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.

Will: William Jackson

Will of William Jackson
PWCo Will Book L, pg. 292

In the name of God Amen. I in a diseased state of body but having my right mind do Will and bequeath the following Items.  It is my wish that all my property shall be sold at a credit of nine months or as may best suit, in order that it may not be sacrificed, & further that out of this my Just debts be first paid.

Item 1st. I do will and bequeath to my brother Thomas Jackson my riding mare caled Kit together with the saddle & bridle.  Item 2d. I do will & bequeath one hundred & fifty dollars to my brother John's son William to be put on interest until he becomes of age.  Item 3d. I do will and bequeath to my brother John Jackson fifty dollars. I do further desire that four hundred dollars shall be put into some kind of stock that the interest of which may fall to the hands of my mother Elizabeth Jackson as an additional pecuniary aid during her natural life & that at her death the said four hundred dollars in stock together with the interest be continued until my nephews William & Samuel C. Jackson are of age & that the principle & interest then be equally divided between them, but provided William or Samuel C. Jackson, either one should die the survivor of the two is to have the sum in turn. I do further desire that the balance shall be equally divided between my Brothers Benjamin, Robert & Thomas Jackson. I do appoint Benjamin Jackson my Brother as Executor of my last will & testament made this 28th of April 1819.  Mount Atlass Prince William County

William Jackson

Test
William Roach
John R. Drish

AT a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for Prince William County June 7th 1819. This last will and testament of Wm. Jackson decd was presented to the Court by Benja. Jackson the Executor therein proved by the oaths of Wm. Roach and Jno. R. Drish is ordered to be recorded, and the said Benja. Jackson having taken the oath of an Exor. and performed what is usual in such cases certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate there of in due form.

Teste.  Phil. D. Dawe    Ct. Cur.

Nuncupative Will: Ann Johnson

ANN JOHNSON Nuncupative Will
PWCo Will Book I, pg. 443

June the 30, 1809

I Ann Johnson do give and bequeath to my Sister Molly Johnson two bed quilts and trunk and frying pan coffee mill half a dozen teacups and sasers four tea spoons seven dollars cash three earthen plates coffee pot tea pot one habit cotton shift three handkercheafs one yara coat calico short ground to one pair of colen stockings yarn do. the order on Mathew Harrison's estate or the money just and full sum of eighteen dollars. Now in purfect knowledge this is my last will and testament lying in the hands of Robert Hedges son of John.

Teste
John Renoe
John Randolph

Personal appeared John Renoe and John Randolph before me and made oath that this instrument of writing is the last will and testament of Ann Johnson and that she was in her perfect sences when it was rote and further that had not been dead more than nine hours and that before her death she was satisfied with it given under my hand and seal this thirthyeth day of June Eighteen Hundred and nine.

Saml. Jackson {seal}


At a Court of Quarterly Sessions Cont'd and held for Prince Wm. County

This Nuncupative Will of Ann Johnson dec'd was presented in Court and being proved by the oaths of John Renoe and John Randolph was ordered to be recorded. 

Administration with the nuncupative will annexed of Ann Johnson dec'd is granted to Mary Johnson she having taken the Oath and entered into bond with Security according to law.

Teste
J. Williams Cl. Cur.

[A nuncupative will is a will that has been delivered orally to witnesses instead of being in written format.  - cgl]

Church Record Sunday: Deed: Jackson to Baptist Society (1798)

Jackson to Baptist Society
Deed
PWCo Deed Book Z, pg 295

To all to whom this present wrighting shall come sendeth greeting. Know yee that I Samuel Jackson & Mary my wife of the County of Prince William for divers causes and considerations but more especially for the regard and Love I have for the Baptist Society Having given granted and confirmed and by these presents do fully freely & absolutely give grant and confirm unto the said Society a certain piece or parcel of land and is bounded as followeth, Beginning at a red oak saplin on the south side the road by the meeting house then S 77d N 45 po. to a Stone in the drane of the meeting house spring then S 13 E 2 po. to a white oak saplin then N. 77 d E 45 po. to a Stone on the Southside of sd. road then down sd. road S 10 W 12 Po to the road leading from the Occoquan MIlls then down the sd. road N 79 1/2 E 20 po to a stone, then N 10 E 18 p to a double body'd red oak then N 80 W 19 po to two read oak saplins then S 10 W 9 po to the beginning including about three acres. Together with every advantage that may be usefull to the sd. Society forever. And moreover the sd. Samuel Jackson & Mary his wife do warrant & defend the sd. premises from the claims of any persons or persons whatsoeve.r Claiming from by or under m. In Witness whereof we have hereunto set our hands & seals this twelfth day of May Anno Dom. One thousand seven hundred and ninety eight.

Saml Jackson {seal}
Mary Jackson {seal}

Sign'd seal'd & deliver'd in presence of
The words a certain piece or parcel of land
interlind in the eight line before signd

John Kincheloe
Philip Spiller

At a Court held for Prince Wm. County the 2d day of July 1798

This deed from Samuel Jackson and wife to the Baptist Society was acknowledged by the said Jackson to be his act and deed and ordered to be recorded.

Teste
John Williams        Cl Cur

Church Record Sunday: Trials of Soul and Flesh in 1860's Revealed by Pastors

Richmond Times Dispatch
27 October 1937

Trials of the Soul and Flesh in 1860's Revealed by Pastors

Walking 10 miles to preach a sermon, falling into a creek, watching the flames of war ravage, a church -- all this seemed to be just part of the day's routine for hardy ministers of the Gospel in the 1860's.

Those, at least, are some of the experiences mentioned by preachers in a packet of unpublished letters recently deposited in Spence Library, Union Theological Seminary. The correspondence, most of which dealt with the Sustenation Fund for Impoverished Ministers, was written to the Rev. J. D. Mitchell of Lynchburg during 1866.

The Rev. Matthew W. Jackson of Rough Creek described some of his troubles: "I sometimes walk 10 miles to preach and then home again on the same day; and on the third sabbath in January I fell into a creek about two feet deep and walked several miles home with my clothes wet and freezing..."

Couldn't Raise a Dollar

"As religion seems almost extinct in Eastern Virginia, we must awake in earnest," was his solemn warning.

From Prince William County the Rev. A. M. Hershy of Nokesville wrote:  "The church building, which was nearly new, was burned to the ground, it is said, by Unioin soldier,s near the end of the war ... The congregation was scattered..."

Light on the financial difficulties is given by the Rev. R. L. Dabney, noted theologian; the Rev. Moses D. Hoge, founder of Union Seminary, and Dr. James Woodrow, uncle of President Woodrow Wilson.

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]



 

Wedding Wednesday: Marriage Licenses (1905) (Lynn/Holmes)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
3 November 1905

Marriage Licenses

Marriage licenses have been issued to the following:

Joseph H. Wood and Inez May Howard

Clarence W. Jackson of Belmont, Ohio, and Ethel May Barber of this city.

Harry Rawles and Rosa Gordon.

James A. Harrison of Richmond, Va., and Mary A. Meeks of Lynchburg, Va.

William H. Waters and Annie L. Boswell.

George Carter and Fannie Griggsby.

Joseph S. Bateman and Catherine Murphy.

William S. Simms and Annie E. Hitchcock.

Tyler W. Lynn and Effie D. Holmes, both of Prince William county, Va.

Ernest Patten and Burdette Henry.

Prince A. Beaman and Ellen L. Blue.

James Flaherty and Annie Rabinoriz.

George Giddin and Martha Hallstock.

Caleb N. Moody and Rosa A. Broughton, both of Portsmouth, Va.

Herbert M. Griffith and Sarah W. Dickingson.

Alvin G. Shipley and Emma Masureck, both of Baltimore, Mc.

Charles W. Gosnell of Baltimore, Md., and Eleanor V. Harrison of this city.

Wedding Wednesday: Marriage Licenses

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
23 December 1905

Marriage licenses have been issued to the following:

Frank Dixon and Mamie S. Jackson
Robert H. Sims and Marle A. Garrison
Jesse Twyman and Addie Williams
James Felder and Alice Banks
William E. Higgins and Rosalle Groves
Theophilus B. Houston and Maud I. Glass, both of New York city
Henry M. Milburn of Detroit, Mich., and Grace E. Buchanan of this city
Ernest Henderson and Mamie Robinson
Alfred Clark and Bessie Love, both of Prince William county, Va.
Louis A. Schaefer and Etehl E. Wright, both of Baltimore, Md
Joseph Bolden and Alrene [Arlene?] Christian
Benjamin Curtis Miller of Martinsburg, W. Va and Cornelia S. Finley of this city
Jolle M. Gastra of this city and Eelkjen H. Youngsma of Douglass, Mass
George W. Evans and Ellen C. Dorsey
Alexander Deavers and Nora Goldenstein
James Bailey of this city and Lizzie Coats of Vienna, Va

Newspaper Tidbit: Voting Notice in Haymarket Precinct (1832)

National Aegis (Vicksburg, Mississippi)
November 21, 1832

A CURIOSITY.  The Commissioners for holding the elections at Haymarket Precinct, in Prince William County, Virginia, posted up the following notice at the public places in Haymarket:

"Notice.  Persons desirous to vote for Andrew Jackson, as President of the United States, can obtain tickets by applying to the Commissioners who will conduct the election.  They are cautioned against receiving tickets from any other source, as it is believed we have more to fear from false friends than avowed enemies."

We consider this a most unauthorized interference on the part of the Commissioners, who should have been seen in any other position than that of electioneering partizans.

Alexandria Gazette

Friend of Friends Friday: Ran Away - Vincent Jackson (1828)

Alexandria Gazette
July 11, 1828

Fifty Dollars Reward

Ran Away from the subscriber living near Haymarket in Prince William county, Va. on the 9th day of July, 1828, a negro man about thirty years old, by the name of VINCENT JACKSON.  He is about five feet eight or ten inches high, well made, yellow complexion, and has a scar on his upper lip, and his nose rather flat.  He has a wife at Mr. Aris Buckner's in the city of Washington, where it is supposed he will go -- It is probable he may procure a free pass, as he is a smart fellow and has made considerable acquaintance among those who it is probable are none too good to aid him in making his escape.  He will likely make for the City, where his wife is now living, and then for the free States.  He took with him sundry clothing, among whichi is a good blue broadcloth coat.  If he is taken in this or the adjoining counties I will give ten dollars, and if the District of Columbia twenty dollars, and if in Maryland or north of it fifty dollars, and pay all reasonable and legal charges -- In every case he must be brought home or secured in jail so that I get him again.

Reuben Rogers
July 11 - eo3t

The Baltimore American, and Poulson's American, Philadelphia, will publish the above every other time to the amount of one dollar and send their accounts to this office.

Will: Presley Davis (1823)

PRESLEY DAVIS Will

Prince William County Will Book M, pg 10

26 Feb 1823; proved 08 Apr 1823

In the name of God Amen I PRESLEY DAVIS of the County of Prince William & State of Virginia do make & ordain this my last will and testament in maner and form following: to wit First I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife SALLY the use of all my property during her widowhood and in case she should marry after my death I give unto her all the property I got by the death of her father together with all that may be coming from his estate and one horse the balance of the property which I give my wife during her widowhood if she should marry I give to my children to be divided in the manner hereafter mentioned.  Secondly, all the property which I willed to my wife during her widowhood, if she should marry again, I give to be equally divided among my four sons at the time of marriage and if she should not mary again to be divided at her death.  Thirdly and lastly, I do hereby constitute and appoint Richard Davis Junr. and Simon Luttrell Executors of this my last will and testament revoking all others heretofore made by me.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this twenty sixth day of February eighteen hundred and twenty three.

The words at the time of marriage interlined before signing.

PRESLEY DAVIS

Signed sealed & delivered in the presence of us the subscribers

WM. P. DUNNINGTON, WM. C. DAVIS, FRANCIS JACKSON

At a Court held for Prince William County April 8^th 1823.  This last will and testament of PRESLEY DAVIS decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oaths of WM. C. DAVIS & FRANCIS JACKSON is admitted to record and on the motion of RICHD DAVIS JR. the Exor named in the said will who made oath thereto according to law and executed and acknowledged a bond with security conditioned as the law directs certificate is granted him for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste, P. D. DAWE

Those Places Thursday: Ghosts of Manassas Battlefield

View of Stone House from Henry Hill
Photo by C.G.Lynn

Manassas National Battlefield Park is located at 6511 Sudley Road (Rte. 234) in Manassas, Virginia.  The Visitor Center is open daily from 8:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m., excluding Thanksgiving and Christmas.

As noted on the Battlefield's website, "On July 21, 1861, two armies clashed for the first time on the fields overlooking Bull Run.  Heavy fighting swept away any notion of a quick war.  In August 1862, Union and Confederate armies converged for a second time on the plains of Manassas.  The Confederates won a solid victory bringing them to the height of their power."

Two original buildings, the Stone House and the Brawner Farm are open to the public.  Henry House, on the hill named for the family, is a reconstruction of the home where 85-year old Judith Henry was killed by gunfire.  The family cemetery still stands behind the house site.  It was on Henry Hill that Brig. Gen. Barnard Elliott Bee Jr. is quoted as saying "There is [Thomas Johnathan Stonewall] Jackson standing like a stone wall.  Let us determine to die here, and we ill conquer.  Rally behind the Virginians!"

The Battlefield, twice the scene of bloody turmoil, is now a pastoral setting in the midst of urban Manassas.

Is Manassas/Bull Run Battlefield haunted?

Seriously -- do you need to ask?  Search any popular internet book site and you will find dozens of books on ghosts of Civil War battlefields.  Like Gettysburg, Manassas appears in just about all of them.

One book in particular is devoted to a Manassas Battlefield ghost, "A Yankee Roams at Dusk," by Paula Ann Kirby [ISBN 978-1-61364-194-1].  In 1862, the 5th New York [Zouaves] lost 123 men, "the greatest loss of life in any single infantry regiment in any battle of the Civil War."  The book's author was first introduced to the story of a phantom Zouave soldier on New York Avenue Field in an October 1978 Journal Messenger Halloween article, which claimed, "An indistinct figure wearing a colorful Zouave uniform was claimed to have been seen about two years ago and has been reported by others in later times."  Kirby's book chronicles her search for eyewitnesses that ultimate leads her to a paranormal investigation in search of the spectral Zouave.

Not far from the New York Avenue Field, the old Stone House is also rumored to be haunted.  Originally a tavern on the old Warrenton Turnpike, the house served as a field hospital during both battles.  The October 31, 1990 Weekly Messenger notes that "folk have reported seeing house lights where there is no house and sometimes strange noises come from the Stone House that sits on the corner of Routes 28 and 29."  The October 2011 edition of Prince William Living notes, "There is one story about a seasonal worker who was sitting in Stone House, waiting for any visitors who might have questions.  The employee was reading, and soon fell asleep on what seemed like a quiet day.  Upon waking, the individual's glasses were lung across the room, landing at the opposite end of the hallway."

It should be noted that, sightings and visitor experiences aside, the Park Service does not officially endorse ghosts.  (Which doesn't seem to bother the ghosts.)

Wordless Wednesday: Postcard (1907)

Will: Richard Gray

RICHARD GRAY Will

Prince William County Will Book H, pg. 493

20 Nov 1798; proved 6 Dec 1802

In the name of God amen I RICHARD GRAY of County of Prince William & State of Virginia being very sick of body but perfect sound mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is once appointed for all men to die do make this my last will and testament and do devise and dispose of what it hath pleased God to bless with in this life in the following manner and form as follows Viz.

And first of all I recommend my soul to God that first gave it me nothing doubting but I shall receive the same at the General Resurrection at the last day & my body to be buryed in Christian manner at the discretion of my Executors whom hereafter I shall appoint.

Item.  I give and bequeath unto my loving wife MARY GRAY all & every part of my estate as it now stands both real and personally during her natural life and at her death as follows. 

Item I give & bequeath unto my loving son WILLIAM GRAY one negro man named ADAM one negro boy named ANTHONY & one negro girl named JANNEY to him and his heirs for ever.

Item I give and bequeath unto my loving son JAMES GRAY one negro woman named SARAH and one negro boy named DANIEL but if the above mentioned negro woman SARAH should have any more children hereafter they are to be equally divided between my son RICHARD GRAY and my son JAMES GRAY but at the death of my son RICHARD GRAY the hole of them with increas is to return to my son JAMES GRAY forever and as to my least lott of lands whereon I now live and my stock of every kind and my houshold and kitchen furniture and plantation & essentials my just debts are justly to be paid out of them and at the death of my wife the lott of land stock of every kind house hold furniture of every kind and plantation essentials of every kind is to be equally divided between my three sons WILLIAM GRAY, RICHARD GRAY, and JAMES GRAY as to my five children that are married and gone from me I have given them their parts allready that is to say my daughter ELLENDER NELSON & my son BENJAMIN GRAY & my son SAMUEL GRAY and my son CHARLES GRAY and my daughter EMLEY CALVERT and I do hereby appoint and ordain my son WILLIAM GRAY my son RICHARD GRAY & my son JAMES GRAY my whole & sole Executors of this my last will and testament and do hereby revoke disannul and disallow all & every bequeath or bequest legacy will or testament before this time mentioned ratifying and confirming this and kno other as witness my hand & seal this 20^th day of November 1798.

RICHARD [his mark] GRAY  {seal}

Teste

SAMUEL JACKSON

FIELDEN CORNWELL

Interlined before signed

At a Court Held for Prince William County the 6^th day of December 1802.

This last will and testament of RICHARD GRAY decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oath of SAMUEL JACKSON & was ordered to be recorded WM. And JAMES GRAY given as Executors.

Teste

JOHN WILLIAMS

Ct Cur