The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1907-11-05
WASHINGTON'S LAND
Heirs 10 Be Reimbursed After
More Than 4 Century.
HIS TITLES WERE JUMPED
Counsel Fer Heirs Say General Wash
lnaton Bought Patents For Land Be-
fore Exact Location Was Fixed, and
Later the Lands Were Merged.

Washington. Nov. "A bill VIII be
introduced soon after congress meets
next December 10 reimburse the heirs
at.law Of General George Washington
for the loss OF several tracts OF land
located in Hamilton and Clermont
countlos. O.. which were owned by
General Washington. The estimated
value OF the land Is SSO5,lOO. The
tracts comprise 1851 acres bordering
on tho Miami ana the Little Miami
rivers. or this acreage 1873 acres are
l1cated IN Hamilton county. outside
of Cincinnati. and the remainder Is
situated In the adjoining county
on Tuesday At Fairfax Court
House. Va. Colonel Robert f. Lee was
appointed administrator for the un-
distributed assets of the estate. Cap
tain Nelson W. Evans. Of Portsmouth
O.. who is ore Of the attorneys for
Colonel Lee is in Washington. and In
discussing the case he said.
In 1885 General Washington own
cd two warrants far land IN the vicin-
i,y referred 90 One be had purchased
from John Rooto-. a veteran OF the
French and Indian War. and the other
from Thomas Cope The Virginia leg
islature converted them into what was
called Continental warrants. and Gen
oral Washington engaged Major John
O. Bauuon 10 locate them in 1857.
The surveys were sent to Richmond
where the governor issued patents to
the general. In 1906. seven years after
Washington's death. the surveys were
virtually Jumped General John
Newell received warrants for 1905
acres for his services In the Rovolu
tionarv War. and Henry Massle, the
founder OF the city OF Portsmouth,
laucht the warrants for the balance.
General Newell had his land patented
by the fcical government on April
o.. 1907 ana ''lss;e procured patents
for bis in January. 1908.
"But Il happened that on March g.
1907. prior to the issue OF those pat
ents. congress passed an act giving
Washlngton's executors three years To
norfoct the ti.le 10 the lands. and II
was while thoy were thus engaged
that Newell and Massie got the pat
ents subsequently John Kerr. a sen
ator from Ohio purchased the land
and aftorwarl sold il at a good profit.
"The executors Of the generals Will
were Justice Bushrod. Of Washington,
IFS nephew. and Lawrence Lewis. a
son OF Bette Lewis. WashinEton's sis
ter. who married Nellie Custis. and Il
was upon their petition that congress
passed the law IN question. But, as
said. the law was Of no avail because
the patents were obtained soon after
ward by the others.
Since then-that is, for about 100
years-nothing has been done by the
Washington heirs to be reimbursed
for what surely was once part Of the
generals estate We have arrived at
the value OF the land through esti-
mates made by various experts. and
there are 80 men who will testify. II
necessary. that the timber on It was
worth what congress will be asked to
appropriate.
"The living heirs number more than
n score and reside In this city. Lex
lngton. Va: Jefferson county. w. Va,
and other places Colonel Lee, the
administrator. Is the great
grandson Of Martha Washington and
the great-rrandson OF George Wash
ington Parhe Custis. who once
owned Arlington, just outside OF
Washington"