Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1899-07-27
SCRAPS OF EARLY HISTORY

AN OLD MERCHANTS S LEDGER.
Before me lies waif which has es-
capped fire ard flood and the many 9TH
or destructive agencies of time to tell
to the living Of today its mute but
curious and instructive story of gen
Grafton of people long since dust. 1t is
merchants ledger. 1t was brought
from Old London town. Its folio
leaves are paper made from linen and
strong to resist hard wear and usage.
They are now yellow but we'll preser-
we'd. The pages are flied with &C.
counts OF trade and traffic in Colches-
ter on the Occoquan river running
through the years of 1850 l 2 and 8,
when that long since vanished town
vas a hourishing shipping port and
frontier post, and was bidding fair to
become populous and enduring place
of hsbtstion.
The entries of the old book are by a
clerkly hand. They are not in the
least faded, and are very legible-just
such script as the curious antiquarian de-
lights to follow. The photography is
sometimes little quaint, but that does
not detract from its interest and value
after SO long lapse of time.
When the first page of this ledger
was written Virginia stretched in
terminably over the Alleghanies toward
the Pacific ocean. Williamsburg was
its vice regal capital and Francis Eau
quier its vice regal governor. Only
two years before, the French traders
and habjtants had been in undsputed
possession of the Ohio valley, but now
mad abandoned it before the steady ad.
vance of the Eaglishman. The county
of Fairfax had been organized but
fifteen years and that of Loudoun but
two years. George II was on the Brit
ish throne and William Pitt was prime
minister. The States of Ohio, Indiana,
Illinois, Kentucky and Tennessee we're
but outlying counties of Virginia in her
uorth western territory. Gen. Brad
ock had been lying in his wilderness
grave five years. Benjamin Franklin,
first postmaster general, was busy ar
ranging the first continental mail
routes. Napoleon Bopaparte and the
Duke of Wellington, leaders OF the con
tending armies at Waterloo, had not yet
seen the light. Colonel George Wash
iug'oo, twenty eight years of age, flush
ed with his first mlltary experiences
on the Ohio, had just brought his bride,
the widow Martha Custis, to be mistress
of Mount Vernon and had yet seven
years 20 tarry before assuming COM
mand of the continental army of the
thirteen original provinces. Alexand'
ria was little more than struggling
village of Eve or six hundred inhabi-
tants. Georgetown was an inconsider-
able hamlet and where now rise
the domes and spires of the Ma
tonal Capital the surveyor with chai n
and compass was cutting his way
through forests still frequented by rem
nsnts of the old Algonquins. Lord
Fairfax was living his recluse life in
the solitudes of the Shenandoah valley
with only hunters, half breeds and
packs of hounds for his companions,
and George William Fairfax was living
in his elegant mansion of Belvoir on
the Potomac.
1U6n SUAItlN tASL ShIpc ShhAO
into the deep waters of the Occoquan-
some from London, some from Glas gow,
some from Amsterdam and some from
the West Indies. Now and then bark
careering darkly from the Blight OF Ben
Din or the coast OF Guinea furled her
sails in the Colchester haven and land
ed her living freights to take Up their
ma -ch in gangs for their allotted places
OF toll.
Colchester was growing and busy
frontier town. Its merchants were
prospecting by large trade and traffic
and lived like princes. Long lines OF
sheet topped wagons went constantly
from its port carrying over the Kings
Highway their merchandise to the ad-
vance settlers OF the lands along end
lar beyond the mountains.
AS We: not a steamboat nor steam car
had come to change the long
existing conditions of travel and to revo-
lutionize every department industries
To turn over the pages OF this OLD
book aud read the items noted down by
hand which has been dust for nearly
hundred and fifty years, is like taking
8 long journey backward and Delng
spectator of the events and circum-
stances OF the vanished town and its
surrounding neigbborhoods.
On the pages of this book are entries
! against hundreds OF the towns-folk OF
Colchester and the surrounding plant
ers; and from the articles OF mercban-
disc set down against them we learn
that they had no lack of the comforts,
even luxuries of life. They bought
broadcloths, silks, brocades, velvets,
foe linens, carpets, rugs, mirrors, china
and silverware and wines and other
liquors, notably peach and apple
braDdies. Among the names of pa.
irons are those of George Washington,
Lawrence Washington, George Mason,
George William Fairfax, DR.. Craik,
afterwards surgeon general OF the con-
tinental army, Richard Henry Lee,
General Mercer, General Weldon, Cap
tain Wagner, Bertrand Ewell, Captain
Posev, Daniel McCarty, John Ballan-
dine and others prominent in colonial