Announcement: Journal of Prince William County History

Calling all  scholars, teachers, history enthusiast and more! 

Join Prince William County Historic Preservation Division in their new partnership with the Prince William Historic Commission and Historic Prince William by contributing to the 

Journal of Prince William County History!

The Prince William County Historic Preservation Division, Historic Prince William, and the Prince William Historic Commission are joining together to create the Journal of Prince William County History featuring articles about local individuals, businesses, events, and more. Have your work included by submitting an article for the March 2019 inaugural issue! 

If you have any questions, please contact Bill Backus at bbackus@pwcgov.org or call 703-365-7895.

Thank you for preserving Prince William County’s History.

Church Record Sunday: Deed: Jackson to Baptist Society (1798)

Jackson to Baptist Society
Deed
PWCo Deed Book Z, pg 295

To all to whom this present wrighting shall come sendeth greeting. Know yee that I Samuel Jackson & Mary my wife of the County of Prince William for divers causes and considerations but more especially for the regard and Love I have for the Baptist Society Having given granted and confirmed and by these presents do fully freely & absolutely give grant and confirm unto the said Society a certain piece or parcel of land and is bounded as followeth, Beginning at a red oak saplin on the south side the road by the meeting house then S 77d N 45 po. to a Stone in the drane of the meeting house spring then S 13 E 2 po. to a white oak saplin then N. 77 d E 45 po. to a Stone on the Southside of sd. road then down sd. road S 10 W 12 Po to the road leading from the Occoquan MIlls then down the sd. road N 79 1/2 E 20 po to a stone, then N 10 E 18 p to a double body'd red oak then N 80 W 19 po to two read oak saplins then S 10 W 9 po to the beginning including about three acres. Together with every advantage that may be usefull to the sd. Society forever. And moreover the sd. Samuel Jackson & Mary his wife do warrant & defend the sd. premises from the claims of any persons or persons whatsoeve.r Claiming from by or under m. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this twelfth day of May Anno Dom. One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight.

Saml Jackson {seal}
Mary Jackson {seal}

Sign'd seal'd & deliver'd in presence of
The words a certain piece or parcel of land
interlind in the eight line before signd

John Kincheloe
Philip Spiller

At a Court held for Prince Wm. County the 2d day of July 1798

This deed from Samuel Jackson and wife to the Baptist Society was acknowledged by the said Jackson to be his act and deed and ordered to be recorded.

Teste
John Williams        Cl Cur

Newspaper Tidbit: Run Away: Indentured Servant (1775)

Virginia Gazette
13 May 1775

TEN POUNDS REWARD

Dumfries, April 6, 1775

RUN away, two Convict Servant Men, just imported from London, in the Justitia, Capt. Kidd, lying at Leeds Town, viz.--WILLIAM PEARCE, a stout likely Fellow, 5 Feet 8 or 9 Inches high, with red Hair, a fair Complexion, tolerably well dressed, and about 25 Years of Age. -- RALPH EMANUEL, about 6 Feet high, and about 22 Years of Age, strong made, and likely, with darkish coloured Hair, and is well dressed: He had on a Chocolate coloured Suitout Coat, with a red Cape, a little tarred, and a bound Hat, with a black Band round it.

They left the Company in which they were travelling a few Miles above Leeds Town, and both will certainly endeavour to pass for Sailors. To those used to the Smell of Servants just from a Ship they will asily [?] be discovered, unless they have procured new Clothes. I will give 6l, for securing them, 10l. for bringing both Home, or Half that for each. All Masters of Ships are forbid harbouring them, at their Peril.

ANDREW LEITCH

Application for Citizenship: James Jenkyn Davies (5 May 1874)

The path to citizenship was a fairly simple, straightforward process in 19th century Prince William County.  Take the following 1874 application by J. J. Davies, presented before the court 5 May 1874:

Virginia to Wit: 

Appeared before me D. W. Whiting a justice in and for Prince William County, Harvey B. Varns, and after being sworn, testified that he is acquainted with James J. Davies, now of Brentsville, and knows him the said James J. Davies to have been a resident of the United States for five years. 

Given under my hand this 5th day of May 1874. 

D. W. Whiting

Know someone in the county who can verify you've lived in the U.S. at least 5 years?  Citizenship granted!

In "District of Columbia Births and Christenings, 1830-1955" database (familysearch.org), James Jenkyn Davies of England is cited as the father of an unnamed son on 10 October 1887.  His wife, Mildred Hawes Thornton, is a Virginia native. 

[Thank you to Ron Turner for sharing this find from the loose papers of the Prince William County archives.]

Sunday's Obituary: W. D. Wilcoxen (1888)

Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland)
1 May 1888

W. D. Wilcoxen committed suicide at his home, in Prince William county, Va., last Friday night. He climbed to the rafters of his barn, put a rope noose around his neck, and discharged a pistol into his head as he leaped down. He was found dead both by shooting and strangulation. He is well known in the District, having married Miss Mollie Manning of Georgetown.