Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-04-06
OLD-TIME LAND GRANTS.
The Curious Names That Were Given to
Land in This Locality,


The poet Moore, who visited Washington dur
ing the administration of MIR. Jefferson, saws
Mr.. Hugh T. Taggart, satirize1 in verse what
he assumed to be the disposition of the WASH
ingtonians to borrow the nomenclature Of
Rome.
That the Washington Tiber came legitima.ey
by Its name is shown by the fact that patent
was issued by the colonial authorities Of Mary
land on May 10. 1864. TO facetious gentleman
by the name of Francis Pope for tract Of land
called Rome" situated on Tiber creek and
containing 400 acres. This tract fell within the
lines of the city of Washington and the Capitol
building is situated upon or near it. Mr.. Pope
had evidently had desire to be known ms
Pope of Rome on Tiber.'
Ia the surveyors Office there is an old book
one of the records of tine first Commissioners
OF the city of Washington. upon n blank page
OF which there is written. under date of Jan
uary 5. 1875. and under the heading Prophecy"
the following:
The time will come when this wide waste Of
morass and thcKet open plain and wooded dell
viii resound with the busy hum of industry and
be redolent with the glow Of action and the
thrill of life-the swamps along the Tiber.
teemlng as they do now with all the varieties of
animal and vegetable life. before the destruc-
tive march of man will gradually disappear and
art will erect Its palaces the ruins of ma
ture."
ODD NAMES SELECTED.
Among the earlier grants of land in this
section were "Bl ne Palms." across the Eastern
branch. surveyed for George Thompson in 1862;
''St. Elizabeth" upon which is located the
Government Hosuital for the Insane and Cries
borough were surveyed in 1858; '.Duddlngton
Manor. 1000 acres, New Troy" 500 acres,
and "Duddington Pasture" 300 acres. were
(Tenrpa Thpp1nsnp
1868 The three last named tracts fell wholly
within the lines OF the city of Washington when
il was laid out. The widows Mite" 800 acres.
was granted to John LgagwOrih in 1900. This
tract extended in the shape OF II parallelogram
from the river at the Observatory grounds in a
northerly direction. and the larger portion of
it was included i'll the city Of Washington. The
'tGtne-s Gift. 500 acres. was granted to Rich
ard and VIM. Pinaer in 1861 it was located on
Tiber creek. White Haven" 759 acres, was sur
veyed in 1859 for john Addison and William
Hutchinson. ''St. Philip and Jacob 4v0 acres.
was granted to Philip Lines in 1875 Both Of
the latter tracts were on the river above George
town. The Vineyard" $50 acres. between
Rock creek and the Observatory grounds. was
granted to William Hutchison Nav 10. 1896
Girls Portion" 1.776 acres, WIS patented to
Col. Henry Darnall in 1883. ''Beall's Levels"
225 acres. was granted to Col. Ninan Beall in
1908. portion of this tract. with some vacant
ground added. was the property of David
Burns. one of the original proprietsrs of land
in the city of Washington. 1t was patented to
him in 1774 as the eldest son and heir-at-law of
James Burns. for whom it was resurveyed in
1869. and who had died before obtaining the
patent. James Burns. the father of David. oc-
cupied the land as tenant for two years before
purchasing it from Henry Massey. Between
the year 100 and the outbreak of the revolu.
tionary war numerous grants were made Of
tracts Of land in this vicinity under the names
of Plain Dealing. Success. Little Chance"
"Fiint's Discovery" Addition to FIints Dis
covery," Fortune "Allison's Forest, ALI
sons Forest Enlarged" james Gift"
"Ormes' Luck "Rock of Dumbarton." ''Addi-
ton to Rock of Dumbarton." "BealIs Lot"
Gift, ''Bealrs Plains Fellowship" "Poor
Toms Last Shift" Good Luck" flames
Park" "Lamars Outlet" "Knaves' Disap-
pointment,' ''Conjuror's disappointment"
Argyle, COwen and Lorne,' &c.