The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1898-11-12

three pages in the large Record Book, and
n9tes OF instructions and suggestions, how
he desired his estate 70 be managed by his
executors cover four PAGES Of the same
record book The record of the will alone
covers fourteen pages OF the same book.
In his schedule of his property he estimated
his wealth to he $4,000. The will is
partly torn lengthwse, and is held in it's
box by two narrow black strips Of tape so
placed as not to interfere with the read.
ing of the one visible page. Washington's
has been said he was an imperfect speller.
Perhaps he had no access to a dictionary
in those days, and if he had, it would mis-
lead him, as any one can see by referring
to any ancient guide for spelling our words.
During our Civil War the cOntending
armies approached very near to Fairfax
Court House, and great fear was felt that
the town would be destroyed. Many Of
the public records were removed. Some
were taken to Warrenton, Va, and others
were taken to Richmond, Va In the haste
of removal it was not known to which Of
these towns the will had been taken, or
in fact il it had been removed at all. A
portion OF the records had been placed in
the custody of Mr.. William A. Jennings,
then the Clerk Of the Court at Warrenton,
who concealed them in the attic OF his
house. The other portion was taken to
Richmond and left with the Clerk of the
Court
On the 9th of June, 1894, wrote to Thos
Moore, Esq, an Attorney at-Law residing
J at Fairfax Court House, and requested that
, he would write the particulars about the
, removal of the will. | here insert an alb
stract from his very satisfactory reply,
dated June 90, 1894: "Washngton's will
(the original in his hand writing) is here
{ on file in the clerks office of our county
, court, where it legally belongs. By orler
OF court it is encased in box with glass
. top to prevent handling. The more recent
, records OF court were, on the commence
III,
Fauquer county, for safe keeping. |
+ being then Deputy Clerk was put charge.
The will was not among them. Subsequent
Z ly Mr.. Alfred Moss, Clerk OF the Court,
: carried the will to Richmond and placed it
in the care of the Secretary Of the Common
, wealth. Mr. Moss having died, was ap.
pointed clerk pro tenn by the presiding
q justice Feeling it to be my duty, | went
& to Richmond to see that the will was safe
: The Secretary assured me it was and offer.
ed to deliver the will to me. declined to
+ withdraw it, go it remained until the sur
q render and after. Our court appointed Mr..
( O. w. HUNT special messenger to make
search for the will, and if found to bring il
/ to our county. This be did. He found
q the will in the secretary's Office among the
scattered papers, having been overlooked
l by the Federal troops. Thus recovered he
: brought it here where it has remained
ever since, publications to the contrary
1 notwithstanding. 1t is look ed upon by all
q visitors as curiosity, and will be in all
! time so regarded "
: | called on Mr.. Moore to thank him in
e person for his kind letter above quoted. |
y was received with genuine Virginia hospi,
tality and courtesy, but was sorry to find
e him indsposed and not able to attend
Il court then in session. On my return home
!, | wrote to his son and received from him a
4 very satsfacty reply to my inquiry, in
which he states: THE Washington will
was removed when the Union Army ap-
preached. 1t was early anticipated that
Fairfax would be much in the thick of the
> fight, and it was thought best to take the
:, most valuable records to the interior. In
the beginning the Confederate Army occu-
pied Fairfax; later the Union Army occu-
pied it, and its subsequent occupancy
changed and the lines of military opera
tions shifted Our Circuit Court in ad.
justing war interest questions has reckoned
: that it was about one-half the time held by
= the Confederate force and one-half the time
by the Federals. The battle of Chantlly
, or Ok Hill was fought about four miles to
the west Of Fairfax There were numerous
1 skirmishes here and in the neighborhood,
e and this was the scene Of some OF the most
= notable of Mosby's exploits"
: received on the 18th of October, 1898,
a letter from Mrs. Lizzie C. Joliffe, sister
!, Of the aforenamed VIM. G. Jennings, and
n / copy from her letter: cat the time the
. records of Fairfax county were removed to
Richmond, my brother, Mr.. William c.
a Jennings, was Clerk Of Court, Fauquier
county, Va. On the way to Richmond
some Of the records were left at the Eau.
\ quier county clerks office in the town oil
!, Warrenton. Fearing these records might
: be taken by the 'Yanks' my brother had
them removed and hid away with Other
/ valuables, such as few boxes of tobacco
and other things. The hiding place was in