Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-07-28

between England and the province,
carry out tobecco, timber, iron and
other commodities, and bring in white
servants to the planters. The patent
f Washington and Spencer included
all that tract of land lying on the Po'
'omac and between the two streams
known as Little Hunting creek and
d que, or Epsewasson creek, the
500 acres lying along the first named
creek falling by division to Washington
aud the = 500 acres lying along the last
uamed creek falling to Spencer which
we're subsequently, purchased by the
leirs of Washington. Brent's patent
included all that part of the Mount
Vernon estate, two thousand acres In
extent, lying north OF Little Hunting
creek aud along the Potomac and
known for manv years first as Plscata-
way, then Clifton's Neck, and later as
he River Farm of Mount Vernon,
through which runs the Washington
and Mount Vernon Electric Railwsy for
four miles of It's course This patent
vas granted in 1854 In 1869 patent
was granted by William Berkeley, gov
4rnor OF Virginia, 10 Robert Howson.
This included scope of 6,000 acres of
land fronting on the Potomac river and
extending from Creating Hunting
creek to Pomit's run near the Little
Falls above the present site of George
town. A tobacco rolling warehouse
was some years after established on
the site of the present town
of Alexandria, then called Belle
daven. The pame of these warehouses
was suggested doubtless by the method
of transporting the hogsheads of tobac-
co, which WAS the fixing of shafts to
the outer ends ofan axle passed length
wise through the hogshead. The roll
iug roads were but little wider than
the casks, and the horses or oxen were
harnessed tandem.
Howson did not hold his patent long
but disposed Of it to John Alexander,
of the county of Stafford, who soon
partitioned it to others. On this land
settlements had been made by squat
ers to some extent by the beginning of
100, and IN 1888 a public warehouse
for the storing of tobacco was already
IN use at the head of Great Hunting
creek, not far from the present ford
ing of Cameron run. Then there was
deep water at that point and large yes
sells could come in and take on cargoes.
In 174S, by an act OF the General AS
sembly, sixty acres of land, parcel OF
the lands OF Pnilip Alexander, John
Alexander and Hugh West, situate,
lying and being on the south side OF
Potomac river about the mouth of
Great Hunting creek, in the county
of Fairfax, shall be surveyed and laid
out bv the surveyor of said county for
a town, and the Right Honorable
Thomas, Lord Fairfax, the Hon. Will
liam Fairf4x; Esqrs George William
Fairfax, Richard Osborne. Laurence
Washington, William Ramsay, John
Carlyle, John Pagan, Gerard Alexan-
der, Hugh West and Philip Alexander
were appointed directors and trustees
for designing, building, carrying on
and maintaining said town and laying
of its streets and market place. And
thus the Hunting creek settlement be-
came an incorporated borough and q
port of entry with the privilege of
holding Two general fsirs each year
for the sale and vending of all manner
of cattle. vic!uals, provisions, goods,
wares and merchandise whatever"
W H. S.
TCJniinued