The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1898-01-04
LORD FAIRFAx's STRONG BOX.
The Story OF an Interesting Relic of the
Early Days of Virginia

The Story OF an Interesting Relic of the
Early Days of Virginia.
In one Of the apartments Of the Hotel
Raleigh, now occupied by Mr.. Philip
w. Avirett, is a remarkable relic, which
has history of great interest. 1t is
nothing more or less than the iron
strong box Of Thomas, Lord Fairfax,
first lord proprietary Of Virginia. The
box or chest is made or heavy wrought
iron, into which have been welded iron
straps crossing each other at right an
giles. The slight ornamentation on the
front Of the box shows 1t to be Of Ital-
ian workmanship. The box is in a
state Of remarkable preservation. The
keyhole 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 bolts out from all
sides Of the lid to cling beneath 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 to-day 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 it was
that he had filled it with money COLI
lected by him in the shape of revenues
for the crown, but he died before he
had an opportunity to take it up and
enjoy the treasure The only person
who knew about the burial of the box
was DR.. Thomas Woodcock of Win
chester After the death of Lord Fair
fax, DR.. Woodcock dug it up and took
1t to Philadelphia, where he gave it to
the agents of the Bank of England,
who sent 1T 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 Eng
land.
The Fairfax heirs sent it back to DR..
Woodcock filled with silver plate, and
the strong box eventually passed from
DR.. 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 it should
then descend to Mrs. Williams heirs,
among whom was Mrs. Avirett, wife Of
the Rev. James 3. Avirett, formerly Of
Silver Springs and now Of North Caro-
lima.
During the late war the chest was
again buried by those who had it in
possession at Winchester, and a large
quantity of valuable silver plate was
placed in 1t in order to protect 1t from
possible seizure by the soldiers. Sew
eral years ago the box was dug up
again, it's whereabouts having been dis
covered through information received
from former slave named Granderson,
who had helped to bury it, but who
preserved the secret of its location until
he found death was near, when he di-
vulged it to the proper party. The heirs
of Mrs. Philip Williams gave the strong
box to Mr.. Philip Williams Avirett, who
now has it in his possession.
Among the treasures which were con-
tanned 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 Rem
brandt Peale. The miniature is incased
in a quaint oval silver locket, and is
also in the possession of Mr.. Avirett.
Authorities on such matters have ex-
pressed the opinion that the miniature
is as fine a specimen of Peale's marvel
lous art in miniature portrait painting
as there is eXtant.-Washingto n Eve
ming Star.