The morning times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1897, 1895-11-05
PIONEER AND PROPHET
Famous Captain Fleeie the First
White Man of the District.
WASHINGTON ONCE TOHOGA
Mr.. NJ. j. Weller Tells an Interesting
. Story Beforethe Column bia Historical
Society-An Interesting Letter of
George Washington Presented by
DIR. j. d. Morgan of This City.

A letter of George Washington, which
has never been published, was read last
evening at meeting of the Columbia
Historical Society.
Al this meeting Mr.. NJ. L. Weller read an
essay in which he sought to prove FROM
authentic records that Capt. Henry Fleetc,
otherwise famous, was the first white resi-
dent OF Washing ton or at least of that
part of tie country row embraced IN the
District of Columbia. These two subjects,
both of great historical interest, entertained
the society.
Or. j. NJ. Toner presided, with Miss Mary
Stevens Beall as secretary. Rev. Or. Tai
mage was among the guests OF the society.
Tine Washington letter was presented by
DR.. j. d. Morgan, of this city. 1t was
written from Valley Forge, February rs,
l ~ &, TO Col John Fitzgerald, at Alexandria.
THE special point of the communication Is
that it shows that Washington was fully
aware of the cabal among the army officers
who opposed his promotion to the major
generalship.
HE INHERITED THE LETTER.
The relic descended to DR.. Morgan's fam
lily through his mother. who was q MISS
Diggs, Col. Fitzgerald having married
Miss Diggs. The letter has special value
ing published by one of the magazines on
the subject of which 1t treats.
Mr.. Weller's story of Capt. Fleete was
interestingly told. His AUTHORITY is
record from the Lambeth Palace library,
written by Capt. Fleete.
The document shows that in 1921, in
his first voyage up the Potomac, he
was captured by the Nacostia, or Ana costa.
Indians, who held him in captivity for
five years in their capitol Tohoga, near
the city of Washington.
On his release he made several other
voyages, during one of which he landed
on the east side of the Potomac, and
he described the spot so exactly by
latitude and topography that without
doubt he referred to the land on which
Washington has been built. He even re-
ferred to it as the site fer great city
Mr.. Weller does not think that the
records prove that Capt John Smith ever
landed on the east shore of the river, nor
that he made voyages up the Potomac.
Mr.. Weller suggested that the society
take steps to fittingly commemorate Capt.
Fleete's historical relation to the Dis
trict of Columbia. y
JOHN SMITH ON THE POTOMAC.
His narrative was fun OF incidents
Occurring between Capt. Fieete and the
principal tribes that dwelt along the banks
of the grand old river.
Mr.. Spoffurd, the librarian OF Congress,
was present and took part in the discus
sion. Mr.. Spufford maintained that Capt.
John Smith made a voyage up the Potomac
in 1907, reaching the falls above George
town in that wear. Mr.. SpOfford, however,
did not cUntrovert the proposition that Capt.
Fleete was the first white man who lived
in this District.
The society win probably take some
action ON Mr.. Wellers suggestion at its
December meeting.
President Toner requested the members
to bring to that meeting anything of new
historical value, So that the next session
will be one OF special interest.