Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-01-08
Whence Came the Title to Alexander's
Islnndf

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Islnndf
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
The claim that Alexanders Island is
legally a portion Of the District of Column
bia has led to inquiry as to the sources Of
the jurisdiction over 1t. 1t is certain that
in the earliest times, when 1t was fully
recognized as an island. the governors of
Virginia exercised juris diction over it, and
that this Jurisdiction was continued with
out contest until, in 1880, it was coded to
the United States and became part of the
District of Columbia, and that upon its re-
troces sion of Alexandria county to Virginia,
in 1877, the state of Virginia resumed Juris-
diction over the island. The land which
includes this island was granted by the
governor of Virginia, Sir VIM. Berkeley,
to Capt Robert Howsen by the following
instrument, now on record in the land Of
fiC e Of Virginia:
Howsen's Patent.
To all whom these presents shall come
Whereas, his most sacred majestic hath
been graciously pleased by his royal letters
patent to continue the antient privilege
and power of granting fifty acres of land
for every person imported into his
majesties colony of Virginia. Now, know
We that l, Sir William Berkeley, knight,
governor, etc, give and grant unto Mr..
Robert Howsen six thousand acres of land.
situated, lying and being upon the freshes
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above the dividing branches of the same,
beginning at a red oak standing by small
branch or run of water, nearly opposite to
small island commonly called and known
by the name of-My Lords Island, extend
ing down the Potomac river. various
courses 1852 poles, making southwest
erly lire, to a pohicccry standing at the
north point of a creek named by the En-
glish Indian Cabin creek, which creek di-
vides this land and a tract of land sur
veyed for John Matthews. From the said
pohiccory northwest by west, up the said
creek and main branch 80 poles, from
thence north i $40 poles finally east 10 to
the red oak begun, including several small
creeks and inletts for the said quantity.
The said land being due sfper mark, trans
porting Of 10 persons.
To have and to hold, ETC., to be held. etc,
yielding and paying etc.. dated the 2lst
day Of October, 1863.
The country near AleXander's Island was
at this time as wild, except for The few
paths which the hunter makes through the
thicket, when Capt. Smith explored the
river. Hunters and trappers, however,
knew the region we'll and did not fear to
traverse it, though the Dogue Indians still
claimed it as their hunting ground and
the white mans scalp was only safe when
it was protected by his rifle. So the land
laid when Capt. HowSen, who had arrived
in the Potomac with a-cargo of immigrants,
procured the patent which covered the land
from Hunting creek to Georgetown. This
Capt Howsen was the commander of a ship
trading in the Potomac; and for each pas
senger whom he brought over he was en-
titled under the common law of the colony
to receive fifty acres of public land. OF the
origin of this custom the statutes extant
show nothing. 1t seemed to have been al
lowed by common consent. The property
in these fifty acres vested by right in the
Immigrant, either upon landing, If he were
a free man, or IL he were an indentured ser
want, then at the end Of the seven years.
when the term of service expired. Owing
doubtless to the unscrupulouSness of one
party and the ignorance of the other, the
land which was intended for the immi-
grant was claimed by the party importing
the immigrant. Such seems to have been
the case with Capt. Howsen's grant.
Capt. Howsen held his patent but short
time A few weeks after he had received
it he made an assignment of the patent to
John Alexander, a planter of Stafford, for
5000 pounds of tobacco and small sum in
cash. Tobacco was then rated at two pence
per pound SO that this Is about 30 pounds,