Friend of Friends Friday: Ranaway: Harry and Davey / Solomon / Caesar

Virginia Gazette and Alexandria Advisor
23 June 1791

TEN POUNDS REWARD,

RAN AWAY from the subscriber, living in Prince William County, about 5 miles aboe the Red-House, the following Slaves, viz. -- HARRY, about 40 years of age, 5 feet 6 or 7 inches high, who has remarkable scars over one of his eyes. -- This Negro left me in Dumfries last October, has since been taken up above Winchester, put in that gaol, and eloped from the person coming home with him. -- DAVEY, a dark Mulatto, full 6 feet high, slender made, went off th 2d inst. It is needless to describe the dress of either the first having changed his clothes, and the other in all probability will, when he gets to Dumfries, where he has a wife. -- DAVEY was formerly the property of Joseph Combes, of Loudoun County, and may go in that neighbourhood where he has some relations. I will give the above reward for those two Negroes being delivered to me, and Forty Shillings for either, exclusive of what the law allows.

ELIZABETH GRAHAM
June 15, 1791.
99-3w.

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Alexandria Daily Advertiser
10 June 1807

THREE DOLLARS REWARD.

RAN AWAY about the 21st of May last, a negro boy slave, named SOLOMON, the property of Miss Nancy Morton, living in Prince William county, and hired of her until the end of this year: he is about 14 years old, of a black complexion, with a very wide mouth, his clothes are unknown; The above reward will be given to any person who will apprehend and deliver him to Miss Nancy Morton, or to the subscriber, living in Prince William county.

John M. Wilkinson
June 10

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National Intelligencer & Washington Advertiser 
25 October 1809

RAN AWAY FROM THE SUBSCRIBER LIVING in Brenton, Prince William County, Virg. on the 11th Aug. 1809, a Mulatto man named CAESAR, 21 or 2 years of age, 5 feet 9 or 10 inches high, calls himself Keys; is much sun-burned, has a full suit of hair--took with him a pair of nankeep pantaloons, a Bennet Cord waistcoat having yellow and red collars; a short dark summer coat, besides several other articles. It is apprehended he has gone northward, having been traced into Washington City with a crowd of negroes returning from the camp meeting held in Fairfax county. He is not skilled in any handy craft, but has been entirely accustomed to the business of a plantation. Whoever shall apprehend the said negro, and secure him in any jail, shall receive twenty dollars reward--if brought home all reasonable charges shall be paid by the subscriber. Masters of vessels are cautioned against receiving on board their vessels the said Slave.

GERARD ALEXANDER, Sen.
Sept. 32-2awtf

James James aka "Double Jimmy"

Dodge City Times

April 20, 1876

Born in 1764. James James, or "Double Jimmy," as he is more familiarly called, lives on a farm twelve miles south of Weatherford, Parker County, Texas, with his daughter, Mrs. Nancy Wheat, 63 years of age. This old gentleman was born near the Red House, in Prince William County, Virginia, May 10, 1764. His father resided on a plantation near the Potomac, adjoining Lawrence Washington's. Mr. James has seen Washington often at his father's house. He and his brothers were in the war of 1812. Mr. James was a "jack of all trades," as he says he learned to be a carpenter, bricklayer, stonemason, blacksmith, painter and tinsmith. During his long life he has never been one month in bed with sickness. Mr. James was married in Virginia soon after attaining his majority, and raised a family of ten boys and five girls. Leaving his native State some years after the war, he settled in Roan County, Tenn. From that place he moved to Lauderdale County, Ala., thence to White county, Ark., and in 1848, came to Dallas County, Tex., in his 84^th year. He continued his residence there until 1872, when, in his 108^th year, he selected, as he says, Parker County to spend his old days in. in his 109^th year he cultivated an acre patch of watermelons in Parker County, and raised the finest brought to market. He realized $125 from this crop. Mr. James talks very well and his hearing is pretty good. ~Galveston News

Galveston Weekly News

January 6, 1879

Weatherford Times: James James, a resident of Parker county, died at the residence of his daughter, in Young county, on December 2d. He is believed to be the oldest citizen in Texas, or perhaps in the United States. He was born near the Red House, in Prince William county, Va., May 10, 1764, and consequently lived to the age of 114 years, 6 months and 22 days. James James, or “Double Jimmy,” as he was familiarly called, was a hard-working man all his life. In his 100^th year he cultivated an acre patch of watermelons in Parker county, and raised the finest brought to market. Smythe's Historical Sketch of Waterford and Parker Counties says that his acre crop realized him $125.

From the Prince William County Historical Marker Guide:

Colonial Roads (78)

Fayette Road and Washington Street, Haymarket

The town of Haymarket, chartered in 1799, owes its location to the

junction of the Old Carolina Road and the north branch of the

Dumfries Road at the site of the Red House. The Carolina Road

developed from the Iroquois hunting path which was abandoned by

the Indians after 1772, when they were forced by treaty beyond the

Blue Ridge. The Dumfries Road was in use as a major trade route

between the Potomac and the Shenandoah Valley before 1740.

[“Double Jimmy” is buried in Gooseneck Cemetery in Young County, Texas. The “Red House” referred to in the newspaper articles was an ordinary erected by William Skinker, son of Samuel Skinker, built of large red brick . Thomas Jefferson's 1787 map of the region names the locality “Red House.” Today it is better known as Haymarket.]