The times., 1900-12-29
AFFAIRS OF THE DISTRICT
Effort to Clear the Title to the
Queens Chapel Tract.
The Land Recorded in the Name of
Cardinal Gibbons Claimed by Heirs
of the Original Owner - Exempt
From Taxation as 81 Ccmetery-Re-
movnI of Street Railway Tracks.

| The Commissioners have received from
| James Fl. Brooke, of 120 ID Street
northwest. statement regarding the title
to the property known as Queens Chapel
Mr.. Brook took up the matter in behalf
OF the heirs Of the late Charles l. and
Maria Queen. He informs the Commits
sioners that the property at present is
| recorded in the name of James Cardinal
| Gibbons. Archbishop OF Baltimore. and he
asks that the record of the property be
| transferred to the heirs whom he repre-
sents.
According to archives in the state
house at Annapolis a grant OF land in
Prince George County, colony of Mary
land" was made. to one John Queen, by
the Government Of England in 1922. Then
came the revolution, by which the colo
MES gained their Independence, and Mary
land as one of the confederated States
made cession of land to form part of
the District of Columbia. This session in
cluded property known as QueensDcrough.
or Queens Chapel.
The Queen family was Catholic by re-
ligion, and one of the original owners of
the land in question set aside a certain
piece of property for religious services
and burial ground. for the use of a
sparsely settled neighb9rhood during CO.
ionial times. a church was built there,
and at times missionary would admin
lister TO the wants of the colonists. The
church burned after number of years of
use. and was rebuilt. the latter sdiiice
having been destroyed by the Federal SOL
diers during the war.
During all these years and up to 1865
services were held at Queens Chapel
periodically by missionaries and by
fathers from the Catholic Church. Since
1856. Mr.. Brooke alleges, the place was
abandoned SO far as the Catholic Church
was concerned, except for an occasional
funeral of the Queen family.
Mr.. Brooke calls the attention OF the
Commissioners to the fact that Queens
Chapel is located on, or a part OF. the ori-
elnal tract patented from England. and has
been in the Queen family 200 years. No
deed has ever been produced or valid claim
made. All the land, 1t Is alleged, surround
ing the piece in question, has been sold.
All the deceased members of the family.
the Commissioners are informed, are still
buried there. and the place is without
fencing and is practically abandoned.
Mr.. Brooke states that 1t is his desire
and that of others that this piece OF land
known as Queens Chapel be placed on the
books of the District in the name of the
heirs of the late Charles l. and Maria A.
Queen. Reference is made to the fact that
the land Is now recorded in the name of
Cardinal Gibbons and Mr. Brooke contends
that such record is an error He produces
letter from Cardinal Gibbons, setting
forth statement that the Cardinal knows
nothing OF any ownership Of the tract
vested in him. Mr.. Brooke also states that
during the lifetime of Archbishop Bailey
similar statement was obtained from him.
The Commissioners are informed that
dillgent search has been made at George
town University for information bearing
upon the matter, but without success.
The statement OF Mr.. Brooke was re-
ferred by the Commissioners to II. II. Dar
nellie, the Assessor, who reported TO them
that this parcel OF land first appeared on
the 1875 county ledger, in the back of the
last book, and listed with other cemetery
property as exempt. Mr.. Darneille states
that IL appears to have been carried to the
name of Cardinal Gibbons in the year 1897,
but there is no record authority for the
same. the evident presumption being that
1t was cemetery belonging to the Roman
Catholic Church. Continuing, the Assessor
said:
IF the Archbishop Will certify to this
Office that he has no title or claim 10 said
property, IL is recommended that the land
be assessed on the taxable list In the joint
names OF Charles l. and Maria A. Queen, in
accordance with the statement of Mr..
Brooke"
1t is understood that the matter will be
referred to the Attorney of the District
for his opinion.