The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-05-19
SOME OF THE EARLY LAND
SPECTATORS In GARRETT
THE DEAKINs BROTHERS

M Inc DSdhlIlS 1dully Is Oh interest TO
us, not only because of its land hold
ings here, but because Colonel Fran
els Deakins made many important
early surveys in what is now Garrett
county, including the Military Lots, in
1857, and his brother, Colonel William
Deakins, was closely associated with
President Washington in locating the
National Capital in the District of
Columbia.
William Deakins, ST., was son of
John Deakins, an English emigrant to
Prince Georges county, Maryland. He
married in 1873, Tabitha Marbury,
widow of James Hoye Their children
were:
% Francis, born November II,
1739; died October %, 1904.
(2) William, born March II, 1742;
died March 3, 1898.
(3) Leonard Marbury, born March
8, 1747; died June 28, 1924.
The plantation of William Deakins,
ST., Bloomfield" was near Bladens-
burg, Prince Georges county. His
Colonial home there is still in use and
in a good state of preservation. Will
liam Deakins, his sons and step-son,
Paul Hoye, were all ardent revolu-
tionists.
Colonel Francis Deakins resided in
Georgetown, D. C. During the Revo-
lutionary War he was Lieutenant
Colonel in the Maryland militia. He
was Presidential elector from Mary
land in 1896 and again in 1900, when
he voted for Thomas jefferson.
Francis Deakins was surveyor as
well as a dealer in Washington City
lots and in "Western lands" In 1853
he surveyed for Lord Baltimore his
Great Glades Manor and Green Glades
Manor, both in what is now Garrett
county. In 1887 he was employed by
the State of Maryland, with ten as
sistant surveyors, to survey the "Mil-
itary Lots" westward of Fort Cumber-
land. Incidentally he surveyed what
became known as the "Deakins Line,
which is practically the Western boun-
dairy of Maryland and of Garrett coun-
ty as well. The old State road from
Westernport to the Virginia state line
near Terra Alta was laid out by Col.
Deakins in 1876. 1t followed the gen
eral route of the "Glades Path" of the
Indians across Garrett county.
# In 1894 Francis Deakins was asso-
ciated with Robert Morris and others
in real estate deals in Washington,
through which he lost heavily, but at
the time of his death he still owned
extensive tracts of land, principally
in what is now West Virginia. Having
no children, he willed most of his
property to his brother, Leonard M,
and to his half brother, Paul Hoye.
Colonel William Deakins also re-
sided in Georgetown. He was one OF
the most active of the young Mary
land revolutionists and rose to the
rank of Colonel in the State militia.
AS one of the justices of Frederick
county, he presided at the trials OF
number of persons indicted for
"damning Congress, damning Wings
and rebels, wishing success to the
Kings arms" and other grave often
ses against the peace and dignity OF
the independent State of Maryland.
In 1888 he was a delegate to the
convention called to revise the State
Constitution.
Probably the most important public
service of William Deakins, Jr., how
ever, was the work he did as one OF
two confidential agents of President
Washington in buying the lands IN the
District of Columbia to be laid out for
the public buildings and for sale IN
lots to private residents.
In 1890 Congress authorized the
President to select site on the Poto-
mac River for the National Capital.
At least three sites were considered:
One in Washington county; one IN
Frederick county and the one hnally
selected-the District of Columbia.
Col. Francis Deakins submitted to
the President draft plans OF at least
two proposed sites. On November Il
he wrote Washington from the Mon
ocacy River enclosing draft he had
prepared "of the lands you viewed
about this place" There is also let
ter from General o. H. Williams tc
Francis Deakins in which the General
SAYS: 81 understand that you INTEND
to furnish the President with plats Of
land adjacent to the Conocochegue.
This was the Capital site proposed
and considered in Washington county
at Williamsport. 1t is of interest te
note how cautiously the Preslden'
proceeded to acquire the land needed
for the new Capital City in order no.
to excite the cupidity Of the owners
and land spectators. AS his agents