Newspaper Tidbit: Many [Influenza] Cases in State

Richmond Times Dispatch (VA)
06 February 1920

MANY CASES IN STATE

Reports of cases which have been received by the State Health Commission, Dr. Ennion G. Williams, show the flu is prevalent throughout the State. The number of cases reported yesterday from the various larger cities show Roanoke, 205 new cases; Norfolk, 355 new cases and four deaths; Danville, forty-eight new case; Portsmouth, ninety-nine; Alexandria, seven; Charlottesville, forty-six; Newport News, 344 new cases and three deaths. The total number of deaths reported to the State Health Department from various parts of the State on Wednesday was twenty-five. Incomplete reports made it impossible to make up the record for yesterday until returns come in today. The United States Public Health Service reports 688 new cases for Virginia up to Wednesday of this week.

At the Dumfries convict camp in Prince William County, thirty out of the thirty-nine convicts are down with the influenza, according to a report received by Dr. Williams yesterday.

Events: PWC Historic Preservation May Highlights (2022)

 

May Program Highlights

May is National Historic Preservation Month! Since 1973, local preservation groups, state historical societies, and business and civic organizations across the country celebrate Historic Preservation Month through activities that promote historic places and heritage tourism, and that demonstrate the social and economic benefits of historic preservation. Did you know that the Office of Historic Preservation preserves 15 sites and over 550 acres of historically and culturally significant property throughout the county? From Bushy Park and Brentsville to Rippon Lodge and Cockpit Point, we strive to protect Prince William County’s heritage and provide the community a chance to learn and engage in these historic places. Participate in Preservation Month by making use of our efforts! Join us for a tour or an event, follow us Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube for our videos and articles, and don’t forget to tell your friends and family about Prince William County's history! For more information about what we preserve, check us out at www.pwcva.gov/history and together we can preserve Prince William County's unique history! #pwchistory #historicpreservationmonth #thisplacematters

Visit Prince William County Historic Preservation website for updates regarding hours of operation and upcoming programs.

Ben Lomond Historic Site, Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre and Rippon Lodge Historic Site are open for tours Friday-Monday at 11am, 1pm and 3pm.  We continue to evaluate operating schedules in light of the impacts of COVID-19. As such, patrons who are unvaccinated or not fully-vaccinated are recommended to wear masks. If you have or recently had fever, cough, or shortness of breath please make the decision to stay home. Prince William County Parks, Recreation & Tourism along with the Office of Historic Preservation's COVID-19 Operating Information. Grounds are open from dawn until dusk.

May - October: Tours on 2nd & 4th Weekends Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Tours Tours offered at 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 3:00 p.m.; Free, donations encouraged Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of this hallowed ground that contains camps, cemeteries, and battlefields. Learn about Camp Jones and the battles that took place in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm and depart from the kiosk in the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. The last tour leaves at 3 pm. Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. Insect repellant is encouraged. No pets please. Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Bristow, VA Parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave. (703) 366-3049

May 2 Museum Kids Monday! 10 a.m. -11 a.m.; $5 per child, ages 5-9 and under. Bring your child to Brentsville Courthouse this summer to explore history through sight, sound, smell, and touch through hands-on activities and crafts! Topics will vary each month and include subjects such as farming, archaeology, or 19th century toys. Adult must be able to participate with children. Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre will host the first Monday of the month, Ben Lomond Historic Site the third Monday of the month. Please contact the site to learn about the subject of the month. Reservations are not required. Additional Information and Registration Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, 12229 Bristow Road, Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

May 4 Wednesday Walk at Bristoe Station Battlefield “They were never more firm and steady under fire”: The 1st Minnesota at the Battle of Bristoe Station 7 p.m.; Free, donations encouraged The 1st Minnesota Regiment is best remembered for its costly charge down the slope of Cemetery Ridge at the battle of Gettysburg on July 2, 1863, where the unit sustained upwards of 82% casualties. Despite their losses, however, the war did not end there for the men of the unit. During the battle of Bristoe Station on October 14, 1863, the veteran regiment helped open the fight, defended the railroad, and captured several enemy guns and scores of prisoners. “They were never more firm and steady under fire,” reported Major Mark Downie, the commanding officer, after the action. Join us on this Wednesday Walk and follow in the footsteps of one of the Civil War’s most legendary units. Additional Information and Registration Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Bristow, VA Parking lot is located off Iron Brigade Unit Ave. 703-366-3049

May 7-8  Mother's Day Tours  11 a.m. – 4 p.m.; $5.00 per person, Free for children under 6 and for Mothers. Treat your Mom to a tour of Prince William County’s Historic Sites for Mother’s Day! All mothers receive a complimentary tour at Ben Lomond Historic Site, Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre, and Rippon Lodge Historic Site all weekend long. Tours are available at 11 a.m.; 1 p.m. & 3 p.m. For more information, call Prince William Office of Historic Preservation at 703-792-4754.  Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Road Bristow, VA 703-365-7895 Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Drive Manassas, VA 703-367-7872 Rippon Lodge Historic Site 15520 Blackburn Road Woodbridge, VA 703-499-9812

May 7 Spring Planting at Ben Lomond 9 a.m.–11 a.m. and 11 a.m.–1 p.m.; $5 per person, advanced registration recommended Learn how gardens were prepared in the 19th century and see what is different between the Chinn’s garden at Ben Lomond and your home garden. From 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., help prepare the garden for fertilizing and planting. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. dig your hands into the richly prepared soil to begin planting the vegetables and seeds which would have been grown to provide food for the main house and the slave quarters. Participants should wear appropriate clothing and closed-toed shoes for this event. Additional Information and Registration Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Drive Manassas, VA 703-367-7872

May 14 Antique Identification Day at Rippon Lodge Antique Identification Day at Rippon Lodge 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.; $10 per person, reservation required Local experts and museum staff will view vintage and antique pieces of glassware, clothing, jewelry, and memorabilia to provide more insight and classification of your unique pieces of history. This is not an appraisal nor a donation collection. Please do not transport larger pieces of furniture to the historic site. Weapon safety protocols in place. Required registration at www.pwcparks.org/historicprograms. Additional Information and Registration Rippon Lodge Historic Site 15520 Blackburn Road Woodbridge, VA 703-499-9812

May 16 Museum Kids Monday!: Let's Go Fly a Kite 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.; $5 per child, ages 5-9  Kites have been around for centuries. Make your own kite and watch it fly! Adults must be able to participate with children. Reservations are not required. Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre will host the second Monday of the month, Ben Lomond Historic Site the third Monday of the month. Additional Information and Registration Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Drive Manassas, VA 703-367-7872

May 20 Walking Tour of Historic Prince William Towns: Dumfries 7 p.m.; FREE; donations welcome. Join local historians once a month this summer for a special walking tour of historic towns in Prince William County. For May, visit Historic Dumfries, a bustling and diverse community founded on tobacco and witness to the American Revolution. This joint tour with Historic Dumfries Inc. will depart from the Weems-Botts Museum. Additional Information and Registration Weems-Botts Museum 3944 Cameron Street Dumfries, VA 703-365-7895

May 21 Ben Lomond Rose Garden Tea 1 p.m.—3 p.m.; $30 per person, advanced registration required  Celebrate the arrival of spring by spending a wonderful afternoon in the antique rose garden at Ben Lomond enjoying historic tea and garden themed treats. Price of admission includes tea, light refreshments, and a special talk about roses and spring flowers in one of the largest antique rose gardens in the Washington D.C. metro area. Additional Information and Registration Ben Lomond Historic Site 10321 Sudley Manor Dr. Manassas, VA 703-367-7872

May 23 Museum Kid Monday! 10 a.m. -11 a.m.; $5 per person  Bring your toddler to explore history through sight, sound, smell, and touch. Programs include outdoor and indoor activities. Adults must be able to participate with children.  Additional Information and Registration Rippon Lodge Historic Site 15520 Blackburn Road Woodbridge, VA 703-499-9812

May 26 Prince William Historic Preservation Lecture Series: The Newby Family's Fight for Freedom 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.; free, $5 suggested donation Dangerfield Newby was the first of John Brown’s raiders to be killed in their raid on the Federal arsenal at Harpers Ferry in October 1859. Newby not only fought for the freedom of his race but also for the freedom of his family who were enslaved in Prince William County. Historian and author Jon-Erik Gilot will share the Newby’s story and their local connection to Brentsville.

Newspaper Tidbit: G. C. Round's "Interesting Two Relics" (1911)

Richmond-Times Dispatch (Va.)
17 December 1911

George C. Round, of Prince William county, has in his possession two interesting relics of the early days of that county. One is the keystone of the first financial institution founded in Prince William county, the Bank of Dumfries, located at old Dumfries, near Quantico. The slab bears the inscription, "William Waite Fecit. 1775." The other relic is a slab from the first courthouse in Prince William county, which was built in 1731 at Dumfries, which was then the county seat.

Newspaper Tidbit: Interesting Relics (1894)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
11 December 1894

INTERESTING RELICS.

Mr. Luther Merchant, who lives in Dumfries, has in  his possession quite a collection of interesting relics. Among them are three keys, a spoon and a silver coin. In the long ago Dumfries was a place of importance, but it is now a very quiet little village with nothing much to boast of except its former glory. The history of some of the relics which Mr. Merchant has shows that it has been a place of importance. One of the keys belonged to the court house when Dumfries was the county seat. The other two belonged to a bank and a hotel which once flourished there but which passed out of existence long since. There is inscribed on the spoon the date 1766, and on the coin the date 1713.  

~ Manassas Gazette

Newspaper Heraldry: Botts

Washington Herald (DC)
23 December 1906

[responses to previous inquiries]

20. BOTTS. -- The Hon. John Minor Botts, of Culpeper County, Va., was born in Dumfries, Prince William County, Va., Sept. 16, ,1802; married Mary Whiting Blair, daughter of Archibald Blair, and died Jan. 8, 1869. He was a son of Benjamin Botts, an eminent lawyer of Richmond, Va. who, with his wife Jane Tyler, of Dumfries, perished at the burning of the Richmond Theater, Dec. 26, 1811. This Benjamin was a son of Thomas Botts, who probably lived in the vicinity of Richmond.

Will: Sophia C. M. Bullitt

Will of Sophia C. M. Bullitt
PWCo Will Book I, pg. 14
Proved: 2 January 1804

As I esteem it the duty of every individual to make such arrangements of his temporal concerns as may spare the survivors those difficulties and altercations that may otherwise arise, I mean with divine assistance to specify the manner in which I design my property to be disposed of after my decease; and I appoint my esteemed friends William Barnes and John Macrae executors of this my last will and testament.

My proportion of the Kentucky land I bequeath to be equally divided between my sisters Francis Garard, Sarah Barnes, and Helen Huie excepting a small legacy of Fifty Acres to my negroe boy Frederick, which fifty acres are to be of equal quality with my sisters portion. My negroes David Antony, Joan and her son Frederick I will should be emancipated after one years servitude from the time of my death during which year I desire that they may be hired out and the money arising from said hire must be appropriated to the payment of my debts. 

The Legacy of five hundred pounds the greatest part of which is yet due me from my fathers estate I direct to be equally divided between my sisters before mentioned after the following legacies are deducted. Viz. Fifty pounds to my niece Sophia Bullitt Garard, one hundred dollars to be appropriated to the education of poor children to be delivered in the hands of my esteemed friend Elizabeth Mason ten pounds to my friend and brother Thomas James Bullitt to purchase a mourning ring which I request him to accept as a small proof of my friendship and gratitude. I bequeath the same sum for the same purpose to my friend Lewis Hue Girarden. My house and lot I bequeath to my niece Helen Scott Huie, but if the hire of the negroes during one year from the time of my death is not sufficient to indemnify my creditors it must be rented out until all my debts are paid. One of my lots in Newport I devise to my niece Ann Foster Huie and the other to my niece Mary Barnes which each party is to receive by casting lots. Five guineas which were devised to me by my father in his will I bequeath to my nephew Thomas Barnes, my wearing apparel I direct to be divided between my nieces Helen and Ann Huie, my fortepiano I leave to Mary Barnes, my proportion of negroe Jenny's hire I bequeath to be annually paid into said Jenny's own hand, my body I bequeath to the dust from whence it came and my soul I recommend to the mercy of God through the merits of a redeemer.  I desire that my negroe boy Frederick should have three years schooling and that he should afterwards be bound to a trade for which purpose I have bequeathed to him the aforementioned fifty acres of land.

I wish that the money which I bequeath to my sisters may be appropriated to their own use independent of their husbands and I direct my Executors to place the money in the hands of proper Trustees to that effect. I desire that a claim which my Brother Thomas Bullitt has on me for a hundred dollars may be paid previously to my other debts. 

This I declare to be my last will and testament, and I again recommend to the God the Universe for whose mercy I humbly hope through the mediation of a blessed saviour.

Dumfries May 27th, 1803.

Sophia C. M. Bullitt

Teste
Benjamin Wells
James Rison
Peregin Davis

At a court held for Prince William County January 2nd, 1804.

This last will and testament of Sophia C. M. Bullitt deceased was presented to the Court and being proved by the Oath of Benj. Wells was ordered to be certified. John Macrae renounced in open Court the burthen of the Executor of the said Will. 

And at a Court Continued and held for the County aforesaid February the 7th 1804

This said last will and testament of Sophia C. M. Bullitt was fully proved by the Oath of James Rison and ordered to be recorded.

Test   J. Williams   Ct. Cur.

And at a Court continued and held for said county Feby. 5th, 1805.

William Barnes an Executor named in the Last Will and Testament of Sophia C. M. Bullitt decd came into Court and having proved the said Will according to Law, taken the Oath of an Executor and Executed a bond with security certificate is therefore granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Test   J. Williams   Ct. Cur.

Military Monday: Second Colored Selectee Called in Prince William (1941)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
31 May 1941

SECOND COLORED SELECTEE CALLED IN PRINCE WILLIAM

MANASSAS, Va., May 31-- Woodrow Wilson Mountjoy, colored, of Joplin, who has been ordered to report to the induction station in Richmond Monday, will be the second colored man drafted from Prince William County. Leroy Brown of Thoroughfare was the first. All other colored men who have been accepted have been volunteers.

Alvoy Aubrey Bates of Dumfries has been ordered to Richmond June 5 to complete call No. 14.

Six men have been ordered to report to Dr. J. McIver Jackson for physical examination today. They are Manie Wilford Strouth, Emery Franklin Liming, Dallas Horace Posey and Walter Reid, Manassas; Elwood Kerns, Waterfall, and Ralph Donnaly Foster, Haymarket.

Newspaper Tidbit: Fire at Dumfries (1847)

Baltimore Sun (Maryland)
3 May 1847

FIRE AT DUMFRIES, (Va) -- Eighteen Houses Burned

A correspondent of the Washington Union, writing from Dumfries, Va., states that on Wednesday last, a fire broke out in Mrs. Boyle's house, opposite the brick tavern, and destroyed nearly all the houses at the east end of the town; the house of Mr. Dunnington; the large three story, frame, containing about thirty rooms, belonging to the Colquhoun's and Dunnington's heirs; the old baking house; Mrs. Waters', Mr. Allen's, and several other houses, in all 18, were consumed.  About 40 persons were turned out of their homes.

Nearly all the men were absent, engaged in the fisheries on the Potomac. There was an awful silence -- no bells, no engines -- and the inmates of the houses, mostly females, looking on in mute despair.  Such was the dryness of the houses, and so rapid was the progress of the flames, that but few saved anything but their wearing apparel.

Wedding Wednesday: Hutchison/Amedon

Free Lance (Fredericksburg, VA)
2 March 1907

HUTCHISON-AMEDON

At the residence of the bride's parents in Dumfries, Prince William county, Feb. 24, Miss Climerra N. Amedon and Mr. Quinton L. Hutchison, both of Dumfries, were united in marriage. A number of friends attended the ceremony, which was performed by Rev. A. T. Lynn, of Stafford. Mr. and Mrs. Hutchison will make their home in Dumfries.  We wish them a pleasant and profitable journey through life and that they may spend eternity in the presence of a loving Savior.

A Friend.

Sunday's Obituary: Walter Able (1911)

Alexandria Gazette
11 February 1911

DIES WITH SONG ON LIPS

Returning to his home, near Dumfries, Wednesday afternoon, from Manassas, where he had been to witness the marriage of his niece, Miss Eva B. Able, to his brother-in-aw, Mr. Richard Randall, at the Lutheran parsonage, Mr. Walter Able, familiarly known in the neighborhood of Dumfries as "Tad," was stricken with apoplexy and died in the arms of Clement Johnson, who was driving the wedding party.

The jolly wedding party were nearing Independent Hill, when the death summons came to the victim, who was singing one of his favorite songs, which the writer often heard him sing when the war clouds hung over Dumfries.  It was then that Mr. Able's father threw open his home to shelter the writer and other members of the family when his childhood home was being plundered and farm products destroyed by the invading foe.  -- [Manassas Journal.

Land Records: Advertisement: Col. Henry Peyton (1768)

Pennsylvania Gazette
5 May 1768

To be SOLD, by Virtue of Deeds in Trust, at the Town of Dumfries, in Prince-William County, Virginia, on Monday, the 6th Day of June next, to the highest Bidder, the following Tracts of Land.

About 470 Acres, whereon Col. Henry Peyton now lives; this Tract lies in Prince-William County, within 18 Miles of Dumfries and Colchester, is level, the Soil good, well watered, joining upon Broad-Run a considerable Distance, has a valuable Grist-mill upon it, convenient Houses, and upwards of 100 Acres of cleared Land, in good Order for either planting or farming.

Two Hundred and Twelve Acres, lying upon the same Run, about a Mile higher up, great Part of which is valuable low Ground; there is also upon this a considerable Quantity of cleared Land, and several Houses.

One Hundred Acres, lying upon the Branches of Lucky-Run, in the same County.

One Thousand Seven Hundred and Ten Acres, lying upon Little-River, in the County of Fauquier, on which is a large Proportion of Meadow Land, and not above 45 Miles from Navigation.

Two Hundred and Fifty-four Acres, in the said County of Fauquier, in which the said Peyton is Tenant by Courtesy.

And 293 Acres, in the County of Frederick.

Twelve Months Credit will be given, the Purchasers entering into Bond, with sufficient Security, 5 per Cent, discounted for ready Money.

Cuth. Bullitt.