Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-12-15
SKETCHES OF .WASHINGTON'S
PAILBEARERS.

Alex ,ndra in 1856. He was son Of
William Ramsay, who came from Gal
loway, Scotland, and settled in Belle
Haven, and was one of the organizers
aud first trustees OF the town of Alex
andIia. Mr.. Ramsay served all through.
out the revolutionary war, with distinc-
ton, rising from the rank of captain
which he held at his entrance into the
army to that of colonel. He married
Miss Jane Taylor daughter of Jessie
Taylor, a merchant Of Belfast, ireland,
who emigrated to America during the
revolution in o vefsel owned by himself
and landed at Williams Nurg, Virginis,
in 1888, and from thence came in the
same year to Alexandra. MIR. Ramsay
and his wife were the parents of
niue children. Col Ramsay WIS mem
ber of Alexandris-W Washington Lodge
of Masons, joining the Lodge, in 1888,
and was a most JEALOUS member OF the
order, serving for over twenty years as
a me N Der and an officer of the A exam
dIia Lodge. Col. Ramsay died in Alex
aLdria on September 10, 1910, at the
age Of fifty four. One Of his sons, VIII
liam, served rs an officer in the Alex
andria Blues, in the war Of 1872. Rob
ert T., another son, was an Alexandra
merchant for many years and was one
OF the Masons present at the Masonic
banquet given to Lafayette at his visit
to this city in 1925.
Col Charles Little, one of the pail
bearers at the funeral OF Gen. Washing
ton, came OF Scotch stock and served as
an officer in the revolution with the Vir'
giuia Continental troops. In 1894,
when the whisky insurrectiop," as il
is called in history, broke out in west.
ern Pennsylvania, and all peacesble
means of forcing the people of that sec
tion to obey the law imposing duties on
domestic distilled liquor had failed,
President Washington ordered troops
from Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylva-
MIA and New Jersey to suppress the in
surrection which had arisen against au-
thority. Col. Little commanded in one
of the compani, from Fairfax county.
At the last public celebration of the
Fourth OF July at which Washington
was ever present, which took place 10
Alexandria in 1898, when the great
chief reviewed the Alexandria militis,
Col. Little acted as his aide, reviewing
the troops on King street, after which
the soldiers attended service at Christ
Church. Alexandria at this time boast
ed a company of artillery, COM
manded by Captain William Hay-
per, company of cavalry, commanded
by Capt. Robert Young, afterwards
General Young of the war of 1872, ard
a company OF infantry, commanded by
Capt. George Dsneale. General Was
ington again reviewed the troops, on
this occasion, after the anniversary
dinner which be attended at Spring
Garden out:ide Of the town. compli'
menting very highly their military ap'
pearance. Colonel Little survived MS
chief fourteen years, living until 1873,
when he died at his residence OF "Den-
beigh,n Fairfax county. Mr.. Alexander
Little, his great-great nephew, was, 10
after years. the editor of the Frederick
burg News. ..,
C}l. Philip Marsteller. the fifth OF
Washineton's pallbearers, was the only
one of them who was not Mason, and
a member of Alexandria Washington
lodge. He was born in Lancaster
county. Pennsylvania, and commanded
regiment from that Safe, during
the revolutionary war. AT the
close of the revolution he settled
in Alexandria, and was engaged
in the auction and commission
business. He had three sons. Oue OF
them. Philip G. Marsteller, attended
the funeral lodge and waa also present.
at the funeral of General Washington,
being then a young man OF aoou. ~
wears. He afterwards engaged IN tne
same business as his father ard d!ed
near Haymarket, Va, 10 1642. Lewis,
nno, o,her son, died in the service OF the
Uoited Stetss rom wounds recsved 10
the "whisky resurrection" in Ptnnsyi
vania in 1894, in which CJl. Charles
Little, ano, ber of Washington'S pail
bearers, also took part as com ma nuer e:
Of some OF the Virginia troops. Feso!-
nand. another son, was born 10 Alex
sndris aud died there at the age OF 30.
Col Pbllip Marsteller. Washineton's
osllbearer. slso died in Alexandria IN
p'iioOoANAS ~
1908. .,ond,;a.s
nos master from 1909 to 1918. was ap-
poinled by Alesandria-W ashingt99in
Lodge to be one of Washington's pail
nsarers He was in attendance at the
lodre when Washiugton's death was
snnonnced aud arrangements MADE LOT
his burial. He died at Alexandra on
December 81, 1918. and at his burial
received Masonic honors. ,7,z
Col. William Payne was born IN Ilzo'
anG was one of the Alexandrla-com-
mittee O! safety. He served IN the re,
volutionary ,u,Ia army, and on his ,1an return
became 3 member OF washington Oo
Ie T''dao. He is said to have been .Ie tne
Mr. Psyne who, in a dispute VIII
Washington in tre market house OF
alexsndris in IVA, knocked WasniGi-
;ncton dowo. The Vests, Johnsons
and many of the very large fanny y,
Pavne now settled through Virginia
aud the South and the West are de.
aoardsnts n of this valiant citizen, VINO
hora the pall of the mao whom ne ao-
uo;rsd mes because he had opce hao a
Lniae ,;o, ,pith him in which