Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1912-01-15

for bringing to the State of Virginia
100 colonists. The land extended
along the Potomac River, from In
dian Cabin Creek tnow Hunting
Creek) 10 a point opposite Analostan
Island. This property comprised all
of the present city and large part
of Alexandria County.
Capt. Howsen sold his grant 10
John Alexander. who paid him $500
pounds Of tobacco and some money
The first John Alexander settled i'll
the northern neck Of Virginia about
1GI0, and acquired thousands OF
acres of land in Stafford where he re-
sided. 1t was in 1863 that John. the
son OF the immigrant, purchased the
uowscn patent: this gentleman died
in 1851 and left his Howsen patent
to his sons Robert and Phillip, the
latter exchanged his part with his
brother for lands elsewhere: Robert
who died in 1904 became sole posses
sor of the land which he left TO his
two sons Robert and Charles. Charles
died without issue and his brother
Robert became posscssor OF the prop
erty and died in 1885, and by will
divided it equally between his Two
sons, John and Gerard.
Gerard's share extended from inc
Potomac somewhere about the
Three SistcrS), 10 Four Mile Run,
and was sold by him to John PARK
Gusts in 17i5. Mr.. Gusts built and
lived at Abingdon and died there IN
1855, and it may be parenthctically
added that the old house IS still
standing i'm full view of the electric
railroad, between here and Washing
ton, and it was in that house that
Eleanor Gusts, the adopted daughter
of Washington, was born, and 1t vas
there that General Washington
courtcd and won the widow GUSTS.
The oldest son John, left one-hall
OF the Howscn patent, extending from
Four Mile Run to Hunting Creek
TO his son Charles. who built at
Preston. on the Potomac, and Four
Mile Run, and il is still in possession
OF his descendants.
washington reports of Virginia
give in Birc!, vs.. Alexander the entire
details Of the above histori facts
II was John Alexander who gave
to Christ Church the lot which con-
tains one acre and some rods for
the sum Of one penny: il was the
same Alexander who gave the Market
House Square 10 the city Of AleXan-
.lria for about an equal amount. 1t
vas on John AlcXander's land that in
l7i9 Alexandria was laid out and
SthcrefCrc all OF the lands either
fronting on the river or elsewhere
frcm Water Iecl ST. 10 Pitt St be-
longcd to Alexandria. and the title to
them comes directly down from the
Crown Patent OF lIowscn in 1869.
Since the city was first laid Out
it has extended from Lee Street to
The Strand, but do moi believe that
anyone has c"er claimed 10 own one
foot Of ground that has been made
by private enterprises and which be-
longcd to the abutLing land owners
and was sold by them ana no one
has ever disputed tn" tit,c or pre-
Sumcd that there was the slightest
cloud over it. ana it has ever been
the view Of all OF The lawyers who
have examined The many titles in this
section OF the city that the tile was
perfect But now the Government
comes forward and claims that il has
the right 10 cut off the frontage OF
certain wharf property and TO fill
it I'D with mud and then TO lay
claim TO ownership to the land which
has descended from owner to owner
since 1863. Such Il proposition is not
only prcposterous but unjust. and /
believe violates the constitution OF
the United States by conliscatiny
property without legal process.
When the state OF Virginia coded 10
the United States that portion Of the
state. then in Fairfax County. and
now known as The city and county OF
Alexandria. in 1890, (which was re-
troccdcd in 1850. The deed of ScS-
sion as is shown by the state record
distinctly stated that there was re-
served all riparian and other river
front rights TO the owners OF the prop
crty along tho front. This. Of course,
would settle The question in any or
binary court Of law
When Congress passed the bill APP
prCpria,iug The first $50 900 for the
Icnpnuipr nj ,bn pptniuur in front