Will: Elizabeth F. Cannon (1845)

Will of Elizabeth F. Cannon
PWCo Will Book P, pg. 165
Dated 28 May 1829; Proved 3 March 1845

I, Elizabeth F. Cannon, of the County of Prince William and State of Virginia, do make this my last will and testament in manner & form following, that is to say:

I give and bequeath unto my brother John P. Cannon one  half of the whole of my estate of every nature, kind and description whatsoever, including all money on hand and all debts due & which may be due unto me; also all my right title and interest in and to the undivided part of my father's estate, lately held in right of dower by my now deceased mother to be held and enjoyed by him my said brother, and by his heirs forever.

I give and bequeath to my said brother Jno P. Cannon the other remaining half of all my estate, as above described, to be held by  him in trust, for the sole benefit and behoof of my sister Sarah E. Phillips, and to be managed and disposed of by him, in such manner as she my said sister may from time to time by writing duely authenticated, or by her last will and testament direct or appoint, notwithstanding her coverture, to the intent that the same may not be subject to the control, debts, forfeiture, or engagements of her husband William F. Phillips, and in default of such direction, or appointment by will it is my will and intent that the same shall descend to and be enjoyed by my said brother Jno. P. Cannon and by his heirs forever. 

But nevertheless, should my said sister Sarah E. Phillips survive her husband William F. Phillips, then and in that case, it is my will and intent that the above trust vested in my said brother shall cease and all right and title in and to the estate therein described be as firmly vested in her as though her husband were dead at the time of this bequest, and said estate had been directly bequeathed to her.

Lastly, I constitute and appoint my brother Jno. P. Cannon, sole executor of this my last will and testament, requiring no security of him, either as trustee or executor, hereby revoking all other or former wills or testaments, by me heretofore made.

In witness whereof, I have set my hand and affixed my seal this twenty eight day of May in the year eighteen hundred and twenty nine.

Elizabeth F. Cannon {seal}

Signed, sealed, published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Elizabeth F. Cannon (with the word, "by will" injected over the twenty ninth line) in presence of us

Ann Sowden
John Sowden
May P. Cannon

At a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for Prince Wm. County, March 3, 1845

This last will & testament of Elizabeth F. Cannon dec'd was presented to the Court & being proved by the oath of John Sowden & May P. Cannon, subscribing witnesses thereto, was ordered to be recorded; and on the motion of John P. Cannon, the executor named therein, who made oath thereto & entered into & acknowledged a bond without security (according to the request of the Testatrix) in the penalty of $7000 (the Court being of opinion that she has left property more than sufficient to pay her debts) certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate of the said will in due form.

Teste, J. Williams  c.c.

[William F. Phillips and Sarah Edith Cannon were married on 14 May 1817 in Prince William County.  Evidently, Sarah's sister Elizabeth was not a fan of the union.  ~cgl]

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

Newspaper Tidbit: Horseshoe Pitching (1930)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
2 July 1930

There's lots of horseshoe pitching down in Prince William County, Va., according to Maj. Fred W. Patterson, the county chairman, with headquarters at Manassas.

Haymarket lost a capable tournament manager in Eppa Hunt, through illness, but Maj. Patterson has found a promising successor in J. T. Carter.  Carter is touting Wade Butler, county champion, to repeat.

Catharpin will make its debut this year in metropolitan competition. Interest there is keen.

Among the formidable candidates for Butler's crown already signed up are Horace Foley, Albert Utterback, B. C. Smith, Will Brower, W. M. Jordan, Charles J. Gillis, C. L. Rector, Douglas Hoffman and Rev. Charles F. Phillips.

"The Village Blacksmith" had his anvil beneath a spreading chestnut tree and this gave an idea to Elmer Hopkins, chairman of New Hampshire Avenue and Longfellow preliminary. Elmer's gonna pitch a court beneath a giant tree in back of Matt Doetsch's home.

He promises this to be one of the hottest neighborhood events in the Metropolitan tournament. In the score of more pitchers, who will take part there isn't one that stands out above the other.

Until today the boys were pitching discarded mule boots. Late this afternoon they were to christen a set of regulation octigans.

Regulation horseshoes, by the way, are on sale at all sports goods houses and some hardware stores.

Entries in Washington close July 9. There will be no grace.

Wedding Wednesday: Carter-Storke / Lynn-Thompson

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
June 3, 1909

Miss Helen Blanche Carter of Washington and John Seymour Storke of Prince William county, Va., were married in Rockville yesterday by Rev. S. R. White of the Baptist Church at the minister's home.  Dr. White also officiated at the marriage here yesterday afternoon of Miss Ethel L. Phillips of Seattle, Wash., and Oliver L. Denslow of Weidman, Mich., the ceremony taking place at the home of the minister.

Miss Pearl Lynn of Prince William county, Va., and Ernest Thompson of Charles county, Md., were married in Rockville yesterday by Rev. W. D. Keene, pastor of the Southern Methodist Church.

Wedding Wednesday: Mary Margurite Milstead to Earl Vance Fisher

Richmond Times Dispatch
December 29, 1909

Fisher-Milstead.

[Special to the Times-Dispatch]

ALEXANDRA, VA., December 28. -- Miss Mary Margurite Milstead, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Milstead, and Earl Vance Fisher, of Washington, were married at high noon to-day at the home of the bride's parents, 1001 King Street, by Rev. P. P. Phillips, rector of St. Paul's Episocopal Church.  Afterward they for a Northern bridal trip, and upon their return will reside in Mobile, Ala., where the groom is engaged in business.

[Researchers of the Milstead family might be interested in the following two websites:  Genealogy of John H. Milstead (born in Occoquan) and The Milstead DNA Project.]