Church Record Sunday: St. Anne's Episcopal Church (Nokesville)

Manassas Journal
8 July 1921

ST. ANNE'S TO BE REBUILT

Contract Let for New Episcopal Church at Nokesville Tuesday

A committee of the vestry of St. Anne's Episcopal Church at Nokesville, which was destroyed by fire last winter, on Tuesday awarded a contract for the erection of the new church at a cost of $4,300 to Mr. W. F. Hanback, of Warrenton, who built the original St. Anne's and also builder of St. James Church at Warrenton. While the contract does not specify any time for the completion of the church, the work is to begin very soon with the expectation of having it ready for use before winter.

The new church will be almost a reproduction of the building destroyed by fire. Material changes include a cellar with furnace room, a metal shingle roof replacing the wooden roof on the old frame building and a four-foot addition to the vestry room for the accommodation of a Sunday School class.

[The rebuilt St. Anne's Episcopal Church eventually closed.  The building is now the home of the Prince William Dance Accademy. - cgl]

Friend of Friends Friday: Abolitionist Crawford (1857)

New York Herald (NY)
24 August 1857

ANOTHER LIBERTY OF SPEECH CASE in VIRGINIA. -- 

The Brentsville Journal says that on Wednesday a resident of Prince William county, Va., named Crawford, was committed to jail by Justice Kankey, charged with declaring "that he was an abolitionist, that he believed a negro as good as he was if he behaved himself, and maintaining, by speaking, that persons have not the right of property in slaves under the law."  This is the second case of the kind which has occurred in this county, and only the third in the State.

Church Record Sunday: Dedication M. E. Church (1873)

Alexandria Gazette
15 September 1873

The dedicatory service of the M. E. Church at the thriving village of Manassas, in Prince William county, took place yesterday. Bishop Haven preached on the occasion.  At the close of the sermon it was announced that the church had raised $3,000, and that there was a debt of $1,200 on the building. In about half an hour this was subscribed.

Friend of Friends Friday: Ranaway: John/Jack Stark (1822)

Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC)
18 February 1822

NOTICE.

WAS committed to the jail of Frederick county as a runaway, on Friday the 28th ult. a negro man, who calls himself JOHN or JACK STARK, about 38 years of age, 5 feet 10 inches high, with no perceivable mark. Had on when committed a blue twilled woollen coat and pantaloons, and brought with him a gen'eel blue cloth coat. Said negro says he was formerly the property of Wm. Brooke, of Prince William county Va. The owner of the above described property is requested to come forward, prove the same, and pay all legal charges, otherwise he will be discharged from his confinement agreeably to law.

Given under my hand this 31st December, 1821.

THOS. W. MORGAN,
Shff. Frederick county, Md.

jan1-9-w8t

Newspaper Tidbit: Virginia Legislature (warning to Fishermen) (VA Law enacted 1819)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
17 July 1835

[COMMUNICATED.]

The following extract of a Law, passed March 2d, 1819, by the Virginia Legislature, is worth the attention of Fishermen, some of whom are in the habit of collecting large numbers of vagrant idle free negroes from abroad for seine haulers, the pernicious tendency of which, has already been felt by the holders of slaves in our section of the State. [See revised Code vol. 1, page 438.]

A Citizen of Prince William County, VA.

"Every master of a vessel or other person who shall bring into this Commonwealth, by water or by land, in any vessel, boat, land carriage or otherwise, any free negro or mulatto, shall forfeit and pay for every such offence the penalty of three hundred thirty-three dollars thirty-three cents, one half to the Commonwelath for the use of the library fund, the other half to the use of the informer, to be recovered on information in any court of record, and the defendant in every case shall be ruled to special bail."

Will: Leonard Leachman

Will of Leonard Leachman
PWCo Will Book I, pg. 364

In the Name of God Amen --

I Leonard Leachman of Prince William County and state of Virginia knowing that it is appointed for all men to dye & being in a low state of health though of sound mind do make this my last will & testament revocing and disannuling all other Wills made by me heretofore --

Item I resign my body to its mother Earth & my soal to almighty God. & as for my worldly goods It is my Will & desire that they shall be divided as I hereafter shall direct. 

First I give & bequeath all my real & personal estate to my loveing wife Sarah Leachman during her natural life or widowhood but shoul[d] she marry I then give her a Child's parte of the sd. Estate & It is further my will and desire after her death or widowhood that all my Estate as before mentioned be Equally divided between my suns Thomas, Leonard, James, John & Robert they paying the sum of one hundred pound cash to my three daughters Frances Fielder, Elizabeth Brown & Nancy Hadin to be equally divided between them & to pay for the Schooling of James & Robert two years. 

Item I bequeath to my sun James a horse by the name of Shearke to my sun John a Colte by the name of Toliver & to my sun Robert another Coult by the name of Jock which several horses It is my desire they shall have given to them immediately by my Executors which I shall appoint & Lastly It is my will & desire that my three suns Thomas Leachman Leonard Leachman & John Leachman do act as my Executors to this my last Will as Witness whereof I have set my hand & Seal this 23d day of November one thousand seven hundred & Ninety Eight.

Leonard Leachman {seal}

In presents of us
Chs. Ewell
James Foster
John [X his mark] Colvert

At a Court held for Prince William County January 5th 1807

This last will and Testament of Leonard Leachman decd was presented to the Court and being proved by the oath of Charles Ewell was ordered to be certified. And at a Court held for sd. County the 7th December 1807 Redman Foster came into Court and made oath that James Foster a Witness to the last will and Testament of Leonard Leachman decd is dead and proved that the Signature of James Foster to the said Will is in the handwriting of the said James Foster whereupon the said Will is ordered to be recorded it having been proved at January Court last by Charles Ewell.

Teste   J. Williams  Ct. Cur. *

* At a Court Contd and held for Prince William county October the 3rd 1815
John Leachman one of the Exor. named in the last will and testament of Leonard Leachman decd came into Court and made oath to the same accodin to law and having taken the oath of an Exor. and performing what is usual in such cases Certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.  

Teste  Phil. D. Dawe  Ct. Cur.

Sunday's Obituary: Elizabeth Huff

Alexandria Gazette (Va.)
18 February 1861

On the 13th of February, at Thoroughfare, Prince William county, Mrs. ELIZABETH HUFF, wife of James Huff, in the 29th year of her age. She was a dutiful wife, an affectionate mother, a kind neighbor, and a consistent member of the New School Baptist Church. She leaves behind her a devoted husband and four small children, and a host of friends and relatives to mourn her untimely departure.

Newspaper Tidbit: Fire in Woodbridge (1885)

New York Herald (NY)
7 July 1885

BURNED IN THEIR HOME

MIDNIGHT PERIL OF FAMILY AND LOSS OF FOUR LIVES.

WOODBRIDGE, VA., July 6, 1885. -- Further particulars of the fire which occurred here on Saturday last show the results to have been more disastrous than at first appeared. It seems that there were eight persons in the house at the time -- Joseph Harrison, his wife and two children, Samuel Harrison and a Mrs. Bailey and baby, and Miss Bailey. Mrs. Harrison got up during the night to get her oldest child a drink of water, and she does not remember whether she blew the lamp out or not. She afterward discovered that the house was on fire and called her husband, who got up and took his two children and called his brother Samuel. Then he and his wife and Mrs. Bailey and a baby and Miss Bailey started down stairs. Samuel came down and started to the front door. When he entered the front room the smoke and heat were so great he fell, but finally crawled across to the other room and got out of the back door. He could not find any of the others nor hear anything of them, and he called neighbors, who soon arrived and knocked the front door in with an axe and got Mrs. Harrison and two children out. The heat was so intense that they could not go back after the others. Another neighbor had gone in and pulled Joseph Harrison and Mrs. Bailey out of the window, but did not know that Mrs. Bailey's baby was still there, so it was burned to death. The others were carried to a neighboring house, where Harrison's youngest child died about eleven A.M. Saturday. Joseph Harrison and his other child have since died. The other injured ones are still alive, but the doctors have little hope of Mrs. Harrison's recovery.

PWCo Items: 20 September 1869

Alexandria Gazette (VA)
20 September 1869

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA. ITEMS -- Since our last mention of the improvements about Manassas, there have been several others commenced. Mr. A. Z. Phillips, Mr. L. B. Butler, Col. P. B. Stilson, Mr. Bernard Bryant, and Mr. Wm. Hickson, are all building themselves dwellings, besides other of our citizens are building additions, and otherwise improving their premises.  We also learn that some of our capitalists expect to soon engage in the manufacture of articles now in great demand in this and other portions of the country, there being an abundance of raw material in this county.

The Masonic Fraternity in this place is prospering finely; and is bidding fair to become a large lodge. We understand they intend putting up a three story building, the third to be used by the order, the second to be fitted up for offices and the first or ground floor for stores. District Deputy Grand Master George R. Head, of Leesburg, is here and visited the Lodge last night.

The long continued drought has had the effect of drying up many of the smaller streams causing owners of stock a little inconvenience in procuring a sufficient amount of water. At Manassas, although none of the wells have failed, yet the water in some has become so low that the owners have been compelled to get water for their stock elsewhere. 

Mr. Wm. A. Ketchum, is engaged in building a residence on his farm near Brentsville. -- Col. Snow, who owns a beautiful farm near Nokesville Station, on the Orange & Alexandria R. R., is engaged in rebuilding his residence which was destroyed during the war.

Mr. Seymour Johnson of the firm of Buckingham and Johnson, who purchased the farm of Col. H. W. Cunningham, arrived here a few days ago from Wyoming county, New York, having travelled the distance, 350 miles, in eleven days, with their team loaded with furniture. They have commenced work at their new home, and will get full possession the first of October.

Messrs. E. F. Pickett, James E. Pickett and Philip Smith, three young men of this county, left here on Tuesday for the West. We should prefer they remained here and help to build up the waste places of old Prince William.

Cannon, McLean & Co., sold last Saturday, 827 acres of land near Gainesville, the property of Dr. Beverly Buckner of Louisiana, to Mr. Wm. Brown, of Alexandria, for $3,875.

~Manassas Gazette

Sunday's Obituary: Wallace Reid

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
23 December 1917

MANASSAS, VA. -- Wallace Reid, colored, was accidentally killed in a mine shaft near here several days ago. He was in the bucket going up to the mouth of the shaft when, in some unknown manner he struck against the casing and his head was severed from his body.

Richmond Times (Va.)
26 December 1917

WALLACE REID KILLED

Head Severed from Body at Pyrites Mine When Hoisting Bucket Strikes Facing

(Special to the Times-Dispatch)
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., December 25. -- Wallace Reid was killed yesterday at the Pyrites Mine, near Dumfries, Prince William County, while being hauled up to the mouth of the mine in a bucket. He struck against the facing of the mine and his head was severed from his body. Two other men also were injured from falling pieces of ore and timber.

[Information on the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine, now part of Prince William Forest Park, can be found HERE.  There were many deaths and injuries in the mine.  Reid's was one that stood out, as can be seen from PW Forest Park's website.]

Will: Codicil: Thomas Harrison (enslaved persons)

Codicil to the Will of Thomas Harrison
PWCo Will Book K, pg. 133
"Will recorded in folio 112"

CODICIL to my will now in the possession of Thomas Harrison of Chapawamsic made this 3rd day of March 1811. 

Item 1st. I will and direct that my Exor. shall sell a negro Boy by the name of Henry and the money arising from his sale shall be applied to the payment of my Debts.

Item 2. I will and bequeath to my Daughter Elizabeth a negro Girl named Mariah and it is my will & direction that the afsd. Girl remain on the farm until she (my Daughter Elizabeth) is married or seases to be maintained by my estate & I moreover will and devise to my afds. Daughter Elizabeth an other Negro Girl by name Ann free from any incumbrance or limitation.

Item 3. I will and bequeath to my daughter Sarah a negro Girl named Cecelia under the same direction that the afsd. girl Mariah is willed to my daughter Elizabeth & also a Negro Girl by name Sharlott free from any incumbrance whatever.

THOS. HARRISON {seal}

Witness in the presence of

Burr Harrison
C. N. Harrison
Frances B. Alexander

At a Court Cont. and held for Prince Wm. County Jany 7th 1812

This Codicil to the last Will and Testament of Thos. Harrison decd. was proved by the oath of Burr Harrison and ordered to be recorded. 

Teste   J. Williams  Ct. Cur.