Friday's Faces From the Past: W. F. Cocke

Richmond Times Dispatch
20 June 1935

LEADERS WOULD BOOM VIRGINIA'S TOURIST TRADE

A fall festival was one of the ideas advanced yesterday at a conference of civic leaders held here yesterday under Virginia State Chamber of Commerce auspices. 

Left to right are:  H. W. Grave of the Luray board of trade; W. F. Cocke of the Manassas Dairy Festival; Alvin Smith, president of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce; Judge F. C. Curry of Monterey, of the Highland County Tourist Association; W. W. Gibbs Jr. of Staunton, representing Shenandoah Valley, Inc., and J. W. Johns, president of the State Chamber of Commerce.

Newpaper Tidbit: Serious Malfeasance in Office, if True (1868)

Richmond Whig
8 December 1868

Serious Malfeasance in Office, if True

Brentsville, Prince William Co., Va., November 29, 1868 -- Mr. Editor -- It is charged that a bold plan was arranged by the sub-jailor here and John T. Keys, who is confined under indictment for rape on his daughter, to effect Keys' escape to-night, but William E. Goodwin, Esq., the vigilant and exceedingly efficient sheriff of this county, getting wind of the plot, came with a posse this evening about 3 o'clock and took special charge of the jail. He placed a guard of five men to watch the prisoners, and turned the jail keys over to the guard.

Rumor is that the prisoner, John T. Keys, had arranged with the sub-jailor, a man named Charles Wright, to give him one hundred and seventy-five dollars, and that he (Wright) for that "consideration," was to open the prison doors.

No one here doubts that a scheme was on foot for Keys' re ease.

Correspondence Fredericksburg Herald

Deed: Loan: Alexander to Stith (1823)

Prince William County
Deed Book 9, page 78

To all to whom this present writing shall come greeting--

Know ye, that I Jane Alexander of the County of Prince William desirous of aiding and assisting as far as lies in my power my daughter Mary D. Stith and her children of the same County as long as I live have loaned and by these presents do loan unto the said Mary D. Stith the use of Matilda a negro woman during my pleasure or so long as I may live then to be returned, with any increase she may have in order to a division among my children (she being one of my dower slaves) as directed by the will of my late husband Gerard Alexander deceased as will appear by a reference to said Will.  In testimony whereof I have this 26 day of March 1823 affixed my hand and seal.

Jane Alexander {L.S.}

Test,
Griffin Stith Junr.
Otho W. Callis
Wm. Stuart

In the Clerks office of Prince William County Court May 19th 1823

This instrument of writting from Jane Alexander to Mary D. Stith was proved before me by the oaths of Otho W. Callis and William Stuart and admitted to record.

Teste P. D. Dawe      ct cur

Newspaper Tidbit: Brentsville Items (20 Sept 1934)

Manassas Journal
20 September 1934

BRENTSVILLE

Mr. Jos. Keys and children visited Mrs. Keys' mother and sister last week in Rectortown, Va.

Miss Irma Wilson has returned to her home at Marshall where she enters second year high school.

Brentsville is glad to welcome Miss Dorothy Woodhouse back to the school this year.

Mr. and Mrs. Cash Keys and family returned from Washington last week after spending the week-end with Mrs. Keys' mother. Mrs. Keys attended the Daughters of America State session as a State representative in Washington.

Brentsville Community League will meet Friday night, Sept. 21, at 8 o'clock and it is hoped that as many as can will be present. The league is now working on a play to be given in October.

We see Mr. George Rhine driving his car again after his accident.

Master Lloyd Keys has returned to his home here after a minor operation and is able to return to his school again this week.

Mr. and Mr.s Blakemore visited Mr. and Mrs. George Nicely Sunday. Mrs. Goldie Nicely was home for Sunday.

We are glad to know that Mrs. Joe Keys is feeling much better after a lengthy illness, though still under the doctor care.

Friend of Friends Friday: Tansill Promissory Note

Library of Virginia Chancery Collection (Index No. 1858-030)
Culpeper, Va 
Thomas W. Tansill v. Seymour Lynn (1858)

We the undersigned promise & oblige ourselves and our & each of our heirs excr's & admrs to pay or cause to be paid to Elijah Hansbrough or assigns the just & full sum of Twenty Dollars for the services of Maryann the year 1846 to clothe Maryann with good & sufficient summer & winter clothing including a blankett, & in like manner we bond ourselves not to transfer Maryann to any person whatever or suffer her to be carried out of this state without the counsel of her master under the penalty of double her value, but treat her with humanity & return her (if alive) with her winter clothing good on or before the 25th December 1846 with the said wages given under our hand & seals this 1 Jany 1860.

Samuel Tansill {seal}
W. Charles Merchant {seal}

Wedding Wednesday: Forsythe/Battle

Baltimore Sun (MD)
30 July 1916

Manassas, Va. -- Miss Lucy L. Forsyth[e], daughter of Charles E. Forsythe, of Haymarket, Prince William county, and Michael J. Battle, of Nichols,. S.C., were married Wednesday at the home of the bride's sister, Mrs. W. V. Robertson, in Washington, by the Rev. C. K. Millican, of this county.

Amanuensis Monday: Deed: Hixon to Milstead (1915)

Prince William County
Deed Book 67, pg. 77
Hixon to Milstead

This deed made the 17 day of September 1915, between G. W. Hixson, party of the first part, and Frank Milstead party of the second part,

WITNESSETH: That for and in consideration of its value cash in hand paid by the said second party to the said first party, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, the said party of the first part doth by these presents bargain, grant, sell, release, convey and confirm unto the said party of the second part, with general warranty of title west half of lot Number 47, as designated in the plat and survey of West End Cemetery, adjacent to the town of Manassas, in the county of Prince William, the same to be used as a burial place for white persons only.

Witness the following signature and seal.

G. W. Hixson {Seal}

Prince William County, to-wit:

I, L. M. Jones, a notary public for the county aforesaid, in the State of Virginia, whose commission expires on the 12 day of August, 1916, do certify that G. W. Hixson, whose name is signed to the foregoing deed, bearing date on the 17 day of September, 1915, hath acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid.

Given under my hand this 17 day of September, 1915.

L. M. Jones, N. P.

In the Clerk's Office, Circuit Court, Prince William county, September 18, 1915.

This DEED from G. W. Hixson to Frank Milstead, was received with certificate annexed and admitted to record.

Teste:  J. E. Herrell, Clerk
#369

[Manassas City Cemetery was also known as West End Cemetery and Citizens Cemetery/Confederate Cemetery.  ~cgl]