Sunday's Obituary: Captain William Augustus Weaver

Daily Union (Washington, DC) – September 23, 1846

DIED, Suddenly, at his residence, near Dumfries, Prince William county, Virginia, on the 14^th instant, William A. Weaver, in the fifty-fifth year of his age. The deceased, a native of Dumfries, near which he breathed his last, was prepared for his useful and active life, at Georgetown College, in this District. He entered the navy when quite young, was twice a prisoner during the late war with Great Britain, and was wounded in the action between the Shannon and the Chesapeake, when the latter vessel was captured. After the war, he continued several years in the service, where among other evidences of his merit, he was appointed flag lieutenant to the squadron in the Mediterranean, under the command of Commodore Stewart. After he left the navy, much of his life was devoted to agricultural pursuits, though he was occasionally called from them for other services. In 1832 he was selected by Mr. Livingston to edit the Diplomatic Correspondence of the United States from the treaty of peace in 1783, to the commencement of the present government under the federal constitution, in 1789; and in 1840 he was appointed by Mr. Forsyth, superintendent of the Sixth Census; for the manner in which he executed these trusts, he received from Mr. Livingston and Mr. Forsyth, the fullest approbation.

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Alexandria Gazette – February 25, 1850

MARRIED, At Claverack, Coumbia county, New York on the 14^th instant, by the Rev. Ira C. Boise, Lewis Skinkle, esq., of Peru, Illinois, to Cornelia, daughter of the late Capt. William A. Weaver of Dumfries, Virginia.

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[Captain William Augustus Weaver was born May 17, 1792 and died September 14, 1846.  He was the first "superintending clerk" of the U.S. Census, where he was "responsible for the design of the enumeration schedule, which crammed 80 columns on two-sided questionnaires.  The poor design of the schedules led to enumeration error, including significant instances of healthy free blacks being misclassified as insane."*  Captain Weaver is buried in Bath Springs Cemetery, PWCo.]

*U.S. Census Bureau official website

Friend of Friends Friday: Fairfax to Fairfax Bill of Sale

Prince William County Chancery

LVA Index 1858-001

Adm of Hezekiah Fairfax v Margaret Fairfax, widow

Exhibit A

Deed Gifts – Fairfax to Fairfax

Know all men by these presents that I Hezekiah Fairfax Sr. of the County of Prince William & State of Virginia for and in consideration of the sum of Four thousand dollars to me in hand paid by William Fairfax Jr. of the County and State aforesaid at and before the sealing and delivery of these presents the receipt where of I do hereby acknowledge have bargained sold granted and confirmed and by these presents do bargain sell grant & confirm to the sd. William Fairfax Jr. sundry Negroes to wit Caty, Tholemiah, Jesse, Casander, Fanny, John, Maria, Seyntha and their increase forever; also, Betsy, Hannah, Deliea, Henry, Eliza, Alice, Priscilla, William, Presly and their increase forever. Together with three hundred and fifty acres of land lying in the County & State aforesaid and all household & kitchen furniture & all farming utensils of all descriptions, & all stocks of sheep, cattle viz. To have & to hold to the proper use & behoof of the said William Fairfax Jr. his Executors administrators and assigns forever and I the said Hezekiah Fairfax Sr. for myself & my executors and administrators. The above named negroes & their increase & all descriptions of property mentioned aforesaid to the said William Fairfax Jr. his Executors administrators and assigns against me the said Hezekiah Fairfax my Executors administrators and assigns and against all and any other person & persons whomsoever shall and will warrant & forever defend by these presents. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my seal this 10^th April 1826.

Hezekiah {X his mark} Fairfax {seal}

Sealed and delivered in the presence of

Silas Foster

William Selecman

Samuel H. Fisher

At a Court of quarterly sessions held for Prince William County June 5, 1826. This bill of sale from Hezekiah Fairfax Jr. to William Fairfax Jr. was proved by the oath of William Selecman & ordered to be certified and at a court of quarterly sessions contd. & held for said county June 6, 1826. This said bill of sale was fully proved by the oaths of Samuel H. Fisher & Silas Foster & admitted to record.

Teste. P. D. Dawe

A copy Teste Jn. Williams

July 2013 Events at Prince William Historic Sites

July 6, 2013

July 4, 1776:  Fact or Fiction?

11am - 4pm; $5 per person, free for children under six

What happened on July 4, 1776?  What is fact and what is fiction?  Discover the lore of this national holiday. 

Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA. 703-499-9812

July 13,14,27,28                                                                                

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park Guided Tours                                                     

11am - 3pm, tours leave on the hour, donations accepted                                             

Bristoe Station Battlefield staff and volunteers will provide guided tours of the battlefield. Learn about Camp Jones and the two battles that took place here in 1862 and 1863. Tours begin on the hour and depart from the kiosk in the parking lot on Iron Brigade Unit Avenue. Last tour at 3pm.  Please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes. No pets please. 

Bristoe Station Battlefield Heritage Park, The parking lot is located off of Iron Brigade Unit Ave., Bristow, VA. (703) 366-3049.

July 13, 2013

Nature Trail Walk

1pm; $5 per person, free for children under six

Take a guided tour along the nature trails at Brentsville and learn about the plants and animals that call this part of Virginia home.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

July 20, 2013

Historic Homes of Prince William County – Bus Tour

8am-5pm; $80 per person

Join Historic Preservation Division staff for an exclusive guided tour of public and private homes in Prince William County.  See Bel Air which is rarely open to the public and other private homes; including Pilgrims Rest, Evergreen, Effingham and Rockledge. Enjoy lunch at Rippon Lodge. Lunch and transportation included in price.  Not appropriate for children under eight.  No high heeled shoes please. 

Please call 703-499-9812 to register.   

July 15-19, 2013

American Girl Doll™ Camp  

9am – Noon. $150 per child, ages 8-12

Do you love the American Girl Historical Character Dolls? Come spend a week at Rippon Lodge Historic Site and learn all about your favorite historical dolls and what life was like during the time period they lived. Rippon Lodge is the perfect setting to discover and explore these wonderful characters. Make butter with Felicity, design a corn husk dolls with Kaya, and learn how to be a super sleuth with Kit and Ruthie. Activities will include; crafts, games, history, music, snacks and much more. Registration required.

Rippon Lodge Historic Site, 15520 Blackburn Road, Woodbridge, VA. 703-499-9812

July 15- 19, 2013

Basic Civil War Camp

9am - 12pm; $130 per child, ages 8-13, reservations required

Children will participate in activities designed to develop a better understanding of soldier life during the American Civil War.  Activities include: “Enlist in Virginia’s Army,” “Life in Camp,” “Infantry Drill,” “Did Civil War Soldiers Really Eat that Stuff?,” “Civil War Medicine,” and a field trip to Manassas National Battlefield Park. 

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

July 20-21, 2013

Pringle House Hospital Weekend and Blood Drive                                                                                                              

11a.m. to 4 p.m., $5.00 per person with children 6 and under free.

Join us at Ben Lomond as we commemorate the 152nd anniversary of Ben Lomond being used as a Civil War hospital.  Specialized tours include medical demonstrations provided by living historians, interactions with actors portraying some of the people that were actually here, and inclusion of interactive displays.

In remembrance of Ben Lomond being used as a hospital over 150 years ago, the American Red Cross will be hosting a Blood Drive on the site from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on Saturday 20th.  All who donate blood will receive a complimentary pass to see the house.                                                       

Ben Lomond Historic Site, 10321 Sudley Manor Dr., Manassas, VA 20109; 703-367-7872.

July 27

Victorian Sundays

11a.m., FREE

On Sundays in Victorian America, it would not be hard to find the citizens of cities and towns.  They were worshiping and fellowshipping at the community church.  Join us at Brentsville Courthouse Historic Center’s Union Church for a unique program that focuses on 19^th Century worship practices and church centered activities.  The program is conducted by Historic Faith Ministries, a volunteer community group.  Services will be held every 4^th Sunday at 11:00 a.m. May through October at the Union Church.

Brentsville Courthouse Historic Centre 12229 Bristow Rd., Bristow, VA. 703-365-7895

For More Information About Prince William County Historic Preservation

www.pwcgov.org/historicpreservation or histotricpreservation@pwcgov.org

Wordless Wednesday: Bull Run battlefield

(Source:  Library of Virginia Special Collections Stereograph Collection; Soldiers' graves, Bull Run battlefield, Va. negative by Brady & Co., Washington)

Sunday's Obituary: Col. Duval Payne

Spectator (New York, NY) – August 3, 1830

On the 21^st ult. At his residence in Mason county, Ky. Col. Duval Payne, in the 67^th year of his age. His father was Mr. William Payne, a very respectable, high minded, and honorable gentleman, of Fairfax Co., Va.; the same who (as related by Ramsey, in his life of Washington) once, on a sudden quarrel in the Court House yard, in Alexandria, struck General (then Colonel) Washington to the ground. The subject of this memoir was a patriot from his youth: At 17 years of age he shouldered his musket in defence of his country, and served a tour of duty as a volunteer soldier; yet he never claimed to be considered a 'Hero' of the Revolution, notwithstanding he might have done so, with more justice than some who have, and who have had it awarded them by the parasites. Shortly after the close of the revolutionary war, in [17]'85, he married a daughter of Maj. Hugh Brent, of Prince William county, Virginia; and in '89, having removed with his family to the wilds of Kentucky, he settled on a farm in the neighborhood of Lexington. In '91 General Charles Scott, being authorized by the Government, marched with an army of Kentucky volunteers, for the purpose of chastising the Indians on the Wabash. Col. Payne was one of those gallant spirits who, attached to McKoy's troop of cavalry, under Col. Harden, rendered such important service on the 1^st of June, at Ouiattonou. During the late war, though in his 50^th year, he again buckled on his sword, accepted the command of a battalion in the regiment of mounted men, commanded by Col. Richard M. Johnson, and in person led the column which charged the British lines at the Moravian towns, in Upper Canada, on the memorable 5^th of October, 1813. This charge was conceived by the genius of Harrison, and executed with promptness and impetuosity which British discipline itself could not resist. In 1804 he was chosen one of the Electors who made choice of Mr. Jefferson as President of the United States, for the second term. In this capacity has he served at every election of President since that time, except the last. When Gen. Jackson was chosen, Col. Payne was on the Adams ticket.

[Col. Duval Payne and his wife, Hanna (Brent) Payne are buried in the family cemetery in Augusta, Bracken County, Kentucky.]

Friend of Friends Friday: Jesse Bates and John Douglas

Alexandria Gazette – November 19, 1839

On Friday last, about 4 o'clock in the afternoon, as two colored boatmen, the one a free man named Jesse Bates, the other a slave named John Douglas, belonging to Mrs. Cannon, of Prince William county, Virginia, were quarreling on the south bank of the Washington Canal, near Messrs King and Hill's wood yard, Bates, the free man, seized a gun, which was loaded with shot, and discharged its contents into the right leg of Douglas.  The entire load of the gun lodged a little below the knee, in the leg of the unfortunate man, shattering the bone and mangling the flesh in a shocking manner.  On examining the wound it was ascertained by Dr. Lindsly and Dr. Hall that immediate amputation was necessary; and the poor fellow's leg was taken off by Dr. Lindsly, attended by Drs. Hall and Dawes; in a short time after the negro was removed to a convenient house in the neighborhood.  In the mean time, Bates has been arrested and taken before Justice Mosell, who, after examining such witnesses as appeared at his office, committed the prisoner to the county jail.

From the examining magistrate we learn that it appeared, by the testimony, that the wounded man was the assailant, and that when Bates fired at him, the former was going at him with a billet of wood for the purpose of striking him.

Since writing the foregoing notice, we learn that the unfortunate negro died about 11 o'clock, on Friday night, in six hours after his leg was amputated.  It appeared from the testimony of Dr. Dawes, who was examined before the Coroner's inquest, held on the following day, that about two hours after the operation the poor man appeared to be doing well; but, in three hours afterwards he became restless, and gradually sunk until 11 o'clock, when he died.  – Nat. Int.

Sunday's Obituary: Miss Clara Clarke

Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, MD) – August 27, 1905

WOMAN KILLED BY BULL. Miss Clara Clarke, of Prince William County, the Victim.

[Special Dispatch to the Baltimore Sun.] Fredericksburg, Va., Aug. 26 – Miss Clara Clarke, of Prince William county, was killed by an infuriated bull on her brother's farm a few days ago. Miss Clarke had driven the animal from a point near the house, where he had intruded from a nearby pasture. While fixing up the broken place in the fence she was suddenly attacked by the bull without warning. Her cries brought a colored woman, who drive off the animal, but Miss Clarke was so badly injured that she died in a few minutes.

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[Clara Clarke was born 15 February 1848 and died 19 August 1905, the daughter of Thomas and Mary M. Clarke. She is buried with her parents in Greenwood Presbyterian Cemetery, Dale City, PWCo.]