              WHO WERE THEY ?


Among the thousands of visitors who make their pilgramage to the 
George Washington Masonic National Memorial, and of the thousands 
of questions and inquires about the contents of the Memorial, It 
is not the life of Washington, nor his marriage, lodge, 
gereralship, or presidency which provides the most interest. To 
our surprise it is his death which provided many questions.  One 
question which seems to be of particular interest to many. Who 
were his pall-bearers?  It is very easy for us to answer by 
calling off in order of their position in the procession. SIMMS; 
RAMSEY; PAYNE; GILPIN; MARSTELLER; and LITTLE. But this is not 
what they want. What were their first names? Who were these men? 
Why were they selected for this great honor?

As for their first names, and position in the procession; leading 
off on the left side of the coffin was Charles Simms, followed by 
Dennis Ramsay, and William Payne. On the right side was George 
Gilpin, followed by Philip Marsteller and Charles Little.


CHARLES SIMMS; was born in Prince Williams County Va. in 1755, 
and was about to conclude his law studies with General Mercer 
when the Revolutionary War began. Simms was made Lieutenant 
Colonel of the 6th Reg. of Virginia, and distinguished himself at 
Red Bank, Fort Mifflin and Fort Mercer. While in camp at Valley Forge, 
he married Miss Nancy Douglas of Trenton, Col. Charles Simms had 
six children; Nancy, Kitty, Phoebe, Charles, Douglas, and John. 
Col. Simms wqs a delegate and served in the Convention of 
Virginia in 1788. He was one of that celebrated committee 
appointed to recommend amendments to the Constitution of the 
United States. On that distinguished committee were Geroge Wythe, 
Patrick Henry, Gov. Randolph, George Mason, James Madison, John 
Marshall, James Monroe, John Brair,(the first Grand Master of 
Masons in Virginia.) and many others. For those who might be 
interested in the political side of Simms there is an intresting 
account in the  "Memoirs of Correspondence of Thomas Jefferson" 
page 508, from Jefferson's diary of April 25,1798. In reference 
to a dinner party, Simms was listed as a Federalist, and in his 
introduction of the guests, Jefferson wrote, "So was Col. Charles 
Simms of Alexandria, who is here on a lawsuit against General 
Irvine."
Col Simms resided in Alexandria about 35 years, Simms was Mayor 
of Alexandria when the British occupied the town in 1814, Simms 
was censured for surrendering the town. Of Course time vindicated 
his action as the Town was not capable of defending itself.  Col 
Charles Simms died Aug. 29, 1819 at the age of 64 and was buried 
on the 31st with both Military and Masonic honors. Charles Simms 
was a member of Alexanria-Washington Lodge 22.


DENNIS RAMSAY; (who walked behind Simms) was born in Alexandria 
in 1756, He entered the Revolutionary war as Captian  of the 
Virginia Continental Line, and served with distinction. At the 
close of the War he held rank of Colonel. Ramsay was a zealous 
Mason and became a member of Alexandria Lodge 39 in 1783 (a 
charter member) and was an officer of the Lodge for 20 years. 
Ramsay married Jane Allen Taylor and had nine children, William. 
Lesse; Eliza, Ann, Anthony, Jane, Robert T., Amelia, and George. 
Dennis Ransay was the son of William Ramsay a native of Scotland, 
who became one of the trustees of Alexandria in 1749. He assisted 
Thomas the 6th Lord Fairfax, George William Fairfax, Lawrence 
Washington, Richard Osborn, John Carlyle, John Pagan, Hugh West
Gerald Alexander and Philip Alexander in laying out and 
organizing a town in the County of Fairfax by the name of 
Alexandria.


WILLIAM PAYNE; Who walked behind Ramsay, (from Smith's  history 
of Virginia) is said to be the son of Sir Robert Payne, who came 
to America from Yorkshire, Englnd on April 18th 1619 with his two 
brothers, John and William. On the same ship was Sir George 
Yardley the first colonial Governor of Virginia. Col. Payne was 
born in Alexandria, and was one of a committee of safety 
appointed at a meeting held in the Court House in Alexandria, 
July 13, 1774 when George Washington was in the chair, and Robert 
Harrison was Secretary. At an election for vestrymen of
Fairfax Parish, March 28, 1765, William Payne received 304 votes 
and George Washington 274 votes.
The following account appears in the Alexandria Gazette, Aug. 25, 
1874; "In 1754 when Washington, in command of the Virginia 
Rangers was waiting in Alexandria for the arrival of Braddock's 
Forces, an exciting election contest occured between Mr. Fairfax 
and Mr. Payne for the House of Burgesses,Washington supported Mr 
Fairfax with much zeal, and high words passed between Washington 
an Payne in the Market-square. Payne struck Washington a blow 
which brought him to earth, troops rushed in, and would have made
short work of Payne had not Washington  pacified them, assuring 
them that he knew the proper course to take.  Duels were not then 
under ban of Public opinion. All supposed that a fight was 
imminent. Next morning Washington sent for Payne, and when the 
latter entered the room he saw on the table, not a pair of pistols
as he had supposed, but a decanter of wine and two glasses. "Mr 
Payne" said Washington,"to err is human. I was wrong yesterday, 
but if you have had sufficient satisfaction, let us be friends." 
Weems relates "from that day Washington was Payne's idea of true 
manhood. The Magnanimity of Washington will be better understood 
and appreciated when it is recollected that at that time there 
was a cloud upon Washington's Powers, as he had been a few months
before compelled by the French to capitulate at Fort 
Necessity, and had as yet done nothing to redeem his fame."
Col. William Payne served in the Continental Army under 
Washington and on Feb 20, 1784 was admitted a member of 
Alexandria Lodge #39. William Payne died in 1800 just four months 
after serving as a pall-bearer for George Washington.


GEORGE GILPIN; (lead off man on the right side of the coffin) Was 
a revolutionary soldier and officer, and from early in the year 
1809 until the 27th of December 1813 was Postmaster of 
Alexandria, having succeded George Washington Craik Esq. in that 
office 
By appointment of the lodge, Col. Gilpin was one of Washington's 
pall-bearers and was present in the lodge when Washington's death 
was announced and the arrangements were made for his internment. 
Col. Gilpin died in Alexandria, December 27, 1813 and was buried 
with Masonic Honors. Of the six members of the group we find very 
little written, and nothing of his family.


PHILIP MARSTELLER; Followed Gilpin on the right side. Philip 
Marsteller was born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and came to 
Alexandria  after the Revolutonary War, for a number of years was 
engaged in the auction and commission business under the firm 
name of Philip G. Marsteller and Son.
Marsteller served during the Revolution as Lieutenant Colonel 
attached to the Pennsylvania Line, He had three sons, Philip, 
Ferdinand, and Lewis. Lewis died of wounds received in the 
service of the United States in an engagement during the Whiskey 
Insurrection in Western Pennsylvania.
Col. Marsteller attended the funeral lodge of Washington and 
though he was selected as a pall-bearer, was the only mason 
acting in that capacity who was not a member of Alexandria Lodge 
22. Although I am unable to discover to what lodge Marsteller 
belonged, I believe it was a lodge in Pennsylvania. Marsteller
died in Alexandria in 1803.

CHARLES LITTLE; Who followed Marsteller and the last member of the
celebrated group, he was also the youngest member. Col. Little was
of scotch origin, and during the Revolutionary War was an officer
in the Virginia  Continental Line.  Later in 1794 Little commanded
a portion of the troops raised in Fairfax County to help suppress
the "Whiskey Rebellion" in Western Pennsylvania.
The 4th of July 1798 was celebrated with great spirit in 
Alexandria, and the principal feature of which a review of the 
Military by Gen. George Washington. Col. Little acting as his 
aide was also in charge of the military activities. On this 
occasion the artillery was commanded by Captain William Harper, 
the cavalry by Captain Robert Young And the Light Infantry by
George Deneal. The line was reviewed on King Street, after which
the troops attended devine services at Christ Church.

Following the anniversary  dinner, which was served at "Spring
Garden" His Excellency General George Washington reviewed the
troops on the field and expressed his approval of their martial
appearance. The celebration was finished off in the evening by 
the artillery under Captain Harper, which assembled at the top
of Shuter's Hill and fired volley after Volley out over the City.
Col. Charles Little  died at his residence, Denbeigh, Fairfax 
County in 1813.


WHY WERE THEY SELECTED ? - Because they were all Colonels and 
served in some capacity under the General, also they were all 
residients of Alexandria, and with the exception of one, were all 
members of Alexandria Lodge 39. Thus these six Colonels who 
served their country in many ways would have drifted into 
obscurity. Their only claim to Mortality by which they are 
remembered is that they were pall-bearers at the funeral of 
George Washington.
