Friend of Friends Friday: Ranaway: Harry and Davey / Solomon / Caesar

Virginia Gazette and Alexandria Advisor
23 June 1791

TEN POUNDS REWARD,

RAN AWAY from the subscriber, living in Prince William County, about 5 miles aboe the Red-House, the following Slaves, viz. -- HARRY, about 40 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, who has remarkable scars over one of his eyes. -- This Negro left me in Dumfries last October, has since been taken up above Winchester, put in that gaol, and eloped from the person coming home with him. -- DAVEY, a dark Mulatto, full 6 feet high, slender made, went off th 2d inst. It is needless to describe the dress of either the first having changed his clothes, and the other in all probability will, when he gets to Dumfries, where he has a wife. -- DAVEY was formerly the property of Joseph Combes, of Loudoun County, and may go in that neighbourhood where he has some relations. I will give the above reward for those two Negroes being delivered to me, and Forty Shillings for either, exclusive of what the law allows.

ELIZABETH GRAHAM
June 15, 1791.
99-3w.

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Alexandria Daily Advertiser
10 June 1807

THREE DOLLARS REWARD.

RAN AWAY about the 21st of May last, a negro boy slave, named SOLOMON, the property of Miss Nancy Morton, living in Prince William county, and hired of her until the end of this year: he is about 14 years old, of a black complexion, with a very wide mouth, his clothes are unknown; The above reward will be given to any person who will apprehend and deliver him to Miss Nancy Morton, or to the subscriber, living in Prince William county.

John M. Wilkinson
June 10

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National Intelligencer & Washington Advertiser 
25 October 1809

RAN AWAY FROM THE SUBSCRIBER LIVING in Brenton, Prince William County, Virg. on the 11th Aug. 1809, a Mulatto man named CAESAR, 21 or 2 years of age, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, calls himself Keys; is much sun-burned, has a full suit of hair--took with him a pair of nankeep pantaloons, a Bennet Cord waistcoat having yellow and red collars; a short dark summer coat, besides several other articles. It is apprehended he has gone northward, having been traced into Washington City with a crowd of negroes returning from the camp meeting held in Fairfax county. He is not skilled in any handy craft, but has been entirely accustomed to the business of a plantation. Whoever shall apprehend the said negro, and secure him in any jail, shall receive twenty dollars reward--if brought home all reasonable charges shall be paid by the subscriber. Masters of vessels are cautioned against receiving on board their vessels the said Slave.

GERARD ALEXANDER, Sen.
Sept. 32-2awtf

Newspaper Tidbit: First Complete County History in Manassas by W.P.A.

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
25 March 1941

FIRST COMPLETE COUNTY HISTORY WRITTEN IN MANASSAS BY W.P.A.

Scattered Data Took Two Years to Assemble

Compiled as a Virginia Writers' Project of the Work Projects Administration, a book claimed to be the first complete history of Prince William County (Va.) was published today, under the sponsorship of the Bethlehem Good Housekeeping Club of Manassas.

Edited by Mrs. Eudora Ramsey Richardson, supervisor of Virginia Writers' Projects, the book is called "Prince William, the Story of Its People and Its Places."  It gives a detailed account of the county's history and it is expected to prove valuable as a source of reference.

Research workers delved into old records, archives and rare documents to produce the book, which contains such things as a complete list of more than 700 taxpayers in the county for the year 1783, and the roster of about 600 Prince William troops in the Confederate Army.

The object of the project is to make available in one volume the valuable scattered data on the formation and development of this county. Over 2,000 names connected with the past and present history of Prince William are mentioned in the book.

The county was formed from King George and Stafford Counties in 1731, the book states. The name was given in honor of a 10-year-old son of King George II, then monarch of England.

The narrative discloses that Prince William citizens repeatedly figured in the conflicts that marked the early history of the country. Troops from the county participated in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution. Gen. Braddock's army passed through the section en route to his final encounter. In Prince William the first company of minutemen in Virginia was formed. Later the county "was proud to give to the Continental Army one of its most brilliant officers -- Gen. Henry (Light Horse Harry) Lee," father of Gen. Robert E. Lee.

The book recounts the well known history of the area around Manassas, county seat of Prince William, during the War Between the States.

It notes that in the 20th century the county still includes the important Marine base and training camp at Quantico.

The newly compiled history and guide book of Prince William offers information on leading educational institutes throughout the county and lists suggested tours, including trips to remote corners and back-country sections.t

Mrs. Richardson says she had a staff of eight persons at work two years to complete the book.

H. R. Eubank and Frank A. Browning, supervisors of the project, directed the research, while John S. Widdicombe, assistant State supervisor, plotted the tours and wrote all architectural descriptions. The story of education was compiled by Margaret Meagher and Everett Anderson, and tradition collected from tombstones and records by Mrs. Susan R. Morton of Haymarket, Va.

Mrs. Richardson served on the State Board of Public Welfare for 10 years prior to 1938. She is a former national field representative of the Federation of Business and Professional Women and organizing president of the Virginia branch of the American Association of University Women.

["Prince William, the Story of Its People and Its Places" remains one of the best research books on the county.  Research copies can be found at RELIC and other Virginia libraries.  ~cgl]

Wedding Wednesday: Nicol/Iden

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
November 21, 1912

Christ Episcopal Church was the scene of a brilliant wedding at 8 o'clock last night, when Miss Pauline Fauntleroy Nicol, daughter of Judge Charles Edgar Nicol of this city, became the bride of Dr. Benjamin Iden, Jr., of Manassas, Va.

The bridal couple entered the church to the strains of a wedding march, played by Mrs. Simpson of Washington.  The bride was accompanied to the altar by her father, by whom she was given in marriage.  Rev. William J. Morton, rector of the church, performed the ceremony.

The bride wore a gown of ivory-tinted charmeuse trimmed with Venetian lace and tulle caught with orange blossoms.  Her ornaments were pearls, and she carried a bouquet of bride roses.  Attending the bride was her sister, Miss Julia Nicol, who acted as maid of honor.  She wore white lace over green, an carried a bouquet of violet chrysanthemums.  The bridegroom had for his best man his brother, Dr. John Iden, U.S.N.

The bridesmaids were the Misses Lucille Smith and Marguerite Newhauser, Washington, D.C.; Janette Powers, Port Royal, Va.; Dellia Dudley, Washington, Va.; Nellie Uhler, Cora Jones, and Christina Kemper of this city.  They wore yellow with violet trimmings, and carried violet crysanthemums.

The groomsmen were Harvey Jacobs and Jack Harper, Washington, D.C.; Milton French, Jack Stevenson, Edmund Hunter, Aylet Nicol and Edgar Nicol.

The church was attractively decorated, the color scheme being yellow and violet, while the chancel was banked with palms.  A reception followed the wedding at the home of the bride, 316 North Washington street, after which Dr. and Mrs. Iden left for New York, where they will make their home for the winter.  Those present from out of the city were:  Mrs. J. B. T. Thornton, Manassas, Mrs. H. M. Dudley, Washington, Va.; Dr. John Iden, Manassas; Mr. and Mrs. Robert N. Harper, Washington, D.C.; Judge and Mrs. Ashley M. Gould, Washington, D.C.; Mr. and Mrs. John Nicol, Manssas; Mr. A. T. Holtzman, Washington, D.C., and Mrs. Maude Rrazill, Newport, R.I.