Evening star., 1948-11-28
BY John cIoeett Proctor

BY John cIogett Proctor
Rockville, in nearby Montgomery
County, Md. though only 16 miles
from Washington. to many an
elderly resident Of the District,
seemed in his day to be many miles
farther away than 1t actually is.
Indeed, prior to the coming of the
automobile, this beautiful town took
several hours to reach, whereas now
it can be easily reached in 80
minutes.
The quaint old town as it existed
years ago, with its moss-covered
roofs, its Colonial homes and tav-
erns has long since developed into
one of the most thrifty and up-to-
date villages to be found anywhere
in this part Of the country.
It is an old town built over, for
there are few early buildings still
standing and the antiquarian must
satisfy himself with its past history
which tells us where Braddock
stopped on his ill-fated march to
Fort Duquesne in ITS, of incidents
OF the Revolutionary War and the
wars that followed, and the men
who went from there to answer
their country's call, some Of whom
never returned.
Surveyed in 1721
Just when Rockville had its be-
ginning is a question. We do know
Owens Tavern was in the vicinity
of Rockville when Braddock passed
this way nearly two centuries ago.
The generals records give the dis
tance as Is miles from Georgetown
The land records disclose the fact
that a portion Of this village was
originally tract Of land known as
Survey Exchange and New Exchange
Enlarged, which was surveyed on
December 20, 1921, for Arthur Mel
son, and found to contain 1920
acres.
Charles Hungerford was an early
settler In this place, for We find his
tavern in operation when Mont
gomery County was created, Septem-
Der 6, 1776, and named In honor Of
Gen. Richard Montgomery, q native
of Ireland and q patriot Of the
American Revolution who was killed
at the Battle Of Quebec, December
81, ITS. after having captured the
city of Montreal nearly seven weeks
before.
Before 1t was separated from
Frederick County, and when the
colonists were smarting under
England's oppressive measures, we
find a meeting being held at Charles
Hungerford's Tavern on June IL,
1774, when a numerous body of
freemen of the lower part of Fred
erick County resolved:
That every legal and constituted
measure ought to be used by all
Americans for procuring repeal of
the act of Parliament for blocking
UP the Harbor of Boston" and that
Mr.. Henry Grifhth, DR.. Thomas
Sprigg Wootton, Nathan Magruder,
Evan Thomas, Richard Brooke,
Thomas Cramphin, jr., and Allen
Bowie be a committee to attend the
General Committee at Annapolis" :"
etc.
Had % Slaves
Hungerford's Tavern Is said to
have been owned and built by
Joseph Wilson, an early land owner
OF Montgomery County, and after
Hungerford ceased to conduct it.,
Leonard Davis became the propri-
etor. Later, the building was occu-
pied by Mrs. Susan Russell, whose
grandfather was Joseph Wilson.
According to the census Of 1870,
Charles Hungerford. at that time,
had a wife, one son under Is, six
daughters and % slaves.
For years Rockville went without
name, until by common consent it
became "Hungerfords Tavern" and
then, after Montgomery County was
established, 1t was generally refer
red to, on maps and otherwise, as
Montgomery Court House." for
here, in the famous old tavern, the
first court was held on May 20, 1777
But, ON August 3, 1884," according
to Scharf, William Prather Will
liams purchased the land around
the Courthouse, and Immediately
thereafter caused 1t to be laid oil
into streets and town lots, by Col
Archibald Orme, and called 1t
Williamsburg"
i The same author says. further
"At the November session, 1901, of
the Legislature, an act was passed,
which, after reciting that the titles
to these lots were uncertain, because
there was no record of the survey
thereof made by Col. Orme, erected
the place into town called Rock
vile, and appointed commissioners
to resurvey it. At the November
session, 1902, . supplemental act
was passed, and In 1903, the COM
missioners caused the reSurvey and
plan of the town to be made by
william Smith, county surveyor. 1t
was first meditated to call the town
Wattsville, but Watts Branch being