  His relations with General Harrison were peculiarly intimate, and he was, during his life, the cherished and honored friend of his commander.

The war over, Major Graham was appointed Indian Agent for the extended Territory of Missouri, in which office he continued until 1829.  He was also appointed by the President one of the Commissioners to establish the boundary lines of Illinois.

With ample fortune, Major G. has for many years, surrounded by his devoted family, led the happy life of a country gentleman, investing his favorite pursuit, agriculture, with all the charms of a refined taste and a well cultivated mind.  Social in disposition, his olden time hospitality was proveribal, and his happy home the favorite resort of a large circle of friend.

The death of such a man is a public loss -- his life a happy commentary on true patriotism, an example of blended virtues, in the conscientious discharge of every duty -- a noble-hearted, honest man.

As a Christian, he was consistent, pure, and  humble.  The study of the Holy Scriptures was his daily office, and his unaffected, unsullied goodness relfected its softened radiance on all around, and imported, as he gently and consciously passed from time to etenity, the summons brief and heart-rending to his family.

"That peace which passeth not away."

Will: John King (1797)

JOHN KING Will

Prince William County Will Book H, pg. 228

16 May 1797; Proved 2 Oct 1797

In the name of God Amen I JOHN KING of the County of Prince William being weak in body but of sound & perfect mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following.

I give & bequeath unto RACHEL BOOTMAN all the property I am possessed of consisting of stock and household goods and whereas I am entitled to money due me from the Commonwealth as a pension & have impowered JOHN LINTON to draw the same for me I further give and bequeath that to RACHELL BOOTMAN the whole of the stock and household goods & money I give to the said RACHELL for the use and benefit of my four children which I have had by her, namely MARYANN KING, WILLIAM KING, WILSY KING & ELIZABETH KING.  I also appoint the above named RACHELL BOOTMAN executrix of this my last will and testament.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 16^th Day of May in the year of our lord 1797.

JOHN [his mark] KING  {seal}

Signed sealed published & declared by the above named JOHN KING to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunto subscribed our names as Witnesses in the presence of the testator

JOHN LINTON

JOHN OARD

THOMAS OARD

At a court held for Prince William County the 2^nd day of October 1797

This last will & testament of JOHN KING decd. was presented to the Court by RACHEL BOOTMAN the Executrix therein named who made oath thereto according to law and the said will being proved by the oath of JOHN OARD is ordered to be recorded; and the said Executrix having taken the oath of an Executrix and entered into bond with JOHN OARD and WILLIAM ANNISS Jun. Her securities who swore they were worth one hundred dollars each after their debts are paid, certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste

JOHN WILLIAMS  Ct Cur.

Sunday's Obituary: Robert Weir

Alexandria Gazette
12 October 1842

At his residence in the County of Prince William, on Sunday, the 2d inst, after a protracted illness of several months, Robert Weir, Esq., in the 59th year of hsi age.

Mr. Weir was a native of Spotsylvania, and in early life a resident of Falmouth.  After leaving Falmouth, he settled in Tappahannock, where, for many years, he prosecuted trade as a Merchant.

His inflexible probity, untiring industry and patient devotion to business, resulted in the acquisition of an independent fortune.  Whilst his general benevolence, unostentatious but openhanded charity, warm, affectionate and confiding disposition, made him as generally beloved as universally esteemed throughout the circle of his acquaintance.  After retiring from trade, Mr. Weir removed to the neighborhood of Brentsville, where he has resided for the last ten years.

The life of but few men affords a picture of such unblemished virtue, without a friendship lost, or an enmity to regret.  He has left a widow and five children to lament his loss.

[Robert Weir was born 20 October 1784 and is buried in the Weir family cemetery in Manassas. ~cgl]

Friend of Friends Friday: Ran Away: John Williams

Alexandria Herald
29 September 1820

TWENTY DOLLARS REWARD

RAN AWAY from the subscriber's quarry, near Aquia: in the county of Stafford, Va. on the 15th of May last, a Negro fellow who calls himself JOHN WILLIAMS.  He is about 30 years of age, of a dark copper color, about 5 feet 10 or 11 inches high, remarkably yellow eyes, and when spoken to stammers very much; sometimes it is a minute before he can utter a word. His ears are pierced, and he sometimes wears in them a very shewy pair of rings.  He is a very likely fellow, and has no scar that we recollect to have observed.  He is the property of Mr. Alfred Ewell, of the county of Prince William, and hired to us by his brother Jesse Ewell, in said county, in whose neighborhood it is said he has a wife.  His mother lives in the vicinity of Occoquan, and he has an extensive acquaintance in the town of Alexandria.

At one of those places he is no doubt at this time lurking.  The above reward will be given if taken in Alexandria or beyond the limits of Virginia and secured in jail so that we get  him again, and ten dollars and all necessary charges paid if taken in one of the adjacent counties and brought home.

Rouzee Peyton & Co.

Sept. 11

Wedding Wednesday: Hooe / Kiewit

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
9 September 1899

Mr. John Meredith Hooe and Miss Margaret B. Kiewit, both of Nokesville, Va., were quietly married at the home of Mrs. R. V. Osmun, 917 12th street, Wedensday, the 6th instant, at 3:30 p.m.  The ceremony was performed in the presence of a few friends by the Rev. E. C. Shaver, assistant pastor of the New York Avenue Church.  Mr. and Mrs. Hooe are for the present at 310 C street northwest, where they will be glad to see their friends.

Sunday's Obituary: Margaret Dulaney

Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC)
27 November 1845

At Dumfries, (Va) on Monady, the 24th instant, Mrs. Margaret Dulaney, aged 55 years, after a few days' illness.  Her death will be severely felt by her numerous relatives and friends, who deeply deplore the loss they have sustained in the death of this amiable and truly pious woman.  She had long been a devoted member of the Methodist Church, and one of the oldest inhabitants of that town.

She lived possessed of friendship and of love,

She died assured of endless bliss above.

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Item: May 15, 1875

Alexandria Gazette
15 May 1875

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS.

Geo. W. Abel was seriously injured on Monday last by the falling of a blundering horse. He was on his way from Occoquan, where heh resides, and has been employed as ferryman, and when near Cedar Run bridge the horse he was riding fell, turning a complete summersault, throwing its rider over its head and falling upon him, the pummel of the saddle striking him in the pit of the stomach. The fall so stunned the horse that it laid on Mr. Able until it was pulled off but Mr. A. was up and walking about the next day.

On Thursday of last week as Mr. Joseph B. Reid was driving from Brentsville to Bristoe Station in his buggy, the horse coming in contact with the ox team of Mr. W. A. Ketcham, threw Mr. Reid out of the buggy, who, falling upon his head received very painful injuries. Mr. John H. Butler who was in the buggy with Mr. Reid jumped out as soon as the horse started, and was not hurt.

The attendance at the Circuit Cour was smaller than usual, though quite a large amount of business was done.  ~ Manassas Gazette

Wedding Wednesday: Waters/Longwell

Baltimore Sun

29 December 1907

MANASSAS COUPLE WEDS IN FREDERICK

Frederick, Md., Dec. 28 -- Mr. Odale Dabney Waters, of Manassas, Va., and Miss Louise Anna Longwell, of Bellington, Va., came to Frederick yesterday and were married by Rev. Osborne Ingle, of All Saints Episcopal Church.  After  the wedding Mr. and Mrs. Waters left for Manassas.

Will: Robert Graham (1821)

ROBERT GRAHAM Will

Prince William County Will Book L, pg 360

12 Feb 1816; proved 04 Jun 1821

I give and bequeath to my wife MARTHA PEYTON GRAHAM the land on which I live containing three hundred & forty acres more or less and also the tract of land on which RICHARD LEE lived and where his widow now lives containing one hundred & forty acres more or less to her in absolute fee simple for ever.  This is my last will and testament in my own hand writing the twelfth day of February eighteen hundred & sixteen.

ROBERT GRAHAM  {seal}

last will and testament JOHN LINTON, JOHN TYLER LINTON

At a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for Prince William County 4^th of June 1821.  This last will and testament of ROBERT GRAHAM decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oaths of JOHN LINTON and JOHN T. LINTON is ordered to be recorded.

Teste, PHIL. D. DAWE

Sunday's Obituary: Mary (Lynn) Ayers

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
8 June 1904

Mrs. Mary Ayers, whose death occurred last night at Providence Hospital, Washington, was a resident of Prince William county and had many friends in that city.  She was twenty-one years of age and was a daughter of Mr. Lewis Lynn of Prince William.  Her husband, Mr. George Ayres, and three children survive.  The funeral will take place from her late home in Prince William tomorrow afternoon.

[Mary Elizabeth Lynn, the daughter of Lewis Craig Lynn and Hannah (Bonham) Lynn, married George Ayres on 16 January 1900 in Ellicott City, Maryland.  She is buried in Sudley Methodist Church Cemetery.  --cgl]

Newspaper Tidbit: Commissioners of Election in PWCo

Alexandria Gazette
15 May 1860

COMMISSIONERS OF ELECTION IN PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VIRGINIA

The following gentlemen have been appointed by the court of Prince William county, Commissioners to superintend the election to be held for county officers on the fourth Thursday this month:

Brentsville -- William W. Davis, A. Howison, Dr. E. W. Latimer, Jno. Camper, and Eppa Hunton, commissioners, - Jas. G. Draney, Conductor.

P. J. Cannon's Store -- Ben. Johnson, D. T. Arrington, J. Willcoxen, W. I. Wier, and Geo. A. Cannon - A. F. Woodyard, Conductor.

Hay Market -- J. A. Harrison, G. Hulfish, Thos. S. Shirley, and B. E. Harrison - G. Simpson, Conductor.

Sudley Mills -- J. T. Leachman, C. C. Cushing, M. W. Lynn, J. D. Dogan, and John Y. Cundiff - A. Buckley, Conductor.

Dumfries -- J. W. Groves, R. W. Wheat, T. H. Speake, G. W. Merchant, J. A. Annis - M. F. McConchie, Conductor.

Cole's Store -- F. Hanna, Z. A. Kankey, W. H. Smoot, W. Selecman, and Basil Brawner - W. Gaskins, Conductor.

Kings' Former Store -- John Sullivan, Ro. Wilkins, J. W. Davis, W. H. Simpson, and C. A. Nelson - John Keys, Conductor.

Sunday's Obituary: Fannie Trone Edwards

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
13 April 1912

MRS. F. T. EDWARDS DEAD

Funeral of Widow of Former Methodist Pastor Tomorrow Afternoon

Mrs. Fannie Trone Edwards, widow of Rev. Dr. William S. Edwards of the Baltimore Conference, Methodist Episcopal Church, died at her home in the Imperial apartments last night of heart disease. Mrs. Edwards had been ill for several weeks.

Funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at the home at 4 o'clock and the officiating ministers will be Rev. Dr. John T. Ensor, pastor of the Calvary M. E. Church, and Rev. J. W. R. Sumwalt, district superintendent of M. E. churches.  Burial will be made in Baltimore, her former home at Loudon Park cemetery.

Mrs. Edwards was the daughter of the late Rev. John Trone and Mrs. Delilah Trone of Prince William county, Va, and was closely connected with the Weedon and Howison families of Virginia. She had many friends throughout Virginia, Maryland and Washington.

Since the death of her husband three years ago in Baltimore, Mrs. Edwards had made her home at the Imperial, in Washington. She is survived by one daughter, Mrs. Chase Palmer of Washingotn, and two sisters, Mrs. Sailor C. Richards of Manassas, Va., and Mrs. Eugene Compton of Washington.