Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1878-06-29
Annals Of ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS SeFies.

INorE. These annals while made up from
The gatherings Of moro than twenty years, arc
DOW, from necessity hurriedly put together at
intervals, which occur sometimee amid the
pressure Of an absorbing business, but which
do not permit the thoughtful care which ought
to character:z, hiatorcal work. Under these
circumstances some errors are unavoidable. but
all of them will be corrected before the annals
take permanent form. Tho author is indebted
to many correspondents for useful suggestions,
and would be glad of any information touching
men and things in this section previous to
1884,
Chapter Villa Years Progress.
l7i9. The next day, the 18th Of July, the
same trustees net again, and Mr.. West. as
cryer, continued 10 their presence the sale OF
the lots. The buyers 10 addition to those who
Ralph Wormley, esq, Charles Mason, John
Alexander, Harry Piper, Geo. Mason, VIM.
Hicks, esq VIM. Munday, VIM. Strother,
Col. VIM. Fitzhugh, John Peyton aud Adam
Stephen. The latter was afterwards revolu.
tiouary officer of eminenoe, lie bought the
lot ct the northwest corner Of King and Royal
streets.
The weather was exceedingly warm and dry,
for the drought that year extended over lOS
days. and thu trustees djourned until the 2Olh
of September. Lots were afterwards sold at
private sale, and among those who purchased
were Anne West, VIM. II. ferret, Pearson Ter
ret. Geo. West, Il. West, j., VIM. Sewall and
Rev. John Moncure One Of the notable pur
chasers OF that days sale was John Champe.
Tradition makes him the father of tho intrepid
Sargeant-M ior Champe of Lees Legion, who,
during the Revolution, took upon himself toe
hazardous Office Of attempting to entrap the
traitor Arnold, aud bring hin back into the
American liucq. 1t was hoped that had this
effort been successful the life Of Major Andre
would have been saved. Cbampe has always
been hero of romance. and in one Of the le-
gends of the Revolution be is represented to
have crossed the ocean after the close OF the
American Revolution. and to have become ia
nous in Fraooe as Marshal Ney, of Napoeon's
armies. He bought the quarter square at the
at the northeast corner of Prince and Fairfax
streets for eight pistoles, about twenty pine
dollars.
Ga tho Goth of September the same trustees
met again and signed deeds for the lots of those
who had paid the purchase money.
At The next meeting, which was held on the
l4,h of December, Hon. VIM. Fairfax and Geo.
VIM. Fairfax attended for the first time. 10
order 10 determine definitely who COMPOSED the
Board of Trustees it was agreed at this meet
ing that all the uDsold lots be advertised to be
sold Oh the 26ih Of December, and that every
trustee have notice of the same and that they
certify whether they will act 10 the cap aclty OF
trustee or not" The meeting Christmas week
was not fruitful. The sale OF lots was further
postponed. This was the last meeting attended
by Richard Osburue. Flo died before the next
meeting.
Durpg the summer and fall VIM. Gladin
had been engaged 10 setting posts at the lot
corners, the first work of the kind ever done
within the town limits. All the lot owners had
declared an intention Of building upon the lots,
80 that there vas fair prospect OF having near
~ q hundred housaa On the hill Wl!hln two
years
1t was thought that the lots mad sold we'll,
bat Philip Alexander, who owned the land
south Of line midway between Cameron and
Queen ntrcets. Was not wiling to abide by the
sale, and to avoid all difficulty. Lawrence Wash
ing, Nathaniel Chapman, Wm. Ramsay, and
rights for eco psto!es, (sbout $780, and the
propristorship then vested in them as tenants
in common under the uams of Chapman & Go.
1850. The winter naturally hiudered opera
tious.n building on the lots, but preparations
we're made to begin some twenty frame bouses
carly ia the spring. The first meeting of the
trustees in the Year 1850 was held on the 29th
of February, l749-'5O," for such is the date in
the town book. The reason is that until two
years later there was no authentic determine.
ton of the beginning of tie year, and the lst
of January, end Lady's Day, the 25th Of
March, were each held by some as entitled to
the honor of Heading forth the days. Hence
in dates between the Ist Of January and the
25sh of March, previous to 1852. both years
are uoited.
At this meeting Geo. Wu. Fairfax and Law.
rcnoe Washington came 10 from the country,
aud all the town trustees, Ramsay, Carlyle,
Pagan, Alexander ADD West, were present.
John Dalton, merchant, partner OF Carlyle,
was chosen trustee to fill the vacant place OF
Richard Osburn, whose death has been already
mentioned Mr.. Dalton soon afterwards built
the house, which still stands (under pinned
when the hill was cut down) at the northeast
coruer of Cameron and Fairfax streets.
The trustees met again on the 9TH Of April.
and settled the accounts Of the toHo. | make
up from them the
The first annual financial statement of the
| tom Of Alexandria, 1850.
DIR. l. s. It.
Paid Francis Porter: surveying, 9 E s
VIM. Gladin for posts to lots, 3 0
Thomas Craford, chain carrier, u 0
| Gerard Bowling, II 0
John West, clerk and cryer, l II lO4
G22 l3 6
OR. l. 8. Il.
| By (Chap man & Co.. P. Alexanlcr's
part OF expenses, - 4 G
Hugh Vests part. s
John Alexandcr's part, o
80 l3 6
This sum was paid by l.944 pounds of tobao
co. which was rated at ID shilliDgs per hundred
weight.
The trustees met again on the 18th of April
and sold lots to Hugh West, Anthony Ramsay,
Nathaniel Smith, Jonathan Ray and William
Munday, and this was the last meeting held
in $780,