Receipt of Edward B. Edwards for George Smith

Note by Phyllis Brown:  This is one of the old records my great-aunt, Lillie Montgomery Goodrich, gave me during one of my visits with her.  She and I loved to look through all her genealogy treasures – those left by her mother, Frances Barber Linton Montgomery.  I don’t think Aunt Lil was as interested in research as her mother, but at least she was a good custodian of the records and information.  I’m not sure if Aunt Lil or great-grandmother Frances pasted this on a page from a ledger book.  At the bottom of the page it talks about periods of gestation for horses, cows, sheep, sows, etc.  Evidently nothing was thrown away.  But these were people who lived through the Depression and could appreciate the importance of every little thing.

Edward B. Edwards is my fourth great-grandfather.  He married Nancy Linton, daughter of Captain John Linton and Ann Nancy Mason.  I’m not sure who the George Smith is.  Charles Tyler, who signed the receipt, could be a cousin several times removed.  I love his fancy signature!

I think it interesting that it was written in Centreville, Fairfax County, Virginia.  This is just north of Manassas, in Prince William County.  Dumfries is also located in Prince William County, southeast of Manassas, located on Quantico Creek, very close to an inlet of the Potomac River.  John Linton, an older first cousin of the Captain, was the proprietor of an ordinary in Dumfries – an inn or tavern.  It is said that some of the secret meetings before the Revolution were held there.  I’m not sure if there is any truth in those stories.

This is the oldest record I have.  It is amazing that I can hold something in my hand that was written so long ago – an original record that was touched by these people that came before me – that gave part of their DNA to make me into the person I am today.  Think how many people made up the little parts of you!  Have you found them all?  Back to genealogy research!