Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-01-06
GIealings from our Local History.
pIsCATAwAY NECK, VA.
NO. Z.

BY a colonial patent dated 1864 all
that tract of land lying between Little
Hunting creek and the Potomac river
aud opposite to the Indian town Of Pts.
Getaway on the Maryland shore, con-
tanning two thoueand acres, WAS grant
ed to Col. Giles Brent, of Overwharton
parish, county of Stafford, Virginia.
The locality was then and for mauy
wears after known as Piscataway Neck.
Ia 1889 the entire track became IL @
property of William Clifton, and subse-
ouently was known as Clilton's Neck.
La the course OF years Clifton became
involved in debts and his lands were
mortgaged to Charles Carroll of Carroll
ton, tho last surviving signer OF the
Declaration of American Independence,
aud by a decree OF the court were or
dered to be sold to satisfy his claim
George Washington, George VII lam
Fairfax anG Charles Greene, esqs, were
appointed ihe commissioners. The sale
was made in frcnt of the Courthouse Of
Fairfax county, May 12.h, 1760, and
Washington making the highest bid,
that OF twelve hundred aud ten pounds
sterling, Was declared the purchaser.
Only about FIVE hundred acres Of the
lana WAS then under cultivation; the
rest was covered with heavy timber.
Washington had sometime before, by
the death OF his half brother Lawrence,
in 1852, Inherited twenty-five hundred
acres Immediately adjoining, and by
various purchases beside the Clifton
tract his estate of Mount Vernon was
augmented to eight thousand acres,
all lying in one body. The Clifton
ract be designated as his river
ann. Through it passes the Wash
ington and Mount Vernon electric
galway ior nearly three miles OF
It's length. Every portion of this
aeck is invested with historic
associations not alone of local but OF
national significance and interest as
well, and the reyerential and patriotic
curiosity of our people, stimulated by
The efforts of the Daughters end sons
of the Revo ution ard otte kindred Sc
;ietits, will come to appreciate them
more and more as the years go By.
Washington some years previous to the
revolution erected on the river farm
described the colonial mansion OF
"Welliugtop, still remaining an0 in a
sood state of preservation. 1t stands
N one OF the finest sites of the entire
course ofthe Potomac. The view which
I affords of the national capital and its
surroundings is superb, and rarely OK
celled II was for many years the
home of Tobias Lear, private secretary
of the first President from 1856 to ll99.
The fishing shores of Clifton Neck
were among the most productive OF any
along the river. Everybody has heard
at Johrson's spring, which gushes With
a never falling supply OF cool
snarkling water from the river
bank nearly opposite to Fort
Washington. The locality was IN
colonial times 3 noted duellipg ground.
The last duel fought there was in 1913
between Eroch Lyell aud man by the
game of Bowie, Of the opposite shore OF
MARYLAND, in which the former was
killed. The quarrel which led TO the
tragic affair grew out OF misInder-
standing between the parties at ball
in the village of Plscstaway. Lyell's
crave is in the weed and briar-grown
graveyard of the ancient Epl5c"pai
Church at the head OF Broad creek. On
dark, weather beaten and moss
grown slab lying ovef It is the follow
inscription:
..Go. our dear sou. obey the call of Heaven
Tby sins were few-we trust they are for
given.
Yet oh what pen can paint the parents woe
90 only csn punish the hand that gave the
blow"
Lyell was the challenged party and
was averse to deciding the difficulty by
trial of battle. believing it could and
ought to be settled amicably, but his an
taeonist was inexorabie and he was
goaded on to fighting by his father ana
mother, who were SC soon to depiore
the result of their evil counsels.
Il is told of Lyell that ne was young
man of promise, and held in high es
TEEN in his neighborhood. His medal
lion portrait, still preserved and iresn
"a on the day when the accomplished ar
fist nut mis- last touches upon it, shows
him to have possessed at least hand
some visage. Bowie, his antagonist,
fe0 soon after the tragic events from
the condemnation of his acquaintance
TO the frontiers of the southwest where
he became a desperate and outlaw. he
has LETT behind MIN the unenvlsoie rep
utation of having invented the bowie
knife. How much truth there may De
in the story we know not.
The hip rooted house, over two nun,
dred years old, is still standing on lhe IN
shore of Broad creek, where tne
man was carried by his frlends
to die. 1t stand lonely and ghostIike7'
8 grim memorial, not only OF the duei,
but of The better, more prosperous days
- the locality, when square rlggeo yes,
Oa,s ~ ave6 sailed from the lonely ana
5esolate I place w;th cargoes OF tooaeeo soa,iIo
and other valuable freighs n1 o ieltn lt,er
and productive country. Long a.:
the occurrence OF the duel the @ olu
house was to all the negro popaialioG!
rNa