[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 80 (Wednesday, May 8, 2024)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E463]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




       HONORING THE 275TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOWN OF DUMFRIES, VA

                                 ______
                                 

                     HON. ABIGAIL DAVIS SPANBERGER

                              of virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                         Wednesday, May 8, 2024

  Ms. SPANBERGER. Mr. Speaker, I rise to congratulate the Town of 
Dumfries on its 275th anniversary.
  This year we celebrate the 275th Anniversary of the Charter Day of 
the Town of Dumfries, Virginia. Virgina's oldest continuously chartered 
town, the Town of Dumfries has a vast and storied past dating back to 
as early as 1690 when Mr. Richard Gibson erected a gristmill on 
Quantico Creek. The Virginia General Assembly established Dumfries as 
the first of seven townships in Prince William County and officially 
awarded the town its charter on May 11, 1749. The Town of Dumfries was 
founded on 60 acres of land provided by Mr. John Graham, who named the 
town after his birthplace, Dumfriesshire, Scotland.
  In Colonial America, Dumfries received tobacco and served as the 
second leading port--rivaling New York, Philadelphia, and Boston. For 
more than 15 years, Dumfries maintained its operations as a leading 
port. In June 1774, a resolution protesting taxation without 
representation was authored in the town at the Dumfries Courthouse. 
During the Revolutionary War, local men in Dumfries served as part of 
the Prince William County militia under Colonel Henry Lee, and the Town 
itself served as a holding place for Hessian officers held as prisoners 
and where Continental troops were inoculated for smallpox.
  Today, the Town of Dumfries is growing rapidly. This growth can be 
traced back to the dedicated town staff, local elected officials, and 
the many residents who call Dumfries home and who work hard to make 
Dumfries a destination. Filled with charm, history, and many thriving 
small businesses, Dumfries, Virginia continues to add to the story that 
started 275 years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in honoring and 
celebrating the Town of Dumfries, Virginia on its 275th anniversary. I 
am honored to represent the many families who call Dumfries home and am 
excited to see all they will accomplish in the next chapter of their 
story.

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