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.

Newspaper Tidbit: Difficulty between Grigsby and Marsteller (1870)

Alexandria Gazette (Va.)
25 January 1870

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ALEXANDRIA GAZETTE:

Dear Sir: I notice in the Prince William Advocate an extract taken from your paper, in which it is alleged upon the authority of persons living in the neighborhood of Nokesville, "that the late difficulty between Mr. Bunn Grigsby and the Messrs. Marsteller has been settled. The former was compelled to sign a paper and to submit to a severe castigation, but the latter afterwards gave up the paper and expressed regrets for acting so hastily."

We respectfully request that we may be permitted through the medium of your paper to say that no such settlement as above stated, nor has any settlement whatever of the said difficulty been effected. 

Very respectfully,

L. A. Marsteller & Bro.

Nokesville, Pr. Wm. co., Jan. 24.

PWCo Items: Manassas Gay With Yuletide Parties (1938)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
25 December 1938

MANASSAS GAY WITH YULETIDE PARTIES

Final Plans Are Made for Assembly Ball

Manassas, Va., Dec. 24 -- Mr. and Mrs. Stanley Owens will entertain 100 guests at an anniversary party preceding the assembly ball Tuesday evening. Mr. Owens' mother, Mrs. William E. Trusler, and her cousin, Miss Hilda Moser, will assist the hostess.

Final arrangements are being made for the assembly ball in the Manassas Gymnasium. On the Floor Committee are Mr. John Broaddus, Mr. Dennis Baker, Mr. Dudley Martin, Mr. Eugene Davis, Dr. R. T. Johnson, Mr. Lewis Carper, Mr. R. Jackson Ratcliffe and Mr. C. Wade-Dalton.

Mr. Emlyn Marsteller arrived last week end from Dartmouth to spend a three-week vacation with his parents, Dr. and Mrs. E. H. Marsteller.

Mr. and Mrs. R. T. Smith of Georgia are spending the holidays with their son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Dennis Baker.

Mr. E. R. Conner entertained at a dinner party today.

Mrs. B. Higgs Lewis will be hostess at bridge Monday afternoon at her home on Sudley road.

Mystery Monday: Man Dead for Years Discovered in Well (1945)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
3 July 1945

MAN DEAD FOR YEARS DISCOVERED IN WELL

The skeleton of a man dead anywhere from 7 to 20 years has been found in the bottom of a well near Quantico, Va., Virginia State police revealed today, as they began an investigation of the identity of the dead man.

The bones were discovered yesterday by a farm worker who was cleaning a well in the Dumfries district of Prince William County.

Dr. E. H. Marsteller, Prince William County coroner, who said a box of bones had been brought to him by the State police for examination, reported he had found no marks of violence on the skull.

Efforts to identify the man brought Captf E. J. McDermott and State Trooper E. H. Howe of the State police to Arlington, where they were closeted for an hour with Capt. Hugh Jones, Arlington detective chief.  Identification Officer Walter Bell also was in on the conference.

It was learned that a watch was found with the bones.

Newspaper Tidbit: Unfortunate Occurrence (Stone House)

Critic-Record (Washington, DC)

1 September 1873

AN UNFORTUNATE OCCURRENCE -- Last week three lads of this city, John Bloudin, Harry Taylor, and Frank McNerhany, paid a visit to the old Stone House, where reside the Starbuck family, in Prince William county, Va.  During their stay all passed off pleasantly, until young McNerhany, in a playful mood, pointed a musket at a companion named Taylor, supposing it was not loaded.  He was horror struck when it was discharged ,and he discovered that the arm of Taylor was terribly torn with the contents.  Yesterday the arm was successfully amputated by Drs. Marsteller and Tibbs.

Madness Monday: Maggie Compton Perkey Clore

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
21 October 1946

MAN KILLS DAUGHTER, THEN ENDS HIS LIFE

Manassas, Va., Oct. 21 -- A Manassas man, arguing with his daughter about being sent to the county almshouse, shot her to death and then killed himself yesterday, Sheriff J. P. Kerlin reported.

Police listed the father as Thomas Lawson Compton, 65. His daughter, who had been twice married, was Mrs. Maggie Compton Perkey Clore.

Sheriff Kerlin said the father protested plans of his daughter to send him to the almshouse and fired two shots, striking her in and near the heart, and then shot himself through the head. The shooting occurred in the daughter's home on the Centerville road near here. Her two sons by a former marriage, aged 3 and 10, witnessed the shooting the sheriff said.

Beside her sons, Mrs. Clore is survived by her husband, a railroad employee and a daughter, Mrs. Mike Papa.

Dr. E. H. Marsteller, Prince William County coroner, issued certificates of homicide and suicide.


[The death certificate for Maggie Compton Perkey Clore notes her burial to be at Cannon Branch Cemetery in Manassas, VA. ~cgl]

Thriller Thursday: The Late Difficulty in Nokesville

Alexandria Gazette (VA)

25 January 1870

To the editor of the Alexandria Gazette:

Dear Sir: I notice in the Prince William Advocate an extract taken from your paper, in which it is alleged upon the authority of persons living in the neighborhood of Nokesville, "that the late difficulty between Mr. Bunn Grigsby and the Messrs. Marsteller has been settled.  The former was compelled to sign a paper and to submit to a severe castigation, but the later afterwards gave up the paper and expressed regrets for acting so hastily."

We respectfully request that we may be permitted through the medium of your paper to say that no such settlement as above stated, nor has any settlement whatever of the said difficulty been effected.

Very respectfully, L. A. MARSTELLER & Bro.

Nokesville, Pr. Wm. co., Jan 24.

Alexandria Gazette

24 February 1870

THE LATE DIFFICULTY AT NOKESVILLE -- Mr. Marsteller, who was shot at Nokesville on Monday evening last, is reported to be recovering.  The attack upon him was not unexpected, as he had written to a young gentleman in this city, telling him that the difficulty between himself and Mr. Grigsby had not be settled, and asking him if convenient to pay him a visit, and stay with him until the Messrs. Grigsby and their friend, who had been to Morrisville, in Fauquier county, after his brother, but were unable to see him on account of his sickness, left the neighborhood.  These three gentlemen took the night train at Manassas and returned to Lynchburg on the evening the shooting took place.

Evening Star (Washington, DC)

24 February 1870

It was thought last night at Nokesville that Mr. Marsteller, who was shot there on Monday last by Mr. Clay Grigsby, as heretofore stated in the Gazette, might probably recover, though the ball was still embedded among the muscles at the base of  his skull.

Travel Tuesday: 1875 Drag Racing?

Alexandria Gazette
29 May 1875

SERIOUS ACCIDENT -- On Monday last Mr. E. E. Meredith received serious injuries by being thrown from his horse, near Brentsville.  He received a fracture of both ankles, and it is feared internal injuries.  Himself and Mr. Marsteller, of Nokesville, were trying the speed of their horses, and at the end of the lane leading from Mr. Sexsmith's gate towards Nokesville, Mr. Meredith being in the lead, turned to the right, when Mr. Marstellers's horse collided with him, dashing him violently to the ground.  Mr. Meredith was conveyed in a carriage to his home, where he was attended by physicians. -- Manassas Gazette

Military Monday: Prince William Cavalry, Co. A., 4th Va. Cavalry

Manassas Journal

October 20, 1905

PRINCE WILLIAM'S HONOR ROLL

Prince William Cavalry, Co. A, 4th Va. Cavalry

[Prepared for The Journal by Mrs. Geo. W. Johnson]

Captain, William Willis Thornton

1^st Lieut., P. D. Williams

2^nd Lieut., A. D. Wroe

3^rd Lieut., James M. Barbee

Orderly Sergeant, Thomas O. Thornton

Privates

J. T. Arundell	J. C. Lynn
Amos Benson	A. T. Lynn
Heywood Bridwell	John H. Lee
Albert Bridwell	C. H. Lambert
Monroe Bridwell	Ned Larkin
Lang Bridwell	George W. Larkin
_____ Bruffey	Charles Lewis
Chas. H. Brawner	T. W. Marders
Hammitt Claggett	Benj. D. Merchant
Alvah Cass	Frank Merchant
E. J.T. Clark	Philo Mitchell
James F. Clark	John Miner
Henry Carter	Reuben Miner
Charles L. Cushing	R. B. Lee McCrea [Macrae]
Thomas Cushing	Robert Manuel
Robert B. Cushing	Adolphus Marsteller
J. P. Cross	Y. H. Marsteller
Ham. Cross	Felix Muldoon
William Cockrell	George W. Nutt
George M. Colvin	Horatio Nelson
Clinton C. Colvin	Andrew Norman
Richard Colvin	Fielding Norman
George Colvin	Thadeus Newman
Lucien A. Davis	Lucien L. O’mera
S. S. F. Davis	James M. Peters
J. W. Davis	John S. Powell
R. M. Davis	B. L. Pridmore
Joseph Davis	Benjamin Pridmore
Charles E. Davis	Levi Pridmore
W. H. Dewy	J. D. Payne
Caleb S. Deats	Wm. L. Robertson
John C. Deats	Richard Shirley
Ellis A. Deats	Thomas S. Shirley
C. E. Donehoe	J. M. Shirley
C. W. Dunnington	J. R. Shirley
T. P. Elliott	Sidney Shirley
Maurice Evans	Samuel Sisson
Henry Evans	W. M. Simms
Hiram Eastman	G. A. Selectman
Madison Finch	George Selectman
John W. Fewell	T. B. Selectman
A. H. Finchsel	R. Selectman
Mathew Finegan	William Stone
N. B. Guy	Marshall Stone
J. M. Graham	R. H. Shephard
J. P. Gaines	Joseph Shepherd
Charles A. Graham	Carys Smith
W. S. George	Charles Smith
Adison George	J. M. Sinclair
F. W. Holmes	J. L. Sinclair
M. C. Holmes	W. H. Simms
Monroe Holmes	Robert Towles
John M. Herndon	Vivian Towles
Geo. W. Herndon	William Towles
Haywood Herndon	James Towles
Henry M. Holland	John G. Taylor
Robert W. Holland	Garland Taylor
R. E. Horton	J. N. Tolson
M. W. Horton	J. T. Williams
R. H. Haislip	John Williams
James Hulfish	J. F. Williams
John L. Hamet[t]	Wm. F. Williams
G. H. Hooe	Frank Williams
Ashley Holmes	William Wilkins
Robert Jewell	Jeff. Woodyard
George Jewell	E. V. Weir
Robert King	Robert W. Weedon
C. W. Keys	P. T. Weedon
Henry F. Lynn	Marshall B. Weedon
W. M. Lynn	C. H. A. Weedon
A. A. Lynn	Geo. M. Weedon
J[ohn] H[enry] Lynn	J. F. Wheat
L. W. Lynn	Luther Windsor
George Lynn	W. T. Washington
Benjamin Lynn
J. A. Lynn
Milton Lynn
Luther Lynn
Albert Lynn

At the reorganization of the army in ’62 and election of officers took place resulting as follows:

Captain, P. D. Williams

1^st Lieut., Lucien A. Davis

2^nd Lieut., Benjamin D. Merchant

3^rd Lieut., Goerge Colvin

Orderly Sergeant, P. T. Weedon

2^nd Sergenat, J. Taylor Williams

3^rd Sergeant, Robert Towles

Soon after the reorganization, in the spring of ’63, Geo. Colvin died and officers under him advanced a step, and other elected, as follows:

2^nd Lieut., Robert W. Weedon

3^rd Sergeant, Absolam Lynn

4^th Sergeant, Vivian Towles

1^st Corporal, J. P. Gaines

2^nd Corporal, R. H. Haislip

3^rd Corporal, Amos Benson

4^th Corporal, Andrew Norman

J. Taylor Williams was made Sergeant major of the Regiment by Col. Wickham and served through the Gettysburg Campaign.

William Willis Thornton (the first Captain) was made Major in the Commissary Department of Ewell’s forces and noted in that capacity until the close of the war.

Many members of Co. A were severely wounded.  John W. Fewell lost a leg at Five Forks. Lieut. B. D. Merchant had a long experience of prison live, and was one of those who were sent to Morris Island in Charleston Harbor.  Three died at Point Lookout and several others suffered long terms of prison life:  Charles H. Brawner, at Fort Delaware, and Luther Windsor, twenty months at Elmyra).

List of Dead of Co. A., 4^th Virginia Cavlary

Captain P. D. Williams, killed at Raccoon Ford

George Colvin died of disease

J. T. Arundel, killed near Dumfries, by two negro prisoners

S. S. T. Davis, killed near Dumfries, by two negro prisoners

L. Bridwell, died of disease

W. S. Robinson, died of disease

Henry Evans, died of disease

Mathew Inegan, died of disease

D. C. Norman, died of disease

Thomas Cushing, killed near Warrenton

C. L. Cushing, killed at Appomattox

William H. Cockrell, killed at Raccoon Ford

Ellis A. Deats, killed at Aldie

T. P. Elliott, killed at Travillyan Station

A. A. George, died of disease

L. Lynn, died of disease

John H. Lee, killed at Fairfax

J. P. Monroe, died in prison

Thomas W. Marders, killed at White

W. S. Moore, killed at Spotsylvania

Horace Nelson, killed at Jack’s Shop

W. H. Selectman, killed at Jack’s Shop

Thomas S. Shirley, died in prison

William Stone, died in prison

Frank Williams, killed

Vivian Towles, killed at Travillyan Station

James Towles, killed at Spotsylvania C.H.

Those Places Thursday: Pageland

Alexandria Gazette
February 17, 1837

PAGELAND FOR SALE

By virtue of a deed of trust from Thomas P. Hooe to the subscriber, dated the 14th Nov., 1833, and recorded in the Clerk's office, of Prince William County, I shall expose to sale, for cash, to the highest bidder on the premises, on Friday, the 24th day of March, 1837, at 12 o'clock, M., a tract of Land, lying in the County of Prince William, called Pageland, containing by estimation 762 acres.  Such title will only be given as is vested in the trustee.

JOHN W. MASSIE, Trustee
feb 16 - ts

Alexandria Gazette
October 27, 1855

VALUABLE LAND IN PRINCE WILLIAM FOR RENT. -- The subscriber offers for rent his land near Haymarket, known as "Pageland" and "The Poplar Field" Tracts, comprising 1300 acres of the most valuable land in the county for farming and grazing, divided into 12 fields, including 150 acres of meadow. -- The fields not in cultivation, are set in grass. -- There are good buildings of every description, and a Country Mill on the farm.  The situation is one of the most healthy, and near the Gainesville Station of the Manassas Gap Railroad.  Early application is requested.  The privilege of fallowing immediately.

Cyrus C. Marsteller
Haymarket, je 16 -- eo3t&wtf

Church Record Sunday: Virginia News

Alexandria Gazette
January 10, 1876

VIRGINIA NEWS.

The new Presbyterian Church at Manassas will be dedicated on Sunday the 16th inst.

At the election by Woodbine Baptist Church, of Prince William county, for pastor, Rev. T. W. Newman received one more vote than Rev. Mr. Kerns.

The wife of Thomas R. Davis, of Bristoe station, Midland railroad, has been paralyzed.  -- The flocks of sheep of the Messrs. Godfrey, of Prince William, have suffered severely from dogs lately. -- Dr. E. H. Marsteller, of Prince William, has been appointed an assistant Sergeon [sic] in the United States Navy.  -- On Thursday last, while Franklin Arnold, of Prince William county, in company with his brother, was on his way to Occoquan to attend a wedding, he stopped for a few minutes at the house of Mr. Payne, and just had taken a seat when he suddenly fell back and died.  ~Manassas Gazette

Sunday's Obituary - Doctor Cyrus C. Marsteller

Alexandria Gazette - February 24, 1871

Departed this life, on the 8th instant, at his residence, near Gainesville, Doctor Cyrus C. Marsteller, in the 73d year of his age.  He was a native of Alexandria and reared therein.  He studied medicine with Doctor Elisha Dick, and graduated in the Maryland Medical University in the spring of 1818.  He soon left the pleasures of his happy home and early associates and located in the town of Buckland, in Prince William county, Va.  From there in a few months he removed to Haymarket and won the favor and approbation of his fellow-citizens by a scrupulous attention to all cases committed to his care.  He had a good knowledge of diseases prevalent in this section of the country, and was a close student up to the time of his death.

He practiced his profession upwards of half a century, and with great success.  Blessed with a good constitution, no weather, however inclement, prevented his immediate and constant attention to his patients, until at last he could scarcely put one foot before the other, nor did he cease to go when called on to within a few weeks of his demise.  Thus has fallen in our midst the man, who of all others, unprejudiced opinion, will say could be least spared.  He was a true and constant friend.  He had not united with any denomination of Christians, but the word of God was his companion during his leisure hours in his office.  He read it to know the will of the Great I am, and to find himself to be a sinner.

When spoken to on the subject of death, he said the subject had engaged his attention for a long time.  He was willing to cast aside self altogether, and embrace the Gospel plan of salvation, through faith in the righteousness of Christ Jesus and his ability to save to the uttermost all who come to God through Him.

He has left a wife and five children to mourn the loss of a kind and affectionate husband and father.  May God, in his mercy, be with the bereaved household, and bless to their souls this visitation of his providence, and teach them that not a sparrow falls without His knowledge.

Senex.
Prince William County, Va., Feb. 21.

~ ~ ~

Alexandria Gazette - October 27, 1855

Valuable Land in Prince William for Rent.  The subscriber offers for rent his land near Haymarket, known as "Pageland" and "The Poplar Field" Tracts, comprising 1300 acres of the most valuable land in the county for farming and grazing, divided into 12 fields, including 150 acres of meadow.  The fields not in cultivation, are set in grass.  There are good buildings of every description, and a Country Mill on the farm.  The situation is one of the most healthy, and near the Gainesville Station of the Manassas Gap Railroad.  Early application is requested.  The privilege of fallowing immediately.

Cyrus C. Marsteller
Haymarket, je 16-eo3t&wtf

~ ~ ~

Alexandria Gazette - May 13, 1850

At a Rules held in the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery of Alexandria County, on the 1st day of April, 1850; Cyrus C. Marsteller vs. Charlotte M. Mitchell, late Charlotte M. Marsteller, Elizabeth A. Marsteller, Philip F. Marsteller, Richard H. Marsteller, Louisa W. Marsteller, and Leslie K. Marsteller, the two last named infant heirs of Ferdinand P. Marsteller, and Samuel A. Marsteller:  The defendants Richard H. Marsteller, Louisa W. Marsteller and Leslie K. Marsteller, infants as aforesaid, not having entered their appearance and given security according to the act of Assembly and the rules of this Court, and it appearing by satisfactory evidence that they are not inhabitants of this Commonwealth, It is ordered, that the said defendants appear here at the rules to be  held in the Clerk's office of said court for the month of June next, and answer the bill of the plaintiff, and that a copy of this order be forthwith inserted in some newspaper published in the town of Alexandria, for two months successively, and posted at the front door of the Court house of this County.

C.F.Lee, C. C.
Neale, P.Q. ap 2--2m

~ ~ ~

Alexandria Gazette - June 26, 1841

NOTICE.  The Partnerships heretofore existing under the firm of R. H. Marsteller & Co. and C. C. and R. H. Marsteller are hereby dissolved.

Cyrus C. Marsteller
Haymarket, Prince Wm., Va., June 4--eo10t

Will: Howison Pinn

Howison Pinn Will
PWCo Will Book S, pg. 507

Being considerably advanced in years and knowing the uncertainty of life, and being desirous of making some particular provisions for some members of my family, I Howison Pinn of the county of Prince William and State of Virginia do make and publish this as and for my last will and testament, hereby revoking and declaiming said all other wills by me heretofore made:

1st. I give and bequeath to my wife Pattie Pinn all my real estate and personal property of every description during her life time she paying my just debts;

2nd. After her death I give and bequeath to my two daughters Hannah and Judith Pinn my dwelling house and other buildings with sixteen acres of cleared land adjacent thereto and three acres of woodlands.

3rd. I give and bequeath to Josephine Curtis daughter of James and Lucy Curtis three acres of land adjoining the sixteen acres above bequeathed.

4th. I give and bequeath to my daughter Sarah Stokes wife of Francis Stokes the ten acres which I have already sold to him & three acres adjoining the Marsteller Tract of land and said Stokes owner.

5th. After the death of wife Pattie Pinn I desire that the remaining land not above willed shall be equally divided between my children William Pinn, Howison Pinn Jr., Mary Harris, Travis Pinn, Landonia Lewis, the said Landonia Lewis to have her share of the land to adjoin the Marsteller Tract, and the lot which I have sold to her husband William Lewis if she so desires it, and all the personal property which may be left, at my wife's death to be sold, and equally divided among all my children after paying her just debts.

I appoint my wife Pattie Pinn my Executrix without security.  In testimony wehreof I the said Howison Pinn have to this my last will and testament signed and subscribed my name this first day of July in the year of our Lord One Thousand eight hundred and seventy six.

Howison {X his mark} Pinn

Witness
W. L. B. Wheeler

Signed Acknowledgd and published by the said Howison Pinn as and for his last will and testament in presence of both of us at the same time.  Who at his bequest, and in his presence subscribed our names as Witnesses hereto

W. L. B. Wheeler
F. M. Lewis

In Prince William County fourth August term 1876.  The last will and testament of Howison Pinn dcd. was this day presented to the Court by Pattie Pinn the Executrix therein named, and being proved by the oaths of W L B Wheeler & F M Lewis subscribing witnesses thereto is ordered to be recorded.  And in motion of said Pinn the Ex.t named in said last will, who made oath & together with w L B Wheeler & F M Lewis has surities who justified as to their sufficiency entered into & acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $100 conditioned according to law whcih bond is ordered to be recorded, certificate is granted the said Pinn for obtaining a probate of said will in due form.

A copy teste,

L A Davis clk

Another Newspaper Tidbit: Flint Lock Pistols owned by George Washington

The Commoner (Lincoln, Nebraska)
March 27, 1903

TWO FLINT LOCK PISTOLS WHICH WERE owned by George Washington are the subject of a dispute as to ownership and incidentally to the settlement of an estate in Prince William county, Virginia.  A writer in the Kansas City Journal says that the weapons, which are a perfectly matched pair, are in the possession of Miss Monnie Marsteller, who lives in Washington.  Some time before his death, General Washington gave the pistols to Mr. Dandridge, hsi secretary, and when Mr. Dandridge died, they were disposed of at public sale with the rest of his effects, under the direction of Bushrod Washington.  The grandfather of Miss Marsteller bought the weapons , and in due time he left them to his son, Samuel A. Marsteller, of Prince William county, Virginia.  Samuel was the father of Miss Monnie, and when he died, a short time ago, one of her brothers brought the pistols to her and said that she should have them.  Other relatives, however, have insisted upon forcing a sale of the property left behind by Samuel, and a suit, with this end in view, has been brought in the circuit court of Prince William county.