Friend of Friends Friday: Abolitionist Crawford (1857)

New York Herald (NY)
24 August 1857

ANOTHER LIBERTY OF SPEECH CASE in VIRGINIA. -- 

The Brentsville Journal says that on Wednesday a resident of Prince William county, Va., named Crawford, was committed to jail by Justice Kankey, charged with declaring "that he was an abolitionist, that he believed a negro as good as he was if he behaved himself, and maintaining, by speaking, that persons have not the right of property in slaves under the law."  This is the second case of the kind which has occurred in this county, and only the third in the State.

PWCo Item: 10 July 1873

 Alexandria Gazette (Va)
10 July 1873

Letter from Prince William
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

BRENTSVILLE, PRINCE WM. CO., July 9 -- Prince William, generally, celebrated the 4th as a holiday.  A pic-nic and tournament was held at Woodbridge, where everything passed off quietly, all enjoying themselves.  The charge to the Knights was delivered in eloquent and significant language by R. R. Farr, esq., of Fairfax C. H., and the coronation address by James Sangster, esq., in his usual effective manner and happiness of expression.  At Potomac City, there was a grand gathering from Maryland, Alexandria, Washington, Fredericksburg and other places; mirth and dancing were the order of the day.  At Bellfair Mills on the borders of Prince William and Stafford counties, the fair daughters and noble sons of the same counties mingled joyfully in the dance. After dinner all adjourned from the pavillion to witness the contest in the lists. The Knights were charged by J. J. Davies, of Brentsville. The coronation address, delivered by B. D. Suttle, esq., of Stafford, was welcomed by the contained plaudits of the spectators. Manassas was employed in giving a Sunday school celebration. The exercises at Nokesville have been already published in the Gazette.

Yesterday was the last term of our County Court under the present system. This being a grand jury term an indictment was found against  Chas. Tatum, colored, for assault and battery. There were no Commonwealth cases tried and but little of other business transacted.  

The report of the commissioners upon the proposed bridge at Occoquan was recommitted for further report on the 18th inst. 

A commission of Justices and Pysicians held a consultation on the condition of Jack Evans, colored, who has been confined in jail for some time for threatening to kill Z. A. Kankey, esq., of Neabsco Mill.  After some deliberation it was determined to send him to the asylum at Williamsburg or Stuanton.

There was a meeting held to nominate candidates to the convention to be held at Richmond in August. The following gentlemen were examined and promised to attend:  A. H. Feuchsel, Dumfries; Z. A. Kankey, Occoquan; Lawrence Cole, Coles; Maj. Thornton, Brentsville; B. F. Lewis, Manassas; and Maj. Hunter Johnson, Haymarket. 

J.

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Congressional Meeting (1870)

Alexandria Gazette
13 September 1870

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY CONGRESSIONAL MEETING.--At a meeting of Conservatives of Prince William county, held at the Court House in Brentsville, on Monday the 5th inst., Allen Howison, was called to the chair and D. W. Whiting and R. M. Waters appointed Secretaries. On motion of Charles E. Sinclair, the chairman appointed a committee of three from each Township to select five delegates from each of the Townships to the Congressional Convention to be held in Alexandria on Friday the 29th inst.

The Committee retired and reported the names of the following gentleman for delegates.

Brentsville Township--James F. Clark, W. J. Manuel, E. E. Meredith, J. M. Sinclair, W. W. Thornton.

Coles Towhship--John W. Davis, Meredith W. Horton, John H. Purcell, M. B. Weedon, Wm. M. Lynn

Dumfries Township--J. F. Wheat, G. E. Keys, A. H. Fucchsthal, G. W. Dunnington, Richard Stonnell

Occoquan Township--Dr. Powell, J. V. Nash, Z. A. Kankey, Vernon Davis

Manassas Township--T. J. Leachman, G. O. Donahue, F. A. Weedon, Dr. L. Alexander

Gainesville Township--Samuel Simpson, Col. Berkeley, George S. Hamilton, John T. Gundiff

Which report was concurred in. On motion of James F. Clark the chairman, secretaries, and committee were added to the list of delegates. It was resolved that Charles E. Sinclair be chairman of the delegation and that an authenticated copy of the proceedings be furnished to the chairman by the Secretaries; it was further resolved that a report of the proceedings of this meeting be published in the county papers and the district papers be requested to copy. The meeting, on motion then adjourned.

ALLEN HOWISON, Chairman

R. M. WATERS,
D. W. WHITING, Secretaries


At a meeting held at the Court House on Monday last, for the purpose of organization of the Conservative party, Mr. F. A. Weedon was called to the chair and E. E. Meredith appointed secretary.

Mr. B. F. Lewis was appointed county superintendent.

The following gentlemen were appointed on the township committees.

Cole's--Levi C. Lynn, Laurence Cole, and John W. Davis

Brentsville--J. F. Clark, Judge Nicol, and D. W. Whitting

Dumfries--J. C. Weedon, J. W. Chapman, and J. H. Jordan

MAnassas--F. J. Cannon, W. W. Davis, and John. H. Butler

Occoquan-- Dr. Powell, Dr. Ish, and J. V. Nash

Gainesville--Colonel S. Simpson, C. Cushing and Luther Lynn

Newspaper Tidbit: School Trustees (1874)

Alexandria Gazette
10 December 1874

SCHOOL TRUSTEES.  -- The State Board of Education has appointed the following school trustees:

Prince William county; Dumfries district, John Chapman; Occoquan, Z. A. Kankey; Coles, William B. Lynn; Brentsville, William A. Bryant; Manassas, John H. Butler; Gainesville, H. D. Kerfoot.

King George county; Shiloh district, W. B. Coakley; Rappahannock, Colonel Henry C. Parkins.

Friend of Friends Friday: John Underwood

Lowell Daily Citizen and News (Lowell, Massachusetts)

2 June 1859

JOHN UNDERWOOD, a magistrate of Prince William county, Virginia, was indicted some months ago for speaking too freely on slavery.  He was tried and fined, but the decision was reversed by the higher court.  Some of his neighbors, at the late election, insisted upon voting for him for the legislature, and the following is the vote in the town of Occoquan, where he has always resided:

For Governor.

Letcher, dem., 48

Goggin, opp., 70

For House of Delegates

Underwood, rep., 56

Lynn, dem., 42

Merchant, dem., 9

Very well for Occoquon, which is the first town below Mount Vernon, on the Potomac.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ 

Alexandria Gazette

4 May 1859

At a meeting of the Justices of the County of Prince William, convened in the Jury Room, on the 1st day of April Court, for the purpose of expressing our protest against sitting as Justices in connection with John Underwood as a justice of this county, 14 out of the 16 Justices being present, viz: B. E. Harrison, W. L. Carter, J. C. Weedon, L. C. Lynn, Z. A. Kankey, C. A. Nelson, E. Nelson, W. W. Thornton, H. Love, L. B. Butler, E. Gaines, J. Ewell, A. F. Woodyard, and J. B. Grayson, B. E. Harrison was called on to preside, and J. B. Grayson to act as Secretary.

On motion of W. W. Thornton, B. E. Harrison, L. C. Lynn, H. Love, and L. B. Butler were appointed a committee to wait on Mr. Underwood and ask his determination, whether he persists in sitting as Justice. 

This committee withdrew and after a brief absence returned and by their chairman, Mr. Harrison, reported that they had conferred with Mr. Underwood, and that he adhered to his determination to sit as a Justice of Prince William County, when on motion Resolved, That the Chairman appoint one from each Magisterial District to report resolutions expressive of the sentiments of this meeting, to be place on the  minutes of the Court.

The chairman appointed W. W. Thornton, J. Ewell, Z. A. Kankey and E. Nelson, who withdrew and in a short time reported the following:

Whereas John Underwood had been charged and convicted of a misdemeaner by a Jury of this county, in uttering abolition sentiments, in contravention of law and repugnant to public opinion, and having been requested by a committee of Justices to waive his right to a seat on the bench of this Court, or to retract said sentiments, and having refused to do either: Therefore we unanimously resolve that in view of our duty to the public, we will organize this Court and place upon its minutes this our protest against the conduct and sentiments of said Underwood.

The Court being then opened, the foregoing preable and resolution were unaimously ordered to be entered on the minutes of this Court.

B. H. Harrison, Chairiman

J. B. Grayson, Secretary

Will: James Tant (1824)

JAMES TANT Will

Prince William County Will Book M, pg 116

28 Sep 1823; 05 Jan 1824

In the name of God Amen I JAMES TANT of the Village of Occoquan County of Prince William & State of Virginia, do make and publish this my last will and testament in manner and form following.  That is to say, First, it is my will and desire as soon after my death as practicable that all my property be sold to the highest bidder on a credit of six months.  Secondly that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.  Thirdly that the following distribution be made of the residue of my estate.  First, to my brother JOHN TANT I give and bequeath one full half of all my estate independently of my wearing apparel which I wish to be given to him entire.  Secondly, out of the other half, I wish Mrs. PORTERS CLARY to have the sum of ten dollars, and Mr. ENOCH WARD to have the sum of five dollars, and THOMAS L. SELECMAN to have the sum of five dollars (to be paid to his father for his use).  Thirdly, I will and desire that the residue shall be equally divided between my son JOHN TANT belonging to Mr. DENNIS JOHNSTON and my daughter LUCY TANT, belonging to Mr. PHILIP PRITCHARD.  Fourthly, I desire that Mr. MICHAEL CLEARY, Mr. JAMES RUSSELL and ADDISON H. CLARKE, act jointly as my executors to carry this my last will and testament into effect hereby revoking all former wills by me made.  In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 28^th day of September in the year of our lord eighteen hundred and twenty three.

JAMES TANT

Signed sealed published and declared by the above named James Tant to be his last will and testament in the presence of

PHILIP DEAKINS, ZEBULON KANKEY, JOSEPH ANDERSON

At a Court held for Prince William County January 5^th 1824.  This last will and testament of JAMES TANT decd. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oaths of ZEBULON KANKEY and JOSEPH ANDERSON is admitted to record and at a court held for Prince William County February 2d 1824. ADDISON H. CLARKE one of the Executors named in the last will and testament of JAMES TANT decd. came into court and made oath to the same according to law and having taken the oath of an Executor and performed what is usual in such cases certificate is granted her for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste, PHIL. D. DAWE

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.

Newspaper Tidbits: Storms in PWCo

June 22, 1860 – Alexandria Gazette

SEVERE HAIL STORM IN PRINCE WILLIAM.—The hail storm of Tuesday last passed over that part of Prince William county between Bacon Race and Dumfries, doing great damage to the growing crops.  The hail stones are said to have been as large as partridge eggs; and the storm lasted about an hour and a half.  Among the principal sufferers are R. B. Merchant, whose loss is estimated at from $500 to $1,000.  A building occupied by the servants of W. H. A. Merchant was blown over by the wind, which was very high.  Warren Davis's crop of wheat and corn is very much damaged—his loss is estimated at 4500.  Richard Stonnell's loss to his crop is about $500.  Z. Kankey had nearly his entire corn crop destroyed and loses about $1000.  The gardens in the village of Dumfries were completely destroyed, and all the inhabitants of the village suffer more or less loss.  The crops all along the path of the storm were very much injured.

May 24, 1874 – Alexandria Gazette

During the thunder storm on Saturday last, a large locust tree, in Mr. John T. Leachman's front yard was struck by lightning, tearing it into fragments and throwing the debries  on and over the house.  Several members of Mr. Leachman's family were very much shocked.  So great was the shock that articles in the house were thrown down.  The rain was very heavy in that section, raising the streams unusually high, and washing away water gaps fencing & c.  Lightning also struck a tree near the house of Mr. Mankins, a quarter of a mile outside the village, and severely stunned his daughter.