Newspaper Tidbit: Trustees' Sale: Samuel Tansill

Alexandria Gazette
15 October 1846

SALE THIS DAY.

TRUSTEES' SALE OF VALUABLE REAL ESTATE, SLAVES, &c. -- By virtue of two deeds of trust, executed to us by Samuel Tansill and wife, and of record in the Clerk's office, of the County Court of Prince William, we shall, on Thursday, the 15th day of October next, in the town of Occoquan, expose to sale to the highest bidder, at public auction, the tract of land mentioned in said deeds, containing about 420 acres, being the same land upon which said Tansill resided, at the time of his death. This tract of land lies about three miles from the town of Occoquan, on the main road leading from Centreville to Occoquan, and about ninteen miles from Alexandria, is in a fine state of cultivation, being considerably improved, well watered, and is considered one of the handsomest and most healthy situations in the neighborhood. The improvements consist of an excellent frame DWELLING HOUSE, nearly new, good kitchen, smoke-house, &c., with all the  necessary out-houses usually on a farm. There is a well of excellent water in the yard. 

Terms: one third of the purchase money to be paid in cash, the balance equally divided into two payments of six and twelve months--the purchaser giving bond with approved personal security, to bear interest from the date--also, a deed of trust on the land. ALSO, at the same time and place, several valuable SLAVES. Terms made known on the day of sale. Selling as trustees, we shall convey such title only to said land as is vested in us by virtue of said deeds, but at the same time the title is believed to be indisputable.

ROBERT WINDSOR
THOS. R. LOVE, Trustees

Prince William County, sept22-eots

Will: Grandison Tansill

Will of Grandison Tansill
PWCo Will Book T, pg. 351
Proved: August 1882

In the name of God Amen; I Grandison S. Tansill of Fauquir, State of Virginia, being perfectly sound in mind and memory, and influenced by no other desire than to do what is just, right and proper; do make this my last Will, and Testament; as followd, to wit. ~~

I do give and bequeath all my effects both real and personal (after paying all my just debts) to my wife Sarah Catharine to dispose of as she may deem fit; and do hereby appoint my wife the said Sarah Catharine the Executrix of this my last will and testament.  Witness my hand and seal this Fifteenth day of January Eighteen Hundred and Sixty Seven.

G. S. Tansill {seal}

Signed and sealed in the presence of 
C. F. Anderson
James Spence

In Prince William County Court August Term 1882

The last will and testament of G. S. Tansill dec.d was this day presented to the Court and the signature thereto fully proven by the oaths of Edmund Burkley and ordered to be recorded.

Teste   L. A. Davis  clk.

Legal Notice: Thomas v. Farrow (1850)

Alexandria Gazette
14 December 1850

MESSRS. George Dye and John Hore, survivors partners of the late firm of George Dye & Co -- Take notice, that on the 13th day of January, 1851, I shall proceed to take the deposition of Daniel Ratcliffe, at his office, in the city of Washington, between sunrise and sunset of that day, and on the 17th day of January, 1851, I shall proceed to take the deposition of Washington H. Norville, at his mill in the County of Prince William, between sunrise and sunset of that day; which depositions are to be read as evidence on the trial of a suit in chancery now depending in the Circuit Court of Prince William County, in which I am plaintiff, and you and Thomas M. Farrow, and Walker P. Conway, administrator of John M. Conway, jr., deceased, and Seymour Lynn, administrator of Samuel Tansill, deceased, are defendants; and the taking of said depositions, will respectively be continued, if necessary, from day to day, till they are both closed. --

Yours, &c.

WILEMAN THOMAS

Prince William county, dec 9 -- law4w

Sunday's Obituary: Virginia Cole Leary

 Richmond Times Dispatch (VA)
7 July 1909

Mrs. Virginia Leary
[Special to the Times-Dispatch]

FREDERICKSBURG, VA., July 6 -- Mrs. Virginia Leary, widow of Dr. W. B. Leary, of Quantico, died suddenly at her home Sunday.  She was a sister of Colonel E. D. Cole and Mrs. W. N. Tansill, of this city.

[Mary Virginia Cole, daughter of Horace Cole and Martha A. Taylor, was born in Prince William County 23 October 1841.  She married Dr. William Barry Leary and is buried with him in the Leary Family Cemetery in PWCo. ~ cgl]

PWCo Item: Letter from Prince William (11 February 1870)

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
11 February 1870 (pg. 2)

LETTER FROM PRINCE WILLIAM
[Correspondence of the Alexandria Gazette]

BRENTSVILLE, Feb. 9 -- The February term of Prince William County Court was held yesterday and day before. There was a pretty general attendance of people.

Judge J. W. Moore delivered an address on the issues of the day. W. C. Balch, esq. and Judge Sinclair also spoke. I heard that after the above gentlemen finished, two Conservative colored men spoke.

The following cases were tried:

Com. vs. Hoor, assault and battery -- verdict not guilty. Clark & Gen. Payne for defendant.

Com. vs. Beender, (colored) petit larceny -- verdict guilty and imprisoned 30 days. Clark for defendant.

William Fuell a colored man, sentenced six months ago to 9 months imprisonment in the county jail, was released.

An effort was made by Round, Commonwealth's Attorney, to get the Court to release Franklin Taylor from jail. He is confined in default of giving $1000 bond to keep the peace. This is a novel move for a Commonwealth's Attorney, especially as Taylor has, it was said, threatened boldly and openly to burn all the property that two gentlemen in the county own, and to kill then too, in less than twelve months. The Court very creditably refused to entertain such a motion.

The two men, Henderson and Nelson who are confined on charge of having entered and robbed the store of Davis & Lynn in this county, made a desperate attempt a few nights ago to break jail by prizing the bars out of the jail window, working through the side which was decayed, and pulling out the bricks with their bands. The noise was heard, however, by W. N. Tansill the jailor, and the progress of it arrested.

Mr. Tansill then ironed them, and Henderson with his naked hands snapped one of the chains entirely in two pieces.

They have since been ironed more securely. Henderson was married on Tuesday -- made arrangements on that day to rob the store -- robbed it on Friday night, and was arrested in a day or two afterwards in the presence of his wife, and a large portion of the goods were found opened on the bed near him. His wife who is of respectable parentage and possess some beauty is, greatly horrified at the conduct of her husband, as I learn.

Candidates for office are thick as "leaves in Vallombrosa." One gentleman last Monday I understand was so full of speech that the chairman of the meeting found great difficulty in inducing him to simmer down and let of steam without going through the process of a general explosion, while another in his great eagerness to speak suffered his coat tails to be nearly torn from his body in spasmodic efforts to bring him to a sitting position.

There will be a general convention held here next Saturday week, the 19th inst., to consider county matters, make nominations &c.

TYRONE.

PWCo Items: 29 August 1874

Alexandria Gazette (Va)
29 August 1874

PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY ITEMS.  [From the Manassas Gazette]

Only last week we published a letter from "our new city" (Potomac) to the effect that it was fast building up, and was going to have a bank, &c., and now we see the hotel keeper, Mr. Brick, advertises to sell out, and heads his advertisement, "being desirous of leaving the country," &c.  This looks bad for "our new city," for its first hotel keeper to leave right in the midst of the season.

The colored man, Henry Johnson, who was arrested last week at Woodbridge Station, on the A. & F. R. R., and lodged in jail, has been released on account of not being the guilty one.  The jailor and sheriff of Pittsylvania after seeing him, stated that he was not the man.

The amendments to the Constitution in regard to changing the townships into Magisterial Districts, will meet with a hearty approval in this community, as the people generally are getting very much out with the township system, believing firmly that it will never work satisfactorily.

We expect the $5,000, which was appropriated by Congress last winter for the deepening of Occoquan creek, to be made use of very soon now, as the dredging machine will commence operations in a short time.

Our young friend, J. Frederick Tansil, son of our townsman, Col. Rob. Tansil, has joined a Government surveying party, and expects to leave for the West some time during the fall.

Major B. B. Douglas and Hon. James B. Sener, candidates for Congress for this District propose to address the people of Prince William at Brentsville, on Monday, September 7th, Court day.

Occoquan has been improved very much this summer, in the way of new buildings, and it still continues.

Occoquan is to be incorporated into a city before long, according to the act of the Legislature.

Military Monday: 45 Years After

Free Lance (Fredericksburg, VA)
17 March 1910

45 YEARS AFTER

Three companies of Mosby's men, under Capt. Baylor, were engaged in a fight in Fairfax, near Reynolds' Cross Roads, two days after Lee's surrender. In this fight were W. B. Lynn, W. N. Tansill, and E. D. Cole.  After the fight was over Messrs. Tansill and Cole were missing and Lynn reported both of them killed or captured.  On Saturday, 45 years afterward, Lynn wrote here and obtained the signatures of Cole and Tansill to his application for a Confederate Pension.

We knew Mr. Tansill was a good sleeper, but we did not know he had ever been reported as gone to his long sleep.

Wednesday's Child: Charles Tansill

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
11 May 1853

Fatal Accident -- Yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock, an accident occurred in the Marine Barracks, by which Charles Tansill, a lad 12 years of age, lost his life.

A loaded gun was left in the quarters of Mr. Luskey, where his son George and young Tansill were. Both being under the impression that the gun was unloaded, Luskey, at the request of Tansill, put a cap upon it and fired it, the ball entered [Charles Tansill]'s mouth and passed through the back of his head near the top, carrying with it a portion of the brain. He died instantly. The verdict of the Coroner's inquest was that Charles Tansill came to his death by the accidental discharge of a gun in the hands of George Luskey. The fathers of the boys belong to the Marine Corps.

[Charles Tansill is buried in Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.  His father was Sargent Grandison S. Tansill, who is buried in Antioch Baptist Church cemetery in Haymarket.]

Sunday's Obituary: Luther Tansill (1856)

Alexandria Gazette
7 January 1856

On the 4th inst., at 6 o'clock LUTHER TANSILL, of the United States Coast Survey, aged 20 years and 5 months, son of the late Samuel Tansill of Prince William co., Va.

Society Saturday: Tournament (1860)

Alexandria Gazette (Alexandria, VA)
28 September 1860

A TOURNAMENT was held last Tuesday in the neighboring county of Prince William at the store of Wm. H. Keys. A large number were present. The successful knights were Jas. S. Cole, who named Miss Julia Tansil Queen of Love and Beauty; S. F. Davis, who named Miss Jennie Carney, First Maid of Honor; Jas. V. Nash, who named (per Montgomery Tansil) Miss Bettie Cockerell, Second Maid; and Maj. Jas. R. Purcell who named Miss Mollie Pridmore, Third Maid. The charge to the Knights was delivered by James E. Williams.

In connection with the tournament a cotillion party was given which passed off very creditably and was continued the next day (Wednesday). Much satisfaction was expressed at the manner in which the host (Mr. Wm. H. Keys) discharged his arduous duties. The occasion was one long to be remembered by all who took part in it.

Friend of Friends Friday: Tansill Promissory Note

Library of Virginia Chancery Collection (Index No. 1858-030)
Culpeper, Va 
Thomas W. Tansill v. Seymour Lynn (1858)

We the undersigned promise & oblige ourselves and our & each of our heirs excr's & admrs to pay or cause to be paid to Elijah Hansbrough or assigns the just & full sum of Twenty Dollars for the services of Maryann the year 1846 to clothe Maryann with good & sufficient summer & winter clothing including a blankett, & in like manner we bond ourselves not to transfer Maryann to any person whatever or suffer her to be carried out of this state without the counsel of her master under the penalty of double her value, but treat her with humanity & return her (if alive) with her winter clothing good on or before the 25th December 1846 with the said wages given under our hand & seals this 1 Jany 1860.

Samuel Tansill {seal}
W. Charles Merchant {seal}

Newspaper Tidbit: Politics: Jackson Corresponding Committee

United States Telegraph (Washington, DC)
22 April 1828

Pursuant to public notice, the Jackson Corresponding Committee for Prince William county (consisting of John W. Tyler, Charles S. Carter, Stuart G. Thornton, Dr. James W. P. Macrae, Major Luke Cannon, Thomas R. Hampton, William Tyler, Major Ashmere, Redmon Foster, William E. Alexander, James G. Bryce, Wm. Cleary, James Foster, Peyton Norvill, Major George Jackson, John S. Fairfax, Wm. B. Tyler, and Geo. W. Macrae) convened at Brentsville on the 7th inst. at the tavern of Thomas R. Hampton.

A majority of the committee being present, John W. Tyler, Esq. in the chair, on motion, Geo. W. Macrae was appointed Secretary, whereupon it was resolved unanimously that that the following persons, freeholders of the county of Prince William, be added to the committee heretofore appointed by the Legislative Convention, to wit:

Stephen French, Joseph R. Lynn, Alexander Foot, Richard B. Tyler, Jas. Fewell, William P. Cundiff, Benj. Johnson, John Fitzhugh, Wm. A. Harrison, Joseph Johnson, Moses Cockrell, Peyton Mills, James G. Watkins, John Hutchinson, James M. Tyler, Thomas Nelson, Jr., George Carney, Benson Lynn, George G. Tyler, Wittoughby W. Tebbs, Samuel Janney, Richard Britt, John W. Williams, Richard B. Scott, Alfred B. Tyler, Travis Davis, John Dogan, Geo. N. B. Renoe, Hezekiah Martin, Samuel H. Fisher, John Tansill, Strother Renoe, John Lee, James Florence, Jno. Graham, John G. Kubleman, Maj. Enoch Grear, and James H. Reid.

On motion, Resolved, that the editors of the Richmond Enquirer, and the United States Telegraph, be requested to publish the proceedings of this Committee.

The Committee then adjourned to meet again at Brentsville, on the 1st Monday in May next.

John W. Tyler, Chairman
Geo. W. Macrea, Sec'ry

The above is a true and correct copy of the proceedings of the Jackson Corresponding Committee for Prince William County, convened at Brentsville on the 7th of April, 1828.

Geo. W. Macrae
Secretary to the Committee
Brentsville, April 12th, 1828

[During the 1828 Presidential election, Andrew Jackson's campaign included hundreds of local Jackon committees and a large network of newspapers. ~cgl]



 

Sunday's Obituary: Tansill

Alexandria Gazette

6 March 1846

At the residence of her father, Rev. J. E. Weems, Summerfield, Prince William County, Va. on the 1st inst, in the 24th year of her age, Mrs. FRANCES ANN, consort of Lieut. Robert Tansill, of the U.S. Marine corps., of pulmonary consumption. During her protracted sickness, the beauties of christianity were made manifest in her patient and cheerful acquiesence under the afflicting rod of Him, who,

"Behind a frowning providence
Doth hide a smiling face.
How blest is our sister bereft
Of all that could burden the mind!
How easy the soul that has left
This wearisome body behind!
Of evil incapable, thou,
Whose relics with envy I see,
No longer in misery now,
No longer a sinner like me."

Alexandria Gazette

20 July 1846

DIED, at his residence in the County of Prince William, Va., on the 30th of June, Mr. SAMUEL TANSILL, in the 39th year of  his age, leaving a wife and four children, to mourn their irreparable loss.

Alexandria Gazette

1 June 1849

DIED, in Dumfries, Va., on Tuesday, the 29th ult., after an illness of five days, Mr. JOHN TANSILL, in his 70th year.

Alexandria Gazette

7 January 1856

On the 4th inst. at 6 o'clock, LUTHER TANSILL of the United States Coast Survey, aged 20 years and 5 months, son of the late Samuel Tansill, of Prince William co., Va., 

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

Thriller Thursday: Family Poisoned by Buttermilk

Richmond Times Dispatch (Richmond, VA)
12 July 1903

FAMILY POISONED BY BUTTERMILK

Fredericksburg, VA, July 11 -- Mrs. W. N. Tansil[l] and two daughters, Misses Lucy and Mattie Tansill, and Mrs. George E, Cole and daughter, Miss Annie Taylor Cole, had a narrow escape from death by poison from drinking buttermilk, which had been brought from the country in a tin vessel, which was exposed to the sun.  Soon after drinking the buttermilk, the ladies became violently sick, physicians were summoned and worked on them for two hours before they were finally relieved from pain.  All of them recovered.

[Anna Louisa Cole, the daughter of Horace Cole and Martha Taylor Cole, was born in Prince William County on 20 October 1850.  She married Wallace Norman Tansill, the son of Samuel Tansil and Theodocia Norman Tansill, on 6 February 1868 in Prince William County.  Many of her original letters from Fredericksburg to and from family in PWCo can be found in the Library of Virginia's Personal Papers collection (Accession #38438). ~cgl]

Friend of Friends Friday: Lease Agreement: Sowden to Tansill

The following document was submitted as supporting evidence in Culpeper County, Virginia in the 1859 chancery case of James A. M. Muschett v. Seymour Lynn (as executor of the Estate of Samuel Tansill).

Sowden to Tansill

Lease of Slave

24 May 1841

We Ann Sowden & John Sowden have this day hired to Samuel Tansill, two negro men (Thomas & Philip) for one hundred and twenty dollars per year, commencing the first day of June Eighteen hundred & forty one and the said Tansill is to clothe them, pay their taxes and treat them with humanity, and pay the 1^st one hundred and twenty dollars as follows, viz, he is to pay thirty dollars on the first day of Sept eighteen hundred & forty one and thirty dollars on the first day of Dec 1841 and thirty dollars on the first day of March eighteen hundred & forty two and thirty dollars on the first day of June eighteen hundred and forty two, and it is further on by the said Ann & John Sowdon that whatever interest may accrue on the bonds, which the said Tansill now holds of ours as assignee of Thos. A. Farrow shall be deducted from the above named hire of one hundred and twenty dollars.  In witness whereof we the parties to the above agreement have hereunto set our hands & affixed our seals this 24^th day of May Eighteen hundred & forty one.

Ann Sowden {seal}

John Sowden {seal}

Samuel Tansill {seal}

I certify that the above contract is a true copy of a contract filed in the case in the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery in Prince William County of Alexander v. Sowden.

Milton Fitzhugh Clk

Of Circuit Court of Pr. Wm. County

Newspaper Tidbit: PWCo Court (1875)

Alexandria Gazette
September 11, 1875

At the September term of the County Court, J. Engle Smith was appointed and qualified by entering into bonds in $500 as overseer of the poor in Brentsville township.

Geo. W. Tansill and C. A. Cannon qualified as deputies of the county treasurer, W. W. Kincheloe.

The grand jury presented an indictment against William D. Lee for felony, charging him with burning the stackyard of Wm. L. B. Wheeler.

Manassas Russell was exempted from State and county capitation tax on account of old age.

Com. vs. Samuel Smith, charged with putting an obstruction on the Midland railroad.  The prisoner, a small negro boy, was prosecuted by the Commonwealth's attorney, assisted by Gen. Eppa Hunton, employed by the railroad company, and defended by Messrs. C. E. Sinclair and E. E. Meredith.  The jury took the case about sundown, but failing to agree, were kept until twelve o'clock Tuesday, when they were discharged, and a new trial ordered at the next term of the court.  It is said the first vote by the jury resulted in eleven for acquittal and one for conviction, and that one, Mr. Perry, held out to the last.

Com. vs. Wm. D. Lee; prisoner arraigned and pleaded not guilty, and one of his counsel, Judge Sinclair, appeared and demurred generally to the indictment, and on his motion the case was continued until next court.

Sunday's Obituary: George William Tansill (1913)

Manassas Democrat
October 30, 1913

GEORGE W. TANSILL CALLED BY DEATH

At His Home Last Thursday
Dies of Hodgkins Disease After Lingering Illness of About Three Months
Is Survived by Wife and Four Children

Mr. George William Tansill died at his home, near Canova, last Thursday evening, October 23, after an illness of about three months of Hodgkins disease.  He was born at Occoquan, March 6, 1884, his father being the late G. W. Tansill, who held the position of sheriff of this County for a number of years.  His mother was Miss Rena E. Lynn, of this county.

After serving six years in the army and receiving an honorable discharge, he was married in 1907, to Miss Georgie Renoe, daughter of the late Major John H. Renoe.

The funeral took place at Woodbine church on Sunday last at 2 p. m., Rev. H. L. Quarles, of this place, conducting very appropriate services, and interment was made in the cemetery nearby, with the Woodmen's Honor, prominent members of four camps taking part in the ceremony.

He was a devoted husband, kind father, true friend, and was always willing to help a sick neighbor or one in need.

Mr. Tansill was one of the charter members of Stonewall Camp, No. 15120, M. W. A., of this place, and was held in high esteem by the members of his camp.  He was also a member of Woodbine Baptist Church, and while a great sufferer, he had the assurance that he would meet friends and loved ones in that upper and better kingdom, where there is no sorrow or weeping but joy and peace forever.

He is survived by his wife, four children, his mother, one sister and two brothers, all of whom deeply mourn his loss.

Friend of Friends Friday: Account of Sale - Samuel Tansill (dec'd)

Account of Sale

Deed Book 19, pg. 218

An account of the sale of personal property of Saml. Tansill decd. advertised to be sold at Occoquan on the 15^th Oct. by Thomas R. Love Trustee and adjirned [sic] to his late residence on the 16^th Oct. 1846 at the request of the administrator Seymour Lynn, the slaves not having been brought to Occoquan.

Property Sold	Purchasers Name	Price
Negro woman Cinthia and two Children	C. E. Norman	400.00
[Negro] Ben old	Jno. W. Davis	236.00
[Negro} woman Lavinia old & infirm	Seymour Lynn	50.00
John small boy	Robert Windsor	180.00
		866.00

T. R. Love, Trustee

16 Oct. 1846

In the Clerk’s Office of Prince William County, October 26, 1846, this account of sales was received and entered of record.

Teste J. Williams C. C.

PUBLIC NOTICE: County Requests Information about Identity of Cemetery

Several weeks ago I was contacted by representatives of the Prince William Public Works and the Coles District Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station regarding a small, abandoned cemetery beside the Fire House.  The County is trying to determine the identity of those who may be buried within the cemetery and, if possible, if there are any living descendants.

Unlike the Lynn Cemetery on the 12th High School construction site, this cemetery was never "lost."  Once upon a time, it even had an engraved tombstone that definitively named one of those buried therein.  The stone read:

To the Memory of

Chas. E. Norman

Was born May 22, 1814

Departed this life

Oct. 8, 1855

Aged 41 yrs, 4 mos, 16 days

Somewhere along the way, the stone was removed and relocated to Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery in Loudoun County -- presumably by a descendant.   The other graves remained behind, marked by simple quartz field stones.  No names.  No dates.  No identities.

Charles Edward Norman, Sr. was a magistrate and a merchant in PWCo.  He married Mary Frances Lynn, the daughter of Benson Lynn.  Yes, that's right -- yet another cemetery with a Lynn connection.  Not too surprising, really.  The Lynn clan owned quite a lot of farmland in Independent Hill in the mid-1800's.  But are those resting in this cemetery Lynn/Norman kin -- or another family altogether?

PUBLIC NOTICE

Prince William Public Works and the Coles District Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station have posted a Notice on the PWCo Government's website seeking the Public's help.  Anyone with information about the identity of the cemetery is asked to contact Matthew Corneliussen (703-792-5296) or Lou Ann Dorrier (703-792-6674).

Following is the full text, with a link to the Prince William County Government website:

There’s an abandoned cemetery near the Coles District Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station with graves that have been left unmarked over time, and the Prince William Public Works Department needs help in identifying who might be buried there.

“First and foremost, what we want to do is identify who’s in the cemetery,” said Matthew Corneliussen, an engineer with the Facilities Construction Management division of the County’s Public Works Department. “We’re just looking to find family members of people who may be buried there.”

From the gravestones that remain at the cemetery, Public Works officials have determined that they are looking for people who might know anything about the Norman or Tinsill families in particular, or anyone who might know something about the graveyard generally. “We’re sort of putting a call out for anybody who knows any information about the cemetery,” Corneliussen said. “Through courthouse records and genealogy records, there’s potential that there may be additional families. That’s why we’re hoping that if anyone knows anything about it, they’ll come forward and share that information with us.”

The little graveyard with 12 to 14 graves isn’t unknown to people, Corneliussen said. The Prince William Historic Commission examined and documented the site about 20 years ago. There are a few headstones and footstones to attest to some of the burial plots, but indentations in the ground indicate that there are also other graves in the cemetery.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Matthew Corneliussen at 703-792-5296 or Lou Ann Dorrier at 703-792-6674.

The cemetery is located near the site where the new Coles District Volunteer Fire and Rescue Station is scheduled to be completed by late 2015.