PWCo Items: Manassas is still pushing ahead... (1871)

Alexandria Gazette (Va.)
12 June 1871

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA. -- Correspondence of the Fairfax News.

Manassas, May 27. -- Manassas is still pushing ahead and is about three times the place it was in 1869. A new Baptist Church is now going up and is nearly completed, in the grove belonging to Mrs. E. E. Johnson. The Presbyterians and Episcopalians intend to build churches during the coming summer. The Episcopalians and Baptists, at present, worship in the new Methodist Episcopal Church.

Several new buildings have gone up during the Spring and Winter, and among them a fine brick freight depot, and we are promised a brick passenger depot during the Summer.

Our public school system is in full blast. We have a Graded school under able teachers, and it is the intention of the Trustees to have a school where any Academical branches can be taught.

At the election Thursday last, this Township voted a 4 1/2 mill tax, and a poll tax, of 50 cts for public schools; every Township in the county carried the tax, except Coles, where it was lost by one vote. In Manassas, where the Trustees asked for the heaviest tax, the tax received the heaviest vote. Anson Bangs, of New York city, who is probably the largest owner of real estate in the county, happened to be in Dumfries at the time of the election, and not only favored the school tax, but offered $100 extra from his private purse.

The somewhat famous "Lewis Robinson suit," brought by a colored man against four of the late officers of the county, appointed under military authority, were tried at the May Circuit Court, and resulted in the discomfiture of Lewis. The suits were nine in number, and were brought for damages to the amount of $17,000, against Messrs. Baldwin and Ketchum, late magistrates, Mr. Herrick, a deputed constable, and Mr. Round, late Commonwealth's Attorney. His Honor Judge Keith instructed the jury that it would be a violation of their oaths to give the slightest weight to political or sectional prejudice, and if he thought any juror would be influenced by such motives, he would send him to jail. These trials have been an expense to the county, and have done nothing for the county but retard immigration and keep out capital.

The crops in this section are looking the finest I have seen for years.

M. J. 

 

In Chancery: Notice of Deposition: McNair/Lipsicomb (1867)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
18 March 1867

TO CLARA McNAIR AND HER HUSBAND, name unknown, Stephen McNair, Fred. McNair, Henry McNair, Robt. McNair, Dolph McNair, Geo. W. Brent, and Francis J. Cannon, Sheriff of Prince William Co., Committee Administrator of John McNair, deceased,

Take notice, that I shall, on the 15th day of April, 1867, at the law office of Aylett Nicol, in the town of Brentsville, Prince William Co., Va., between the hours of 6 a.m. and 6 p.m., of that day, proceed to take the depositions of WM. E. LIPSICOMB and others, to be read as evidence in my behalf. in a certain suit in equity, depending in the Circuit Court for the said county of Prince William, wherein I am plaintiff and you are defendants; and if from any cause the taking of the said depositions be not commenced on that day, or if commenced be not concluded on that day, the taking of the same will be adjourned and continued from day to day, or from time to time, at the same place and between the same hours, until the same shall be completed.

FRANCIS A. T. DAVIS

Prince William Co., Va., Mar. 12--law4w

Crime & Punishment: Joseph Burgess (1825)

Alexandria Gazette
15 June 1824

SHOCKING MURDER

A man by the name of Gollyhorn was murdered in Dumfries, Va. on Tuesday last, by a person named Burgess. The circumstances as far as can be collected were as follows --

The parties were engaged in pitching quoits, when a quarrel ensued, during which, Gollyhorn kicked Burgess in the face; after which Burgess procured a butcher's knife and returned to the place he had left Gollyhorn, & found him asleep on the step of a house, & upon his waking plunged the knife into his body. The deceased walked about twenty steps and dropped dead. Pursuit was immediately made after Burgess, who was apprehended and conducted to Brent's Ville, to await his trial in November.

New Brunswick Fredonia (New Brunswick, NJ)
27 July 1825

EXECUTION OF BURGESS

Joseph Burgess, who was sentenced to be hanged, by the Superior Court of Law for Prince William county, Va. held in October last for the murder of Chares Gollyhorn, was executed near Brentsville on Friday the 8th inst. The Rev. J. Johnson, of Fairfax, visited him in his apartment in the morning and spent some time with him in religious conversation and prayer. Burgess appeared to be perfectly indifferent to the whole subject of conversation, and unaffected by the scenes through which he was about to pass. At the gallows he discovered the same insensibility and hardness of heart. While Mr. Johnson was discoursing to him in the most solemn and impressive manner, he was carelessly occupied in marking the dust on his coffin with the end of the rope which was tied about his neck.

--Richmond Fam. Visitor