Friend of Friend Friday: Ranaway: DAVID and JOHN (1819)

Alexandria Gazette (Va.)
30 July 1819

ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS REWARD.

On Monday, the 28th June, eloped from Bell Isle, King George county, Virginia, two negro men, DAVID and JOHN. David is a black fellow, about forty years of age, rather below the middle size, has invariably a smile when spoken to, a good hand in the field, and a tolerable wagoner; his clothing, when he absconded, were an old felt hat, a double milled drab great coat, much worn, lined with red flannel, jacket and pantaloons of domestic cotton and yarn cloth, and a coarse linen shirt. David has a wife belonging to Mr. John Singer, who some years since moved from Culpeper county to Harrison county, Va., and for the last two years has been in habits of intimacy with a negro woman by the name of Rose, who was sold last fall, by Mrs. Berryman, of King George, to Mr. George Mason, of Gunston, Fairfax co. Va. it is probable he will attempt to get to one of these neighborhoods.

Jack is a lively black fellow, about thirty years of age, of the middle size, a little bow legged, rather an awkward hand in the field, having been bred a house servant, at which he excells, rather a surly disposition, and by profession a Baptist. He has a father belonging to Mr. John B. S. Fitzhugh, near Falmouth, Stafford co. Va. and a wife and family belonging to Mr. Thos. Fitzhugh, of Brenton, Prince William co. it is highly probable he is lurking in one of these neighborhoods; had on when he absconded, an old hat, a suit of domestic cloth cotton and yarn, and a brown linen shirt, and carried with him a suit of white domestic jeans. It is probable he and David will change their names and dress. FIFTY DOLLARS will be given for apprehending and securing in jail said negroes, or half for either, if taken in the state of Virginia, or District of Colombia; or the above reward, if taken out of the state, & all reasonable charges, if brought home to the subscriber's residence. Masters of vessels, and others, are forewarned from harboring or carrying off said negros. 

FRANCIS T. FITZHUGH
King George's county, Virginia
july 16    f4w

The editors of the Federal Republican (Baltimore) will please insert the above once a week for four weeks, and forward their accounts to this office for payment.

Wedding Wednesday: Conducted by Rev. John Towles

Alexandria Gazette (Va.)
17 January 1843

MARRIED, On Wednesday, the 4th instant, by the Rev. John Towles, Dr. Cyrus C. Marsteller, of Haymarket, Prince William County, Va., to Miss Eliza Harrison, daughter of the Rev. Mr. Harrison, Chaplain United States Navy, Gosport.

Alexandria Gazette (Va.)
8 December 1843

MARRIED, On the 5th instant, in Dumfries, Prince William County, Va., by the Rev. John Towles, Dr. Francis C. Fitzhugh, of King George, to Miss Rosa Spence.

AlAlexandria Gazette
5 July 1847

MARRIED. At Lawnville, Prince William county, Va., on Tuesday, the 22d ultimo, by the Rev. Mr. Towles, John Tyler, of Upper Marlboro, Md., to Frances, daughter of Stuart Thornton of said county.

Alexandria Gazette
20 June 1848

MARRIED, On Thursday evening last, the 15th inst. by the Rev. Mr. Towles, Dr. John P. T. Fitzhugh, of Prince William county, Va., top Mrs. Elizabeth C. Stephenson, of Warrenton.

Daily National (Washington, DC)
3 May 1854

MARRIED, at Waverly (Va.) on the 27th instant, by Rev. John Towles, Dr. R. Stuart Lomax, of King George, to Jeannie, daughter of Frederick Foote, Esq., of Prince William county, Va.

Alexandria Gazette
3 August 1855

At Sudley, July 25th, by the Rev. John Towles, Dr. Thomas F. Tebbs, and Caroline M., daughter of Stuart G. Thornton, esq.

Alexandria Gazette
18 February 1857

MARRIED On Tuesday, the 27th of January, by the Rev. John Towles, Mr. Josiah Willcoxen, to Miss Julia E. Weir, all of Prince William County, Virginia.

Alexandria Gazette
25 October 1859

MARRIED. In St. Paul's Church, on Tuesday, the 11th inst., by the Rev. John Towles, Mr. Lucien A. Larkin, of this city, to Miss Sallie J., daughter of the late Capt. P. Norvill, of Prince William county, Va.

Friend of Friends Friday: Ranaway: Benjamin H. Parker

American and Daily Advertiser (Baltimore, MD)
4 February 1842

WAS COMMITTED to the Jail of Baltimore City and County, on the 3d of January 1842, by Jas. Blair, Esq., a Justice of the Peace in and for the City of Baltimore, as a runaway, a negro boy who calls himself BENJAMIN H. PARKER. He says that he belongs to Wm. Simpson of Parkersburg, Va., and that he ranaway from John Fitzhugh, who resides near Brentsville, Prince William County, Va., to whom he was hired. He is 5 feet 3 1/2 inches high, 20 years of age, round pleasant feature. Had on when committed a black cloth coat, dark over coat, grey woolsey pantaloons, black stuff vest, black fur hat, and coarse shoes.

The owner, if any, of the above described negro is requested to come forward, prove property, pay charges and take him away, otherwise he will be discharged according to law.

James Disney, Warden of Balto, City and County Jail

Church Record Sunday: Prince William Auxiliary Bible Society (1829)

Alexandria Gazette
29 May 1829

PRINCE WILLIAM AUXILIARY BIBLE SOCIETY

Brentsville, May 3d, 1829

   The Annual Meeting of the Prince William Bible Society appointed to be held on yesterday, having been prevented by rain, the members thereof, sufficient to proceed to business, assembled to-day in the Court-House; and, the President being absent, on motion, the Rev. Elias Harrison, of Alexandria, late Corresponding Secretary to the Young Men's Bible Society of Alexandria, who favored the Society with is presence, was called to preside over the meeting.  The following Report was then read by the Corresponding Secretary, and adopted:

REPORT

   The period fixed by the constitution of the Prince William County Bible Society for its Annual Meeting, and a Report of the Board of Managers, for the past year, having arrived, they beg lleave, respectfully, to present the following statement:

   In the first instance, its their duty to acknowledge the favorable circumstances under which they are permitted to meet together at this time, calling for the unreserved homage of their grateful acknowledgments to the Giver of all Good; and, although they are thus favored by their Divine Parent, they have to deprecate and lament the many deficiencies, on their part, in discharging those duties imposed upon them from the nature of their trust; but they, are nevertheless, encouraged to persevere, from the circumstances that they are not left wholly without hope of the ultimate success of the important work in which they are engaged. The means to perpetuate it are within their reach, and are attainable by proper management and renewed energies--which are alike indispensable to the accomplishment of all objects of importance. That Christianity has elevated the character of man, ,and blessed him, in the various relations he has sustained in this life, we presume will not be denied by many.  We must shut our eyes against the light of truth, if we do not yield implicit faith to the exalting virtues of our divine religion. We can, perhaps, form some estimate of its value and influence, by supposing that it had never shed its light and blessings upon us. -- What, then, would have been our condition, or the state of the world? In all probability, the gross darkness which benighted mankind int eh first ages, and, in some degree, now extends over our happy and beloved country, would have been perpetuated.  The "Star that attracted the curiosity of the Wise Men of the East," has become a sun of light to the  human race; and wherever its light reached, it has been the parent of civilization, of knowledge, and of virtue. Christianity being a revelation from God, recorded in the Bible, it must be obvious that we can never have a just and satisfactory view of its doctrines, unless we are possessed of the writings that promulgate them. In diffusing these sacred books, we, of course, render an all important benefit to our country; hence we should feel the importance of extending these lights to our fellow creatures of every condition, which would enable them to act correctly, and to appreciate justly the advantages and blessings we enjoy over every other nation, and above all, open the way to a state of unchangeable bliss.

   It gives them pleasure to state, that no occurrence has transpired, in the discharge of their duties, calculated to injure the cause -- They have endeavored to act upon what they conceive to be the spirit and intention of the constitution, and feel assured no instance can be adduced, in which secrarian feelings have had any influence in the discharge of their duties.

   Since the appointment of Managers, in the first instance, the names of Joseph A. Williamson and Wallace McCrea, Esqs. have been added to the list--the former to supply the vacancy, occasioned by the death of James Howerson, and the latter that of Dr. James B. C. Thornton, who has not rendered himself eligible by signing our constitution.

   As yet we have accomplished but little in the distribution of Bibles and Testaments, in consequence of inattention on the part of some of the Agents, and for the ant of time by the Treasurer to make collections and reports of the state of the funds. We have not the means of ascertaining, with any degree of accuracy, the number of persons destitute of the Scriptures within the county but, from the facts that have come to our knowledge, there is a much larger number than was anticipated.

   From the Treasurer's account, as audited, it appears that the sum of $25 have been laid out in procuring 14 Bibles and 70 Testaments -- nearly all of which have been distributed in various parts of the county by Agents appointed for that purpose. There remains, at present, in his hands the sum of $9 89 cents, to be laid out as heretofore; and the sum of $26 is yet to be collected from the list of the year now closed.

   Some remarks having been made by the Chairman, on the importance of the cause in which the members of the institution are mutually engages; the necessity of free expression of sentiment by the members, as to the most advantageous measures to be adopted; and the salutary effect of a resolution to go forward; and not to be content with small calculations, as to the work to be performed during the year upon which we had just entered--

On motion, it was
   Resolved, That the members of this institution will, in the course of the present year, if accompanied by the blessing of Providence, furnish each destitute family in the County of Prince William with a copy of the Holy Scriptures.

On motion,
   Resolved, That the constitution be so amended, that the annual meeting of this Society shall, in future, be held on the 4th Sabbath in March; at which time a delegate shall be appointed to attend the subsequent annual meeting of the Young Men's Bible Society of Alexandria.

On motion,
   Resolved, That we now proceed to the election of Officers for the present year.

Whereupon the following persons were duly elected:

   William J. Weir, President
   Richard Foote, 1st Vice President
   Francis T. Cheris, 2d Vice President
   Thomas R. Hampton,   Corr. Secretary
   Joseph A. Williamson, Treasurer
   Larkin N. Sanders, Recording Sec'y.

John S. Trone, George Washington Renoe, Robt. Latham, Bazil Brawner, James B. Ewell, Fitzhuh Carter, Joseph R. Lynn, Henry L. Lewis, George W. Fitzhugh, and Wesley Fitzhugh, Managers.

   Resolved, That the thanks of this Society be tendered to the President thereof, for his activity and zeal during the past year.

   And the meeting is adjourned.

Teste:  TH. R. HAMPTON, Cor. Secretary.

Newspaper Tidbit: Politics: Jackson Corresponding Committee

United States Telegraph (Washington, DC)
22 April 1828

Pursuant to public notice, the Jackson Corresponding Committee for Prince William county (consisting of John W. Tyler, Charles S. Carter, Stuart G. Thornton, Dr. James W. P. Macrae, Major Luke Cannon, Thomas R. Hampton, William Tyler, Major Ashmere, Redmon Foster, William E. Alexander, James G. Bryce, Wm. Cleary, James Foster, Peyton Norvill, Major George Jackson, John S. Fairfax, Wm. B. Tyler, and Geo. W. Macrae) convened at Brentsville on the 7th inst. at the tavern of Thomas R. Hampton.

A majority of the committee being present, John W. Tyler, Esq. in the chair, on motion, Geo. W. Macrae was appointed Secretary, whereupon it was resolved unanimously that that the following persons, freeholders of the county of Prince William, be added to the committee heretofore appointed by the Legislative Convention, to wit:

Stephen French, Joseph R. Lynn, Alexander Foot, Richard B. Tyler, Jas. Fewell, William P. Cundiff, Benj. Johnson, John Fitzhugh, Wm. A. Harrison, Joseph Johnson, Moses Cockrell, Peyton Mills, James G. Watkins, John Hutchinson, James M. Tyler, Thomas Nelson, Jr., George Carney, Benson Lynn, George G. Tyler, Wittoughby W. Tebbs, Samuel Janney, Richard Britt, John W. Williams, Richard B. Scott, Alfred B. Tyler, Travis Davis, John Dogan, Geo. N. B. Renoe, Hezekiah Martin, Samuel H. Fisher, John Tansill, Strother Renoe, John Lee, James Florence, Jno. Graham, John G. Kubleman, Maj. Enoch Grear, and James H. Reid.

On motion, Resolved, that the editors of the Richmond Enquirer, and the United States Telegraph, be requested to publish the proceedings of this Committee.

The Committee then adjourned to meet again at Brentsville, on the 1st Monday in May next.

John W. Tyler, Chairman
Geo. W. Macrea, Sec'ry

The above is a true and correct copy of the proceedings of the Jackson Corresponding Committee for Prince William County, convened at Brentsville on the 7th of April, 1828.

Geo. W. Macrae
Secretary to the Committee
Brentsville, April 12th, 1828

[During the 1828 Presidential election, Andrew Jackson's campaign included hundreds of local Jackon committees and a large network of newspapers. ~cgl]



 

Wednesday's Child: Walter Lenox Wheeler

Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC)
29 June 1840

DEATHS.

At the residence of Mr. Thos. W. Hughlett, Northumberland county, Virginia, on Thursday morning, the 21st of May, in the 36th year of her age, Mrs. Eliza Henry, consort of Dr. Edward H. Henry, and daughter of John Fitzhugh, Esq. of Prince William County, Va.

On Sunday afternoon, the 28th instant, Walter Lenox, only child of Theodore and Lucy Wheeler, aged 21 months.

In Chancery: Haliday v. adm. of George H. Cockrell

Alexandria Gazette
6 July 1859

IN PRINCE WILLIAM CIRCUIT COURT, May 10th, 1859, James F. Haliday, plaintiff, against Samuel Cockrell, William G. Brawner, adm'r. of George H. Cockrell, dec'd., Sarah Ann Cockrell, William C. Harvey and Catharine his wife, Samuel D. Cockrell, George H. Cockrell, William Cockrell, Elizabeth Cockrell, Charles W. Cockrell, Joseph Cockrell, Sarah Cockrell, and Georgiana Cockrell, the last seven infants by guardian ad litem, defendants -- In Chancery.

The Court doth appoint Milton Fitzhugh, Clerk of t his Court, guardian ad litem of the infant defendants, George H., William, Elizabeth, Charles W., Joseph, Sarah, and Georgiana Cockrell; and thereupon the said infants, by their said guardian ad litem, filed their answer, and the plaintiff having proceeded in the mode prescribe by law against the absent defendants, Samuel Cockrell, William C. Harvey and Catharine his wife, George H. Cockrell, and Elizabeth Cockrell, and the bill having been taken for confessed as to the adult home defendants, William G. Branwer, adm'r. of George H. Cockrell, dec'd., Sarah Ann Cockrell, and Samuel D. Cockrell, upon whom process has been regularly served, and the cause set for hearing, this cause came on to be heard upon the bill and exhibits, and was argued by counsel; on consideration whereof the Court doth adjudge, order, and decree, that one of the Commissioners of the Court do state, settle, and adjust the account of William G. Brawner, adm'r., of George H. Cockrell, dec'd.; that he take an account of the debts due by the intestate George H. Cockrell; tha the take an account of all real estate of which said intestate died seized or entitled to; and that he inquire into and ascertain the amount and aggregate value of said real estate; that the Commissioner give notice of the day of his commencing to take the accounts and make the enquiries directed by this decree, by publication of a copy thereof once a week for four successive weeks in the Prince William Democrat, a newspaper published at Brentsville, in this County, or in the Alexandria Gazette, a newspaper published in the town of Alexandria, Virginia, pursuant to the set of Assembly, in such case made and proved; and said Commissioner will report his action under this decree to the Court, with any matter specially stated he may deem pertinent, or any party may require to be so stated.

A copy -- Teste:  M. FITZHUGH, Clerk


[Publication of chancery cases can offer up a wealth of information. Take the above case, which specifies "William C. Harvey and Catharine his wife" and also names the "infant defendants, George H., William, Elizabeth, Charles W., Joseph, Sarah, and Georgiana Cockrell."  ~cgl]

Friend of Friends Friday: Lease Agreement: Sowden to Tansill

The following document was submitted as supporting evidence in Culpeper County, Virginia in the 1859 chancery case of James A. M. Muschett v. Seymour Lynn (as executor of the Estate of Samuel Tansill).

Sowden to Tansill

Lease of Slave

24 May 1841

We Ann Sowden & John Sowden have this day hired to Samuel Tansill, two negro men (Thomas & Philip) for one hundred and twenty dollars per year, commencing the first day of June Eighteen hundred & forty one and the said Tansill is to clothe them, pay their taxes and treat them with humanity, and pay the 1^st one hundred and twenty dollars as follows, viz, he is to pay thirty dollars on the first day of Sept eighteen hundred & forty one and thirty dollars on the first day of Dec 1841 and thirty dollars on the first day of March eighteen hundred & forty two and thirty dollars on the first day of June eighteen hundred and forty two, and it is further on by the said Ann & John Sowdon that whatever interest may accrue on the bonds, which the said Tansill now holds of ours as assignee of Thos. A. Farrow shall be deducted from the above named hire of one hundred and twenty dollars.  In witness whereof we the parties to the above agreement have hereunto set our hands & affixed our seals this 24^th day of May Eighteen hundred & forty one.

Ann Sowden {seal}

John Sowden {seal}

Samuel Tansill {seal}

I certify that the above contract is a true copy of a contract filed in the case in the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery in Prince William County of Alexander v. Sowden.

Milton Fitzhugh Clk

Of Circuit Court of Pr. Wm. County

1852 PWCo Magistrates

Alexandria Gazette

August 6, 1852

Prince William County

Brentsville, August 4, 1852 -- The following are the Magistrates of Prince William.

District No. 1 -- George H. Cockrill, W. C. Merchant, Seymour Lynn, C. G. Howison.

District No. 2 -- George Weedon, Bazil Brawner, Levi P. Lynn, Charles E. Norman.

District No. 3 -- Allen Howison, Summerfield Fitzhugh, Lewis B. Butler, Edwin Gains.

District No. 4 -- B. E. Harrison, John B. Grayson, Jesse Ewell, Winston L. Carter

Seymour Lynn, esq., has been made the presiding Justice.

[The boundaries of the districts can be found in my blog post here.]

Wedding Wednesday: Notices Outside of PWCo

Baltimore Patriot (Baltimore, MD) - November 11, 1815 - On Tuesday evening the 14th instant, at Locust Grove, Prince William county, Va. by the Rev. Mr. Mathews, Mr. George Sweeney, of Washington City, to Miss Mary S. C. Hooe, daughter of the late Bernard Hooe, junior, Esq. of the former place.

Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC) - June 1, 1821 - MARRIED, On Sunday the 20th inst. at Waterloo, the seat of Nedham L. Washington, Esq. of King George county, Va. by the Rev. Mr. Thornton, Otho W. Callis, Esq. of Prince George's county, Md. to Miss Jane Ashton Alexander, fourth daughter of Colonel Gerrard Alexander, of Prince William county, Va.

Daily National Intelligencer - March 18, 1826 - At the Thoroughfare, Prince William county, Va., on Thursday, the 9th ist., by the Rev. Mr. Barnes, John S. Chapman, Esq. of Frankfort, Ky., to Miss Matilda L. A. Chapman, eldest daughter of George Chapman, Esq.

United States Telegraph (Washington, DC) - April 29, 1828 - Married, in Stafford County, Va. at the residence of Captain H. Eustace, on Thursday evening, the 17th April, by the Rev. Mr. Weems, George William Fitzhugh, Esq. Merchant of Brentsville, Prince William County, to Miss Sarah S. B. Henry, daughter of the late Edward Henry, Esq. of Northumberland County, Virginia.

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA) - March 5, 1834 - MARRIED, on Thursday evening, 27th ultimo, at Mount Pleasant, Prince William County, Va., by the Rev. Mr. Berkley, Howison Hooe, Esq. of Prince William County, to Miss Catharine, daughter of Daniel McLean, deceased, of Alexandria D.C.

On Thursday evening last, by the Rev. Jessee E. Weems, Mr. John Fountain, to Miss Mary Patterson, daughter of Jessee Rossin, Esq., all of Prince William County, Virginia.

Sunday's Obituary: Obituaries Printed Outside PWCo

Farmers Repository (Charlestown, WV) - July 7, 1809 ~ DIED, on the 25th ult. of a cancer in his face, Beniah Willett, late merchant at Occoquan.  By his death society is deprived of as honest a man as ever lived.  ~ Alex. paper.

Baltimore Patriot (Baltimore, MD) - June 13, 1822 ~ On Wednesday evening, the 5th inst. in Prince William county, Va. of a lingering consumption, Mrs. Grace Ann Blagrove, wife of Mr. Henry B. Blagrove, Printer, in the 26th year of her age.  She has left a husband and two infant children to mourn their irreparable loss.

Salem Gazette (Salem, MA) - September 20, 1825 ~ At Hazle Plain, Prince William county, Virginia, on the 28th ultimo, Bernard Hooe, senr. Esq. in the 86th yar of his age.

Spectator (New York) - May 18, 1830 ~ [DIED] In Prince William county, Frances Ann Walker, 21.

Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC) - May 30, 1830 ~ At Cedar Hill, the residence of his mother, in Prince William county, Virginia, on the 15th of April, William L. Scott, in the 28th year of his age, formerly Merchant of Alexandria.

Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC) - December 18, 1833 ~ At the residence of Wm. R. Buck, near Port Gibson, on the 17th instant., John W. Green, a native of Prince William County, Va.

Richmond Whig (Richmond, VA) - September 23, 1834 ~ On Thursday, the 11th inst., after a protracted and painful illness, Mrs. Maria M. G. Hooe, consort of Col. John Hooe, of Locust Grove, Prince William County.

Sun (Baltimore, MD) - May 29, 1837 ~ At her residence, in Prince William County, Va. on the 21st inst. Mrs. Elizabeth Foster, aged 83 years.

Daily National Intelligencer (DC) - June 29, 1840 ~ At the residence of Mr. Thos. W. Hughlett, Northumland county, Virginia, on Thursday morning, the 21st of May, in the 36th year of her age, Mrs. Eliza Henry, consort of Dr. Edward H. Henry, and daughter of John Fitzhugh, Esq. of Prince William county, Va.

Sun (Baltimore, MD) - March 9, 1846 ~ In Prince William county, Va. on the 21st ult. in the 24th year of her age, Mrs. Frances Ann, consort of Lieut. Robert Tansill of the U.S. Marine corps.

Daily National Intelligencer (DC) - April 20, 1852 ~ Near Brentsville, Prince William, Virginia, in the 77th year of her age, Mrs. Elizabeth Sexsmith, a native of Virginia, and for many years a resident of this city.

Daily National Intelligencer (DC) - March 17, 1853 ~ At Neabsco, Prince William county, Virginia, on the 4th instant, in the 81st yar of her age, Mrs. Araminta Montgomery Kankey, widow of the late Rev. Zebulon Kankey, of that county.

Will: William Griffiss

WILLIAM GRIFFISS Will

Prince William County Will Bk M, pg 363

19 Apr 1824; proved 07 Nov 1825

In the name of God Amen I WILLIAM GRIFFISS make and declare this my last will and testament hereby revoking all others heretofore made by me.  In the first place I give and bequeath all my goods chattles and personal property of any discription to my beloved wife MILLY GRIFFISS during her natural life subject nevertheless to the payment of all my just debts and my funeral expences and excepting also one new feather bed and bedding one gun one cow a pair of spoon moulds and a pewter dish hereinafter specifically divided.  In the second place, I give and bequeath to my son RICHD. JOHN R. GRIFFISS the above excepted new bed and bedding and gun but should my son aforesaid die without issue then it is my will and desire and I hereby devise the sd. Bed and bedding and gun to my son WILLIAM GRIFFISS, to whom I now devise the above excepted buffalo cow and spoon moulds to him the said WILLIAM and his heirs forever.  And it is my will and desire and I hereby devise and direct that on the decease of my wife all that part of my property herein before devised to her during her natural life with the increase thereof shall be equally divided among my five children hereinafter named to wit to my son RICHARD JOHN R. GRIFFIS one fifth part to WILLIAM GRIFFISS one fifth part to my daughter KITTY ANN one fifth part to my daughter ELIZABETH ROTTER one fifth part and to my son SAMUEL S. HARRISON one fifth part to them and each of them and their heirs forever.  To my son PAREGRINE to whom I have already given as much as I shall be enabled to give to my other children I hereby give and bequeath one pewter dish as a token of affection.  I hereby constitute and appoint  my wife MILLY GRIFFISS and my son RICHC. JOHN R. GRIFFISS the Executor & Executrix of this my last will and testament.  To all which I hereby subscribe my name and affix my seal this 19^th day of April in the year of our lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty four.

WILLIAILM GRIFFISS

Signed sealed & delivered in presence of

WILLIAIM H. FITZHUGH, LEWIS ADIC

At a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for Prince William County  November 7^th 1825.  This last will and testament of WILLIAM GRIFFISS decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oaths of WILLIAM H. FITZHUGH and LEWIS ADIC is ordered to be recorded.

Teste, PHIL. D. DAWE

Will Book: William Fitzhugh Inventory (Slaves Only)

In addition to Wills that left slaves and other "property" to specific heirs, county Will Books include accounts and inventories of estates that can include important genealogical information.  In this Inventory, an occupation and the names of parents are mentioned. 

WILLIAM FITZHUGH Inventory

(Slaves only)

Prince William County Will Book I, pg. 41

2 July 1804

IN OBEDIENCE to an Order of Prince William Court bearing date July second 1804 directing us the Subscribers to Inventory and apprays the Est. of WILLIAM FITZHUGH decd being first sworn we have proceed’d as follows to wit.

One Negro man named BENJAMIN (a carpenter) - $263.33

One Negro Man named GEORGE - $333

One Woman named MARY - $300

One Mulatoe lad named BRAXTON - $300

One Mulatoe man named RANDOLPH - $400

One decriped man named ABINGO - $100

One Negro girl named PEGGY - $260

One Negro boy named BARNETT - $200

Oen Mulatoe woman LUCY & child ROSANNA - $300

One Mulatoe woman named FANNY - $200

One Negro woman named DAPHNY - $300

One Negro boy named REUBEN - $200

One Mulatoe child named NELLY (daughter of FANNY) - $80

One Mulatoe child named SIDNEY (Lucy’s daughter) - $150

One Mulatoe boy named FRANK (son of Lucy) - $60

One Mulatoe child named BEVERLY (son of Lucy) - $80

One Negro boy named ROBERSON (son of Mary) - $100

Amount of Negroes - $3,576.33