Thank you... I saw that there were some slightly different writing about
the mysterious death of Alvey showing up in newspapers not only in
Virginia but copy sent to New York and Pennsylvania... where they
basically ruled it as a suicide.  Though his free slave servant was
accused of possibly murdering him, later it was ruled a suicide but no
mention of the slave being released and cleared of any charges.

Now, just wish I could find more on Capt Charles Wills who died 1820 in
Richmond.  Just doesn't seem to be much in print :-(

Eric



-----Original Message-----
From: Discussion of research and writing about Virginia history
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Hellier, Cathy
Sent: Friday, February 04, 2011 9:44 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [VA-HIST] Charles Wills and John Alvey mystery

Here are the only articles I found regarding the disappearance and death
of John F. Alvey:

Headline: Mysterious Occurrence; Article Type: News/Opinion
Paper: Alexandria Gazette; Date: 06-01-1837; Page: 2; Location:
Alexandria, Virginia This entire product and/or portions thereof are
copyrighted by NewsBank and/or the American Antiquarian Society. 2004.

MYSTERIOUS OCCURRENCE.-Much sympathy has been excited by the mysterious
disappearance of Mr. John F. Alvey, of this city, a respectable grocer
and very worthy man. Mr. A. had been afflicted for some time with a
cancer on his face, and had resolved to visit Philadelphia for surgical
assistance. Being too late for the steamboat on Sunday morning, he
determined to set out in his own carriage with the hope of getting ahead
of the boat while she was passing some of the bends of the river, and to
get on board at New Market, about 11 miles below this place. When
arrived at the spot, the driver (his own servant) states that Mr. Alvey
got out of the carriage, and directed him to remain until he (Mr. A.)
should cross over by a near path to see if the boat was coming. The
driver remained for an hour or more, but getting uneasy proceeded in
search of his master to the spot where he supposed he had gone, but
could not find him. On approaching the river he found Mr A's hat, and
the handkerchief with which his face had been bandaged, in a canoe, with
a paddle resting upon the hat. No trace has since been discovered of
this unfortunate gentleman; and his family and friends are consequently
in deep distress at the uncertainty of his fate.
P.S. -Since writing the above we learn that the driver and a free negro
have been arrested, on suspicion of having murdered Mr. Alvey.-Rich.
Whig.
--
Headline: [Mr Alvey; Richmond Whig; James River; Steamboat;
Disappearance]; Article Type: News/Opinion
Paper: Alexandria Gazette; Date: 06-15-1837; Page: 3; Location:
Alexandria, Virginia This entire product and/or portions thereof are
copyrighted by NewsBank and/or the American Antiquarian Society. 2004.

The body of Mr Alvey, an account of whose mysterious disappearance we
copied from the Richmond Whig a few days since, was found in the James
River on Tuesday last, not far from the point at which he expected to
meet the steamboat.

Cathy Hellier
Historian
The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation 
 
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