Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1875-04-03
THE ANNALS OF ALEX aNDRIA.
BYW. +. CARNE.
THIRD SERIES.
CHAPTER VII.
THE SITUATION IN 1880 l74O.


The tobacco Warehouse mentioned 10 the
last chapter definitely fixed the centre OF the
upper Potomac community on the NH "n,ch
o'erhuug the river, at the Junction or the 70
tomac with Orouoko creek (uow dWlodied 10
the little ruh that passes noTth ol tue WASH
iugtou ard Ohio depot -.
Ia the meantime the population In this
neehborhoud had so much Increased as to rem
der necessary new county, aud 10
1871 Prluce William Was erected from the
head Of Stafford, and thence forward for ten
Years the site Of Alexandria. which had been
in succession iu Accomac, Northumberland,
Westmorelaud and Stafford, was a part Ut
Priucc William county.
During this period-l75O to l74O-the sec
tion of country both here aud above increased
rapidly, as had also the Maryland settlements
opposlte, and accordingly, in l64O, ferry al.
ready exis,ing trom the Belle Haven Rolling
House to Frazier's Point 10 Maryland, was
made a public ferry by law. This ferry was
continued at the same place within the mem
ory OF living men. The old fish house al this
eud of Fishtown, was the storehouse OF
trar sit on the ferry route. The new Vir-
giuia Midland railroad ferry reneWs this
old route SO far as the Maryland side Is
concerned, aud it is among the llkellhoods OF
the next few years that the Old Terry route
will be re-estabtished. There has been some
division of opinion as TO the hrst site OF Bell
haven. Some among those who have had op-
nortunities of Intercourse with old inhaul-
iauts, who had been gathered to their Fathers
long before the birth of the compiler Of these
annals. say that it was the common tradition
that the first hamlet iu this neighborhood was
at the Ciish farm, near the point at which
Cameron Run bridge now stands aud that
this was ''at Arthur Broadwater's land, GU
Hunting Creek" where the Legislature order
ed the establishment of a tobacco warehouse
in l72S. -.
and says:
"The first concentration of trade ION the up
per Potomac) was at the Hunting Greek to-
bacco warehouse at the head OF the tide and
near where the old Colchester road crosses the
creek 10 lT4S an act passed for laying OFT
town at Huutug Greek warehouse, but the
site now occupied by Alexandria being found
more eligible the town was laid off there and
called Belle Haven. 1t was afterwards changed
to Alexandria 10 compliment TO the family OF
AIexanders who held the surrounding lands,
aud the Legislature recognized the new name.
Ga the other haod, portion of his statement
is coptradcted by the act OF l14S, establishing
the town OF Alexandria, aud there has certain
ly been an impression, well nigh universal,
chat BelIhaven aud Alexandra were one and
..he same. Parson Weems, 20 mean authorl.
" on local history, speaks of Alexandria and
Belhaven as one place, and 10 Fry and Jetter-
500 5 map of Virginia Of date 1852, the town
is represented 10 its present position on the 70
tou,ac and is styled alexandria and B.llhaV-
en-
1t may be we'll to note that while settlements
advanced along the Virginia side OF the Poto.
mac they advanced with somewhat more rapid
strides on the Maryland side. The Court House
of Prince Georges county, which, as already
narraed, was cut off from Charles county 10
1876, was at first located at Charestown, for
yottep settlement in the lower portion OF the
cuunty but iu IT'S, it was removed to Upper
Marlboro showing that the country opposite
Alexandria had then ceased to be considered
any longer portion of the troutier OF clVlza-
ton.
NOTE. This concludes the third series of
the anoals. These are necessarily brokeu into
successive series of chapters by the fact that
the time of the compiler is so occupied, that
but little leisure is offorded him for grouping
the materials which he has gathered. 1t must
be done by piece. meal iu this way or lett un-
done. The next series-from l740 to 1850 will
of necessity treat more especially ot this locality
will narrate the circumstanc s attending the
foundation of the town, the sale OF Its lots, the
arrival of Braddock S troops, their encampmcnt
here aud the early connection OF Washington
with the town. When these will be ready, 1t is
impossible DOW to say.