Newspaper Tidbit: Colored Jurors (1874)

Alexandria Gazette (Virginia)
21 April 1874

COLORED JURORS. -- William Chinn, Howson Pinn, jr., and Addison Chapman, who were deputed by a meeting of colored people to wait upon Judge Nicol, judge of the County Court of Prince William, met him at his office in Brentsville on Saturday last. The committee stated in substance that "they had been appointed to wait upon Judge Nicol for the purpose of asking him why it was that colored men had not been summoned on the juries, and also why they had not colored trustees for their schools."  His Honor informed them he had carried out the law by the selection of men "best fitted for the position;" "that he had not selected any because of their color, or excluded them because of their color." The committee referred to an instance where colored men "had been summoned as jurymen, but were not called on to serve, and had heard that they had been excluded by order of Judge Nicol."  Judge Nicol replied that he did not remember the instance referred to by the committee, but said he was positive he had made no such order on the subject, and if such order had been made by him it would be found entered on the record and would show for itself. Each member of the committee expressed himself satisfied; one of them, Chinn, saying the "move was gotten up for other or outside purposes."  -- Manassas Gazette

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Items (19 October 1874)

Alexandria Gazette
19 October 1874

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS -- [From the Manassas Gazette]

The Circuit Court met on Monday, Judge James Keith presiding, Geo. W. Larkin esq., Commonwealth attorney. When the grand jury had been sworn Judge Keith charged them as follows. That they should "bring to notice all breaches of the peace," on which the good order of society depended; "all murders, assaults and batteries, burglaries, and violations of the internal revenue laws." On motion of James M. Love esq., M. H. Wells esq. of Fairfax C. H. was admitted to practice at this court. In the case of Commonwealth against L. N. Fewell, councel for defence, Judge Nicol, stated that he was not ready for trial on consequence of the absence of important witnesses. This case was again continued. There were about seventy-five decrees and orders entered in Chancery and a large number of common law cases disposed of.

As Mr. A. D. Wroe of the lower part of the county, and Mr. Samuel H. Jones, his brother-in-law, of Brook's Stations, Stafford county, were driving into Brentsville on Monday, their team became frightened at the noise of a flock of geese and shying, upset the vehicle, throwing the two gentlemen out and hurting them severely, though not seriously.

Wm. H. Pinn a colored man who has heretofore acted with the radical party in this county made a speech at Brentsville on Monday last, in which he scored radicalism pretty severely, and the Hon. James B. Sener particularly. He advised the colored people not to disgrace themselves by voting for Sener.

Deed: Pinn to Stokes (1868)

Deed - Pinn to Stokes

PWCo. Deed Book 26, pg. 609

This indenture made and entered into this seventh day of April one thousand eight hundred and sixty eight between Howson Pinn and Patty his wife of the one part and Warner Stokes of the other part. Witnesseth that the said Howson Pinn & wife to for and in consideration of the sum of forty five dollars in hand paid by the said Stokes to the said Pinn, the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged, have granted, bargained, sold, alined, and conveyed, and by these hereunto do grant, bargain, sell, aline, and convey unto the said Warner Stokes with general warrantee the following lot of land lying being situate in the County of Prince William and bounded as follows, to wit. Beginning at Howson Pinn’s NW corner there south four and one half degrees west thirty one rods & twelve links to a stake then south eighty five and one half degrees east, seventeen & one half rods to a stake, thence north four and one half degrees east twenty three rods to B. H. Lewis line, thence N forty seven degrees west by said Lewis line, nineteen rods to the bound begun at containing three acres. Together with all the privileges and appurtenances to the same in any wise appertaining or belonging. To have and to hold the above granted premises and appurtenances unto the said Warner Stokes, his heirs & assigns forever, as witness the following signatures and seals.

Howson (X his mark) Pinn {seal}

Patty (x her mark) Pinn {seal}

Witness

H. E. Pinn

State of Virginia County of Prince William to wit:

We W. L. B. Wheeler and Crawford Cushing Justices of the Peace for the County of Prince Wm. In the state of Virginia do certify that Howson Pinn and Patty Pinn whose names are signed to the within writing bearing date on the seventh day of April 1868 have acknowledged the same before us in our county aforesaid and we further certify that Patty Pinn the wife of Howson Pinn whose names are signed to the within writing was examined by us privately and apart from her husband and having the writing aforesaid fully explained to her she the said Patty Pinn acknowledged the said writing to be her act and declared that she had willingly executed the same and does not wish to retract it. Given under our hand this 14^th May anno domini 1868.

W. L. B. Wheeler J.P.

Crawford Cushing J.P.

At a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for Prince Wm. County June __ 1868.

This Deed from Pinn & wife to Stokes with certificate annexed was presented to the Court and ordered to be recorded.

Teste. M. B. Sinclair Clerk

[Howson/Howison Pinn was a free man of color and land owner who lived near the Bethlehem Meetinghouse.  He is buried beside his wife in the Pinn Family Cemetery in Manassas. ~cgl]

Sunday's Obituary: Pattie Pinn

Manassas Journal
August 14, 1896

Aunt Patty Pinn wife of Howson Pinn, Sr., who resided near Wellington was stricken with paralysis on Friday, and died on Sunday last, at the advanced age of ninety-two years.  Aunty Pinn was well and favorably known in this section of the county and her death is greatly lamented by those who knew her kindness of heart and noble characteristics, notwithstanding the fact that she had been living for more than a score of years on borrowed time.

Black History Month: Newspaper Tidbits

Virginia Gazette - January 19, 1776

PRINCE WILLIAM county, Jan. 4, 1776.  WHEREAS the subscriber, some time in the month of October last, passed his obligation to a certain Charles Adams, of the town of Dumfries, for the sum of 10 l. to be paid in pork and corn for a servant woman purchased of him, and warranted by him to have no other ailment than the ague and fever; and whereas, upon taking her home, I have discovered her to be a lunatick, with which I am convinced the said Adams could not be unacquainted at the time of the sale, and have therefore returned her to the said Adams, who refused to give up my obligation: I therefore forewarn all persons from taking an assignment of the same, as I was deceived by him, and am determined not to pay it.

ALEXANDER CATLETT

~~~

Virginia Gazette - August 21, 1779

FREDERICKSBURG, August 10, 1779.  RUN away from the subscriber in December last, a middle sized negro boy named Dick, about 17 years old, flat footed, and a large scar on the top of his head, had been inoculated for the small pox a month or two before, the scar when he went off was very plain in his arm, but little other appearance of the disorder remaining.  I have reason to believe he was enticed away by one Simon Sackett a waggoner, who lived near Bland's ford in Prince William county, and who set off with his waggon, the day after the boy disappeared, bound as he gave out, for Carolina, but as he came from the Jersey's to Virginia, he may have directed his course that way.  Sackett is a lusty man, above 6 feet high, between 25 and 30 years of age, of a swarthy complexion, brown hair, and a down look. Whoever delivers the above mentioned negro boy to me in Fredericksburg, or to my overseer William Munday, near Bland's ford in Prince William county, shall be paid ONE HUNDRED POUNDS reward, and if stolen, upon conviction of the thief, TWO HUNDRED POUNDS.

LEWIS WILLIS

~~~

Alexandria Gazette - January 29, 1827

NOTICE.  By virtue of a deed of trust executed to us by James Foster and Silas Foster, on the 7th day of December 1825, for the purpose of securing to John Withers & Co. and Withers & Washington, the payment of the debts therein mentioned, we shall, on Monday, the 5th day of March next, expose to sale by public auction for cash, before the front door of the Court House of Prince William county, one negro girl named Anne and her child -- Also, the interest of the said James and Silas Foster, in the estate of their father, James Foster, deceased.  Such title as we have under the trust deed will be conveyed to the purchasdr.

M.B. SINCLAIR
PEYTON NORVILL, Trustees

~~~

Alexandria Gazette - January 29, 1850

NEGROES FOR SALE. -- I will offer for sale, to the highest bidder, on the first Monday February next, in Brentsville, before the front door of the Court House, for cash, two Negro Men belonging to the estate of Gerard Mason, dec'd.

RICHARD ATKINSON, Adm'r of Gerard Mason, dec'd
Prince William Co., jan 17 --eots

~~~

Alexandria Gazette - July 7, 1869

LETTER FROM PRINCE WILLIAM.  There are certainly two, and probably three, colored registrars appointed for this county.--Jesse Bates, 1st precinct (He's a "nice one," I tell you), H. E. Pinn, 3d precinct (Pinn is the "heir expectant" of the post office at Manassas) Summer Fitts is the President of the Board of the 3d precinct.  Fitts was nominated here in March, I think by eight republicans (?) for the Legislature.  He cannot be registrar if he is a candidate.  Which are you, Fitts, candidate or registrar?  In the language of Shakespeare, "Whence and what art thou, execrable shape?"  Josiah Thomas in the 4th precinct, may be a colored man for all I know.  I have never heard of him before.  Fitts better stick to his military appointment.  He'll never be elected to any office.  Nothing but the devil will ever catch Fitts in this county.

Mr. Thomas L. Burrows, a very gentlemanly republican, has a petition in circulation I understand for the Manassas post office.  It is signed by a number of republicans, and the most prominent business men of the place and vicinity.  Under the head of republicans in the petition there is one name that sorter surprises me.  I'll not call it, but if I can I'll send you a copy of the petition.  I hope Mr. Burrows will get the position, because he is a fair man, and the people want him to have it, but the idea, just the idea, of one man who signed the petition under the first heading, calling himself a republican.  When did he become one?  Why din't he say he was one when he ran for office lasts?  He'll be ashamed to say it when he runs again, which he is sure to do, for he will die if out of office.  The black republicans say that Pinn's appointment is a "political necessity."  The blacks will leave the radicals here "with the bag to hold" if Pinn is not appointed postmaster.

TYRONE.
PRINCE WM. CO., June 5, 1869

~~~

Alexandria Gazette - September 19, 1871

MANASSAS, PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY. -- The funeral services of old Aunt Esther Britt, aged seventy-five years, formerly the slave of the late Rev. Robert C. Leachman, a distinguished minister of the Old School Baptist Church, well known in Washington and Alexandria, took place here last week.  The funeral sermon was preached by Charles Mason, formerly a slave, who belonged to the estate of the late John McCree, of this county.  The church was crowded, a large number of the audience being white.

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

Tombstone Tuesday: Howsin Pinn

Sometimes you just don't realize what's sitting in your own backyard until you accidentally stumble upon it.   An acquaintance recently told me that they thought there was an "interesting cemetery" on an industrial road near my home.  He was several streets off, and the cemetery proved to be much closer than expected.  Right across the street, as it happened.

Nestled between two townhouses in the heart of urban western Prince William County, concealed behind a discrete wooden fence, is a small family cemetery.   There is no name on the fence.  No plaque announcing the cemetery.  It sits quietly, shaded by walnut trees.  It is well maintained and cared for, so I can only assume that there are still family members who visit to pay their respects.

Researching the land with the help of the wonderful staff at RELIC, I learned that the land once belonged to Howson/Howison Pinn, a free, educated black man.

 

 Richmond Whig, 09/24/1872

On March 18, 1897 "application was made...by the heirs of Howison Pinn deceased to survey the land of said Pinn left to them by will executed the first day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six and recorded in Will Book S page 507."  (PWCo Deed Book 47, pg 193)

A plat in the Deed Book shows the survey of the land, including the 181 acres containing the cemetery.

That land has long since been divided and sold and parceled out, and is now a suburban bedroom community.  All that remains to hail back to 1897 is the tiny little cemetery behind its well kept fence.

A cemetery listing and photos of all of the remaining headstones therein can be found by searching PINN on findagrave.com.