Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1898-06-02
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FAIRFAx's STRONG BOX.
The story OF an Interesting Relic Of the
Early Days of Virginia.

The story hn interesting kellc Oh tue
Early Days of Virginia.
In one of the apartments Of the Ho-
tel Raleigh, now occupied by Mr.. Philip
w. Avirett, is a remarkable relic,
which has history Of great interest
It 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 of 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 it to be- of Ital-
ian workmanship. The box is in 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 turn
ing 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
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, Greenway Court,
near Winchester, Va, where he died.
The reason that Fairfax buried it was
that he had filled it with money collect
ed 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 Winchester After
the death of Lord Fairfax, DIR. Wood
cock dug it up and took it to Philadel-
phia, where he gave it to the agents Of
the Bank of England, who sent it 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 filled with silver plate, and
the strong box eventually passed from
DIR. 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 b. 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 III
possession at Winchester, and large
quantity of valuable silver plate was
placed in it in order TO protect it from
possible seizure by the soldiers. Several
years ago the box was dug up again, its
whereabouts having been discovered
through information received from "a
former slave named Granderson, who
had helped to bury it, but who preserv-
ed the secret of its location until he
found death was near, when be divulged
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 Oh such matters have ex-
pressed the opinion that the miniature
is as fine a specimen of Peales marvel
Gus art in miniature portrait painting
as there is extant. Washington Star.