Salona, Fairfax County, VirginiaAnderson, Ellen L.
History
Salona, Fairfax County, Virginia
Anderson, Ellen L.
Salona (McLean, Va.)
On January 14, 1800, the subscribers to the establishment of a
Washington Society met at Gadsby's Tavern and William Maffitt was
named to the committee to form the constitution and by-laws.[35] On
January 28, Maffitt was appointed chaplain of the society,[36] a post
which he held at least through 1803. On February 23, 1800, the
society was called to meet at Gadsby's at 10 a.m. "to move in
procession to the Presbyterian Meeting House where an oration will be
delivered by the Rev. Mr. Maffitt, commemorative of the distinguished
merits of the Illustrious Washington."[37] Again, on February 22,
1803, the Washington Society called on Maffitt to deliver a memorial
sermon on the first president "at the Presbyterian Church at 12
o'clock. There will be instrumental and vocal music and the day will
be announced by a discharge of 16 rounds from the Market Square."[38]
On February 18, 1801, the Rev. Mr. Maffitt was elected a director of
the Alexandria Library Co., and was re-elected to this post in 1802,
1803, and 1804.[39]
On May 5, 1803, the Rev. Dr. Muir, pastor of the Presbyterian Meeting
House, married the Rev. William Maffitt to Mrs. Harriotte
Turberville.[40] Harriotte (or Henrietta) was the daughter of Richard
Henry Lee, a brother of Philip Ludwell Lee, and his second wife, Anne
Gaskins Pinckard, widow of Thomas Pinckard. Harriotte was born
December 10, 1773 at Chantilly, the Richard Henry Lee estate in
Westmoreland County.[41] Her siblings included a younger sister Sarah
who married another cousin, Edmund Jennings Lee, and the youngest
son, Francis Lightfoot Lee.[42] Her first marriage in December, 1794,
was to Richard Lee Turberville, a cousin and neighbor, who died in
1799,[43] leaving his widow with their three children: Cornelia,
Richard, and George. Richard and Harriotte Turberville had settled at
Chantilly in Fairfax County and Richard apparently died there.[44]
When Harriotte and William Maffitt were married, he was still
principal of the Alexandria Academy, living in Alexandria, and active
in community affairs. But between June 8, 1804, the date of Maffitt's
resignation from the Academy, and early 1805, he moved to Chantilly
with his wife, their first child, and the three children of
Harriotte's first marriage. It is probable that the move took place
in 1804, soon after his resignation.
Legal guardian of the three Turberville children was Thomas Lee,
Harriotte's oldest brother.[45] After his death in 1805, William
Maffitt was named guardian.[46] In this capacity he had to keep
accurate accounts of his expenditures on behalf of the children and
of income received on their property, all of which were matters of
court record. These records indicate that Maffitt was living at
Chantilly at that time.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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