_The Original Town and Its People_
George Town flourished and became more and more a busy port. Its
population in 1800 was 2,993; by 1810 it was 4,948. Its wharves were
thronged with vessels sailing across the seas laden with the "precious
weed" and with wheat brought in from plantations for the "flouring
mills" in great Conestoga wagons painted red and blue drawn by six-horse
teams adorned with gay harness and jingling bells. Also, there was a
thriving coastwise trade, up to old Salem and Newburyport where the
clipper ships were built, and down to the West Indies. These ships
brought back sugar, molasses, and rum, and from the old country came
clothing, and furniture, and all sorts of luxuries, for the thriving
merchants were building comfortable homes and furnishing them in
elegance and taste.
General Edward Braddock, after a brilliant military career under Prince
William of Orange, in Holland, had been made a major-general and put in
charge of troops in Virginia against the French. He landed his troops in
Alexandria, marched them up to where the ferry crossed to George Town,
where they divided, part going through Virginia, and he, with the
remainder, crossing the Potomac to George Town from whence he continued
on his fateful march to Fort Duquesne, where he met his terrible defeat
and lost his life.
He had come from Perthshire in old Scotland, so, of course, had received
a warm welcome in this Scottish town. And thus he had written back to
England to George Anne Bellamy, the gifted actress, in 1755: "For never
have I attended a more complete banquet or met better dressed or better
mannered people than I met on my arrival in George Town, which is named
after our gracious Majesty." If only he had mentioned in whose house the
banquet was or the names of some of these agreeable people he met!
James Truslow Adams, in his fascinating book, _The Epic of America_,
speaks over and over again of the culture of the pre-Revolutionary towns
along the Atlantic seaboard, and what a high point it had reached. No
better example could be found than this old town with its families who
had come from well-to-do circumstances, not, as was the case with so
many settlers of the new country, in order to escape trouble. They came
mostly from Scotland; witness the names as time goes on. Indeed, to such
an extent, that the little settlement had first of all been called New
Scotland.
One of the very first to establish himself in the business of exporting
tobacco, was Robert Peter, who is often spoken of in old records as
"George Town's pioneer business man," and also as "The merchant prince
and land owner." As a young man of about twenty he had come from
Crossbasket near Glasgow, first to Bladensburg and thence to George
Town, and in 1752 established himself in business, and in 1790 became
its first mayor. He represented the firm of John Glassford & Company of
North Britain, Glasgow, well known both in England and in Scotland. So
much of the tobacco trade flowed into the Scottish city that the wealthy
merchants there who dealt in it were known as the "Virginia Dons," and
to this day there is in the old port of Glasgow a Virginia Street.
James Dunlop, a cousin of Robert Peter, also had come from his home
Garnkirke, near Glasgow, first to New York, then to George Town about
1783 and established himself in this same lucrative exporting business.
He did a great deal of business in Dumfries, Virginia, near
Fredericksburg.
These old letters give a picture of the times:
George Town, December 15th, 1788.
Gentlemen:
Your favors of the 11th July duly received by Mr. Dunlop with the
black cloth, which I am afraid I shall soon have occasion for, my
old friend Mr. Heugh being now in a very dangerous way indeed, etc.
GEORGE WALKER.
Andrew Heugh had been one of the Commissioners in the laying off of
George Town. He owned one of the very first lots on the water front and
High Street.
Here is another one of these letters:
George Town, August 8, 1788.
Gentlemen:
The quantity of tobacco planted this year in the neighborhood of
this place is vastly larger than ever was known. John Campbell and
J. Dunlop are very backward in buying with all cash, but as Colonel
Deakins is again in cash the price still keeps at a guinea ... from
these causes I would not be forward in recommending speculation in
the weed, especially as those of good information are holding off.
GEORGE WALKER.
No less a person than General Washington himself wrote in 1791 that
George Town ranked as the greatest tobacco market in Maryland, if not in
the Union.
Duc de la Rochefoucault Liancourt, traveling in the United States in
1795-'97, says that in 1791 tobacco exports from George Town were
$314,864.00. They went even higher in 1792 and 1793, but in 1794 and the
following years decreased considerably, which was attributed to two
causes: a falling off in tobacco growing, and a diversion of the capital
of the merchants to speculation in lots in the Federal City.
A prominent firm in this same business of exporting tobacco was that of
Forrest, Stoddert, and Murdock, formed in 1783. Uriah Forrest was born
in St. Mary's County, Maryland, in 1756. He served with distinction in
the Revolution, was wounded in the Battle of Germantown and lost a leg
at the Battle of Brandywine.
He was a delegate in the Continental Congress and served in the third
Congress from March 4, 1793 to November 8, 1794, when he resigned. He
was commissioned major-general in the Maryland Militia in 1795.
After the war he went to London on business for the Government at his
own expense, but returned to enter business with his old friend,
Benjamin Stoddert.
Born in Charles County, Maryland, in 1751, Stoddert was of Scottish
ancestry, the son of Captain Thomas Stoddert who, while with the
Maryland contingent, was killed in Braddock's defeat. Benjamin Stoddert
had joined the Continental Army as a captain of cavalry and was in
active service until the Battle of Brandywine where, after holding the
rank of major, he was so severely wounded as to unfit him for active
service. He had seriously considered settling in either Baltimore or
Alexandria, urged by friends in each of these cities, but decided that
George Town was a better venture.
Colonel John Murdock was already living in George Town where his father,
William Murdock, was in business.
Francis Lowndes also had a large warehouse, and John Laird was
prosperous in this business, and as time went on, meant a great deal to
Georgetown. Colonel Deakins, Jr., was prominent, for on his tomb was
inscribed: "George Town, by the blow, has lost her most illustrious
patron." He was only fifty-six when he died in 1798. In his youth, he
had done surveying with George Washington.
Henry Threlkeld was born in Cumberland County, England, in 1716, came to
America and bought an estate of 1,000 acres known as Berleith, bordering
on the Potomac. It ran northward, and the present sites of Georgetown
College and Convent are on part of this land. He seems to have continued
to farm his estate, and died in 1781. His only child, John, became very
prominent in all of the affairs of the town.
Joseph Carlton, also in the tobacco business, who died in March, 1812,
when only fifty-eight years old, had held the office of postmaster in
1799.
General James Maccubbin Lingan, a tobacco shipper, who was the first
collector of the port ... "1790 and before," had had a very remarkable
career in the Revolution.
Colonel Charles Beatty owned a ferry which did a thriving business
between the Virginia shore and the foot of Frederick Street at Water
Street.
Ebenezer Dodge had come from Salem, Massachusetts, and built up a
successful coastwise trade with the East Indies, his younger brother,
Francis, coming in 1798, of whom I shall have a great deal to say in
another chapter.
Peter Casanave was much in evidence in business deals.
John M. Gannt was a prominent merchant; also, William King, whose name
is still known in business here.
Among the lawyers were Philip Barton Key and Joseph Earle.
Doctor Magruder is spoken of over and over again. He seems to have been
"the doctor" at that time. Doctor Weems also had a good practice.
From _The Virginia Gazette_ of January 14, 1775, is taken this note in
regard to a project much in the minds of the business men of George Town
at that time:
At a meeting of the Trustees for opening the navigation of the
Potomack River held in George Town December 1, 1774, Thomas
Johnson, Jr., Attorney at Law, Wm. Deakins, Adam Steuart, Thomas
Johns, Thomas Richardson, merchants of George Town, appointed to
hire slaves for cutting canals around the Falls of the River, etc.
Of course, George Town, like every other town in the country at that
time, was peopled largely by negroes. Some owners hired out the ones
they themselves did not need, either for work of this kind or for
domestic service. A delightful story is told of how one of the
shipowners sent a "likely" young negress back to Scotland on one of his
vessels, as a present to his mother. Many weeks later when the vessel
returned, on it was Chloe with a note thanking "my dear son" for his
gift, but saying, "I have had her scrubbed and scrubbed, but as it is
impossible to remove the dirt and stain, I am returning her."
In 1788 Thomas Corcoran, who that year came to George Town from
Baltimore, intended to go on to Richmond, but instead stayed and
established a business in leather, says: "There were then in harbor ten
square-rigged vessels, two of them being ships and a small brig from
Amsterdam taking in tobacco from a warehouse on Rock Creek." The mouth
of the creek at that time was a bay, wide and deep, and as late as 1751
the tide ebbed and flowed as far up as the present P Street bridge.
Near there stood the paper mill built about 1800 by Gustavus Scott and
Nicholas Lingan, and described in an old advertisement as being 120 feet
long, three stories high, the first story built of stone. Just beyond
was Parrott's Mill, called the George Town Wool and Cotton Manufactory.
Parrott also had a Rope Walk on the northern outskirts of the Town. A
little farther north of Parrott's Mill at the bend of Rock Creek was
Lyon's Mill, said to have been built in 1780.
Naturally all through these years during and after the Revolution there
was a great deal of unrest, and trade was much affected.
The following is a copy of an authentic letter from the celebrated Dr.
Franklin to a friend in England on the subject of the first campaign
made by the British forces in America and, although not written from
Georgetown, it shows the state of mind of many people.
Dear Sir. I am to set out tomorrow for the camp and having heard of
this opportunity can only write a line to say that I am well and
hardy.
Tell our good friend--who sometimes has his doubts and despondencies
about our firmness that America is determined and unanimous, a very
few tories and place men excepted, who will probably soon export
themselves.
Britain, at the expense of 3 millions has killed 150 yankees this
campaign which is 20,000 pounds a head, and at Bunker's Hill she
gained one mile of ground, half of which she lost again by our
taking post on plowed hill. During the same time 60,000 children had
been born in America.
Also this letter, which James Dunlop received in New York shortly before
coming to Georgetown, gives, I think, a very vivid picture of both
political and economic thinking of the time:
Glasgow
January 31, 1783
Mr. James Dunlop, Merchant, New York, c/o the Pacquet.
Dear Sir:
This comes by the pacquet which will bring you the Preliminary
Articles of Peace which were signed at Paris on 20th and we had the
account here on the 27th at 8 in the morning which was very quick.
We have not yet seen the Articles, but we have reason to believe
upon the whole it is as reasonable as could well be expected unless
we had made another campaign in the West Indies with the Troops from
America and our present great superiority at sea. We had reason to
expect everything would have gone to our liking, and considering the
great quantity of West Indies and American produce now on hand
perhaps you will think we, as well as our neighbours, would had no
objections to another Campaign.
I have seen all your late letters, am sensible the news of Peace
after the purchase you have lately made, will give you much
uneasiness but the company are sensible you did it with a good
intention and except the idea of peace, your reasons for the
purchase were very good, however we thought that General Carletons
declaration to you that Negotiations for Peace were open and that in
the first place Britain declared the Independence of America, would
have alarmed you or at least prevented you from exceeding the
Company's limits so very much especially for so large a quantity. I
suppose what made you so very sanguine that we should have another
Campaign was the Rockingham party going out and Lord Shelbourne
coming and on his first appearance declaring against American
indenpendence, which speech deceived many here as well as with you. I
am happy to inform you the Ruby arrived four days ago which brought
us the 100 Hhds Tobacco without a farthing of Insurance which is
very luckie and will help to make the loss on the tobacco fall
season. We have not yet heard any account of the Favorite. We have
done 16 on the Tobacco on her and don't intend to do any more.
If this Tobacco turned out good in quality and no great quantity
comes home for six months I still flatter myself there will be no
great loss upon the Sales. There has been no sale of any kind these
five weeks past nor will not be till some time after we see the
Articles of Peace which we now expect in three or four days, as they
were to be laid before Parliment two days ago. I suppose in a short
time after the receipt of this you will be going to visit our old
friends in Virginia. It is very probable I may have the pleasure of
seeing you there in a few months and as America has gotten her
wishes I hope she will once more be a happy Country and we shall
enjoy the blessings of Peace with our old Acquaintance and Brethern
and I hope it will cement the friendship between the Mother and the
Daughter to the mutual advantage of both Countrys.
I had the pleasure of seeing your Sisters all week--several nights
at Mr. William Dunlop's.
Wishing you all the happiness and with compliments to all
acquaintance I am, Dear Sir,
Your most humble servant
JAMES ANDERSON
Also in a letter from a young British Officer (also a Scotsman) who was
a military prisoner in a camp at Lancaster, Pennsylvania who was trying
to get to Petersburg, Virginia to see his father who was there on
business from Glasgow, there is this addition.
P.S. I have this moment received a letter from Phila. informing me
of a passport being procured for my going to Virginia. I shall set
off immediately. Adieu.
Can't you picture his excitement after many trials to at last get in
touch with his father!
On March 18, 1783 Archibald Govan sends two letters enclosed to a friend
in New York to forward to Virginia "by the safest, spediest conveyance.
There is probally now a post direct from New York through the
Continent."
In these days ships approached George Town by way of the Western
Channel, as it was called, on the far side of Analostan Island, where
the depth of the water was from twenty-seven to thirty-three feet--deep
enough to admit the passage of an "Indiaman."
George Washington Parke Custis, the owner of Arlington, was much
disturbed when a causeway was built across from the island to the
Virginia shore, and prophesied the filling of the channel and the end of
George Town as a port.
So up the creek to these mills for their produce, and up the great river
to its wharves, piled high with hogsheads of tobacco came these ships
and many more of which we have not the names:
The _Potomack Planter_, Captain James Buchanan, for London.
The brig _Brothers_.
The schooner _Betsey_, bringing rum, coffee, and chocolate.
The ships _Ritson_ and _Felicity_.
The sloops, _Lydia_ and _Betsey_, plying between George Town and New
York. These ships from the North were laden with whale oil to be used
for the lamps which, in 1810, were placed on the streets to "enable the
citizens to go safely to and from evening service."
The _Columbia_ from Martinique, and the ship _Lydia_, Lemuel Toby,
master, for London, which on September 6, 1792 had this advertisement
in _The George Town Weekly Ledger_:
Will sail in twelve or fifteen days: such as may be desirous of
taking passage in said ship may depend on being genteelly
accommodated. For further particulars apply to Col. Wm. Deakins, or
the Captain on Board.
Out beyond the northern limits of the Town, just opposite where Mount
Alto Hospital now stands, high on a hill which has been dug away, stood
in those days a tremendous oak tree which was used by the pilots coming
up the river to guide them on their way. For a hundred years it stood,
known as Sailors' Oak, but like so many other things, has had to go in
the interest of Progress.