Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-12-07

~ Capital Georgetown had to be de-
pended upon to large extent by
the infant city for most everything,
since it took some time to put Washington In
a position to supply even part OF its own
needs while the city to the west OF Rock
Creek on the contrary, had been IN existence
for many years and was place OF consider
able commercial importance. as things were
regarded a hundred and thirty or forty years
ago.
Georgetown was certainly one of the earliest
cities in Frederick County, Md, Of which 1t
was a part until tits, when Montgomery
County was formed and undoubtedly its ex-
cellent harbor was recognized years before 1t
even assumed the semblance OF town or vii-
lage.
The first settler of any place is naturally Of
much interest, though in ever so many in
stances it is dificult to place the credit just
where it is due. However, If the record Is
straight the real first settlers OF what Is now
GEORGETOWN were Col Ninian Beall and George
Gordon with. any advantages there may be
going to the former, who obtained a patent for
the Rock of Dumbarton' in 1908 and pitched
his tent SO we are informed. in the wilderness
about at a point where Is now the northeast
corner of and Thirtieth streets, these streets
prior TO the adoption of the present system OF
naming streets being known as Gay and Wash
ington, respectively.
George Gordon, the other early settler, prob
ably FIRST made his appearance in or around
Georgetown about 1874, the year he became
the owner of part of ''Knave's Dsappoint-
ment," tract Of about 800 acres, originally
patented to James Smith, and which after
that date went by the name Of George Cor
dons Rock Creek Plantation"
RY 1851 there evidently was quite number
Of persons living west of Rock Greek, for
in that year we find those settled there petit
tioning the Legislature of Maryland to estab-
lish town in this vicinity, the request being
granted, according to provincial act, May
is, ISL, Henry Wright Crabb, John Needham
John Clagett, James Perry and David Lynn,
commissioners being authorized to lay out and
erect a town on the Potomac River, above the
mouth Of Rock Creek in Frederick County,
Md, specifying the land to be used for this
purpose as that belonging to George Gordon
and George Beall, where it shall appear to
them"-the commissoners-"to be most
venient-and to survey the same into eighty
lots, to be erected into a town, and to be called
Georgetown"
Except for the fact that in such cases it was
customary to appoint certain officers. we might
suspect that the commissioners anticipated
serious trouble in carrying out the law, for we
find them appointing, to start with, Alexander
Beall as clerk and surveyor and Josiah Bean
coroner. But so far We know, the only
disagreement that took place at that time was
the part of their property taken for the town
for the $50 pounds awarded by the commits
soners, and in consequence the coroner was
directed to summon jury of II to assess the
value of the property to be taken which was
accordingly done by William Pritchett, Niuian
Magruder, Nicholas Baker, James Beall, Ma
thaniel Magruder, Charles Clagett, Thomas
Clagett James Holman, Charles Jones, Zacha-
riah Magruder, James Wallace, Basil Beall,
William Williams, Alexander Magruder, Will
liam Wallace and John Magruder, son of
Alex
George Gordon finally agreed to accept the
terms and selected for his own lots 48 and So,
a privilege granted to himself and George
Beall. and the latter subsequently accepted the
same terms under protest, in which he said
If must part with my property by force
had better save little than be totally de-
molislled. Rather than have none, accept
these lots-Nos u and 79-said to be Mr..
Henderson's and Mr.. Edmonstons. But I do
hereby protest and declare that my acceptance
OF the said lots which is by force, shall not
dci)ar me from future redress from the COM
mssioners or others if can have the rights
Of British subject. God save King George
March Z, 1852 GEORGE BEALL"
Some writer's on Georgetown assume that the
place named after George Gordon and
George Beall. while others believe it was named
for George II. King of Great Britain. There
was an earlier Georgetown in Kent County,
Md no doubt named for this King, and the
chances are that our own Georgetown was also
named for this monarch.
Col Ninian BeaIl who obtained a pa ent for
the Rock of Dumbartof. lin 1903 was born m
Scot md In 1925 and died in Maryland IN 1717.