PRINCE WILLIAM COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – “Liberia” Cemetery ----¤¤¤---- Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Liberia: 1937 Mar. 3 Research made by Susan Rogers Morton Cemetery Location: 1 mile north of Manassas, Virginia, on Route #28, thence 200 yards west on a private road. Prince William Co., Virginia DATE: 1829. OWNERS: Harriet Bladen Mitchell, wife of W. J. Weir 1829 E. V. Weir ---- The Portners ---- The Portner Estate present owners (1937) DESCRIPTION: Built of brick, the house now has a portico at the front entrance, but that is of recent years. The old porch having been torn down some years ago. There are none of the old buildings left, nor the large poplar trees that once shaded the house itself. The rose garden with the kitchen garden back of it and the large orchards are all things of the past. HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: “Liberia” was built on a tract of land which belonged to Harriet Bladen Mitchell, wife of W. J. Weir, who built the house in 1829. She was a daughter of Robert Mitchell of “Mount Grove”, Richmond County, whose wife was Priscilla Carter, eldest daughter of Robert Carter (Councilor) of Nomini Hall. He have his daughter a part of that tract of land spoken of in the Journal of Phillip Fithian, as the “the tract in the far west”. which he had received from his father “King” Carter. From Priscilla, it descended to her daughter, Harriet Bladen, who married W. J. Weir. This was part of the “Lower Bull Run Tract” which included Portici, which was after to become the Battlefield at the first and second battles of Manassas and also what is a good part of the town of Manassas. It remained in the family until the Portners in the latter part of the 19th century bought it from Mr. E. V. Weir, and recorded in Deed Book 50, folio 127. It is still owned by the Portner Estate (1937) and the house is occupied by Mr. Roseberry. There are several explanations of the name “Liberia”, one that it is a variation of one of the signs of the Zodiac (Benj. Chinn, who owned twelve farms and lived on one of them, “Ben Lomond” three miles north of “Liberia”, had each farm named for one of the signs of the Zodiac) but it seems more likely that it was from the negro population, as the Weirs were large slave holders. It was usually called by the family, the “Brick House”. In 1836, a post office called “Liberia” was established at the Cross-roads of Newmarket, Sully-Manassas road and it is spoken of in an outline of Virginia (Howels) published in 1849 (?) “Thoroughfare and Liberia are small places in the County, each containing a few dwellings”. There does not seem to be any evidence of any other house of importance being close by at that time. After the railroad was opened in 1852, there grew up a village at new Manassas Junction, a settlement that took the place of “Liberia” as a post office. One thinks of those days as the lovely peaceful life of the old plantation, but May 30th, 1861, brought a change, for then General Beauregard arrived at Manassas Junction to take charge of the troops stationed there, and at once occupied “Liberia” as his headquarters, it then being officially known as “Headquarters” Manassas Junction”. The Weirs moved to Fluvanna County to a plantation called “Union Hall”, taking with them some of the family servants, and leaving the trusted laves in charge of the plantation, as caretakers. Fortifications were immediately constructed about Manassas Junction and a fort called “Fort Beauregard” was built to protect the headquarters; this is still to be seen not very far to the southeast of the house. To the east, north and northwest was fought the first battle of Manassas, and at the close of the day, July 23rd, 1861, Jefferson Davis was a guest at “Liberia”. The graveyard is to the west of the house, in a small grove of trees. It is overgrown with brambles and poison oak, so that it is impossible to get to many of the stones to read the inscriptions. Thos that I could copy are as follows: Sacred to the memory of my beloved and affectionate wife Harriet Bladen Weir died the 14th of July 1841 aged 48 years She was the mother of 13 children, eight of whom survive her. She was amiable in disposition, guiltless in spirit, and passed through life beloved by all who knew her. Sacred to our son Bladen who died Feb. 24th, 1853 Aged 23 years Sacred to the memory of our father Wm. J. Weir who died May 8th, 1867 aged 75 years Sacred to the memory of my beloved son Carter Weir who died the 16th of Feb. 1856 aged 20 years He was kind and affectionate in disposition and beloved ay all who knew him. Sacred to the memory of our son Dr. John N. Weir who died in Philadelphia the 27th of May 1852 having just entered upon practical duties of his profession with brightest prospects for usefulness. At an early age he embraced religion, and at the age of sixteen he united with the Episcopal church of which he was a pious and exemplary member. Mr. Tasker Weir, who lived at “Liberia”, married Rebecca Majorie Latimore of the “Grove” near Brentsville, Virginia; her brother was Joseph Latimore, later Major, he died at Harrisonburg of wounds received at Gettysburg. He was in almost every engagement with General Jackson. A student at V.M.I. when the war came he enlisted at 19. The following letter, written by Captain Dement at the time of his death, is now in the possession of Mrs. Chapman of Manassas, who loaned it to me to copy. “I was with Major Latimore on the field at Gettysburg and assisted to take him from under his horse, which had fallen on him at the time he received his wound, and carried him from the field. His bearing during the day was most excellent, showing the greatest coolness and bravery under the most trying circumstances. While under his horse, he continued to give orders and seemed to think only of his command. The confederacy has sustained a great loss in his early death, this Battallion and Officer whose place it will be hard to fill, a friend and commander whose loss they deeply regret. One of our brightest, bravest and best has fallen, leaving a name that the proudest may envy---take his example for devout initation, and let his death but stimulate your ambition. You will nevermore in camp hear his words of encouragement on the toilsome march, or his manly tones cheering his men amid the wild alarm and shock of battle, keep then this example ever before you, and let it encourage you to preserve in the noble aspirations of men and be true to your manhood.” SOURCES OF INFORMATION: Informants: Mrs. E. H. Hibbs, Grant Avenue, Manassas, Virginia Mrs. Wm. Chapman, West Street, Manassas, Virginia Court Records, Clerk’s Office, Prince William County, Virginia Tombstone Inscriptions Visit by worker. ___________________________________________________________________ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: Joan Renfrow NOTICE: I have no relationship or further information in regards to this family. ___________________________________________________________________