Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-02-02
OLD CITY RECORDS.
Some Interesting Extracts from Inc
Books Of the Common Hall.
4 LETTER FROM WASHINGTON.
The Councils Address to Him nm"
His Graceful Reply Thereto
sbocLoe Cemetery and Wei-
xpovu People Buried Therein.

The books of the Common Hall OF
Richmond are the earliest written re-
cords of its existence az body cor
oorate. save those Of the Hastings court
nerhaps In the summer or I'M inc
General Assembly passed an act "incor-
noratiug the town OF Richmond IL
included the usual provisions FOR the
election of a mayor recorder, and aider-
men. The voters In those days con-
sisted Of the "free-holde.s, housekeep-
ers, inhabitants. and other persons quail
fed as the said act directs to vote
for the same" William Foushee. as
has been stated. was the first Mayor
elected. After this meetings OF the COM
mon Hall" were held by appointment
Of the Mayor The index OF Volume
No. ]. OF the Common Hall Records shows
proceedings such as would be expected
OF such a body, and also an order Tor
the purchase of two muskets, at the
expense Of the city. to replace two lost
by the militia patrol while in the service
OF the city; butcher restrained from
committing certain malpractlces the APP
IointueHl OF a puJiiS RbtAh'A AOh NHN
city; preparations for building a stone
bridge over Shockoe creek. on Main
street. I'm the expenses OF which
Henrico was asked TO share; au-
thority TO blow up rocks In the
river, given Philip Turpin; Fellow
ship Trio Company organized; address
to Major-General Nathaniel Greene; pitch
OF first story of Main-street honses
ordered: Harry Heth appointed Collec-
tor Of the city: Society of Freemasons
requested to appoint a committee 10 call
on delinquent subscribers to the lottery
to build Masons Hall. on Franklin street;
reward offered for miscreants who de-
stroyed bridge "lanthorns'; publications
to be made as inducements for me
chanicks" to settle I'm the city; rule
adopted requiring at meetings OF the
hall the presence OF the City Sergeant
or one Of his deputies. and orc constable
besides the clerk; subscribers authorized
to improve the navigation Of Shockoe
creek; tax on plays performed TO be col
lected; night watch to be extended to
Rockets on certain conditions, etc.
50:
On the 18th day of August. i7SS, I'm Com
mon Hall ii was, Ordered that a suit
be commenced i'm the High Court OF
Chancery against May Bird. widow. and
executrix OF the Hon. William Byrd, Esq,
deceased. and John Byrd, heir-at-law OF
the said decedent, IN the name OF the
Mayor, Recorder. aldermen, etc, OF the
city, 20 perpetuate the testimony OF seve-
raj witnesses I'm order 10 establish the
rights Of the corporation to certain lands
within the limbs Of the said city-and
that Edmund Randolph. Esq, be engaged
as counsel to prosecute the same.
Edmund Randolph was first Attorney
| General Of the United States, Grand-AIas-
/ Ter of Virginia Masons, and once Cover
nor Of the Commonwealth OF Virginia
ON the 25d Of April. 1873. his TX
| cellency the Governor presumably
/ Patrick Henry sent to the Mayor and
Common Hall IAN official receipt OF
! proclamation from Congress for cessa-
ton of arms, and also a proclamation OF
his own. and requesting Mr.. Mayor 10
/ have the same published in this city"
| Publishing the above there being no
| newspapers IN those days was done as
| follows "Whereupon IL Is ordered that
the Sergeant of the city a. the hour of
| 10 o'clock tomorrow morning. to give
public notice by a beat OF the drum
through the city. that proclamation for
a cessation Of hostilities will be pro-
claimed at ~ i'm the most public place
OF the city-eo. wit, at the courthouse,
| Market Square. and at the foot OF
Shockoe Hill-that the Sergeant, in pro-
claiming the same, be mounted on horse
| back, and that the constables OF the city,
with slaves. do attend him on foot, TO
preserve order and decorum."
On the 10th of July. 1874, "Mr. Ryan
having applied for permission TO present
piece for the benefit Of the city: Or
dcred that Il be signifed to Mr. Ryan
upon his particular desire, that he hath
| ma Of Hall IA
theatrical piece, or pieces. for the benefit
Of the city: and that Mr. Boyd be ap-
pointed to receive the amount OF such
benefit and make report thereof to the
next Hall.
Volume No. . Of Common Hall records
begins January 1888 I'm that or the sue
ceeding year FIRE apparatus was sub
scribed for by the citizens, and plat
recorded OF Market Square. The account
or plat does not say where Market Square
was located About this time Samuel
Eye was appointed Assessor OF City Taxes.
In 1893 the Hall being notified that the
city OF Philadelphia, the Grenades, and
the Island OF Tobago we're infected with
the plague or other infectious disease,
took measures to prevent ''the said dis
orders from reaching this place"
Some OF the ordinances passed in lsJ2
Mayor. and Adam Craig, c. c. II. Mr..
Richardson was first captain OF the Blues
and Mayor OF the city for a number OF
years The third book OF COmmon-Hall
records begins October 90 1906, when the
name OF Common Council had superseded
the initial designation. The seal Of the
city was regularly affixed 10 the pro-
ceedings OF every recorded meeting. At
this time Nathaniel Sheppard was Clerk
and George William Smith president. The
latter was Governor OF the State in 1911
and was burned up in the great theatre
fire in December OF that year. The sea-
OF the city consisted in 1906 OF a female
figure and the inscription was. Hoe esl
S.gno."
AT meeting Of the Common Hal, heic
November u, 1854. an address to "Georg'
Washington, Esq, late commander OF tn'
American army was read, adopted, anS
placed on record. 1t was duly Forwarded
90 him. His answer. II any. does nor ap
pear on the 26th OF March, 1871, sever
years afterwards, the Common Hall sen
another address TO the Father OF III
! Country, having learned that he wa
"jOurneyng southwark" Here IL Is Uh
first time in PRINT. with his answer.
THE Address OF the Corporation OF IN
City Of Richmond 10 George WASH
ing,on. Esq, President OF the Unite
States:
"Sir,-If I'm you the Mayor. aldermen
and commonalty Of Richmond. behoI
only the Chief Magistrate Of the Unite
States of America. they would, indeed
feel all that respect which IL due
the ruler or free people: but VINE
they contemplate those virtues which hay
excited the universal appreciation OF you
own country and the admiration OF a