Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-07
GEORGEFOWN'S EARLY HISTORY,
Pages from Ancient Records.
People and Events of the Last
Century.

IHA ACT OF THE MARYLAND ASSEMBLY OF JUN
SrH, 1t5l, TO LAY OUT TOWN AT THE MoUrs
or ROCK CREEK.
Our neignbonng city of Georgetown, now
merged in washington, antedsted the city Of
Washington about half a century, and wa:
laid out under an act OF the Maryland Assem-
bly,. This act entitled an "act for laying ou
and erecting town On Potomac river above thu
mouth of Rock Creek, In Frederick county
Maryland" passed the general assembly al
Annapolis, June stn, 1751. The preamble recit 4
that whereas several Inhabitants of Frederick
county, by their humble petition to this
general assembly, have set forth that there Ia q
convenient place for town on Potomac river
above the mouth OF Rock Creek, adjacent 70
the Inspection house, and prayed that sixty
acres OF land may be there laid OUT &C.
the second section named Capt. Henry Wright
SIsrs,, Master Mss,ar yonn Needham Master John
Mag1udeT the Third. Master Jos as all aud
Master David Lynn as commissioners, aud
authorized them to Duy sixty acres, part OF the
tracts Of LAID belonging to MeSsrs. George
Gordon and George Beall, and to lay out eighty
lots to be erected into town. The third sec
ton empowered them to meet together on TIE
land and treat, III IL can be done on rsasona Die
termsl, with the owners for the purchase and
IL they will not agree for such price as the co n
missioners shall think reasonable, the commits
sfoDers were empowered to issue q warrant
directed to the sheriff OF Frederick county,
commanding him TO summon and empannel q
Jury Of seventeen good and lawful men to meet
and assess what damages they shall think ft
TO be paid to the owners of the land &C. The
next section directs the land to be surveyed
and price assessed, and the sixth section enacts
that the owners OF the land may have their
choice OF any OF the two lots to be by them re-
tanned for their own use, provided that such
choice shall be made within ten days after the
survey shall have been made. The twelfth
section enactS that whereas 1t may be ad-
yantageouS to the said town to have fairs
therein, and may prove an encouragement to
the back Inhabitants to bring commodities
there TO sell and vend; that the commissioners
may appoint two fairs to be held therein an
nuaiiy, one on the first Thursday in April and
Inc other the first Thursday In OCTOBER, &C.,
&c; provided that the rules and orders Of the
1alr De not inconsistent with the statutes and
customs OF Great Britain.
AN ANCIENT BOOK OF RECORD.
Much OF the early history OF the town has
been entirely forgotten. and 1t was supposed
until recently that no continuous record Of the
proceedings OF the Commissioners who laid out
the town. or OF the Old corporation, existed. Not
long since, however, an old book was dtscov-
cred among the ancient records OF George
town which throws considerable light on the
past local history or the ancient settlement
It Is "a Journal OF the Corporation of George
town, commencing 18th day of September, 1851.
Y inches by IL In dimensions and OF about 200
page5-the paper being musty with age and the
volume needing careful handling to prevent It
remarkable for its neatness. but an iHs pection
OF 1t shows that the clerks In the early portion
OF GeorgetOwD'5 history evidently paid more
attehtion 10 handwriting than to spelling.
GEORGETOWN BORN AND cHRIsrsNsD.
The first entry Is as follows: THE dashas
representing missing Or il,egible portions Of
the manuscript Pursuant to an act Of as
sembly, made at a session of assembly. begun
and held at The city OF Annapolis, on Wednes.
day, the fifteenth day of May, AnnoquI
DomiE, one thousand seven hundred and MY
one. for laying out and erecting Town on
Potomaek river at the Mouth Of Rock Creek in
x ana 10 HsS and
ing TO Messrs. Geo. Gordon on - at the place
aforesaid whsreit shall appear to most con.
senieht and to survey and lay out Same
yenient manner into Eighty Lofts to Town
and called BY the name OF Geor - Wednes-
Day Day the eighteenth day Of seven hundred
wright Crabp, John Needham, n John
Clagett, James Perry aud David Lynn,
ana proceeded TO choose clerk, AMI made
1Dg oath. VIZ: You, Alexander Beall, do swear
(as CLERK to the commissioners OF George Town)
you shall duly and faithfully register and enter
In good, well bound book the Certificate OF the
surveyor OF George Town the prices OF ca ID re-
spectve Lott, the name CT the owner and the
time OF It's teing paid for or of the tender or
transactions and proceedings OF the com MS
sfoners whatsoever In and about the own
Aforesaid Sworn this-- day OF Septe nber.
I'ol, before John Ncedham.
DIFFICULTY AT STARTING AND HOW IT WAS
0yEKCOME.
Then follows an entry that Alexander Beall
Is also appointed surveyor TO lay out the sixty
acres or land into town, as the act dIrecta
but so much OF the manuscript Is missing that
correct recitation OF the metes and bounds
cannot oe copied: The entry continues
(Which lines fncl0Se twenIy-siX acres and
eleven slxteenths OF an acre of George Gordon,s
land, and thirty.three acres ana I'VE sixteanths
Oh an acre OF George Bealrs land. txarehouse
acre inclIded-) They then applied 70 the said
George Gordon and George B5aii. proprietors OF
the said sixty acres or land, for the purchase
thereof. as said act directs, who refused TO
agree Tor the same or make sale thereof On
reasonable terms; after celebrating On the said
proprfetors refusal TO agree for or make sale of
saio sixty acres OF land, they issued their war
and form following viz:
You are heresy commanded to summon sew
enteen good and lawful men, freehoIders OF
Frederick County, to be and appear at the
inspection House, above the mouth of Rock
Creek. On the PotOmack River in said County
On the twenty eighth day OF SEPTEMBER, 1851,
recompense they shall think fit 10 be paid and
given 10 such owner or owners, person or per-
sons. for the sixty acres OF Land laid on for
George TOWN herof fail no.. Given und er our
handS and seals this eighteenth day OF Seprem-
Der, 1851. Henry Wright Craoo, John eed-
nam, John Clagett, James Perry and David
Lynn
To Mr.. Josias BeaIl, Coroner OF Frederick
Co."
JURY OF CONDENSATION.
The next entry dated September 2Sth. 1881,
recites that the commissioners named above
and Samuel Magruder met. and the Jury sum.
moned under the above warrant made return
THAT MeSsre. George Gordon and George BeaiI
shall have two hundred and eighty pounds
currency as the ValGe." THIS Is signed by
Nicholas Baker. Nathaniel Magruder, Thomas
Clagett, Chas. Jones, James Wallace, Ninian
Magruder, James Beall, Chas. Clagett, James
Holman, Zecharlah Magruder. Basil Beall,
Vim. Williams, VIM Waliace, Alexan Ter Ma
grucer, Nathaniel Magruder, ST., of Alexander
and John Magruder.
ANCIENT NAMES OF THE STREETS.
A record OF 9th February, 1852, recites the
presence OF the same commissioners, and con-
tiuues as follows: 1.-THE survey OF said town
being completed, and the platt thereof delivered
py the appointed surveyor to the commissioners
aforesaid, and approved by them, the commits.
SoherS proceeded TO number the lofts
the plat Is given showing that that portion
or Brfoge street west OF High street was then
Known as Falls street. and that part of High
street south OF Bridge street was known as
Water street. IN the western part OF the to1n
there were West and Duck lanes and I'm the
eastern part East and Fishing lanes. The