"...Graves Pack married, secondly, Sarah _____. He was justice of the peace of York county, and under date Feb 16, 1740, is the following: "Edward Randolph of Loudoun, mercht, now residing in Virginia, devisee under the will of Graves Pack, late of London, mariner, dated 16 Dec 1728, for 25L current money of Va.," sells to John Kaidyee 4 lots in Queen Mary's Port, near the capital of Williamsburg. Witness, J. Palmer, Bedford Davenport, John Parker.--Editor"

""...There is a deed at Yorktown dated August 19, 1749, which shows that Parks had as partner in the printing establishment and store-house in Williamsburg, Mrs. Sarah Packe, widow of Capt. Graves Packe; that when the small-pox occurred in Williamsburg, Parks had established a store-house at Hanover Courthouse; and the object of the deed was to provide for a settlement of accounts between him and Mrs. Packe."

"While not the first printer in Maryland (as Isiah Thomas calls him in the History of Printing in America), William Parks did start the first newspaper in two different colonies, Maryland and Virginia. Parks printed and bound books in Annapolis from 1726 until 1737. Shortly after arriving in Annapolis, Parks set up an office in Williamsburg and maintained offices in two provinces for nearly a decade. It is through his Virginia office, which has been restored by Historic Williamsburg, that he is best known today."

"During the colonial period, Williamsburg was home to at least twelve master printers. Best known was William Parks, an energetic businessman, who came to Williamsburg about 1730 and eventually opened a shop on Duke of Gloucester Street. He was the public printer of Virginia, charged with the job of reproducing the acts of the General Assembly. He also did a lot of work for businesses. In 1736, Parks founded the Virginia Gazette, the first newspaper in the colony, and promised to deliver the “freshest Advices, Foreign and Domestick.”

Besides his printing business, Parks operated a post office in his shop and sold paper products from other establishments, including writing paper, books, and newspapers, some of which came from London. Parks also tried his hand at papermaking. In 1743, he started the town’s only paper mill. Franklin offered advice and encouragement for this venture and purchased paper from it."

In 1743 at the urging of Benjamin Franklin, Parks set about building his own paper mill in Williamsburg. Over the next four years Franklin sold Parks 11,382 pounds of rags. Appeals were often printed asking readers to save their old clothes for paper-making purposes. Old shirts, caps, dresses, handkerchiefs and gowns were brought and subsequently returned to the reader in a different form."

In "Virginia Runaways: Runaway Slave advertisements from 18th-century Virginia newspapers," is sad reminder of the dark side of Colonial Williamsburg. It was written:

"...Whoever takes up the said Servant, and brings him to William Parks, at the Printing-Office in Williamsburg, shall have a Pistole Reward, besides what the Law allows; or gives Notice of him, if at a Distance, so that he may be had again, shall be rewarded in Proportion to his Trouble."

The William Parks family tree intertwines with mine once again many years later. His granddaughter, Sarah Shelton II, married Patrick Henry. Rev. John Weatherford, my 5x great-grandfather, was "...one of the first Baptist preachers in America. Rev. Weatherford was thrown in the Chesterfield jail for preaching without a license. Patrick Henry represented him, in what was an early religious freedom case. The story is that the Rev. almost drove his jailors crazy with his loud and incessant preaching. The jailors beat him on the hands as he held himself up to the jailhouse window by the bars, leaving scars that remained for the rest of his life."

Sarah Packe appears to have also lived in Pitt House, Lot #47, in Williamsburg.

"02-521 Pitt House Like many other buildings in Williamsburg, the Pitt House had several owners during the eighteenth century. Although the house was built as a residence, it also served as a combination shop and dwelling under several of its owners. Before Dr. George Pitt purchased the house and opened an apothecary, a young widow, Sarah Packe, lived here taking in lodgers and running a millinery business."

On March 27, 1746, Edmund Pendleton advertised that he had lodgings there. He was admitted to the Virginia Bar during the previous year.

"The Subfcriber purpofing to give his Attendance, as a Practioner o the Law, at the next General Court, in April, gives this Notice thereof; and that all Perfons who have Occafion, may apply to him at his Lodgings at Mrs. Packe's, next Door to the Printing-Office, in Williamfourg. during the Time of The Court, and a few Days before and after."

"Pendleton, Edmund (1721-1803) was "...uncle of John Penn and Nathaniel Pendleton; great-granduncle of Henry Gaines Johnson. Born in Caroline County, Va., September 9, 1721. Delegate to Continental Congress from Virginia, 1774; member of Virginia state legislature, 1776; justice of Virginia state supreme court, 1777. Died October 23, 1803. Original interment at Edmundsbury Graveyard, Bowling Green, Va.; reinterment in 1907 at Bruton Parish Church Cemetery, Williamsburg, Va. See also: congressional biography."

Without a doubt, Sarah Packe was priviledged to make the acquaintance of this young man. "Edmund Pendleton was another sterling example of public service to a fledgling nation. Born to a poor family & a widowed mother, he was a bright young man who displayed a maturity and sense of duty at a early age. Pendleton received little in the way of formal education, was apprenticed to Colonel Benjamin Robinson, Clerk of Court of Caroline County, at age thirteen, and began practicing law at age twenty...."

The aforesaid Patrick Henry, who represented my 5x great-grandfather Rev. Weatherford, appeared in Williamsburg to take his attorney's examination before Robert Carter Nicholas, Edmund Pendleton, John and Peyton Randolph, and George Wythe in 1760.

John Mercer was another documented lodger. On July 14, 1737, he advertised that he had lodgings there.

"...John Mercer (1704-68)...came to Virginia from Dublin as a youth, succeeded as a lawyer beyond the dreams of avarice and died (in fine Virginia fashion) simultaneously very wealthy and much in debt. It was John Mercer who established the family seat at Marlborough Point on the Potomac, in Stafford County." He was the father of two delegates to the Continental Congress from Virginia, John Francis Mercer, who studied law with Thomas Jefferson, and John Wayne Mercer. His eldest son, George Mercer (1733-84), was George Washington's boyhood friend. He served to the rank of captain in the Virginia Regiment during the French & Indian War. He was George Washington's aide-de-camp at Fort Necessity and was wounded there. John Mercer, Sr., was George Washington's lawyer. John Mercer had an equally profound effect on his nephew and godson, George.

"George Mason was born in 1725 on a plantation on the Potomac in Fairfax County, Virginia. He was the fourth in a line of George Masons who had established considerable landholdings in the Virginia colony. When George was 10, his father drowned in a Potomac sailing accident, and his barrister uncle, John Mercer, took over as Mason's tutor. Mercer had one of the most extensive libraries in the Colonies, and Mason immersed himself in its collected wisdom. He had virtually no formal schooling and essentially educated himself from his uncle's library."

George Mason was George Washington's friend and neighbour and he took his friend's seat in the Virginia Legislature when Washington was named Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army in 1775.

The most significant contribution Mason made to the fledgling state government was writing a constitution and bill of rights during a six week period in May and June of 1776.

In 2002, America honored George Mason with a bronze sculpture and memorial in Washington. "George Mason IV, author of both the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Virginia Constitution, [was] honored by Chief Justice William H. Rehnquist and other dignitaries for helping shape our nation's democratic principals.

He...is the man for whom George Mason University is named."

There appears to be a familial connection between John Mercer and Sarah Packe.

"In a letter of Mrs. Ann (Thomson) Mason, dated 1743, she states that her sister Mary Thomson married first a Mr. Booth, and secondly "Capt. Graves Pack". She had but one child by her second husband, a son who died in infancy.(1)."

"(1) In the York county records is the following order: "June ye 21, 1725: On the petition of Booth Armistead by Robert Armistead, Gent., his next friend, setting forth that Thomas Booth, late of this county deceased, by his last will & testament did give and bequeath 200 pds sterling to ye sd petr & by his sd will did constitute Mary his wife Ex who has since intermarried with Graves Pack, Gent, ordered that the sheriff summon the said Pack to answer ye sd petition at next court".

Robert Booth was clerk of York court as early as 1645. He married Frances ----, and had Elizabeth, who married Dr. Patrick Napier. Robert and William Booth succeed him in the York records, and were probably his sons. William left a will, which shows that he (William) had no sons. Robert married Anne, daughter of James Bray, Esq., and Angelica, his wife, but as he left no will, it cannot be said positively that Thomas Booth was his son. Capt. Robert3 Armistead (Anthony2, William1) had two sons by a first wife, Booth (died in 1727) and Ellyson; and he then married, secondly, Katharine Nutting, widow of Capt. William Sheldon, and had Robert, Booth, and Angelica. It looks as if Armistead's first wife was Miss Booth, either a daughter or grand-daughter of Robert Booth, the younger. (See Keith's Ancestry of Benjamin Harrison, p. 21; QUARTERLY, Vol. I., p. 234). Graves Pack married, secondly, Sarah ------. He was justice of the peace of York county,"

"Embarking for England on March 23, 1750, Parks died at sea April 1, 1750, and was buried at Gosport, England. His will, proved at Yorktown June 18, 1750, provides as follows: L100 to each of the children of his sister, Jane Spilsbury, wife of Thomas Spilsbury; to sister Elizabeth Parks, L50 current money; that his wife Eleanor Parks and his son-in-law John Shelton, of Hanover county, should "complete the printing of the Laws of Virginia which I have undertaken"; the accounts with Mrs. Sarah Packe to stand until the determination of John Garland and Benjamin Waller; son-in- law John Shelton, Benjamin Waller, and William Prentis, of Williamsburg, gentlemen, executors; and Mr. Waller to please accept L20 for executing this will; his residuary estate to fall to his daughter Eleanor Shelton.

It would seem from this will that the first wife of Patrick Henry, Sarah Shelton, daughter of John Shelton, of Hanover, was granddaughter of William Parks and Eleanor his wife. It is probable, too, that Mrs. Henry derived her name, Sarah, from Mrs. Packe, who was, perhaps, connected by family ties with William Parks or his wife Eleanor.(1)"

"(1) Was Mrs. Packe mother of William Parks' wife? Captain Graves Packe married, first, about 1725, Mary, sister of Stevens Thompson, the Attorney-General, and widow of Thomas Booth, of York county. He died before 1732, at which time Sarah Packe was his widow. The had a son Graves, drowned in 1745, aged eighteen years. John Packe Garland, in 1771, devised his property to Mr. Holderby Dixon, in trust for the separate use of his mother, Sarah, wife of Dr. George Pitt, except a legacy to George Pitt, son of George and Sarah Pitt. The will (proved 1773) of Mrs. Sarah Pitt, wife of Dr. George Pitt, of Williamsburg, names daughter Mary Pitt, late son John Packe Garland, and sons Richard, William, and Thomas Pitt. See, also, QUARTERLY, III., pages 268, 269."

"Steven Thomson succeeded Benjamin Harrison. In March, 1703-`4 Nicholson Wrote to the Board of Trade asking that an attorney-general might be sent to Virginia to take the place of Benjamin Harrison, who, for the reasons given above, was unwilling to serve. The Lords of Trade recommended Stevens Thomson, son of Sir William Thomson, with a salary of one hundred pounds, payable out of her Majesty's revenue in Virginia. Thomson was educated at the university, and studied law in the Middle Temple. On the 10th of August, 1704, he waited on the Board of Trade at Whitehall, and they gave him a letter recommending him to the Governor's protection and encouragement in the execution of the Attorney-General's office. He arrived in Virginia not long after. One memorial of his decisions has come down to us in connection with the famous case of Grace Sherwood, of Princess Anne county, who was tried for a witch. He died about 1714. He brought with him to Virginia his wife, Dorothea, who died in Williamsburg, July 12, 1713, and five children, Mary, Elizabeth, who died in Williamsburg July 14, 1713; William, Ann and Stevens. He had a son born later in Virginia named Taunton, but all the children died without issue except Anne, who became her father's sole heir, and in 1721 married Col. George Mason, of Gunston Hall, in Stafford county. George Mason, the famous author of the Virginia Bill of Rights and first State constitution, was her son."

"Dating to the early 1700s, this attractive house was home to Dr. George Pitt in the mid 1700s. Pitt used the small shop adjoining the house to operate his apothecary business, the Sign of the Rhinoceros. At the same time, his wife, Sarah, ran a millinery business from their home. Sarah was described as a most amiable wife and was referred to as "much marrying Sarah," due to her three previous husbands."

The following was an advertisement placd by Sarah Packe on March 1, 1738:

"Bombazeens, Crapes, and other Sorts of Mourning, for Ladies; alfo Hatbands, and Gloves, for Gentlemen: Sold by Sarah Packe, in Williamsburg"

Apparently, I was not the first female in my family to bring suit against someone. The following information was found in William Waters House Historical Report, 12; Originally entitled: “Waters-Coleman House - Lot #49 and 50.” Robert Davidson, owner of the lots before his death in 1738, was “Practitioner in Physick”, one-time Mayor of the city. His property "was so heavily involved in debt that [Sarah Packe and three other] creditors brought suit against the administrator, John Blair, and the heirs of Davidson. This forced the sale of the lots to one John Holt. These facts are contained in the preface to the deed of the lots:

"Reade, Samuel - High Sheriff

March 18, 1744 Blair, John - Admr. Robert Davidson

to

Holt, John - Merchant

Consideration: Suit in chancery by William Prentis, Alexander Spalding, John Lidderdale and Sarah Packe vs. John Blair and heirs at law of Robert Davidson.

Whereas the said Robert Davidson died siez'd of two messuages and lots of land in the county of York afore-said purchased of John Gladish and recorded in the General Court of this Colony in his Demesne as of Fee Simple very much indebted and whereas after the death of the said Robert, a suit in chancery was commenced and prosecuted in the said County of York by William Prentis, Alexander Spalding, John Lidderdale and Sarah Packe against the said John Blair, heir at law of the said Robert Davidson, who died intestate.

All those two messuages, houses and lots of land lying in the city of Williamsburg on the north side of Duke of Gloucester Street denoted in the plan of the city by the figures 49 and 50 whereon the said Robert lately dwelt."

[York County Records, Book V - Deeds, p. 123]

10 Dec. 1737 "

The following information was found in Inventory of Estate of John Collett 1751 May 20 regarding the purchases of Mrs. Sarah Packe:

Sarah Packe

To 1 pair Doggs 15/,

To 6 Leather Chairs 61/

To 4 Pictures 8/

4..4..0"

The following advertisement was placed by William Green:

"Williamfourg, March 28, 1755.

This is to give Notice, to all Perfons that are indebted to the late Widow Sarah Packe, now Sarah Green, not to fettle with George Pitt, or any Perfon befides her Hufbnd the Subfscriber; therefore all thofe who are indebted to her, are defied to come and pay their refpective Ballances to me; and all Perfons that have any Demands against the said Sarah, are alfo defired to bring in their lawful Accounts, that they may be discharged by me,

William Green."

The following advertisement was placed by George Pitt:

"Hanover County, April 18, 1755

WHEREAS Mr. William Green, Merchant, of the City of Williamfburg, hath advertifed all Perfons indebted to the late Sarah Packe, (now Sarah Green) not to fettle with George Pitt, or an Perfon befides himself, who has nor Right or Power to fettle with any Perfon fo indebted before the 19th Day of February 1754. At which Time Mrs. Sarah Packe did mak an Agreement with, and fold to the Subfcriber her Lot and Houfes in Williamfburg, with all the Furniture therein, and aldo her Life in a Plantaion near Williamfburg, known by the name of Morris's Plantation, together ill all the Stock on the faid Plantation; and feven Negroes, viz. Bridget, London, Lamberb, Robin, Sam, Sarah and Tom, nd alfo all Debts of what Kind or Quality foever, that were then due o the faid Sarah; all which, for the Confideration of Eleven Hundred Pounds current Money; for which Sum, at th Requeft of the faid Sarah, I give a Bond payable after her Death as to be directed by her Will, and to pay Fifty-five Pounds per...Intereft during her life.

Since Mr. Green's Marriage with the above Sarah Packe, I have demanded of him to carry this Agreement into Execution, (at the fame Time tendering him one Year's Intereft aove) which he refufed to do; and it having been hinted to me, That Mr. Green and Wife may fell every of the Permisses above-mentioned, and go for England.

This is therefore to caution all Perfons from making a Purchafe of the fame, or any Part thereof, from Mr. Green or Mrs. Green; or paying any Dbts that was due to the above-named Sarah, on theDate aforefaid, to either of them; but are defired to pay fuch Ballances to me only, as I have the Right to receive the fame, and will indemnify any Perfon for fo doing.

I will allow Five per Cent, Difcount for fuch of the above Debts as are pai me, by the 15th Day of June next.

- George Pitt"

He placed the same advertisement on Aril 11, 1755.

""Personal Notes--From The Maryland Gazette. 1765--May 10--An account of a schooner which sailed out of York River, bound up the Bay, and was lost in a violent gust of wind above the mouth of Rappahannock, all on board perished. There were two passengers, one of them "Mr. Graves, son of Mrs. Sarah Packe of Williamsburg, a very hopeful youth, of about 18 years of age." The friends request the favor of good Christians who may happen to find or hear of their bodies, "to give notice to Mr. Parks, printer at Williamsburg." Mr. Packe was a thin slender youth; had on a scarlet Great-Coat, a new green cloth Waistcoat, with white metal buttons, a new pair of leather breeches, and a new pair of boots; and had a silver watch in his pocket, the maker's name, Bradford of London, with a silver seal hanging to it; and had a mourning ring on one of his fingers. They both had money in their pockets, and other effects with them of considerable value." The date of the accident was March 27, or that was the day when the schooner sailed."

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