Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-09-08
The Rambler Writes More About Burr1eS FAM
more about 8

W 1 GA y
and New York. Arrive at baltimore about
O'Clock pm. J. H. Barney ~
Foe sale-Au excellent blacksmith together
with his wife and three likely children. to
wit. two boys tea and eight yenrs old and a
girl Of four years. The woman has been EN-.
ployed altosctlnr in Washing and ironing, An
examine ton of the blacksmiths work will be
his best recommendation. To save unneces-
sary application the price Of the family Is
s1.4GO. v. Peyton, Stafford, March 8, 1902.
The Rambler believes that the mar
riage of Marcia Burnes was solemniZed
in the small and humble cottage which
had been her birthplace, and her home,
years ago in the grounds occupied by
the Pan-American building. Marcia's
affection for that humble home Is
shown by the fact that when John r.
Van Ness, her husband, decided to
build the finest house in the District
of Columbia, that house was built IN
the grounds around the cottage and
within few yards of it. The stately
mansion and the small cottage stood
almost side-by-side for close upon
hundred years.
Marcia might have been married in
st. Johns Church, but that old and
historic church had not been built.
The parish was organized in 1914. but
1t was not until st. Johns day, Decem-
Der ~, 1916, that the church was con-
secrated by Bishop Kemp of Maryland.
The Rambler says "she might have
been married in that church," because
he believes that she became a member
OF 1t. A rector of that church preached
her funeral discourse. While cropping
around in this difficult and tangled
subject, Hugh Morrison of the Library
OF Congress brought forth from an
obscure part of the great library
faded little pamphlet whose title page
was, Funeral Discourse on the Death
of Mrs. Marcia Van Ness, consort Of
the Hon. John P. Van Ness. mayor Of
the City of Washington. by the Rev.
William Hawley, rector OF st. Johns
Church. Printed by Francis Preston
Blair, 1882" In faded ink at the top
Of the page was the autograph. IS. Fl.
Smith, esqre'' Hugh told the Rambler
that Judge Bundy had made call
for that little pamphlet only few
days before. It was about that time
that the Judge delivered an address
the ladies Of the Marcia Burnes
Chapter, ?: A: R. There is no space
IN this chapter for DE- HaXles
Ssea iateP 1r Haw,e Hy0 Was the Ess
assistant rector Of St. Johns and the
second rector. The first rector was
Rev. William H: Wilmer. who had
andria. He asked that the Rev. Mr..
Hawley be designated to assist him.
When Mr.. Wilmer left st. Johns to be-
come president of William and Mary
G G:s at ascs5 rscto in 1s snd M
1915: He was succeeded BY Rev:
a nyne va WeS was ewe Go oy
signed in 1880. Rev. Mr.. Norton came
next and in February, 1881, came Rev.
William A. Leonard: who. nine years
was succeeded by Rev. George William
Douglas, and he by DR.. Alexander
M!askay- Smith, who on being elected1
Was o. ee n 1869
by DR.. Roland Cotton Smith.
Turning back through the yellow
files Of the old National Intelligencer
Marcia Burnes-Van Ness death In the
issue Of September 10, 1892:
Died-after a severe and protracted illness
at 10 o'clock AIN. yesterday. Mrs. Van Ness.
wife Of Gen. John P. Van Ness. mayor Of this
said that she was the guardian of the orphan
and the benefactrcss Of the poor. The friends
and acquainances Of the family or any member
thereof arc respectfully invited to attend her
funeral at o'clock pm. today without fur.
Their notice.
There is silver plate on Marcta's
casket which reads as follows:
The citizens Of Washington in testimony
of their Veneration for Departed Worth Dedt-
Gated this Plate to the Memory Of Marcia Van
Ness, the Excellent Consort Of John p. Van
Ness.
II Piety, Charity, High Principle and Ex-
allied Worth could have averted the shafts Of
Tate she would still have remained among ~
as bright example Of every Virtue. The
hand of Death has removed her to q purer and
happier state Of existence, and while we Ia
ment her loss let endeavor to emulate her
victues.
Living in Washington today are q
number of the blood kindred OF
Marcia Burnes. They are collateral
descendants of David Burnes, the
Scotchman who for some time was
obdurate to the proposition made to
him by George Washington that he
dedicate. under certain provisions. his
farm Of Bealrs Levels as part of the
cite for the new Federal city-the city
to which was given the name of
washington" The Rambler has
found several of these descendants
who come down in a direct line from
David Burnes father, James Burnes,
through one of David's brothers. The
name of Marcia continues to be a fam
lily name and one of these MarciaS is
still living. The Rambler will tell Of
these people in his next narrative.