Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1891-04-09
COMMUNICATED.
Sketches of Colonial Tim S


In the peninsula formed by the Pohick
bay, Potomac river, Ocooquan bay, Belmont
bay and Kans's creek, known in coloniaI
times az "Doeg's Neck" lies the" "Gunston"
estate. a straight line Of little more tnsn q
mile 10 length from Pohick bsy to the head
of Kane's creek, which Issues from the
northern eide of Belmont bay, separates
"Guneton" fFcm ''SpriDg6eld" and which
together with p f.ouage Of some II miles on
the waters before named, formed the bound
aries of this historic plantation of over 3 600
acres, owned sud occupied oy the sothor OF
the Constitution Of Virgin!a-George Mason
Of Guneton Hall. Alter his death The estate
was divided aud the western portion was
named u Lsxington," on which mansion
house aas built aud occupied for many
years by some of the Mason kiudred, bu the
buildings have been slDce destroyed. Near
Gunston Hall is the family bnrying ground
in which repose several generations Of the
Mssops The only portion Of the original
Guustop estate remaining with the NJ aeon
family is tract of about 500 acres, lying on
Ksne's creek, upon which the Lexington
house formerly stood. The principal owD.
era of the remainder are the Otterback
heirs, 100 acres; Thomas F Chapman. 600;
W. W Wright, 600, aud Col. Edward Dan
iels, 700 (; the latter being the part ccDtalu-
ing the Gunston msnsioD. which Coz. D. bas
several times repaired.
Under large locust tree near the hay
STORE, some ba!f-mile southeast CT Gun=,ou
Hall, is eravestone which bars record Of
mer of 1749, aged AZ years. Among the re-
cords ct Fairfsx G. 81 ia commission frcm
Gov. William Gooch to Jereniah Bronsu2h
AZ sheriff OF Fairfax county, dated August
3cc, 1747, which refers undoubtedly to the
same person The Masons and BroDaughs
we're related by marriage. There is another
historic incident connected with GuDston
which Possesses some interest. As the writer
was trampiug along the bay shore O few
years before the late war be rsn aCroes ln
cove an iron cannon partly imbedded In
the sands, and upon inquiry as 10 how it
came there this tradition was unfolded: {:
During the war of 1872 battery wes placed
oo the bluff at Belvoir to coDteet the passage
OF the British feet up the Potomac. This
gun wee for some reason left st Gray's Hill,
near Wood lawn, where 1t remained for some
time until the second Geo Mason removed
it to Gunston aud mouoted 1t on the shore 10
keep off the duck gunners with their large
swivel guns. How much it was used foe
that purpose, tradition saith not, bat lying
in an unirequented place overgrown With
vines and bushes the gun with ts tradition
was no doubt forgotten by most Of those
| who ever know 1t, until the writer some
years after, being 10 the interior IF Virginia,
| oy chance met with an old gentleman BY
nsme Samuel Arell Mhrstellar. who upon
learning that my home was near Woodlawn,
asked il l knew or had ever heard anything
Of a piece of ordnance abandoned at Grey's
Hill during the war of 1872. When told
| about the Gunston relic, his countenance
lighted up as when hearing from an old
friend. Well, said he, II am the fellow that
| left that gun there" 1t seems that he was
connected with the army and was ordered
to transport some guns from Alexandria to
Belvoir for the battery there aud th!a one
was abandoned. Oh account of some mishap,
so the tradition was confirmed. He had
| been soon after called to other and distant
parts of the country and for some reason the
matter was overlooked and forgotten. Mr..
Marstellar had never heard word about
| the old gun until his meeting with your COR
respondent. He had been familiar with
| that par. of the country in his early youth,
as bis grandfather was an aide to General
Washington and one of his psli-bearers. G..
| Accotipk, April 8.