Will: Leonard Brasfield (1817)

LEONARD BRASFIELD Will

Prince William County Will Book L, pg. 45

Dated 22 March 1817; Proved 2 June 1817

In the name of God Amen, I Leonard Brasfield of the county of Prince William being and weak (but of sound mind and disposing memory) calling to mind the uncertainty of human life and having a desire to dispose of all such worldly estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with in the following manner viz:

First, I resign my soul to almighty God who gave it hoping through the merits of christ my blessed redeemer to attain to everlasting joy and felicity: and my body to the earth to be buried in a christian like manner by my executors hereafter mentioned.

Item second, I give and bequeath to my loving wife Nancy Brasfield all my estate both real and personal of all kind whatsoever during her natural life or widowhood and after her death or intermarriage to be divided among my sons and daughters in the following manner Viz:

Item third, I give to my son Leonard Brasfield; and my daughters, Mariah Brasfield, Lucinda Brasfield; Betsy Brasfield and Julia Brasfield; each a horse and saddle worth one hundred dollars; and my sons Thomas and Leonard Brasfield, and my daughters Mariah, Lucinda, Betsy and Julia Brasfield, each a good feather bed, and I give the same to them and their heirs forever.

Item fourth, If either of my daughters Mariah, Lucinda, Betsy, or Julia Brasfield shall remain unmarried at the decease of my loving wife Nancy Brasfield it is my will and desire that in that case that either or all of them shall have the one half of my dwelling house for a home and dwelling untill they may either marry or depart this life, and for the special performance of this fourth Item I lay of a Lott of Land including all my houses which I suppose will be of more value than any of the other lotts when laid off which said lott shall begin at a slooping white oak in the line of Capt. Thomas Newman and corner of the sd. Newman's purchase from the Estate of Matthew Page extendtending thence a long his line purchased from the Estate of said Page twenty yards to the south side of the Intersection of my spring branch with said line, then e in a westerly direction in a right line or Parellel with my back line between myself and Capt. Thomas Newman untill by running a right line with the first to the back line will include all the buildings together with the old garden thence a parellel line with the first to my back line between myself and  apt. Newman then e with sd. back line to the first station; thinking this lott will be of more value than any of the others when laid of it is my will and desire that at the time of a division of my estate that my three sons George, Leonard and Thomas Brasfield shall draw for the said lott and which of either of my three sons shall draw said lott I give the same to him and his heirs forever.

Item fifth, It is my will and desire (that after the lott is laid of including the mantion House) that the ballance of my Land shall be laid off in lotts as nearly equal as possible have regard to quantity and quality wood sec. and that after my sons shall have drawn for the house lott the other two together with my Daughters Nancy Wheeler, Mariah, Lucinda Betsy and Julia Brasfield, shall draw for the seven lotts so laid of beginning with the Eldest and so on to the youngest.

Item sixth, it is my will and desire that my negroes at the decease of my loving wife may be valued and drawn for by my eight children, viz, Geo., Thomas, & Leonard Brasfield, Nancy Wheeler, Mariah, Lucinda, Betsy and Julia Brasfield, so that each may have a chance to get one by paying the difference in value, and I give the same to them and their Heirs forever.

Item seventh, it is my will and desire that all the rest of my Estate of whatsoever kind shall be equally divided among my eight children Viz. Nancy Wheeler, George, Thomas, Leonard, Mariah, Lucinda, Betsy and Julia Brasfield.

Lastly, I hereby constitute and appoint my son in law William Wheeler and my son George Brasfield Executors of this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking all other or former Wills or Testaments by me heretofore made, In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 22nd day of March 1817.

Leonard Brasfield {seal}

Signed, Sealed published and declared as and for the last will and testament of the above named Leo. Brasfield in presence of Wm. Cundiff, Thos. Newman, William J. Newman, Thomas Fortune, Richard Newman

At a Court of Quarterly Sessions held for Prince William County June 2, 1817.

This last will and testament of Leonard Brasfield dec. was presented to the Court and being proved by the oaths of Thomas Newman and Thomas Fortune is admitted to record. And Wm. Wheeler and George Brasfield the Exors. therein named came into Court and made oath to the same according to Law and having taken the oath of Exors. and having performed what is usual in such cases Certificate is granted them for obtaining a probate thereof in due form.

Teste,

Phil. D. Dawe  Ct. Cur.

Deed: Cushing to Trustees of Sudley Methodist Church (cemetery)

Deed:  Cushing to Trustees M. E. Ch. S.
PWCo Deed Book 44, pg. 227

This Deed made and entered into this 28th day of January 1896 by and between Henry C. Cushing and Clara P. Cushing, his wife, parties of the first part, and A. H. Compton, C. F. Brower, Wm. M. Wheeler, F. H Sanders, and A. J. Ayres, Trustees of the Sudley Methodist Episcopal Church South parties of the second part, all of the County of Prince William and State of Virginia; Witnesseth: In consideration of their affection and Christian regard for the Church members and officials of the said Sudley Church and their desire to aid them in the establishment of a cemetery at their place of Worship, the said parties of the first part have given, granted and conveyed, and by these presents do give, grant and convey to the above named Trustees and their successors in office with general warranty, a lot of land adjoining the lot on which the Sudley Church Building now stands, Beginning at A. a cedar tree near the corner of Fetzer and the Church lot, thence with said lot S. 88 E. 18 poles to a stake on the North side of the Sudley and Manassas Road, thence with the said road S. 30 W. 18 poles to a stake on said road, thence N. 86 W. 19 poles to a stake in Mr. Cushing's field, thence N. 4 E 17 poles to the beginning and containing two acres and two poles. 

In Trust that the said land shall be used kept and maintained as a place of burial for the dead, subject to the control of the Methodist Episcopal Church South under the discipline usage and ministerial appointments of said Church from time to time authorized and declared by the General Conference of said church and the annual Conference within whose bounds the said premises are situate.

Witness the following signatures and seals the date first before written.

H. C. Cushing {seal}
Clara P. Cushing {seal}

State of Virginia, Prince William County, to wit:

I, Crawford Cushing a Justice of the Peace in and for the County aforesaid in the State of Virginia do certify that Henry C. Cushing and Clara P. Cushing, his wife, whose names are signed to the deed hereunto annexed bearing date of January 28th 1896 have acknowledged the same before me in my County aforesaid. 

Given under my hand this 10th day of February, 1896.

Crawford Cushing, J.P.

In Prince William County Court, February 12th 1896.

This Deed was presented to the Court with the certificate annexed and ordered to be recorded.

Teste:  Edwin Nelson, Clerk 

Newspaper Tidbit: Manassas News of Social Note to Residents (Thanksgiving)

Evening Star (Washington, DC)
20 November 1938

Manassas, VA., Nov. 19 -- Lt. and Mrs. Roswell Round have arrived from Honolulu, where they have been stationed for several years, and are visiting Mrs. Round's mother, Mrs. A. A. Maloney.

Thursday morning the Bull Run Hunt Club will start at Mr. R. L. Lewis' gate for the Thanksgiving Day chase.  Following the meet, members and their guests will be entertained at a hunt breakfast at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Lewis. Mr. William Wheeler and Mr. Victor Haydon will be joint hosts.

Dr. George B. Cocke and Mr. Charles Miller will leave for Philadelphia Wednesday evening to be on hand for the Army-Navy game.

Miss Mary Fauntleroy Cocke has come from Hollins College in Roanoke to spend the week end with her parents Mr. and Mrs. W. F. Cocke.

Mrs. J. L. Bushong has as her guest Miss Emma Hamner of Baltimore.

Col. and Mrs. B. L. Jacobson will leave early in December for Tampa, Fla., where they will remain until they go to Col. Jacobson's station in Panama.

Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Richards have as their guest Mrs. Ralph Hitchcock of New York.

Mr. and Mrs. Murray Bradshaw will spend Thanksgiving in Roanoke.

Mr. William Trusler is planning to go down to Richmond for the Thanksgiving Day football game.

Dr. and Mrs. D. A. Prescott of Skelton, N.J., will arrive soon to spend several days with Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Sharrett.

Miss Ethel Cadmus will leave Wednesday for Portsmouth, where she will stay over the week end with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Cadmus.

Mr. and Mrs. Stewart McBryde, jr., and Mr. and Mrs. John  Holt Merchant are going to Philadelphia for the Army-Navy game.

Miss Margaret Turner will spend the Thanksgiving holidays at her home in Axton, Va.

Mr. and Mrs. Melvin C. Hazen are spending several days during the hunting season at their country place near Nokesville.

Will: William Brown (son of Sarah) (1818)

Will of William Brown
PWCo Will Book L, pg. 275

In the name of God Amen, I William Brown of the County of Prince William and state of Virginia considering the uncertainty of this mortal life make this my last will and testament in the manner and form following to wit -- First I lend to my affectionate Mother all the property that descended to me by the death of my Brother Robert Brown both real and personal during her natural life after the death of my Mother if either of my Brothers John Brown Richard Brown and Benjamin Brown should be living it is my will and and desire that they shall have an equal proportion of the property I am now possessed of as well as the property that would have descended to me by the death of my Brother Robert Brown at the death of my mother Sarah Brown.  That it may be more clearly understood It is my will and desire that after my Mothers death all the land and negroes and other property that I am or might have been possessed of shall be equally divided among my surviving Brothers to them and their heirs forever. I also will that Brothers John Brown Benjamin Brown & Richard Brown shall give to Sarah Anne Hampton Renoe when she shall Marry or arrive at lawful age a good horse saddle and bridle. I do hereby constitute John Brown my Brother Executor to this my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto affixed my hand and seal this twelvth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen.

William Brown {seal}

Signed sealed and delivered by the above named William Brown to be his last will and testament in the presence of us who have hereunder subscribed our names in presence of the testator.

Robt. Hamilton
Henry Dogan
William Wheeler

At a Court held for Prince William County October the 5th 1818. This last will and testament of William Brown decd was presented to the Court and being proved by the oath of Wm. Wheeler is ordered to be certified.

AT a Court held for said County January the 4th 1819. This said last will and testament of William Brown decd was fully proved by the oath of Robert Hamilton and admitted to record.

Teste.  Phil. D. Dawe ct. cur

Friend of Friends Friday: Jabez Fryer Inventory

Jabez Fryer's Inventory 
Prince William Co. Will Book I
Pg. 57

In Pursuance of an order of Prince William County Court bearing date the 3d day of December 1804 we whose names are hereunto annexed after being first sworn have inventoried and apprais'd the Estate of Jabez Fryer as shewn us by Tapley Fryar admr this 17--- of January 1805

   One Negro Man nam'd Lewis ................ $300


Francis Montgomery
David Lee
William Wheeler


At a Court held for Prince Wm. County July 1st 1805.

This Inventory & appraisement of the Estate of Jabez Fryar dec'd was returned to the Court and ordered to be recorded.

Teste.
J. Williams  Cl. Cur.

Will: Ignatius Mitchell Wheeler

Ignatius Mitchell Wheeler Will
PWCo Will Book I, pg. 429

In the name of God Amen this 20th day of October 1807 I Ignatius Mitchell Wheeler of Prince William County and State of Virginia being very weak and in firm health, tho' thanks be to God of perfect sound mind and memory and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing it is appointed for all men once to die do make and ordain this my last will and testament and first of all I recommend and commit my soul into the hands of the Lord Jesus, and my body to its mother dust knowing most assuredly I shall receive the same again by the mighty power of God, and as touching my worldly estate wherewith I am blessed with in this life I give devise and dispose of the same in the following matter & form.

Item I give and bequeath unto my beloved wife Sarah Chapman Wheeler all my Estate that I possess dureing her natural life, dureing the term of her life if my sd. wife Sarah Chapman Wheeler should be in want of necessaries for her support she may use or put any part thereof to such use or advantage as she may think most proper and after the death of my wife Sarah Chapman Wheeler the estate then remaining in her hands that I gave her dureing her life together with the increase thereof ariseing from my estate to be equally divided between my two sisters (by fathers side) Mary Chapman Wheeler and Harriet Wheeler.  I also make & ordain my wife Sarah Chapman Wheeler my whole and sole executrix of this my last will and testament utterly revoking, disclaiming, disallowing & disanuling all and every other former Wills, Legacies, Bequests, & Executors by me before this time Will'd Named or Bequeathed & ratifying and confirming it to be my last will and testament.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & seal the day and date first within written.

Ignatius Mitchell Wheeler {seal}

Signed Seal'd by the Testator and acknowledged & by him to be his last will and testament in presence of us

Teste
John Thorn
Benson Lynn

The testator also in the presence of us affixes this sequal or caudial to this will saying thus that if eithe rof his two mentioned sisters Mary Chapman or Harriet Wheeler should die before they possess the mentioned estate the Survivor is to have all and if both my sister should die before my wife Sarah Chapman Wheeler then said Estate shall belong & be the rite of my wife Sarah Chapman Wheeler to give devise or dispose of as she may think most proper & in order to confirm this sequal he has also set his hand & seal with acknowledgement the date first written.

Ignatius Mitchell Wheeler {seal}

Teste
John Thorn
Benson Lynn

At a Court held for Prince William County May 1 [?] 1809

This last will and testament of Ignatius Mitchell Wheeler dec'd was presented to the Court and being proved by the Oaths of John Thorn & Benson Lynn was ordered to be recorded.

Teste
Jno. Williams Ct. Cur.

[Margin Note]:  At November Court 1809 Administration with the will annexed of Ignatius M. Wheeler dec'd was granted to Reuben Calvert.   J. Williams Ct. Cur.

Wednesday's Child: Walter Lenox Wheeler

Daily National Intelligencer (Washington, DC)
29 June 1840

DEATHS.

At the residence of Mr. Thos. W. Hughlett, Northumberland county, Virginia, on Thursday morning, the 21st of May, in the 36th year of her age, Mrs. Eliza Henry, consort of Dr. Edward H. Henry, and daughter of John Fitzhugh, Esq. of Prince William County, Va.

On Sunday afternoon, the 28th instant, Walter Lenox, only child of Theodore and Lucy Wheeler, aged 21 months.

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]

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.

Wednesday's Child: Elizabeth Lynn Wheeler

Manassas Journal

December 23, 1921

Death Claims Little Child

Elizabeth Lynn Wheeler, little daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Norville A. Wheeler, died Saturday, December 17, at the age of two years and four months, after an illness of three weeks at the Children's Hospital in Washington.  The interment was made at Sudley.  The community extends its sympathy to the bereaved parents of the little one.

Marriages Notices from Sources Outside PWCo

Philadelphia Inquirer – May 31, 1896 – MARRIED, Cather-Wheeler – on the 20^th inst., at Hazelplain Farm, Prince William county, Va., by Rev. Andrew Cather, Mary Emma Cather to James Davenport Wheeler.

Baltimore Sun – September 28, 1899 – TAYLOR-SPINDLE. Fredericksburg, Va., Sept. 27 – Mr. Robert B. Taylor, of Prince William county, and Mrs. Mary Alice Spindle, of Caroline county, were married here today at the Methodist parsonage, Rev. J. P. Stump officiating.

Baltimore Sun – August 27 1907 – CLINE-KEYS – Fredericksburg, Va., Aug. 26 – Miss Annie Gertrude Keys, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. G. W. Keys, of Prince William county, and Dr. T. C. Cline, of Dumfries, were married at the home of the bride's parents, Rev. A. J. Cummings officiating. The couple left on a bridal tour for the Jamestown Exposition. They will reside at Dumfries.

Baltimore American – April 20, 1911 – Latham-Latimer. [Special to the American] Hyattesville, Md., April 19 – In Pinkney Memorial Church here this evening Miss Laura Edyth Latimer, daughter of the late James Latimer, of Charles county, Md. And Mrs. Mary L. Latimer, of Oaklawn, this place, became the wife of William Carroll Latham, of Hickory Grove, Prince William county, Va. The church was beautifully decorated with flowers. The ceremony was performed by Rev. Henry Thomas, rector of St. Matthew's Parish. The bride was attended by miss Ethel Gwynn of Laurel, Prince Georges county, and the best man was Henry Latham, brother of the bridegroom. The ushers were Dr. Thomas E. and James Latimer, brothers of the bride, and the Messrs. Ish, cousins of the bridegroom. The bride was given away by her brother, Dr. Guy W. Latimer of Hyattsville. Mr. and Mrs. Latham will reside at Hickory Grove, Va., where the bridegroom conducts a large stock farm.

Baltimore Sun – June 10, 1913 – Fredericksburg, Va – The marriage of Russel H. Willis of Roanoke to Miss Bessie B. Brower, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Brower, of Prince William county, will take place Wednesday evening at St. Paul's Episcopal Church at Haymarket, Prince William County.

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