Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1898-10-06
LORD FAIRFAX's STRONG BOX.
Romantic History of a Remarkable
Relic.

In one of the apartments of the Ho-
tel Raleigh, now occupied by Philip
w Ayirett, Is remarkable relic,
which has a history OF great interest.
Ii is nothing more or less than the
iron strong box of Thomas, Lord
Fairfax, first lord proprietary of Vlr-
ginia. The box or chest Is made Of
heavy wrought iron, into which have
been welded iron straps crossing each
other at right angles The slight
ornamentation on the front OF the
box shows 1t to be of Italian work
manship The box is in a state of
remarkable preservation. The key
hole is in the center OF the massive
lid, and large heavy key, black with
age, turns easily in It, A wonderful
thing about the lock is that the key
In turning sends sliding boits out
from all sides of the lid to cling be-
meath heavy extensions of the four
sides Of the box itself, upon precisely
the same principle as that upon
which the modern bank vault lock in
universal use today is managed.
The history of the relic is romantic.
The strong box was buried by Lord
Fairfax at his home, Greenaway
court, near Winchester Va, where he
died The reason that Fairfax buried
il was that he had filed IL with
money collected by him in the shape
Of revenues for the crown, but he
died before he had an opportunity to
take 1t up and enjoy the treasure. The
only person who knew about the
burial OF the box was Or. Thomas
Woodcock of Winchester After the
death of Lord Fairfax, Dr. Wood
cock dug 1t up and took it to Phila-
delphia, where he gave it to the
agents of the bank of England, who
sent II to England, still filled with
money and muniments OF title. When
the contents had been removed the
box was given to the Fairfax heirs in
England.
The Fairfax heirs sent it back to
DR.. Woodcock filed with silver plate
and the strong box eventually passed
from Or. Woodcock to Mrs. Hannah
Dunbar Of Winchester. AT Mrs.
Dunbar's death she willed the box to
her daughter, Mrs. Philip Williams of
Virginia, during her lifetime. and
provided that ii should then descend
to Mrs Willilms's heirs, among
whom was Mrs. Ayirett, wife of Rev.
James b. Avirett, formerly of Silver
Springs and now of North Carolina.
During the late war the chest was
again buried by those who had 1t
in possession at Winchester and
large quantity OF valuable silver
plate was placed in 1t in order to pro-
teet it from possible seizure by the
soldiers. Several years ago the box
was dug up again, its whereabouts
having been discovered through in
formation received from former
slave named Granderson, who had
helped to bury 1t, but who preserved
the secret OF its location until he
found dead was near. when he d.
yulged II 70 the proper party The
heirs Of Mrs Philip Williams gave
the strong box TO Philip Williams
Aylrett, who now has Il in his pos
session.
Among the treasures which were
contained In the strong box at the
time it was buried during the late
war was a miniature portrait Of the
late Philip Williams, painted on
ivory by Rembrandt Peal. The min
iature il incased In quaint oval
silver locket, and is also in the pos
session Of Mr. Ayirett. Authorities
on such matters have expressed the
I opinion that the miniature Is as fine
a specimen OF Peale's marvellous art
there IS Washington Even
I ing star