PWCo Items: 12 September 1874

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
12 September 1874

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS [From the Manassas Gazette}--

Sam Brown, a colored man, was arrested by officer John T. Goodwin, on Thursday evening last, on a charge of highway robbery, the complainant being Richard W. Jacobs, a white man. Jacobs swore that he was at Bristoe Station last Tuesday and became very much intoxicated, and that Brown accompanied him from Bristoe to Nokesville and drove his (Jacob's) wagon, and that at Nokesville Brown left, after which Jacobs discovered that his pocket book had been robed of $10.65. Brown was searched and four dollars found on him, which he attempted to conceal. On being questioned he gave contradictory statements in regard to the money in his possession. He was committed for a further hearing at Brentsville.

Quite a flutter occurred in the Old School Baptist Church, near this place, last Sunday morning during the services, when a colored many by the name of Lucas walked down the isle and took his seat among the white people. Lucas is a preacher, and has made application once to preach in this church, which was refused. He is a native of this county, and is now a representative in the Legislature.

We published a week or two ago an account of a colored man who came very near losing his life by the foul air in a well which he was cleaning out, and we now have another case to report of a colored man who has been engaged several weeks in deepening a well for Mr. C. L. Hynson, who narrowly escaped with his life a day or two ago by descending to the bottom and being overcome with the foul air.

Two leading articles of food seems to have entirely "played out" in this section, and none can be had for a love or money, viz: Irish potatoes and corn meal. There has not been sufficient of either in Manassas for the past week to feed a chicken.

Mr. Wm. I. Florence, son of Geo. N. Florence, of this place, feel from a fence on Sunday night last, and received a very painful sprain in his left ankle.

A friend informs us that there were six sermons preached in Manassas last Sunday, one marriage, and two baptisms.

Deed: Cornwell to Lynn (1849)

Deed: Cornwell & Wife to Lynn &c.
PWCo Deed Book 20 pg. 302

This Indenture made __ day of June 1849 between Silas K. Cornwell & Catharine Cornwell (his wife) of the county of Prince William & State of Virginia of the one part and Levi C. Lynn & James Norman of the same county & State of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Silas K. Cornwell and Catharine Cornwell for and in consideration of the sum of Forty Dollars to them by the said Levi C. Lynn & James Norman in hand paid, the receipt whereof that said Silas K. Cornwell & Catharine Cornwell doth hereby acknowledge, hath granted, bargained and sold and by these presents, doth, grant, bargain, sell & convey unto the said Levi C. Lynn & James Norman, their heirs and assigns forever a certain parcel of land supposed to contain Five Acres, lying and being in the county of Prince William, and adjoining the land of Jno. Sullivan Jr. John Keys & William Goodwin Sr. being a part of the land allotted to Sarah C. Calvert from her Father's Estate. To have and to hold the said parcel of land with the appurtenances thereto belonging to them the said Levi C. Lynn & James Norman their heirs and assigns forever to the only proper use & behoof of the said Levi C. Lynn & James Norman their heirs & assigns forever.  And the said Silas K. Cornwell and Catharine Cornwell for themselves, heirs executors & admr. doth here covenant & give to & with the said Levi C. Lynn & James Norman their heirs and assigns forever that they the said Silas K. Cornwell & Catharine Cornwell and their heirs the said parcel of land with its appurtenances unto the said Levi C. Lynn & James Norman their heirs & assigns forever against them the said Silus K. Cornwell & Catharine Cornwell and their heirs forever and against all persons whomsoever and shall and will by these presents forever warrent and defend.  And witness whereof the said Silas K. Cornwell & Catharine hath hereunto set their hand and affixed their seal this 4th day of June and year before written.

Silas K. Cornwell {seal}
Catharine [X her mark] Cornwell {seal}

Prince William Cty to wit

Silas K. Cornwell this day came before us A. H. Saunders & C. E. Norman Justices of the peace for the county aforesaid, and acknowledged the same to be his act and deed and desired us to certify sd. acknowledgement to the clerk of the county court of Prince Wm. in order that it may be recorded and on the same day Catharine Cornwell wife of Silas K. Cornwell, who was examined separately and apart from her husband, and made a similar acknowledgement and request, and said it was he voluntary act, and that she did not wish to retract, Given under our hand and seals this the 4th day of June 1847.

A. H. Saunders {seal}
C. E. Norman {seal}

In Prince William County Court June 4, 1849

This deed from Cornwell & wife to Lynn &c. was presented to court with certificate annexed & ordered to be recorded.

Teste -- J. Williams  C. C.



["&c" is often used in land records as an abbreviation for et cetera, Latin for "and the rest." --cgl] 

PWCo Items: September 16, 1872

Alexandria Gazette
16 September 1872

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS. - [From the Manassas Gazette] -- We were agreeably entertained on Thursday morning last by listening to a discussion which took place between a Grant man and a Greeley man, but the discussion terminated by the parties leaving politics and talking religion, and when we heard one of them asking the other whether St. Peter was living or not we got disgusted and quit.

The thermometer at Manassas on Sunday last at noon, at the residence of W. C. Merchant, esq., was 94, and the thermometer was placed in a position where the sun did not strike it.

James B. Sener, Radical candidate for Congress for this district and Dr. W. W. Douglass, Presidential elector on the Grant ticket, will speak at Occoquan on the 17th instant.

Elisha Chloe was sent to jail at Brentsville on Saturday last, accused of the murder of O'Brien, near Haymarket, over a month ago. We believe it originated from that worst of evils--whiskey. The accused has been in the jail at Warrenton for some time, as the murder was supposed to have been committed in Fauquier county, but upon a survey of the line, which divides the two counties, it was ascertained to have been committed in Prince William county.

Rain commenced falling about 9 o'clock Thursday morning, and continued until late in the night. At times it was very heavy, and the "oldest inhabitant" informs us that the showers, during the day, were the heaviest he ever witnessed at this place. The rain has materially effected the buckwheat, and the crop will be a good one. Our informant told us that he saw on the farm of Wm. E. Goodwin yesterday buckwheat at the heighth of ten feet.

Elisha E. Meredith, the Conservative canvasser for Prince William, has made the following appointments to address the people of this county; Independent Hill, Saturday, 21st September, 3 o'clock p. m. Manassas, Saturday, 28th September, 3 o'clock p. m., Brentsville, Monday, 7th October, 3 o'clock p. m. Occoquan, Saturday, 19th October, 3 o'clock p. m. Dumfries, Saturday, 26th October, 3 o'clock p.m.

Maj. Thornton is complimented by J. M. Owens, teacher, for the impartial manner in which he has managed the charge committed to his trust as county superintendent of schools. Maj. T. has endeared himself not only to every teacher of the county but also to the community at large by his liberal expression of sentiments upon the benign influence of the public school system all over the county.

There is to be a tournament at "Harrison's Crossing," between Burke's and Fairfax stations on Thursday, next.

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Items (19 August 1872)

Alexandria Gazette
19 August 1872

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS - [From the Manassas Gazette.] -- Jas. B. Sener, Radical candidate for Congress in the first Congressional District, and W. W. Douglass, elector on the Grant ticket, announced that they will speak at Brentsville on the next court day, Monday, September 2d.

A singular phenomenon was noticed at Brentsville on the night of August 10. During the rain the moon broke through the clouds in the west and there appeared in the east, spanning the entire heavens, a beautiful rainbow which remained there for fully half an hour.

A picnic will be given near Brentsville on Tuesday the 2d inst., which, judging from the names of the managers, will be one of the most pleasant affairs of the season.

Mr. Frank Cannon has sold about 5,000 railroad ties for the Danville extention.  These ties were purchased for the Fredericksburg railroad, but were not taken, and have been on hand some time.

A race was run on Tuesday last at Manassas between a sorrel colt owned by H. B. Varns and a sorrel mare owned by C. L. Hynson. Mr. Varns' colt was entered by C. A. Cannon and Mr. Hynson's mare by Wm. E. Goodwin. The distance was 940 yards. The race was won by the colt, beating the mare ten feet.  The stake was $120.

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

Crime & Punishment: Chose the Stripes (1874)

Alexandria Gazette
28 November 1874

CHOSE THE STRIPES -- Casper Redmond, a young colored man, was arrested on Thursday and taken before Justice D. W. Whiting on a charge of having "made way" with the contents ($11.50) of a pocket-book he found belonging to James A. Goodwin, whose father he was in the employment of at the time. He acknowledged he found the pocket-book, and that he knew whose it was, but said it only contained $1.50, which he spent.  He was sentenced to sixty days in jail or twenty stripes. He said he would rather be whipped than stay in jail one day. The Sheriff gave him the stripes.

-- Manassas Gazette

Amanuensis Monday: Will of Hebron Molair

Hebron Molair Will

Prince William County Will Book Q, Pg. 309

In the name of God Amen I Hebron Molair of County of Prince William in the state of Virginia, being of sound mind and memory and understanding do make this my last will and testament, in manner following, that is to say. – It is my will and desire that my just debts and personal expenses be paid out of my estate. I give and devise to my wife Rebecca Molair for the term of her natural life all my estate, real, personal, and mixed, except the devise hereafter made to George W. Molair of one Bay mare colt, to be held by her without impeachment of waste.

I give and devise to my son George W. Molair, one Bay mare colt.  After the death of my wife, it is my will and desire that the estate above devised to her for life shall be equally divided between my five children, namely George W. Molair, Frances E. Molair, James E. Molair, John L. Molair, and Leroy Molair and their heirs.  I hereby appoint George W. Molair, executor of this my will. In witness whereof I have hereinto subscribed my name this fourteenth day of October one thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.

Hebron [X his mark] Molair

Signed and acknowledged by the testator in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in presence of each other have subscribed our names as

M. B. Sinclair

W. E. Goodwin

John Molair

At a court of quarterly sessions held for Prince William Count on the 5^th day of November 1855

This last will and testament of Hebron Molair dec’d was proved by the oaths of Mordecai B. Sinclair and William E. Goodwin witnesses thereto and ordered to be recorded and on the motion of George W. Molair the executor therein named who made oath there to and together with Thomas R. Davis and James M. Sinclair his securities (one of whom Thomas K. Davis justified as to his sufficiency) entered into and acknowledged their bond in the penalty of $1500.00 conditioned as the law directs, certificate is granted him for obtaining a probat[e] of the aid will in due form.

Teste, P. D. Lipscomb, clk

Newspaper Tidbit: Prince William Township Officers

Alexandria Gazette
31 May 1873

PRINCE WILLIAM TOWNSHIP OFFICERS -- The following township officers were elected at the May election, in addition to those given in our last issue.

Brentsville Township -- Supervisor, J. B. Reid; Assessor, James M. Sinclair; Clerk, A. F. Woodyard; Collector, John T. Goodwin; Commissioner of Roads, John A. Brawner; Overseer of Poor, Benj. F. Manuel; Justices of the Peace, A. F. Woodyard til 1875, and Jno. D. Payne til 1876; Constables, John T. Goodwin, till 18875; Geo. B. Chichester, til 1876.

Occoquan Township -- Supervisor, Dr. Milton A. Ish; Clerk, L. Ledman; Assessor, Absalom T. Lynn; Collector, Geo. W. Tansill; Commissioner of Roads, A. M. Arrington; Overseer of Poor, M. Curtis; Justice of the Peace, C. W. Holland 3 years; Constable, Geo. W. Tansill 3 years.

Coles Township -- Supervisor, M. N. Lynn; Clerk, Wm. B. Lynn; Assessor, J. M. Barbee, Collector, Robert H. Keys; Commissioner of Roads, Roy L. Davis; Overser of poor, John H. Lynn; Justice of Peace, Sam. R. Lowe, 3 years; Constable, Robert H. Keyes, 3 years.

Dumfries Townhip -- Supervisor, Chas. F. Bayley; Clerk, Wm. A. Dunnington; Assessor, Wm. S. Chapman; Collector, James V. Nash; Commissioner of Roads, Henry C. Brawner; Overseer of Poor, James Clark; Justices of the Peace, A. H. Fuechsel til 1876; George R. Atkinson till 1874; Constables, Jas. V. Nash, till 1876, Benjamin Lynn, til 1875 -- Manassas Gazette

Deed: Teasdale to Goodwin (Brentsville tavern lot)

Deed

Teasdale to Goodwin (Brentsville Tavern lot)

PWCo Deed Book 27, pg. 251

This Deed made this 18^th day of December 1867 between Sidney F. Teasdale and Susan F. his wife of the one part and George M. Goodwin of the other part all of the County of Prince William and state of Virginia. Witnesseth that the said Sidney F. Teasdale and Susan F. his wife in consideration of the sum of twenty five hundred and ten dollars do grant unto the said George M. Goodwin the three acre lot in Brentsville Prince William County Virginia designated as the Tavern lot running parallel with the public square north to south being the same conveyed to the said Teasdale by B. E. Harrison by deed dated 2^nd December 1867 and of record in the clerk’s office of Prince William County Court and the said parties of the first part do covenant with the said George M. Goodwin that they will warrant generally the property hereby conveyed. Witness the following signatures and seals.

Sidney F. Teasdale {seal}

Susan F. Teasdale {seal}

Prince William County to wit,

I, John H. O’Rear a justice of the peace for the County aforesaid in the state of Virginia do certify that Sidney F. Teasdale whose name is signed to the writing above bearing date on the 18ty day of December 1867 has acknowledged the same before me in my county aforesaid. Given under my hand this 8^th day of February 1868.

John H. O’Rear J.P.

State of Virginia Prince William County to wit

We L. Cole and John H. O’Rear justices of the peace for the County of Prince William in the state of Virginia do Certify that Susan F. Teasdale the wife of Sidney F. Teasdale whose names are signed to the writing above bearing date on the 18^th day of December 1867 personally appeared before us in the County aforesaid and being examined by us privily and apart from her husband and having the writing aforesaid fully explained to her she the said Susan F. Teasdale acknowledged the said writing to be her act and declared that she had willingly executed the same and does not wish to retract it. Given under our hands this 8^th day of Febry 1868.

L. Cole J.P. [Lawrence Cole ~ cgl]

Jno. H. O’Rear J.P.

In the Clerks office of Prince William County Court December 9^th 1869.

This Deed from Teasdale to Goodwin was received with Certificates annexed and admitted to record.

Teste,

J. C. P___ clerk

In Chancery: Publication Notice: Carter v Lynn

Administrators of Thomas Carter v Administrators of Seymour Lynn
Prince William County, Virginia
Library of Virginia Case 1878-001
Order of Publication

Warrenton, Fauquier County, Va

I, L. W. Caldwell, one of the proprietors of the "True Index" a newspaper published in Warrenton, Va., do certify that the Order, of which the annexed is a copy, in the case of Carter's Admx v James Lynn was duly published in said newspaper once a week for four successive weeks, commencing on 21st day of November 1868 and that a copy of the same was posted at the front door of the Court-house of Prince William County, on the first day of ______ County Court, 186___.

Given under my hand this 9th day of January, 1869

L. W. Caldwell
Printer's Bill $10.70

---------------

In Prince William Circuit Court, October 14th , 1868.

Rachel Carter, Administratrix of Thomas Carter deceased, plaintiff,

Against

James S. Lynn, Administrator of Seymour Lynn deceased, William E. Goodwin, Sheriff of Prince William county, Committee Administrator de bonis non of Charles E. Norman deceased, Mary F. Norman, Andrew Norman, Fielder Norman, Mildred Norman, Eppa Norman, Charles E. Norman, Lycurgus F. Lynn, and James S. Lynn, Administrators of Marshall D. Lynn deceased, defendants

IN CHANCERY

The Court doth adjudge and decree that James S. Lynn, Administrator of S. Lynn deceased do render before one of the Commissioners of this Court an account of S. Lynn as Administrator of Charles E. Norman deceased, and William E. Goodwin do also render before said Commissioner an account of his actings and doings on the said estate.  And that said Commissioner do also take an account of the outstanding debts of said Charles E. Norman deceased, and of any assets of said estate unadministered by the Administrator aforesaid; also an account of the real estate belonging to said estate with annual and fee simple value thereof, notice to be given for four weeks in some newspaper, shall be equivalent to personal service, and tha the convene the creditors of said estate by like notice and that he report to the Court.

An Abstract - Teste
John Camper, Clerk
Nicol p.q.

COMMISSIONER'S OFFICE, November 7th, 1868

To the creditors of Charles E. Norman deceased, and all other concerned:

Take notice that I shall on the 20th day of December 1868 at my office, in the town of Brentsville, proceed to execute the requirements of the decree from which the above is an abstract, when and where you are required to attend.  Given under my hand on the day first aforesaid, as Commissioner of said Court.

B. A. Sinclair

PWCo. Jailors (1823 - 1893)

Prince William County, Virginia Jailors 1823 – 1893 Compiled by Ronald R. Turner
Abraham Millan	1823 – 1824
John Merchant	1825 –
Robert Lipscomb	c1829 – 1834
Thomas T. Fewell	1835 – 1836
William Dickson	1836 – 1837
George W. Clifford	1838 – 1839
George A. Farrow	1839 – 1840
James B. Hayes	1840 – 1842
Richard W. Weedon	1843 – 1848
George W. Clifford	1849 – 1853
Hebron Molair	1854 – 1855
John Goodwin	1856 – 1857
James A. Goodwin	1857 – 1857
Thomas K. Davis (sheriff & jailor)	1857 – 1859
Charles Wright	1860 – 1867
Elbert Wright	1868 – 1869
Wallace N. Tansill	1869 – 1871
John T. Goodwin	1871 – 1873
John H. Butler	1873 – 1873
A. F. Woodyard	1873 – 1879
Mathew Woodyard	1880 – 1880
John S. Tyler	1880 – 1893

Mappy Monday: Upper Independent Hill

Below is a snippet from the Library of Congress's copy of the 1862 Map of N. Eastern Virginia and Vicinity of Washington that shows some of the landowners of the day.  Copies of the full map can be ordered through the LOC.