The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-05
THE LAST WILL
OF WASHINGTON
The Document Reposes in Fairfax
Courthouse.
OTHER INTERESTING RELICS.
The Old Courthouse May Be Converted Into
Museum = Closely Connected
With the History of
Virginia. 49,

Fairfax courthouse. in the antiquated
Virginia. Village that Eame,2s the
New York Tribune, IS to be transformed
into a historical museum. Portraits OF
Washington, George Mason, Lord FAR
FAX, F'itzhugh Lee and other distinguishes
sons OF Virginia are to be hung on It's
walls; pricate documents, records ana
papers are to be collected and placed on
exhibition there The structure itself,
while possessing no architectural beauty,
is attractive by reason of it's close coz
nection with the history of Virginia in
the eighteenth century. 1t was built OF
brick brought from England, and bears
scars inntlmerable OF wounds received IN
the Civil War Throughout the war 1t was
occupied alternately by Federal and Con-
federate troops, but. strange to say, 1eW
gf its valuable records We're molested. Al
though the outer walls We're MADE the
target of countless bullets and shells, the
interior was not damaged to any extent
In the picturesque tower hangs neI
which was there III Washington,s time
The ancient building stands In the midst
If one of the prettest court greens in all
Virginia.
WASHING,rON'S WILL THERE.
The last will and testament OF George
Washington is the chief treasure OF the
courthouse collection The will OF Martha
Washington which had been deposited
there, was carried away in wartime and
never restored Washinston's will is kept
n a small black walnut box with glass
cover. The box has been locked many
years and the key has been lost. only two
cages of the time-worn manuscript are
visible. The handwriting is plain and
neat. but there are many ortnograpnlcai
slips which prove that Washington could
ra1 toaY mr. Y r.
sinia .tspelling-bee''-at least, not II he
had lived a century later,
At the beginning of the Civil War the
Washington will was sent to Richmond
for safe-keeping. That old-time papers
had little interest for the inhabitants or
the Confederate capital may be gathered
from the fact that when Richmond was
burning after the retreat of Lees army,
q citizen of Fairfax who happened to
be in the city found the will in a pile
of rubbish in q house that was spared
from the flames. He took 1t home with
him. and ever since it has been preserved
by the clerk of Fairfax county. There
is a, law Of the State providing for its
preservation. 1t is altogether too valua-
bic a relic to be permitted to remain
in it's present unsafe repository. IT the
plans now projected succeed 1t VIII be
placed in a burglar-proof and tire-proof
safe with other precious documents, and
guarded with the care its importance
deserves.
ANOTHER VALUABLE DOCUMENT
Another interesting document in the
courthouse is the will of George Mason,
the author of the ..BilI of Rights. upon
which the National and many of the
state constitutions are based. It is
.opied in a wonderfully clear hand in a
huge leather bound volume, which con-
tains many other mementos of early var
ginia DAYS. George Mason lived at Gun
ston Hall, on the Potomac, some distance
below Mount Vernon. and he disposed or
his mansion house. his hundreds or
slaves and other property in this lnstru-
ment.
There is a minute book in the court
house collection which contains many
curious items Here IS one: Ordered.
that there be erected in the town or
Alexandria q whipping post and stocks;
also a ducking stool. for the punishment
of Offenders, Another minute was to the
effect that "all soldiers and express in
His Majesty's service paying ready
money shall have one-flfth deducted"
Under date of September "a, 1l51, is given
the test oath required Of every county
officer attorney and veStryman who quail
flied for office. This was: Il do declare
that there is no transsubstantia.ion in
the sacrament of the Lords Supper or
in the elements of bread and wine or at
and after the conservation thereof by
any person whatsoever
THE OLD LIQUOR#LICENSE.
There is no more interesting exhibit in
tha -bOSa 11a n q, cany f,e> a