Newspaper Tidbits

Alexandria Herald – 21 August 1815

I will rent, for the ensuing year, the FARM adjacent to the town of Dumfries, the late residence of John Macrae, deceased, generally known by the name of ORANGEFIELD.  The farm comprises 200 acres, a large proportion of which is arable land.  The improvements on it are an excellent dwelling house, dairy, stable, & c. with a good orchard.  The tenant will have the privilege of sowing wheat the next Autumn.

JOHN MACRAE

Dumfries, Aug. 18.

Frederick Herald - 15 September 1832

100 REWARD.  Ranaway from the subscriber, living near Haymarket, Va., on Saturday night 1^st of September, a Negro man named DICK, purchased a few days since of Mr. R. Foster, of Prince William county. 

Dick is about 21 years old, about 5 feet 9 inches high, tolerably heavy built, and well proportioned – of dark copper or chestnut color.  He wore away a dark round jacket, yellow jean pantaloons, and fur hat half worn.  He has just been brought from Pennsylvania, and no doubt attempting to go back.

I will give the above reward if taken in the state of Pennsylvania, fifty dollars if taken in Maryland, and twenty five if taken in Virginia, and secured in any jail until I get him again.

PEYTON NORVELL

September 15.

Speaking of Brentsville

Free Lance Star (Fredericksburg, VA) - July 25, 1899
Among the friends The Free Lance representative met at the Manassas Horse Show was Mr. Thacker S. Bradshaw, formerly of this city.  Mr. Bradshaw's home is at Brentsville, but he is one of hte most efficient chief clersk in the U.S. railway mail service.  He has served for fifteen yars and was appointed through the late Senator John S. Barbour, of this state.

The Free Lance (Fredericksburg, VA) - December 29, 1900
Mr. Andrew J. Davis formerly of Prince William county, died in Washington last week at an advanced age.  His remains were taken to Brentsville for interment.

The St. Paul Globe (St. Paul, MN) - June 10, 1902
A letter of Gen. Robert E. Lee to Gen. J. E. B. Stuart, dated Headquarters A. N.Va., Jan. 31, 1863, and complimenting "Sergeant Mickler and his party" for gallantry "in a skirmish in the streets of Brentsville on the 9th inst." sold for $5.

The Colored American (Washington, DC) - September 20, 1902
Miss Estelle V. Hedgeman, of Brentsville, Va., has returned home after spending a few days in the city with friends.  She will shortly resume her residence here. Miss Hedgeman was formerly employed in the Census, and is the owner of a farm near Brentsville.

Alexandria Gazette (VA) - January 23, 1905
Joseph B. Reid, of Brentsville, died at Providence Hospital, Washington, on Friday evening, aged seventy-one years.  Mr. Reid was a Confederate veteran, having served in Company H, Fifteenth Virginia Cavalry, throughout the civil war.  He represented Prince William county in the legislature in 1887-88, and had long been in the hotel business.  After brief services at the residence of hsi son, Henry W. Reid, in Washington Sunday the remains were taken to Manassas for the funeral and interment.

Richmond Times Dispatch (VA) - December 17, 1911
George C. Round, of Prince William county, has in his possession two interesting relics of the early days of that county.  One is the keystone of the first financial institution founded inPrince William county, the ank of Dumfries, located at old Dumfries near Quantico.  The slab bears the inscription, "William Waite Fecit, 1775."  The other relic is a slab from the first courthouse in Prince William county, which was built in 1731 at Dumfries which was then the county seat.