The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1938-05-19

oSltlonS SO as to excite no suspicion
that they are on behalf of the public.
Go. Washington.
Probably none were as well posted
on the lands in the new Federal "ter-
ritory" as were William and Francis
Deakins. 1t appears they owned little
of the land needed by the Government,
but their family possessed considera-
BILE property nearby. William Deakins
had worked earnestly to get the Cap
ital located near Georgetown, as is
apparent from the following letter
written before the Presidents decis-
ion:
George Town, Nov 3, 1890.
George Washington, Esqr.,
President of the United States,
Mount Vernon.
Sir:-The day after you left this
place we employed a surveyor to lay
down our situations, but it has taken
more time than we expected to ascer-
tain the exact quantity of land held
by each proprietor within the lines
laid down. | expect on Sunday or Mon
day next to hand you the platt and
proposals from the holders of the
land.
am, very respectfully, sir,
Your ob't serv't,
Will Deakins, Junr.
Washington had recently spent
day inspecting the Capital site here,
and had at that time received letter
signed by nine of the property owners,
including William Deakins, offering to
sell their land at a reasonable price.
We note that the price finally agreed
upon for the purchase of land for the
public buildings and city losts was
Is pounds sterling ($67) per acre
probably fair price at the time, but
"down town" Washington property is
many times this value today.
Colonel William Deakins for sew
eral years was treasurer of the Dis
trict of Columbia Board of Commits
sioners. He had no children, and willed
niS property to his wife, brothers and
half brother, Paul Hoye. He died in
1898 and his remains lie beside those
of his brother, Francis, in Rock Greek
cemetery, Washington.
Captain Leonard M. Deakins, the
youngest brother, commanded a COM
pany in Griffith's Battalion of the
Flying Camp, which marched to New
York in July, 1776.
After the War, Captain Deakins
resided on the family homestead at
Bladensburg, which he inherited from
his father. He was not an active bust
ness man, but he married twice and
reared eleven children. He died in 1924
and was buried in the family grave
yard on his plantation.
Francis William Deakins (18O3-
1889, son of Leonard M. Deakins,
married Jane Cook in 1886 and in the
same year located on large tract of
| the Deakins land on the Northwest
ern Turnpike at the Cheat River
bridge. He had eleven children, most
of whom resided in West Virginia,
where number of his descendants
live today.
Deakins' Lands In Garrett County
Of the lands surveyed by the spec
ulators of 1774 in what is now Gar
rett county, Francis and William Dea-
kins patented the following tracts:
Mt. Nebo, Mt. Airy, Hunters Art, The
Hotel, Elder Spring, Accident, A False
Alarm, total of $3.50 acres.
But most of the Deakins lands were
in what is now West Virginia, patent
ed to their families over a period of
years by the State of Virginia. Dea-
kins patents in Virginia and Mary
land possibly exceeded 100000 acres
Settler VS.. Spectator
How did the actual pioneer settlers
view the activities of the big specu-
lators? Some light is given on this
subject by the following from the
History of Preston County, West Va;
We have observed that the Virgins
Government was more considerable OF
the land Spectator than of the actua
settler. The most conspicuous OF the
early instances of non-residentll mo
nopoly was that of Francis and Will
liam Deakins, of Maryland. In 1884
1889 they patented 81 tracts in tn
East side, making an area OF $685.
acres.
That the actual settlers resented
this is expressed in a petition OF 1893
in which they state that they
Forced a settlement upon the lands
in this county at the risque OF thu
lives of themselves and their families
and thereby became possessed OF thu
equitable right in the soil, contrar!
distinguished from the swarms of lant
iobbers that Travelled through thu
, country making tomahawk improve
ments and selling them before any ac
tual settlement was made thereon.
. A "tomahawk" claim in Virgins
could be made to as much as 40'
! o,,oe b1y ciy,or,1u blazing the tree