Will: Alexander Reid

Will of Alexander Reid
PWCo Will Book S, pg. 376
Dated 31 October 1874; Proved: 5 April 1875

I Alexander Reid of the County of Prince William State of Virginia being in sane mind, but in declining health do make this my last Will & Testament hereby revoking all other Wills in the following manner to wit:

1st I will to my Brother Silas Reid two notes on J. Warder Davis, amounting to $200 - and falling due as follows. One note due 1st December 1875 the others due 1st of December 1876 and lastley I constitute and appoint my Brother Silas Reid executor of this my last will and testament.

Given under my hand & seal this 31st day of Oct. 1874

Alexander Reid [x his mark] {seal}

Signed sealed & acknowledged in the presence of 

Thomas J. Simpson
Silas Simpson

In Prince William County Court April 5th 1875

The last Will & Testament of Alexander Reid decd was this day produced in Court by Silas Reid the Executor therein named and being proved by the Oaths of Thomas J. Simpson and Silas Simpson the subscribing witnesses thereto was ordered to be recorded. And on motion of Silas Reid the said executor who made oath and together with Joseph B. Reid & John L. Reid his securities who justified as to their sufficiency entered into and acknowledged a bond in the penalty of $500 conditioned according to law which bond is ordered to be recorded. Certificate is granted the said Reid for obtaining a probate of said Will in due form.

Teste, L. A. Davis, Clerk

Sunday's Obituary: John W. Hall

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
13 August 1931

RITES FOR JOHN W. HALL

Special Dispatch to The Star

GAINESVILLE, Va., August 13. -- Funeral rites were conducted today for John W. Hall, 91 years old, prominent Prince William County citizen, who died Monday, following a brief illness. The deceased was a member of the Prince William Cavalry during the war between the States and was one of the oldest Confederate veterans in the county.

Services were held in the family home, with Rev. J. Royal Cook of the Greenwich Presbyterian Church officiating, while burial was in the cemetery on the place. The pallbearers were John Ellis, Douglas Cockerille, Shirley Reid, J. L. Mayhugh, Raymond Ellis and Frank Cockerille, all from the Gainesville and Greenwich communities, where the deceased had lived throughout his life.

Those surviving are two daughters, Mrs. T. M. Cook, Greenwich, and Mrs. Ernest Hoffman, Roanoke, and a grand-daughter, Mrs. Samuel Thornton of Washington.

PWCo Items: Playground Indorsed/Purebred Hogs Distributed (1943)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
4 July 1943

Playground Indorsed.

The Manassas Town Council at a meeting this week indorsed the proposal of the Prince William County Chamber of Commerce providing for the use of a town lot situated between West street and Grant avenue as a colored playground. A committee of Chamber of Commerce representatives headed by Dr. George B. Cocke and representatives of the local colored populace headed by Dr. John Williams presented the plan to the council for approval. The playground will provide recreation for colored youths of the vicinity and will be under the direction of trained supervisors.

Purebred Hogs Distributed.

Seven Prince William County 4-H Club boys have been selected to receive the seven purebred Hampshire shows and one boar given to the county by Sears, Roebuck & Co. in their hog, dairy and poultry 4-H project designed to promote the production of better livestock in Northern Virginia. The seven boys, members of the Manassas-Nokesville 4-H Club, include Ray Smith, Lynn Hastings Herring, Leon Kline, Charles Fitzwater, jr.; Harold Hersch, Sidney Flickinger and Francis Joyce. The boar has been placed with Ray Smith.

Twelve additional purebred Hampshire pigs have been placed with members of the Occoquan-Bethel 4-H Club, according to Frank Cox, county agent. These, donated by individual farmers of Occoquan district, were distributed to George Thomas Selecman, Bobby Rigney, Buddy Reid, Augustus Davis, Edward Garber, Grover Manderfield, William Douglas Clarke, Bobby Tyrrell, Vernon Dawson and Frances Anne Garner.

Donors of the purebred Hampshire pigs placed with Occoquan-Bethel 4-H Club members include T. Powell Davis, Wilmer Garber, George Selecman, G. C. Russell, P. C. Wigglesworth, Gilmer Garber and F. B. Morgan.

Military Monday: Second Colored Selectee Called in Prince William (1941)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
31 May 1941

SECOND COLORED SELECTEE CALLED IN PRINCE WILLIAM

MANASSAS, Va., May 31-- Woodrow Wilson Mountjoy, colored, of Joplin, who has been ordered to report to the induction station in Richmond Monday, will be the second colored man drafted from Prince William County. Leroy Brown of Thoroughfare was the first. All other colored men who have been accepted have been volunteers.

Alvoy Aubrey Bates of Dumfries has been ordered to Richmond June 5 to complete call No. 14.

Six men have been ordered to report to Dr. J. McIver Jackson for physical examination today. They are Manie Wilford Strouth, Emery Franklin Liming, Dallas Horace Posey and Walter Reid, Manassas; Elwood Kerns, Waterfall, and Ralph Donnaly Foster, Haymarket.

Sunday's Obituary: Wallace Reid

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
23 December 1917

MANASSAS, VA. -- Wallace Reid, colored, was accidentally killed in a mine shaft near here several days ago. He was in the bucket going up to the mouth of the shaft when, in some unknown manner he struck against the casing and his head was severed from his body.

Richmond Times (Va.)
26 December 1917

WALLACE REID KILLED

Head Severed from Body at Pyrites Mine When Hoisting Bucket Strikes Facing

(Special to the Times-Dispatch)
FREDERICKSBURG, Va., December 25. -- Wallace Reid was killed yesterday at the Pyrites Mine, near Dumfries, Prince William County, while being hauled up to the mouth of the mine in a bucket. He struck against the facing of the mine and his head was severed from his body. Two other men also were injured from falling pieces of ore and timber.

[Information on the Cabin Branch Pyrite Mine, now part of Prince William Forest Park, can be found HERE.  There were many deaths and injuries in the mine.  Reid's was one that stood out, as can be seen from PW Forest Park's website.]

Homestead Deed: Robert A. Keys (1890)

Homestead Deed of Robert A. Keys
PWCo Deed Book 40, pg. 12

Know all men by these Presents that I, Robert A. Keys a citizen of Prince William County, and state of Virginia, being a householder and head of a family, and being desirous of claiming the benefit of the provisions of chapter 178 of the Code of Virginia of 1887, and amendment thereto under the pursuance of the state constitution of 1867, entitled exemption of property of a householder on head of a family from levy, seizure, garnishment or sale, for debts or liabilities on contract, by this deed made on this the 6th day of October 1890, do declare my intention of claiming such homestead on the following property, owned by me to wit:

12 acres of land at Brentsville, Va. upon which I now reside, and which was purchased by me from J. B. Reid & wife.

1 Bureau / $250.00
35 Barrels of corn / $10.00
40 shocks of fodder / $6.00
1 Red heifer 2 years old in June net / $9.00

Which said property selected and designated and set apart, I the said Robert A. Keys by virtue of the provisions of the chapter aforesaid of the Virginia Code of 1887, claim to hold exempt from levy, seizure, garnishing and sale.

Witness the following signature and seal

Robert A. [x his mark] Keys {seal}

Witnesses to the signature of R. A. Keys

W. W. Buckley
A. W. Sinclair

In Prince William County Court, Oct. 6th 1890.

This Homestead Deed of Robt. A. Keys was presented to the Court, acknowledged by the Grantor and was ordered to be recorded.

Teste, E. Nelson  Clk

Wedding Wednesday: Mr. & Mrs. Richard Fairfax Golden Wedding Anniversary

Mr. and Mrs. Richard Fairfax, 120 Sixth street S.E., who celebrated their golden wedding anniversary January 8.  Mr. Fairfax, 71, and Mrs. Fairfax, 70, both natives of Prince William County, Va., have lived in Washington for 33 years. They have on[e] child and one grandchild. -- Harris & Ewing Photo

Richard Henry Fairfax (20 Aug 1869 - 29 September 1951), son of Addison S. Fairfax and Mary J. Davis, married Mary "Minnie" V. Reid, daughter of  Reuben C. Reid and Catherine Garner, in Prince William County on 8 January 1891).

Land Records: Brenton (1845)

Alexandria Gazette
21 October 1845

A SMALL FARM IN PRINCE WILLIAM FOR SALE. -- I wish to sell my farm in Prince William county, called BRENTON.  It lies on Slaty Run, about four miles from Brentsville, contains two hundred and thirty-six acres, originally good, and is readily improved by clover and plaister.  The improvements are a DWELLING HOUSE, with two large rooms on the firts floor, and three on the second, with a good cellar and the usual outhouses. If a larger quantity of land is desired by the purchaser it can be purchased at a fair price of Mr. Lucian Dade, who owns a large tract adjoining Brenton. Northern men, who desire a small farm, in a neighborhood remarkable for health, good society, convenience to mills, post office, and places of religious worship, are invited to examine for themselves. If not sold previously at private sale, this Land will be offered at public auction, at Brentsville, on the 1st. Monday in November next. For terms, which will be accommodating, apply to James H. Ried, at Brentsville.

GWYNNETTA W. DADE

Prince William, Va., oct 7--eots

Married: Davis/Milstead; Cockerill/Brawner

Columbian Star (Washington, DC)
14 January 1826

MARRIED,

...On Thursday evening, the 5th instant, by the Rev. James Reid, Mr. Wm. Davis, to Miss Sophia Milstead, both of Prince William, Virginia.

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA)
3 November 1873

On the 28th ultimo, at the residence of the bride's father, J. J. Cockerill, by Rev. Mr. McGill, Chas. E. Brawner to Miss Josie S. T. Cockerill, both of Prince William co.

Newspaper Tidbit: Letter from PWCo (1869)

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA)
5 March 1869

Letter from Prince William Co.
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

Our County Court has been in session for the pat three days, ending yesterday evening. The following cases were adjudicated, and general business transacted: --

   An indictment for unlawful trespass on the promises of Mrs. M. F. Holland, was found by the grand jury against Daniel Whaling.
   Atkinson vs. Patterson, unlawful detainer, verdict for plaintiff.
   Knox vs. Carter's adm'r. Pleas waived and judgment for plaintiff.
   White, surviving, vs. the same. Plea waived and judgment for plaintiff.
   T. A. Brewis & Co. vs. E. J. T. Clarke. - Debt-verdict for plaintiff, with war interest abated.
   Able vs. Able's adm'r. Debt-verdict for plaintiff, with war interest abated.
   Johnson, surviving, vs. McLean. Debt-judgment for plaintiff.
   Thomas vs. Howison. Debt-verdict for plaintiff.
   Jacobs vs. Thomas. Trover-verdict for defendant.
   John T. Leachman qualified as executor of the last will and testament of the late Elder R. C. Leachman.
   James E. Williams qualified as administrator of John Williams, deceased.
   Sarah Donohoe qualified as administratrix of George Donohoe, deceased.
   Harvey Hyde having satisfied the Court that he is an ordained minister, and in regular communion with the Congregational church, was authorized to celebrate the rites of matrimony.
   George W. Mitchell, a late appointee of General Stoneman's, qualified as Commissioner of the Revenue for Prince William county.
   Ten deeds were admitted to record, and one marriage license issued during the session of Court.

From the pugilistic demonstrations made by several parties on the first day of Court, and their manifest desire to break the peace, if not each other's bones, it is evident that Prince William's vervor is not abated by the "situation" here, and that she is still, in one sense, on an active "war footing."

It is supposed that before the next term of our Court, the removals of officers in the county will have been generally made, and the new appointees will be here to qualify and enter on the duties of their respective stations.

William Smith, stabbed recently by Mr. Reuben Reid, which I reported at the time, has recovered. Mr. Reid is not yet under arrest and it is hoped that the affair, occuring as it did between near neighbors, may be amicably adjusted.

TYRONE
Brentsville, Va., March 4, 1869

Newspaper Tidbit: Hoadly (1921)

Prince William News
29 December 1921

HOADLY

Happy New Year to All

Miss Florella Milstead of Washington is spending the holidays with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. Frank Milstead.

Mr. E. M. Garner spent Sunday with Miss Eva Kidwell, of Agnewville.

Mrs. Edith Yates of Washington is spending the holidays with her mother, Mrs Annie Garner and her daughter, Alma Yates, who has been with her grandmother for some time.

Mr. and Mrs. Raymond Sprague of Washington are visiting relatives here.

Dr. W. Fewell Merchant of Manassas was in this vicinity several days last week looking after smallpox patients and vaccinating.

Mr. and Mrs. Tyson Reid and daughter, Miss Maxine, were in Washington shopping Saturday.

A horse belonging to Mr. Daniel Reid was kicked by another horse last Friday night.  Mr. Reid's animal suffered a broken leg and had to be killed.

Newspaper Tidbit: Prince William Township Officers

Alexandria Gazette
31 May 1873

PRINCE WILLIAM TOWNSHIP OFFICERS -- The following township officers were elected at the May election, in addition to those given in our last issue.

Brentsville Township -- Supervisor, J. B. Reid; Assessor, James M. Sinclair; Clerk, A. F. Woodyard; Collector, John T. Goodwin; Commissioner of Roads, John A. Brawner; Overseer of Poor, Benj. F. Manuel; Justices of the Peace, A. F. Woodyard til 1875, and Jno. D. Payne til 1876; Constables, John T. Goodwin, till 18875; Geo. B. Chichester, til 1876.

Occoquan Township -- Supervisor, Dr. Milton A. Ish; Clerk, L. Ledman; Assessor, Absalom T. Lynn; Collector, Geo. W. Tansill; Commissioner of Roads, A. M. Arrington; Overseer of Poor, M. Curtis; Justice of the Peace, C. W. Holland 3 years; Constable, Geo. W. Tansill 3 years.

Coles Township -- Supervisor, M. N. Lynn; Clerk, Wm. B. Lynn; Assessor, J. M. Barbee, Collector, Robert H. Keys; Commissioner of Roads, Roy L. Davis; Overser of poor, John H. Lynn; Justice of Peace, Sam. R. Lowe, 3 years; Constable, Robert H. Keyes, 3 years.

Dumfries Townhip -- Supervisor, Chas. F. Bayley; Clerk, Wm. A. Dunnington; Assessor, Wm. S. Chapman; Collector, James V. Nash; Commissioner of Roads, Henry C. Brawner; Overseer of Poor, James Clark; Justices of the Peace, A. H. Fuechsel til 1876; George R. Atkinson till 1874; Constables, Jas. V. Nash, till 1876, Benjamin Lynn, til 1875 -- Manassas Gazette

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Item: May 15, 1875

Alexandria Gazette
15 May 1875

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS.

Geo. W. Abel was seriously injured on Monday last by the falling of a blundering horse. He was on his way from Occoquan, where heh resides, and has been employed as ferryman, and when near Cedar Run bridge the horse he was riding fell, turning a complete summersault, throwing its rider over its head and falling upon him, the pummel of the saddle striking him in the pit of the stomach. The fall so stunned the horse that it laid on Mr. Able until it was pulled off but Mr. A. was up and walking about the next day.

On Thursday of last week as Mr. Joseph B. Reid was driving from Brentsville to Bristoe Station in his buggy, the horse coming in contact with the ox team of Mr. W. A. Ketcham, threw Mr. Reid out of the buggy, who, falling upon his head received very painful injuries. Mr. John H. Butler who was in the buggy with Mr. Reid jumped out as soon as the horse started, and was not hurt.

The attendance at the Circuit Cour was smaller than usual, though quite a large amount of business was done.  ~ Manassas Gazette

Thriller Thursday: Henry W. Reid

Richmond Times Dispatch
26 January 1908

KILLED ON WAY HOME

Henry W. Reid, From Prince William, Murdered in Washington

Washington, D.C., January 25 -- Henry W. Reid, of this city, who came to Washington from Prince William county about five years ago, was murdered in front of his home, on F Street, near North Capitol, about 1 o'clock this morning.  A few feet from where the body was found another man was held up and robbed earlier in the evening.

Reid's body was terribly cut, and a bloody oyster knife found near by had evidently been plunged through the top of the skull into the brain, producing instant death.  The body was found by two policemen before it had grown cold.  Four arrests have been made, but the police have only slight clues.

Reid was the proprietor of a saloon near Union Station.  He was in the habit of taking home every night the cash receipts for the day, and it is believed that the murderers knew of this, and were seeking money.  They took his gold watch and chain, and probably some change from his pocket, but the police found in the cash drawer at the saloon this morning $146.  Reid was the son of the late William Reid, who ran a hotel near Brentsville, not far from Manassas.  The young man was clerk of the Tremont Hotel for a time, and later opened a saloon.

He was recently placed in charge of the affairs of a new hotel company, which was to erect a hotel near the new Union Station.

The body will be taken to Prince William for interment.

Will: James Reid (1821)

JAMES REID Will

Prince William County Will Book L, pg. 376

14 May 1821; proved 06 Aug 1821

In the name of God Amen I JAMES REID of the town of Dumfries and State of Virginia make my last will and testament as follows: I leave all my estate real and personal to ELIZABETH P. OWENS during her life and after her death to be equally divided among her children.  Witness my hand and seal this 14^th day of May in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and twenty one.

JAMES REID  {seal}

last will and testament JOHN SPENCE, HECTOR ALEXANDER, J. LAWSON

At a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for Prince William County August 6^th 1821.  This last will and testament of JAMES REID decd was presented to the Court and being proved by the oaths of JOHN SPENCE and HECTOR ALEXANDER two of the witnesses thereto is ordered to be recorded.

And at a Court of Quarterly Sessions cont. and held for said County August 9^th 1821 Administration of the Estate of JAMES REID decd with the Will annexed is granted to PEYTON NORVELL who took the oath prescribed by law and entered into and ackd. A bond with security according to law.

Teste, PHIL. D. DAWE

Sunday's Obituary: Joseph B. Reid

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
23 January 1905

Death of Confederate Veteran

Mr. Joseph B. Reid of Brentsville, Va., died at Providence Hospital Friday afternoon.  He was seventy-two years old and was one of the best-known residents of Prince William county.  During the war he served in Company H, 15th Virginia Confederate Cavalry and represented his county in the legislature some time after the close of the war.

Funeral services were conducted at the home of his son, Mr. Henry W. Reid, No. 2 Massachusetts avenue yesterday morning.  The remains will be interred at Manassas.

[Sgt. Joseph B. Reid is buried in the Manassas City Cemetery, Confederate Section.  ~cgl]

Military Monday: 24 Prince William Men to be Inducted

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
December 23, 1942

24 Prince William Men to Be Inducted Monday

Manassas, Va., Dec. 23 -- Twenty-four Prince William County men have been ordered to report to Charlottesville for induction into the Army Monday, the Prince William Selective Service Board announced today.

The group includes:

Lyons, George K.

O'Neil, Glen Garth

Dodson, Harry A.

Cebula, John

Herrick, Paul Steve

Coppage, Eppa C.

Duritza, George W.

Davis, Oliver E. 

Maxfield, Owen D.

Reid, Robert S. 

Purcell, Rue W. 

Shelton, Hunter

Riley, John C. 

Tyson, Woodrow L. 

Shelton, Ernest L. 

Beverley, E. P. Jr.

Jenkins, William

Ennis, Albert L.

Pearson, Walter M.

Reedy, Clifford F. 

Miller, Vivian

Liming, Clinton W.

Smith, Palmer Jr.

May, Clifford H.

Friend of Friends Friday: Solomon Brill on Slavery

Alexandria Gazette
December 5, 1859

A meeting of the citizens of Brentsville, Va., was held on the 28th ult. for the purpose of investigating "the soundness or unsoundness of Mr. Solomon Brill, upon the subject of Slavery," (said meeting having convened at Mr. Brill's request), and upon motion of Mr. J. T. Leachman, Aylett Nicol, esq., was called to the chair, and Mr. R. I. Reid, appointed Secretary.  "Mr. Brill, then and fully and feely stated his opinions on the subject of Slavery, saying that he recognized the right of property in slaves, and that he considered Slavery neither a social, moral nor political evil.  On motion of John T. Williams, Mr. Brill was declared exonerated from all suspicions as to his unsoundness upon the subject of slavery."

[Solomon Brill served as a constable for Prince William County. ~cgl]

Sunday's Obituary: Colonel John Gibson

Daily Union (Washington, DC)
September 25, 1846

DIED, at Fleetwood, Prince William county, on the 21st instant, Col. John Gibson, in the 62d year of hsi age -- one of the best men, and one of the ablest and firmest democrats in Virginia.

Richmond Enquirer
October 10, 1846

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT

At a meeting of the Vestry of Dettingen Parish, Prince William County, held in the town of Brentsville, on the 25th day of September 1846:

Resolved, That in the estimation of this body this community has sustained an irreparable loss in the death of Colonel John Gibson, and this Church the loss of one of its best friends and principal supporters.

Resolved, That we extend our most cordial sympathy to the widow and friends of the deceased in their deep affliction.

Resolved, That in token of our sympathy, and our regard for the deceased, so many years a member of this body, we will wear crape thirty days.

Resolved, That the Secretary of the Vestry be directed to furnish a copy of these resolutions to the family of the deceased, and another to the Richmond Enquirer for publication.

Copy. Teste, J. H. Reid, Secretary

~ ~ ~

TRIBUTE OF RESPECT

In Prince William County Court, October 1, 1846:

The death of Colonel John Gibson, the oldest member of the Bar, and the Attorney for the Commonwealth, having been announced to the Court by John W. Tyler, Esq., it was

Resolved, That the members of the Court, the members of the Bar, the Officers of the Court, and community generally, have received the Intelligence of this afflicting event with feelings of the profoundest regret.

Resolved, That in the death of Colonel John Gibson, the Court has lost the services and counsel of a valuable Officer, the members of the Bar an affectionate friend, and the community a citizen, endeared to them by numberless acts of usefulness and kindness.

Resolved, That we tender to the widow and relatives of the deceased our sincere sympathies in this afflicting bereavement of Providence.

Resolved, That the foregoing be entered on record, and published in the public prints; and that a copy thereof be communicated to the widow of the deceased.

A Copy. Teste, J. Williams, Clerk

Thriller Thursday: Murder of Capitola Butler

Washington Post
February 9, 1899

NO EVIDENCE OF MURDER.

Prince William County Grand Jury Discharges E. B. Reid

Special to the Post.  Manassas, Va., Feb. 8 -- In the County Court, the Grand Jury, after spending two days in hearing evidence, adjourned last night, having failed to find a true bill against E. B. Reid, charged with having murdered his cousin, Mrs. Capitola Butler.

Some time ago Mrs. Butler was found dead in her bed at the home of Mr. Reid, where she was living at the time, her brains having been blown out by a shotgun.  After she was buried her body was taken up and an inquest was held, in which it was discovered that she was in a very delicate situation at the time of her death.

The bitterest feeling had existed for some time between her family and E. B. Reid, growing out of some money transaction, and at the instance of her brother, Reid was arrested on the charge of having murdered Mrs. Butler, and carried before a Magistrate for preliminary trial.  Finding no evidence against him, the Magistrate promptly discharged him.  Mrs. Butler's friends were not satisfied, however, and at the February term of the County Court the matter was brought to the attention of the Grand Jury.  After spending two days in examining the witnesses, they failed to find a true bill.

Mr. Robert H. Campbell, a well-known criminal lawyer of Staunton, was present at the request of the Commonwealth's Attorney, in the interest of Mrs. Butler's friends.