Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1954-02-18
BY RALPH FRALEY MARTz

Hammer Hill is a parcel of
land consisting of 40 acres that
was patented to Michael A. Dow
den on November 10, 1852. 1t was
located near the head of Waf-
ford's Branch which flows into
the Little Seneca. This parcel
was located on the old Sinneca
Indian Trail and was the site of
the old Clarksburg Hotel or
''Dowden's Ordinary.
Michael Dowden and his work
men started the hotel in the
spring of ,1753 but did not finally
complete ituntil July 1854. The
hotel was of log construction with
a shingled roof with many dor
mer windows. 1t was then built
along what was called the Frede,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Road which
the old traders called the "Sine-
qua Trail. The hotel contained
IL rooms in L shape design. 1t
has long gone into decay and
was torn down about 35 years
ago.
By Petition
Michael A. Dowden presented
to the Frederick County Court
the following petition. To the
worshipful Justices of Frederick
County now in Court setting:
''The Petition of Michael A. Dow
den humbly showeth that your
petitioner being situated on pub
lie road and having all things
necessary for keeping a public
House of Entertainment; humb-
ly prayeth your worship will
grant him a license for the same
and he as in duty horned will
ever pray. This license was
granted to Michael Dowden in
August 1854 to operate his hotel
which was known as "Dowden's
Ordinary.
This Ordinary provided shelter
and food for the traveller. 1t also
Furnished entertainment and was
q sort of a social club for the
people of the locality. 1t was
located on one of the most i'm
portant roads of that day. There
was a bar which provided plenty
of liquid refreshments for the
weary traveller. Here one could
gather news concerning the
people of the neighborhood.
sometimes, the local magistrate
would hold court in the tavern.
These early taverns played a
great part in the community
affairs during the colonial days.
The stages stopped at Dowdens
In Clarksburg twice weekly. The
people usually travelled in stage
coaches, or on horseback, or in
their private carriages. Many
of these traveller stopped at
Dowdens, which was located on
what is now US 240 in the east
end of Clarksburg.
BraddOck's Camp
General Edward Braddock
stayed at Dowden's Ordinary
while his troops camped on the
adjacent hillside in Clarksburg
for three days, from April 18th
to April 18th in 1755. 1t was on
April 18th, during a snowstorm,
that many tents of Braddock's
troops were blown down. He and
his troops marched into Frede-
ricktown the next day.
Michael Dowden and his family
were members of the All Saints
Parish in Fredericktown. They
attended church by travelling on
horseback.
English Government, in order
to secure additional revenue to
cover the expenses of stationing
British troops in America, re.
quired a tax to be levied upon
all stamped papers which was
known as the STAMP Act of
1765".
The people resented this OBJ
noxious Stamp Tax. An order of
patriots, known as the "Sons of
Liberty, was formed to back up
their determination for liberty
and to support the Lower House
Of the Assembly in their detest.
fnent against the Stamp Act.
Tax Repudiated
The Frederick County Twelve
: Justices repudiated this tax at
their November session in the
year of 1765. The stamps in.
voIved in the instance case were
sold to Michael Ashford Dowden