The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-02-14
RELIC OF LORD FAIRFAX.
The Romantic History of an Ancient
Strong Box.
Washington Star.


In one of the apartments of the Hotel
Raleigh now occupied by Philip w. Avirett,
Is remarkable relic, which has a 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 of heavy wrought
iron, into which have been welded iron
straps crossing each other at right angles.
The slight ornanentation on the front of
the box shows it to be of Italian work
manship. The box is in state of remarka-
bic preservation. The keyhole is in the CEN
ter of the massive lid, and a largo 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 it
self, upon precisely the same principle as
that upon which the modern bank vault
lock in universal use to-day is managed.
ME history of the relic is romantic. The
strong box was buried by Lord Fairfax at
his home, Greenaway Court, near Winches-
ter, Va, where he died. The reason that
Fairfax buried 1t was that he had filed it
with money collected by him in the shape
of revenues for the crown, but he died be-
Iore re had an OPPORTUNITY TO take II up ana
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, DR.. Woodcock
dug it up and took it to Philadelphia, where
he gave 1t to the agents of the Bank of
England. who sent it to England. still filled
the contents had been removed the box was
given to the Fairfax heirs in England.
Tne Fairfax heirs sent 1t back to Dr.
Woodcock filled with silver plate, and the
strong box eventually passed from DR..
Woodcock to Mrs. Hannah Dunbar, of Win
chester. At Mrs. Dunbar'S death she Willed
the box to her daughter Mrs Philip Will
liams of Virginia, during her lifetime, and
Cvided that it should then descend to Mrs.
Wiliams'S heirs, among whom was Mrs.
Avirett, wife of Rev. James E. Avirett,
formerly of Silver Springs, and now of
North Carolina.
During the late war the chest was again
buried by those who had it in possession at
Winchester. and large quantity of valu-
able silver plate was placed in 1t in order
to protect it from possible seizure by the
soldiers. Several years ago the box was dug
up again, its whereabouts having been dis
covered through information received from
a former slave named Granderson, who had
helped to bury it, but who preserved the Sc
cret of its location until he found death
party. The heirs of Mrs. Philip Williams
gave the strong box to 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 miniature
portrait Of the late Philip Williams painted
on ivory by Rembrandt Peale. The minia-
ture Is incased in a quaint oval silver lock-
ct and is also in the possession of Mr.. Avn
rett Authorities on such matters have ex-
pressed the opinion that the miniature is as
fine specimen OF Peales marvellous art in
miniature portrait painting as there is ex-
tant