National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-30

Few Of tho visitors who saunter about
tho quiet streets Of Georgetown, along
tho beautiful, picturesque heights and
sconory Of Rock creek, or down by tho
busy wharvos. would dream Of tho Won
cradle ago Of this our small though elder
born sistor. Here in place Of tho former
large trade with Europe and the East and
West Indies, now 60 out extensive exports
of coal, flour, and grain. A search
through the ancient, musty folios OF law
archives reveals tho original land patont
issued Nov. Is. 1903, to one NiniGn Beall
Of 705 acres of tho Rock Of Dumbarton,
upon which portion of Georgetown is
built, and whence ono of hor streets de-
rivos its name. At the timo of granting
this land the property was carefully sur
voyed, its limits, extending from the
southeast corner of that tract taken for
Robert Mason, standing at the mouth Of
Rock creek. by tho Potomac river,
running thence $40 perohos north-north-
west, to the eastward 800 perchos, then
due south $40; from here oastorly again
418 perohes, 20 perches to south-south-
west and from thence 175 perchos In o
straight limo by tho creek and river TO
tho first bounding.
SO much for the absolutely authentic.
And now regarding this same Ninian
Beall, who subsequently, bore tho title Of
colonel. Tradition steps in informing us
that prior to sailing tho Atlantic and
settling here as the first white man, he
was n native Of Scotland, Of the town OF
Largo, from which place tho celebrated
Alexander Selkirk escaped, and won't to
In Nav 1870 rod tha m rdNF
of Archbishop Sharpe, of st. Andrews.
Ninian Beall, at the time suspected Of
completely in this foul deed, though sub
soquontly tho charge was proven q false
ono, left tho land Of his birth, and came
to Georgetown, then q wild place without
name, through whose forests roamed
various tribes of Indians. Bringing with
him from Scotland Us precious possession
n suit of cleaning mail, this grim old man
always appeared clad from head to foot in
his armor. Shortly after his arrival, in
an encounter with tho tribe of Susque-
hannas, Col. Beall captured tho chiefs
/ daugstsh After being raised in his fam
lily and grown TO woman's estate, she
became tho wife Of his son George, who,
with his brother Thomas, later in the
history of this place, arc mentioned as
being respectable inhabitants"
ahp Va Dhuy hppooip w SpNOs
notable one, for upon May 10, 1751,
Georgetown was formally organized by
the legislature of Maryland, and suitably
laid out for a town, above tho mouth of
Rock creek, ON the Potomac, in Frederick
county. At the same time tho logisla-
ture announced themselves authorized to
purchase some sixty acres, part of lands
owned by George Beall and George Cor
don, upon whichever portion should APP
pear to them most desirable for the pur-
pose, after which the said land was to DO
surveyed into eighty lots, town builded
thereon, and called Georgetown. Upon
the owners refusing to sell, an animated
controversy followed. which ended rs
such matters generally do, the victory
being gained by the body, the individuals
having to submit, as best they might, to
the property being valued by commission
ers selected for the purpose, who were
Henry Wright Crabb, James Nocdham,
John Clagott, James Perry and David
| Lynn. To the owners of the contested
land was hereupon awarded $3.50, to-
gether with the privilege Of first choice
in selecting two lots each for their future
residence.
In these carly times person holdin z
any Office whatsoever under the primitive
government, no matter how unimportant
might be his duties, was required to take
the following unique form of iron clad
oath:
| 81, -, do hereby declare that do be-
licye that there Is not any transubstantiation
| in the sacrament OF the Lords supper or In
| the elements of bread and wine, at or after
the con secration thereof by any person what
| soever."
For the first original sixty acres were
subsequently added Bealrs first addition
of sixty-one acres from the Rock Of Dunn
barton, in Nov.,' 1888; Peter Beatty,
Threlkeld, and Deakin's twenty acres in
the following year, which was divided
into sixty-flve lots; Beall's second addi-
ton, Deakin and Bailey and Throlk cid,
Deakin, Leo, and Cazanoves; IIolmead's
addition and Beatty and Hawkins's addi-
ton. The assembly of Maryland then
in 1888, incorporated the place as q city.
Georgetown having now boon regularly
organized and recognized as o city. ii
will not be inopportuno to give some
slight mention of tho various ideas prev
alent as to tho correct derivation of its
name. Many, perhaps tho majority, in
cline to the impression that the place
springing into being during the reign OF
tho Georges, and the citizens furthermore
being loyal subjects, they called it after
George III. Others again as stoutly aver
that the Hanoverians can in no wise lay
claim to that honor, but that George, the
son Of Ninian Besll, founder of the place,
standing in tho attitude of sponsor, re
ceived acknowledgment of his services in
beholding rs his namesake the puny
babe grow aud strengthen into pros
porous being.
The son of this George Beall died in
1905 and is mentioned in chronicles of
that period, as person of limited educa-
ton, vigorously opposed to the theory OF the
oarth's rotundity, but extremely fond OF
surveying, ofwhich science he possessed
considerable knowledge. His reading
was confined to tho Bible. Josephus
Cooks Voyages, Morse's Gazetteer, aud
every newspaper obtainable. He mar
red Magrudcr,a family of tho turbu,
lent clan of Mcdregor's who, outlawod
by the English government in 1888. came
direct to this country. Thomas Brooke,
Col. George Bealls other son, was at ont
time president of the Farmers aud
Mechanics banks-now used as Robinson,
mill-which institution later on loaned
to our government the money to fit out
troops for the battle Of New Orleans. Hi!
eldest daughter married Rov. DR.. Balch
of tho Bridge street Presby terrain church
in 1882. Thomas Beall, uncle of :hil
ono and brother of Col
George Beall, built some hundred
years since. the house still standing OIL
tho heights and, until quite recently, fol
II long period occupied by tho family o.
tho late Judge Peck. This was thu
manor house of tho farm Rock of Dunbar
ton. Tho original farm house only 0
portion of which is yet standing, til,
other half having in the last few month";
been torn down to give way to modern
brick structuro-is aquaint, low. slopinG
rooted house, with double porohos eN
tending across tho entire front, situated
on the south sido of p street. between
Montgomery and Monroe streets. Thomas
l3call married an Ormc, tho family of thai
name coming from Cumberland and Stat
fordshiro, in England, and died in 1919
| nc tIn tWn Iuuuhtnra bnrn IF thig mn r.