Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-05
wAsHINGTON's NEIGHBORs.
Virginia Freeholders and Their Election
Franchise Before the Revolution.
HISTORIC NAMES N FAIRFAX couyTT-DEscEyD-
ANTS LIVING N THE SAME LOCALITY -QUALI-
FIcArIoSs OF vorERs-How AND By WHOM THE
PRIVILEGE OF VOTING WAS EXERCISED.

FIcArToSs OF vorERs-How AND By WHOM TIE
PRIVILEGE OF VOTING WAS EXERCISED.
The following list Of the freemen Of Fairfax
county, Virginia, who in 174S assembled at the
courthouse and there voted for two candidates
for the house OF burgesses, according to the
then existing Law, has been preserved among
:he miscellaneous papers of General Washing
ton This list has special interest to the histo-
rian as IT preserves the names Of the neighbors
and freemen among whom Washington, from
the age Of fifteen, had his home. 1t is COM
piled from documents in the possession Of DIR.
J. VI. Toner. who is engaged in editing the
diaries Of Washington.
At the poll taken in 174S Major Lawrence
Washington half brother of George and the
owner of Mount Vernon, was chosen q burgess.
Five candidates were in the field. Their names,
with the number OF votes each received, were as
follow: Major Lawrence Washington, 1888 (w.)
Capt. Richard Osborn. 1873 (O.); Col ColYil.
los CO.; George Mason, 80 on }; and Hugh
West. &c Cwe.) TO this early record is APP
pended two other lists Of the freemen Of Fair
fax county when George Washington was in the
yigor OF manhood and himself a candidate and
elected 10 the house of burgesses. One of these
is for the year 1765 and the other for 1853. II
will. however, be remembered that General
Washington was first elected to the house of
burgesses from Frederick county. Virginia. in
1853. where he owned and cultivated several
large plantations and was, therefore, eligible TO
vote there and to hold Office. From 175s to
the opening of the Revolution Washington
was continuously a member of the assembly.
These appended lists of the freemen of
Fairfax county are deemed important as
showing the names Of Washingtons
neighbors at the period just antedating the
opening of the Revolution. 1t is true these
election returns do not show with certainty the
actual residence of the voting freeholders.
The law required the voter to be freeholder
in the county in which he voted. but did not
restrict it to freeholders residing in the
county. This list affords example of the
persistency Of families and their descendants to
remain in particular locality. An inquiry de-
velops the fact that in Fairfax county more than
one-half of all the freemen voting in l14o have
descendants still living in that county.
The town Of Alexandria was organized in
1149 by an act passed the year before. Law
renee Washington and Richard Osborne were
named members OF the first board of
trustees Colchester was founded the same
year.
The names in each Of these lists are arranged
in alphabetical order. with letters affixed indi-
eating the candidates for whom each freeman
voted There were but few elective Offices in
Virginia in those days, the burgesses and church
vardens being the chief ones.
QUALIFICATIONS OF VOTERS.
At the close Of the first century of our ma
tional independence and Of constitutional gov
eminent. when nearly all Offices are elective,
with Us the laws and regulations then in force
amoEg the people seem odd. 1t NAV not be I'M
interesting here 10 refer to a few of the more
striking features OF the colonial laws providing
for the choice of burgesses and the qualifications
of freemen or voters. The "acts of assembly
of Virginia provide that the freeholders of
every county QUALIFIED as in section 32) shall
have the privilege of electing two of the most
lit and able men of their county and the free
holders OF James City: one burgess TO be pres
ent and to act and vote in any general assem-
bly," The freeman Of those times was ex-
pScted TO exercise his privilege of voting. in
deed il would seem from section Ill of the law
that u WAS not only duty expected, but an OBJ
hgatiOn to be enforced under a penalty for
neglect. The section is III these words: Every
freebooter actually resident In each county.
shall appear and vote at such election, or for
felt two hundred pounds of tobacco to the in
former. TO be recovered a. IN section !" The
qualification of voters. too. was specific. and
for any Infractions of the law heavy fines and
penalties were provided The privilege was
attached to or contingent upon the owning of
real estate. aud Is thus stated in section So No
person shall vote at any election OF burgesses
for any county who hath not estate of free
hold. or other greater estate, in one hundred
acres Of land. at least, If no settlement be made
upon II. OF twenty-five acres with house and
plantation. IN has possession or the posses
county where he votes. Section Xxxv some
what enlaTges or extends the definition Of free
holders by extending u TO owners of houses and
lots in towns as follows; ANY person being a
freebooter IN any house and lot, or a house
and a part of a lot. Ia city OF town. laid ont
ami established by act Of assembly. may vote
az such elections. but where the interest therein
shall be divided among several persons but one
single voice shall be admitted tor one and the
SAME house and lot" The following persons
.Igra 4 frf.v
sole, feme covert, infant. or recusaHt convict,
shall have liberty to vote and section Xxx is
a. follows: No free negro, mulattO Indian
whatsoever. snail have any vote at the election
Of burgesSes, or any other election whatso-
ever"
THE LAW FOR IRE ELECTION OF BURGEssEs
imposed duty upon the church. or its min
listers. Of giving publicity to approaching cleo
tions i'll the following language: Every sheriff
within three days after receipt (of the writ of
election from the governor) shall cause fair
copy thereof TO be delivered to every minister
anu reader Of the several parishes IN his county
with the time and place by him appointed for
the election endorsed thereon. which shall al
WAYS be at the county courthouse. and twenty
DAYS at least after the receipt Of the writ
After receipt Of such copy and endorsement
the minister or reader snail publish the same
after divine service in his church or chapel
every sunday between such receipt and the
Gay Ol election.
FREE BALLOT.
To the end Of securing a true poll and the
unlnt1enced preference OF the freeholders for
the candidate Of their choice, provision was
made IN the law TO punish any tampering with
or influencing OF voters. Section XIV. on this
point II: Any person who shall after the teste,
or issuing out Of any writ of election by him.
self. OF by any other ways means on his be-
half, or at his charges, before his election for
any county, town, OF corporation, directly or
indirectly, give, present, or allow to any per-
son or persons, having vote in such election.
any money, meat, drink, entertainment PROV.
slOus. present. gift, or reward; or make any
promise. agreement. obligation. or engage
meut TOR the same, to or for the use, advantage
benefit. employment, profit or preferment OF
any such person or persons, county, town. or
corporation, IN Ordar TO be elected, shall be
disabled and incapacltated upon such election
90 serve III the assembly. for such county town
or corporation. 10 all intents and purposes a.
u he had never been returned or elected a mem
Der Of the same"
The RETURNS.
A method WAS contemplated. and no doub'
Occasionally practiced, TO determined the result
OF the poll by the sherifrs counting the adher
snts Of the several candidates and declaring the
result The section of the law permitting thi.
course Is a. follows: If any election cannot bt
determined by the view, by the consent of the
frevholders. the sheriff, or in his absence the
under sheriff shall take the poll. in the manner