Evening star., 1934-07-01


ward either to visit the Federal Cap
ital or to be on their way to points far
ther to the north or SOUTH ever realize
as they pass through the town of Bladensburg.
Md. short mile to the northeast OF the Dis
trct of Columbia boundary line, that they are
rolling through one of the oldest and most his
toric places in this part of the country. And
it is not inprobable-for it does frequently
happen that way-that the very people who
are looking fer old towns, Colonial buildings
and settlements reminiscent of the past are
actually though unconsciously passing up one
of the oldest towns in the United States, and
at one time one of the most important.
The town was created in 1742, and it would
indeed require a far stretch of the Imagination
to compare it as it then existed with what it is
today. The Eastern Branch Of the Potomac
River, upon which the town was located, was
then $50 feet wider than it is now at the
bridge between Bladensburg and HyattSville
short distance to the north At the District
of Columbia line, not far to the south, the
branch was at least 300 feet wide and from
6 to IL feet deep throughout its length from
the Potomac to the village, and navigable for
all craft drawing not over feet: vessels Of the
largest class might ride up the stream for at
least four miles. An early description of the
town tells us that the water at any place
was drinkable and fit for a king to bathe in,
and that rock, pike, bass herring shad, null
be had in the greatest abundance Indeed.
the great quantities of fish to be caught here
at this period comparatively the same else
where in the vicinity of Washington, and the
statement which might seem extravagant Is
undoubtedly true and founded upon fact that
when the shad and herring came up and min
gled with the native fish 1t was difficult to
row boat through them without destroying
many. good hat or skillet" the account
continues, dipped in by the oarsman, would
bring up a meals supply
Herring are said to have sold for S. q
thousand, 500 herring. well packed and
cured, SO barrel, and one enthusiastic writer
says that as late as 1875 certain farmer COW
cred a 10-acre plot with herring three feet
deep and plowed them under-which inciden-
tally, does sound just little fishy
The fishing industry and the tobacco trade
were very profitable enterprises in the early
days, and for these and other purposes
Nharves warehouses and market houses were
early erected
"A T THE time the town of Bladensburg was
laid out the land belonged to Miss Eugenia
Calvert, and the wharf the branch was
known as Garrisons Landing. 1t was here on
February 25, 1742. that James Edmonston,
Osborn Spriss, William Moduit and Thomas
CAN'T jr., met and swore in a jury of "a men
to place a value on the so acres of land, de-
elded upon as the town site. and the land was
surveyed into so one-acre lots, upon which a
price of so pounds was placed for each lot
After the lapse Of 1872 years it might be
Interesting to give the names of those who
purchased lots in the new town, many OF
whom were undoubtedly pioneer settlers OF
Bladensburg. Richard SnoWden, jr., purchased
lot J. Samuel Thomas. lot 2; Stephen Martin
lot 8, and then, in numerical order. were
Samuel Snowden. Nathaniel Folsom, Osborn
Sprigg Ninian Marcarte Edward Lowndes g.
Co, Thomas Waring. Michael Higgons MAJ
thew Hopkins Edward Trafford, John Skinner
and Thomas CAN'T, jr. Lot Is reserved for
Miss Calvert, proprietor of the land, and lots
36 to 20 were purchased in order by Francis
Lowndes, George Scott, DR.. George Riddle. DR..
David Ross, Nicholas Baker, William Diggs,
Thomas Chittam, Thomas Williams, ST.; Capt
James Edmonston. Thomas Snowden. Thomas
Owen, John Needham and Thomas Cramphin.
Lot 80 was reserved for Miss Calvert, and 81