The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-10-17

1
inscn. Henry Willis. Augustine Smith /.
John Taliaferro, Harry Beverly. John
Waller and jeremiah Olowder. In 1872 4,
FIVE years after its Incorporation. Col.
William Byrd, Of Westover, visited the
town on his way TO Germanna to see
Governor SpOtswood who resided there,
being extensively engaged in the pro-
duction Of iron. He established the
Spotswood Furnace, near Chancellols-
vile. the first regular iron furnace in
North America In Col. ById's ac-
count Of his Progress to the Mines. "
he gives an entertaining and humor-
GUS description Of Fredericksburg. from
which the following is an extract
Sol Willis walked me about his town
OF fredericksburg The only edifice
Of stone yet built is prison, the walls
of which are strong enough to hold
Jack Sheppard if he had been transported
| thither. Though this be cOmmodious
and beautiful situation for a town. with
the advantages Of a nsvigable river
and wholesome air yet the inhabitants
are very few. Besides Dol. Willis, who
is the top man Of the. place. there
are only one merchant. tailor.
smith, ard an ordinary keeper though
l must not forget Mrs. Levistone. who
| acts here in the double capacity Of
| doctress and q coffee woman. Ii 10
said the court house and the church are
| going TO be built here. and then both
religion aud. justice will help to enlarge
the place. "
The first church built In the town
was an Episcopal church and stood on
the site Of the present st. Georges
Church.
This Col. Willis came from Glouces.
ter county. He was the owner OF
Willis Hill. which remained in the
Willis family until sold by Byrd O.
Willis to Spotswood Wexford about the
year 1923. The part of the range west
Of Willis Hill had been previously sold
by Byrd Willis TO the person from
whom John L. Marye, ST., purchased
1t in 1888, in which year be built there
on the brick mansion "Brompton, "
now owned by Capt NJ B. Rowe Mr..
Marye was descendant, in the third
generation, Of the Rev. James Marye,a
French Huguenot, who in 1875 was
called as rector Of st. Georges parishr
Fredericksburg is the Oldest incorpo-
rated town In the State with the excep-
ton Of Williamsburg and Norfolk. 1t
Is, as stated above, % years older than
Alexandria. 1t was Incorporated 10
years before Richmond; 81 years before
Petersburg; 50 years before Winches-
ter, and SO years before Lynchburg. Its
people, and those in adjacent section,
were conspicuous for their zeal in
espousing the cause Of independence
When In 1775 Lord Dunmore removed
the powder from the magazine in Will
liamsblrg the historic Powder
Horn" which is still standing-to the
Magdalen man.of war, twely hundred
men promptly mustered at Fredericbs-
bury and we're about to march for the
recovery Of the powder when tidings
came that the company from Hanover,
commanded by Patrick Henry, had
forced Dunmore to make a satisfactory
settlement of the matter.
| Many persons Of historical fame have
lived in the old town. Among these
was Gen. Hugh Mercer. the father Of
Dol. Hugh Mercer. whom many of our
older readers we'll remember, and whose
residence, the sentry BOX, Is yet
standing at the lower end Of Main
Street.
Gen. Mercer was born in Scotland.
and when q young man espoused the
cause Of the young pretender, Charles
Edward, and was in 1746, surgeon
In his army at the battle Of Oulloden.
90 disastrous to the Stuart probation.
He was among the refugees to Ameri-
cs, going frat to Philadelphia. and
In the fall Of l747. settling in Freder.
icksburg az physician. He was q
great friend Of washington's and went
| with him. Is captain. in the Indiau