Sunday's Obituary: William F. Purcell

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
26 December 1871

William F. Purcell, well-known in this community, and for upwards of twenty years judge of the Orphans' Court of the District of Columbia, died at his residence in Washington on Friday night. Judge Purcell was a native of Prince William county, Va., from whence he removed to Washington in 1844. In 1846 he was appointed by President Polk as judge of the Orphans' Court to succeed Judge Causine, resigned, and which position he held until 1869, when he was legislated out by act of Congress.

PWCo Items: November 1896

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
21 November 1896

PRINCE WILLIAM NOTES.

Mr. Albert Buckley, an aged and well known citizen of this county, died at his home near Catharpin last Friday.

On Monday last Mrs. A. H. Roseberry was paralyzed while engaged at her sewing machine and is not expected to live.

Miss Ella Mayhugh, aged 16, daughter of Mr. G. W. Mayhugh, residing near Waterfall, died at her home on Monday last of diphtheria.

Mr. John Smith, one of Prince William's oldest and most highly respected citizens, died at his home near Antioch Monday evening in the 81st year of his age.

On Thursday five men and three bears arrived in Manassas and proceeded to give a small show on the streets, which was against the law. They were locked up.

Mr. Charles D. Wheat, of California, formerly of Prince William county, and a member of a Company A of the 49th Virginia regiment, died at his home in California, Saturday, September 19, from heart disease.

As an evidence of the growth of Manassas, Mayor Taylor informs us that the number of dwellings and stores completed, or now in progress, reaches a total of 30. This, of course, includes improvements made to dwellings, both in the corporate limits of the town and in the immediate suburbs.  -- Manassas Journal

Sunday's Obituary: John T. Trone

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
29 September 1895

DIED.

At Mountain Home, in Frederick county, of disease of the lungs, JOHN T. TRONE, in the 28th year of his age. He was a member of the Baltimore Annual Conference, within the bounds of which he travelled and preached for three or four years. He was the youngest son of J. S. Trone of Buckland, Prince William County, Va., and leaves a large circle of relations and friends to mourn his early death.

Newspaper Heraldry: Fairfax Family

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
19 December 1887

THE FAIRFAX FAMILY

Col. John W. Fairfax, of Prince William county, Virginia, was in town on Saturday last searching the records in the clerk's office, his object being to trace the genealogy of the Maryland branch of his illustrious family. The Colonel in examining the church records of Durham Parish, found recorded the birth and baptism of several members of this branch of his family, the parents of whom resided at the time in the parish. Col. Fairfax is a younger brother of the Virginia planter, who can at any time cross the ocean and assume the title of Lord Fairfax, and occupy a seat in the House of Lords, in the British Parliament, but being a native born American he prefers the simplicity, and the laws of his native land, to that of law maker for a country for which his only admiration is that it give birth to his ancestors.  -- Port Tobacco, (Md.,) Independent

Will: Thomas Newman

Will of Thomas Newman
PWCo. Will Book L, pg. 355-357
Proved: 2 April 1821

In the name of God Amen I Thomas Newman of the County of Prince William and state of Virginia do make this my last Will and Testament. Imprimis, I give and bequeath to my Beloved Wife Willia E. Newman all my Estate real and personal during her natural life or Widowhood except such specific legacies as may be herein after made.

1. Item I confirm to my son Elias Newman and his heirs the gift that I made him of negroes Reuben & Nell and her increase and I also bequeath to him and his heirs (negro Lad) John.

2. Item. I give and bequeath to my son Thomas Jett Newman and his heirs the land whereon he now lives purchased of Pages estate and containing one hundred and forty one acres more or less together with the negroes of which he is now in possession viz. Ann, Mina, and Wilson.

3. Item. I confirm to my daughter Nancy Jett Newman and her heirs the gift I made her of negro Patt and her children and bequeath to her (stone mason) Jack.

4. Item. It is my will and desire that out of the profits of my Estate there shall be placed in trust in the hands of my son Thomas Jett Newman one hundred and twenty dollars annually for the benefit and support of my daughter Elizabeth Hereford and her children or that as much money be vested in Bank or other stock sufficient to yield an Interest of that amount in either case my son Thomas J. Newman to act as trustee for the special benefit of my said daughter Elizabeth Hereford and her children and this to be considered as her full proportion of my Estate.

5. Item. I confirm to my daughter Mary Spindle & her heirs the gift I made her of negro Isaac, and also give and bequeath to her and her heirs negro Phillis.

6. Item. Having made a Deed of Trust to James Brown of Frederick County of negroes Sally and Stefnee for the benefit of my daughter Sarah Brown and her children I confirm the same for the purpose therein mentioned and also at the death of my wife I give in Trust to my son William Jett Newman negroes Harry, Thornton & Eliza for the special benefit of my said daughter Sarah Brown & children.

7. Item. Upon the death or marriage of my wife I give and bequeath to my son William Jett Newman and his heirs the Tract of Land purchased of John Armistead of Caroline County, decd. containing five hundred acres, more or less together with the land lying on the south side of Catharpen purchased of William Armistead containing from twenty to thirty acres. I also give and bequeath to my son William Jett Newman and his heirs negroes Carpenter Tom and Betty and their children Charles, Charlotte, Jim & George.

8. Item I give and bequeath to my daughters Catharine Newton Newman, Mary Spindle, Peggy Newman and Eleanor Newman and their heirs the residue of my land in Prince William County to be divided equally among them according to quantity and quality I also give them the use of my Dwelling House as their residence as long as they remain unmarried.

9. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Catharine Newton Newman and her heirs negroes Jack and Milly and their children Maria, Reuben, and Margaret.

10. Item I give and bequeath to my daughter Peggy Newman and her heirs negroes Shoe Maker Tom, Winny, Moses, Penny and her children Esther, Rachel and Betsy.

11. I give and bequeath to my daughter Eleanor Newman and her heirs negroes Ned, Lucy, Peg, and her children Mary, Lewis, Penny & Juliet.

12. Item upon the death or marriage of my wife it is my desire that my Executors hereafter named shall sell all my personal property negroes excepted to meet the monied claims against my estate and if the avails thereof should prove deficient it is then my Will and desire that negro Jess and his wife and children shall be sold to compleat the payment of all just demands against my Estate and whatever balance of money may remain together with the negroes undisposed of to be divided among my children all except Thomas J. Newman and my daughter Elizabeth Hereford. 

Lastly I hereby nominate constitute and appoint my sons Elias Newman, Thomas Jett Newman, William Jett Newman and my brother Richard Newman Executors of this my last Will and testament.  In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 28th day of December one thousand eight hundred & twenty.

Thos. Newman {seal}

Edmund Newman
E. Brooke Senr.
John Tall
Thomas Brasfield
Daniel Foster
Thos. Fortun

In addition to the Will which I have recently signed and sealed it is my desire to annex thereto my bequests as relates to two tracts of land to which I am entitled in the state of Tennessee viz. one of two thousand five hundred acres and the other of five hundred acres making on the whole three thousand which I bequeath to all my children in equal divisions that is to say Elias Newman, Thomas J. Newman, Nancy Jett Newman, Elizabeth Hereford, Katherine Newton Newman, Mary Spindle, Sarah Brown, William Jett Newman, Peggy Newman & Eleanor Newman all of whom to have an equal interest in the said three thousand acres of Land.

It is also my will and desire that all my sons and sons in law shall be exhonerated from the payment of all and any moneys that I have advanced to them or for them. Given under my hand this 9th day of February 1821.

Thos. Newman

Thomas Fortune
James D. Tennill
Alexr. Tennill

At a Court for Prince William County April the 2nd 1821.

This last will and testament of Thomas Newman decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oaths of Thomas Fortune, James D. Tennill and Alexander Tennill is ordered to be recorded and Richard Newman and William Jett Newman two of the Executors therein named made oath to the same according to law and the said Executors having performed what is usual in such cases certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste   Phil. D. Dawe  Ct. Cur.

Crime & Punishment: Wanted Freedom During Holidays

Washington Herald (DC)
23 December 1912

WANTED FREEDOM DURING HOLIDAYS

William Eggleston, Who Escaped from Occoquan, Makes Pleas for Few Days More

"Say, I just wanted to be out on Christmas for a little celebration," said William Eggleston alias William Walton, twenty-four years old, alleged professional bicycle thief, as he left police headquarters last night to finish a term of a year and a half at Occoquan workhouse, whence he escaped on Wednesday.

"I think you fellows might have waited until after Christmas to pinch me," said Eggleston, who began his sentence at the workhouse on Thanksgiving Day. Eggleston was "picked up" on suspicion by the police of Alexandria while, it is alleged, he was trying to sell a bicycle, which the police believe was stolen.

Detectives from Washington identified "William Walton," as the  man called himself, as Eggleston, wanted as an escaped prisoner from Occoquan. Eggleston declared he would have returned to the workhouse voluntarily if he had been allowed to remain at liberty until after Christmas. "A bird in hand is worth two in a bush," said Guard Hall, of Occoquan, as he started for the workhouse with the prisoner. 

Eggleston is unmarried and lived in Arlington,. Va.

Manassas Items: 13 December 1914

Sun (Baltimore, MD)
13 December 1914

MANASSAS

PAUL PORTNER, of Washington was a guest his week at Annaburg. Mr. and Mrs. C. E. Nash entertained at a dinner at their residence on Church street, the guests including Mr. and Mrs. J. R. B. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. H. P. Davis, Mr. and Mrs. I. E. Cannon, Mr. Nash's niece, Mrs. Bresnahan, and Washington. Miss Margaret Lynch was the guest of Miss Winifred Bronson, of Washington, for the week-end. Mr. and Mrs. Ramsey Taylor have returned to Norfolk after spending several days with relatives here. Mr. and Mrs.H. L. Bouncy, of Clarendon, were guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Davis, at Bristow, for the week-end.

Local Masons who attended the Knights Templar banquet at the Plains recently were: Hon. C. J. Meetze, C. E. Nash, I. E. Cannon, W. H. Brown, O. D. Waters, J. R. B. Davis, H. P. Davis, G. W. Merchant, H. T. Davis, R. S. Hynson and T. F. Coleman. The Messrs. Bucker, of Clarendon, were guests at the home of Mr. and Mrs. R. H. Davis, at Bristow, last week. Harvey Janney has returned to Manassas after spending a week with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Janney, at Occoquan. Miss Lena Akers was the guest of her sister, Mrs. William Gulick, in Washington, last week.

Miss Ida Camper, of Orange, is visiting Mr. and Mrs. Henry Camper. Miss Lucy Buck and Miss Glasscock, of Agnesville, were week-end guests at the home of Doctor and Mrs. R. C. Buck.

Sunday's Obituary: John W. Hall

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
13 August 1931

RITES FOR JOHN W. HALL

Special Dispatch to The Star

GAINESVILLE, Va., August 13. -- Funeral rites were conducted today for John W. Hall, 91 years old, prominent Prince William County citizen, who died Monday, following a brief illness. The deceased was a member of the Prince William Cavalry during the war between the States and was one of the oldest Confederate veterans in the county.

Services were held in the family home, with Rev. J. Royal Cook of the Greenwich Presbyterian Church officiating, while burial was in the cemetery on the place. The pallbearers were John Ellis, Douglas Cockerille, Shirley Reid, J. L. Mayhugh, Raymond Ellis and Frank Cockerille, all from the Gainesville and Greenwich communities, where the deceased had lived throughout his life.

Those surviving are two daughters, Mrs. T. M. Cook, Greenwich, and Mrs. Ernest Hoffman, Roanoke, and a grand-daughter, Mrs. Samuel Thornton of Washington.

PWCo Items: Manassas, Va - January 1918

Evening Star (DC)
13 January 1918

MANASSAS, VA.

Miss Vera V. Hughes of Coaburn and Robert C. Leachman, 150th Infantry, Camp Shelby, Miss., were married on New Years day in Hattiesburg, Miss. The bridegroom is a son of Charles C. Leachman of Manassas. 

The Manassas Good Housekeepers' Club met Wednesday afternoon at the home of Mrs. R. J. Adamson. Mrs. S. G. Byrne entertained the Stone House Good Housekeepers' Club Wednesday afternoon. 

Miss Ada Kincheloe of Upperville, Fauquier county, has been the guest of Mrs. L. Frank Pattie. Christopher M. Newman of Bridgeport, Conn. and Mrs. Bessie Newman of Washington were recent visitors at the home of Mr. and Mrs. E. R. Conner. 

Mr. and Mrs. Fontaine Hooff, whose marriage took place recently in Washington, have been visiting Mrs. Hooff's parents, Mr. and Mrs. George H. Smith. 

J. P. Leachman has returned from New Mexico and Cape Girardeau, Mo., where he visited his daughters, Mrs. David B. Smith and Mrs. Allen Laws Oliver. 

Wheatley M. Johnson and J. B. Johnson, jr., of Camp Lee recently visited their parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Johnson.