A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 63

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry
Publication date: 1835
Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin
Number of Pages: 1278

USA > Washington DC > Washington DC > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 63
USA > Virginia > A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia > Part 63

Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).

The incident alluded to, is that a being made of the prisoner who and man by the name of White, who lived on Walker's creek, was out with General ROGERS CLARKE. The General being in want of intelligence settlement, killed all the family save his elder brother, who escaped during the onset, and took him prisoner. He described the place from which he was taken. During the recital; the countenance of his captor appeared very much agitated, he asked him several abrupt questions as to his early rememberances, and finally cried out, I AM YOUR BROTHER." All circum- stances went to confirm the truth of this assertion, even to the similarity of persons. The exile was restored to society, and for many years sat in the legislature of Kentucky, but still so far retained his old habits and pre- dilections as to spend months at a time

as to the future. plans of the enemy, and being desirous of obtaining infor- mation, sent out White by himself to bring him in an Indian. White went out, and after two days unsuc- cessful hunt returned without one. The General still being determined to have an Indian, sent White out the second time, saying take companions if you will. White being remarkable for size, strength, agility, courage and prudence, selected two men, and start- ed with the determination of having an Indian if he went to Canada for him. After a days travelling they struck on a faint trail, which, by the middle of the third day, took them to in the woods. an Indian village. White cautiously

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VIRGINIA DELEGATION, -

HOUSE OF DELEGATES,

Number of Delegates to which the sereral counties are entitled under the late Constitution.

· Accomack,

2 Greensville,

1 |Northumberland, 1

Albemarle,

2 Halifax, 2 Nottoway,

Alleghany,

1 Hampshire, 2 Ohio, 2

Amelia,

1 Hanover, 1 Orange,

Amherst,

1 Hardy,

Page,

Augusta,

2 .

Harrison,

2 Patrick,

Bath,

1 Henrico,

Pendleton, 1

Bedford,

2 Henry,

1 Pittsylvania, 2

Berkley,

2 Isle of Wight,

1 Pocahontas, 1

Bottetourt, 2 James City,

Powhatan,

'Brunswick, 2 York,

Buckingham,

2 Jefferson,

Princess Anne, 1

Cabell,

Kanawha,

1 |Prince George, 1

Campbell,

2 King & Queen,

1 Prince William, 1

Caroline,

1 King George,

Randolph,

Charles City,and

King William,

1 Rappahannock,

1 2

Charlotte,

1 Richmond

Rockingham,

Chesterfield,

1 Lee,

Russel, '

Culpeper,

1 Lewis,

1 Scott,

Cumberland,

1 Logan,

1 Shenandoah,

Dinwiddie,

1 Loudoun, Louisa,

1| Southampton,

Warwick,

Lunenburg,

1 Spottsylvania,

Essex,

1 Madison,

1 Stafford,

Fairfax,

1 Mathews and

1 Surry,

Fauquier,

2 Middlesex,

Sussex.

Fayette and

Jackson,

Tyler,

Fluvanna,

1 Mecklenburg,

Washington,

Floyd,

1 Monongalia

2 Westmoreland,

Frederick,

Montgomery,

Wythe,

Giles,

Morgan,

1 Norfolk Borough,

Gloucester,

1 Nansemond,

1 Petersburg,

Goochland,

1 Nelson,

Richmond City, 1

Grayson,

1 Norfolk County,

Greenbrier,

1 Northampton, -

'Total " 134

Symth,

Elizabeth City and

Mason and

Tazewell,

Nicholas,

Franklin,

2 Monroe,

1 Wood,

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New Kent,

1 Lancaster and

Rockbridge,

Brooke, 1 Williamsburg, and

1 Preston, .

Prince Edward, 1

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SENATE.

The Constitution lays off the Senatorial District as follows :-

Brooke, Ohio, Tyler, and (Marshall,) 1,-Monongalia, Preston and Ran- dolph, 1,-Harrison, Lewis and Wood, 1,-Kanawha, Mason, Cabell, Lo- gan, Nicholas, (Fayette, Jackson,) 1, -- Greenbrier, Monroe, Giles, Mont- gomery, and (Floyd,) 1,-Tazewell, Wythe, Grayson, and (Smyth,) 1,- Washington, Scott, Lee, 1,-Berkley, Morgan, and Hampshire, 1,-Fred- erick, Jefferson, 1,-Shenandoah, Hardy, and (Page,) 1,-Rockingham, and Pendleton, 1,-Augusta, Rockbridge, 1,-Alleghany, Bath, Pochahon- tas, and Botetourt, 1,-Loudoun, and Fairfax, 1, -- Fauquier, and Prince Wil- liam, 1,-Stafford, King George, Westmoreland, Richmond, Lancaster, and Northumberland, 1,-Culpeper, Madison, Orange, and (Rappahannock,) 1,-Albemarle, Nelson, and Amherst, 1,-Fluvanna, Goochland, Lonisa, and Hanover, 1,-Spottsylvania, Caroline, and Essex, 1,-King & Queen, King William, Gloucester, Mathews, and Middlesex, 1,-Accomack, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Warwick, and City of Williamsburg, 1,-Charles City, James City, New Kent, Henrico, and City of Richmond, 1,-Bedford, and Franklin, 1,-Buckingham, Campbell, and Cumberland, 1,-Patrick, Henry, and Pittsylvania, 1,-Halifax, and Mecklenburg, 1,- Charlotte, Lunenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward, 1,-Amelia, Pow- hatan, Chesterfield, and Town of Petersburg, 1,-Brunswick, Dinwiddie, and Greensville, 1,-Isle of Wight, Prince George, Southampton, Surry, and Sussex, 1,-Norfolk, Nansemond, Princess Anne, and Borough of Norfolk, i.

()Those counties in brackets have been created since the Constitution, from portions of the districts to which they have been assigned.

The arrangement of the counties into CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICTS since the last census, is given after the District of Columbia.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ESTABLISHMENT, SITUATION, BOUNDARIES AND EXTENT.

THE sixteenth clause of the eighth section of the first Article of the CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES gives to CONGRESS the power " 'To exercise exclusive legislation in all cases whatsoever, over such dis: triet (not exceeding ten miles square) as may, by cession of particular states, . and the acceptance of Congress, become the seat of government of the United States " -- In pursuance of this power GENERAL WASHINGTON, by authority from Congress, after great research and observation selected the present District of Columbia, as the site for the metropolis of this Great Empire of Confederated Republies. It was ceded in 1790 by the states. of Virginia and Maryland to the United States, and became the seat of govern- ment in 1800.

It lies upon both banks of the Potomac, in form an exact square of 10 miles, containing of course 100 square miles, or 64,000 acres. Two of its sides run in a N. E. and S. W. direction,-at right angles to the other two running in a S. E. and N. W. direction. It extends in lat. from 38° 46' 30" to 38º 58' N. nearly; and the long. of the capitol (which we assume as zero with respect to all other places in this country) has been found by accurate astronomical calculations to be with reference to Greenwich, the English point of reference, 76° 55' 30" west.

The District on the Virginia side is bounded by the county of Fairfax, and on the Maryland, -by Prince George county on the S. E. and Mont- gomery county on the N. W.

'The location of the District having been determined on, the first stone to" mark its boundary was set in Jones's Point, the uppermost cape of Hunting creek, on the 15th of April, 1791, in presence of a large concourse of spectators. Of the 100 miles square included in the District, 36 lying south of the Potomac, and included in the county of Alexandria, were ceded by Virginia. A strip 10 miles long, by about 8 broad lying N. of the Potomac and comprehended in Washington county was ceded by Maryland.

The surface of the District is gently undulating, affording fine sites for the cities within its limits. In a commercial view its situation is highly fa- vorable. Ships of any draught can be navigated to Alexandria, and those of very considerable size to the Navy Yard on the East branch of the Po- tomac, at Washington. The Chesapeake and Ohio canal, and the fine roads which the government has made in every direction, also contribute much to its commercial advantages.

SOIL.

There is as much variety of soil as of surface in the District. The hills .. are for the most part covered with forests, and the vales are cultivated or

472

GENERAL DESCRIPTION.

covered with wild shrubbery, presenting a landscape, almost every where, of great beauty. Springs of the finest quality abound.

Rock creek, Tiber creek, and the Eastern. Branch of the Potomac on the north,-and Oxen Run on the south,-and Four Miles Run on the west, -- irrigate a great portion of the District.

The Potomac presents a vast sheet flowing from N. W. to S. E. View- ed from Fort Washington,-with the mouth of the Eastern Branch on the left,-the main stream on the right,-and the opening of Four Miles Run in front, it presents the appearance of a great inland sea, rather than of a river.

The composition of the soil on the banks of the Potomac and the Eastern Branch, is a deep alluvial-rich and various-accumulated from the depo- sites of successive ages,-and the gradual retreat of the waters. Frag- ments of primitive rocks, pyrites, gravel, sand, shells and decayed ve- getable substances are mingled together.

The soil generally near the river is fertile and productive, elsewhere ra: ther thin, and sometimes sandy; but susceptible of great -improvement. The most forbidding and barren looking with ordinary attention, and by the use of manure and gypsum, may be fertilized to an extraordinary de- gree.

With such a soil, nothing is wanting but enterprise and perseverance to change the face of nature from a barren waste, to a blooming garden, and one would think that a market of sufficient extent to stimulate to the requi- site exertion was presented almost at the very doors of the farmer and hor- ticulturist ;- if indeed the facilities for water transportation afforded by the Potomac and its branches do not bring the more distant, but more fertile portions of Virginia and Maryland into injurious competition.

The Rock creek lands are of a light, loamy nature, with a substratum of clay.

The staple produce of the country is the same with that grown in the adjoining portions of Virginia and Maryland, viz: tobacco, wheat, Indian corn, fruit, and the esculent roots.

There is near the District, on Acquis creek, an extensive quarry of free- stone, and on the Seneca one of beautiful variegated marble, or pudding stone from which the columns in the Hall of the House of Representatives were made ..

The composition of the city low grounds, lying below the hights, from the Capitol to Halorama and to the margin of the Potomac, are alluvial, and appear to have been reclaimed but recently.

Within the memory of many now living, seines have been hauled, and fish taken, where handsome stores now stand, in the part of Pennsylvania Avenue in which most business is now carried on, namely-between 9th and 10th streets.

The extent of the marshes below Columbia College bears evidence that a part of the stream of Rock creek once found its way across towards the. Eastern Branch, along the foot of the hights which flank the northern part of Washington.

By judicious draining these swamps have been recently limited to a com- paratively small space, but their existence has still an injurious effect upon the health of the inhabitants residing in their vicinity. This fact is clearly established by the improvement of the health of all situated in the vicinity of the low grounds from the centre market to Capitol Hill.

·OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 473

Pieces of sound timber are often discovered from ten to fifty feet below the surface. In digging wells, several pieces of black looking limbs of trees, and entire roots have been found at a considerable depth .- An exten- sive stratum of carbonated limbs of trees has been discovered near Bla-' densburg, and north of the City, and traced for a considerable distance.

Many of the blocks of stone that compose the walls of the Capitol con- tain specimens of the leaves of trees, and ligneous fragments,-and when exposed to the air they have sometimes shrunk.

On turning up the surface of the soil 'some curiosities of Indian origin have been found. Round stone vessels in the shape of common pots, or bowls, and stone axes are sometimes picked up. A good specimen of an Indian axe in excellent preservation was found on the farm of Mr. Dunlop in Montgomery county, Md .- and is yet in his possession. Points of darts, and arrow heads of stone, used in Indian warfare are met with in many parts of the District. In some ancient records an Indian fort is mentioned, as standing on the banks of the Eastern Branch, not far from the spot on which the powder magazine is now located,-but there are now no traces of it to be found.

The temperature of the water of the city springs, when brought to the surface of the earth at midsummer may be set down at 58º of fahrenheit,- the Bladensburg chalybeate at 64º,-and the stream of the Potomac at 85º, -- and the water in the hydrants in Pennsylvania Avenue generally, where the pipes are sunk to a proper depth, at 56°, though it may issue from the fountain at 58º.

GEOLOGY AND MINERALOGY.

A few years ago a correspondent of a New York print, (generally under- stood to be an intelligent rhember of Congress) took a glance at some of the prominent geological features of this District; and although there be some imagination in the sketch, yet, there is enough of science to justify its inser- tion.

It is obvious, says he to the most careless observer, that over the site of the Capitol of the United States, and the country far around, the waves of the ocean once rolled, and that these fields, now quietly tilled by the planter; were thrown from beneath it by some tremendous convulsion. Where the great concerns of this nation are now canvassed, and our politicians are imagining that they may provide for the perpetuity of our republic, memo- ry, as if mocking their schemes, points to the period when the monsters of the deep flowed over the spot; and no human being conceived that the wa- ters would not continue to hide it forever.

- The proofs of the amazing changes are numerous and conclusive. It is announced by the strata of earth; by the rounded stones, like those which grind and polish each other on the sea shore; and by the numerous secon- dary formations, which without analysis, instruct us satisfactorily on the slightest inspection. In many of the stones found even on the hights around us, are distinct impressions of marine shells. The lime of which these . shells were constituted, has been decomposed, and has vanished, or been incorporated with the general mass, which, when broken, exhibits the con- cave and convex surfaces of the marine substance, and the vacant space pro- duced by the slow waste of ages not now to be numbered. These stones are of various composition, some being exceedingly hard, and others soft, 60

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474

GENERAL DESCRIPTION ..

and others having the character of the coarse grey sandstone, or what has I think erroneously been called granular-quartz."

The material of the soil is clay, discolored by the oxide of iron. It be- comes fixed by fire, and no place can boast of greater facilities for brick making.

Rock creek, and its immediate vicinity, is the line between the primitive formation and the tertiary ; from Rock creek up the Potomac, the borders of the stream is pregnant with primitive rocks in situ and in boulders, with the exception of a few small pieces of alluvial soil here and there, in the valley of the river. This is the case for twenty miles or more, when the country changes to old red sandstone, which continues 20 or 25 miles fur- ther up the river, with occasional ridges of brecca or pudding stone: mar- ble shows itself in various places along the valley below and above Mono- cacy. About a mile, however, east of the entrance of Rock creek into the Potomac, on the southern point of the city, near the Glasshouse, the final termination of the primitive rocks that line the bed and banks of the Poto- mac above, clearly takes place. In digging wells beyond this point, rocks or stones seldom obtrude; the alluvial soil every where prevails .- Rock creek separates the primitive from the alluvial soil. In the former gneiss abounds, which is succeeded by the amphibolic rock or grunstein. The gneiss contains small crystalised tubes of magnetic iron, veins of feldspath and quartz of opaque white color. The rock of the Great Falls of the Potomac consists chiefly of micaceous schist,-the mica schistoide of Hauy, or glimmer schiefer of the Germans, and contains grains of iron which attract the magnetic needle. The stone, with which the basins of the Po- tomac canal are lined, is a species of sandstone (gris) similar to that known by the name of gris des mouilliores [sandstone of coal-beds.] The rock employed to form the foundation or base of the houses of Washington, is a species of gneiss, composed of feldspath, quartz and mica, of a leafy tex- ture, owing to the abundance and disposition of the mica. It contains primi- tive sulphurous iron-and also particles of the same metal, which are at- tracted by the needle. At Fort Washington there is a ferruginous clay, known by the name of bol, which is employed to dye cloth and thread, of a reddish color. This substance, when heated, attracts the magnetic needle. The moulds of petrified shells of the genus arca weighing several pounds, have been dug up at this place.

. Robinson, in his catalogue of American mineralogy, furnishes the follow- ing for the District of Columbia :

:: Flint,-on the shores of the Eastern branch of the Potomac . near . the Navy Yard, in small nodules,-Hornstone, containing organic remains, agatized wood, woodstone,-three miles north from. Washington, sometimes invested with minute crystals of quartz,-fine specimens and abundant. Schorl-In Georgetown-in gneiss-lignite and pyritical fossil wood are found abundantly in digging wells. Iron ore-in the vicinity of the wood- stone locality, in detached masses on the surface-organic remains in sand- stone-abundant.

CLIMATE.

The prejudices that some time back existed averse to the general health of the District, have been dissipated by the monthly publication of imeteo- rological observations, and the interments in the public grave yards, authen-

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475

OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

ticated by the board of health. The climate of course resembles that of the adjoining parts of Maryland and Virginia. The severity of the winters, or cold seasons, is no doubt of late years much mitigated. In 1780, Mr. Jefferson says, the Chesapeake bay was solid ice from its head to the mouth of the Potomac. At Annapolis, where it is 54 miles between the nearest points of land, the ice was from 5 to 7 inches thick quite across, so that loaded carriages went over it. In January, 1772, the snow in the District of Washington was nearly three feet deep, and in some places it drifted to ten or twelve feet. Of late years not more than as many inches have fallen. Formerly the river, near Dumfries, was frequently frozen over in Novem- ber,-heavy snows fell in the same month, and loaded the forest trees, till their branches broke under the pressure. The climate, ascultivation progresses, is rapidly improving. The District is now seldom visited with the long or severe winters, of which our early settlers so feelingly complained .. France, as well as America, in its uncultivated state, had hard winters .- In the time of Julius Cæsar, the Rhine was frozen over, and neither the olive nor the vine was then cultivated. A Gallic winter, once proverbially severe, is now, under a state of high cultivation, mild and pleasant. In the days of Horace, mountains near Rome were covered with snow.

The climate of Britain, however, is a remarkable exception; it appears, in our days, to continue as it was, in the times of Tacitus, moist, cloudy, and rainy .- So we are encouraged, on the authority of the ancients to look forward to a progressive improvement and material mitigations on the rigors of winter, when our soil shall be more generally opened by cultivation; we. ; may not then be tortured with those extremes of heat and cold, under which we now labor, varying from 18° below zero, to 98º above, of fahrenheit.

In summer, the District is visited with frequent thundergusts, though, on the whole they are beneficial, as they tend to purify the atmosphere, and mitigate the sultriness of the season, which is often as oppressive as within, the tropics. The most remarkable of these tempests or tornadoes occurred in June, 1811, and August, 1814: during the former, large hailstones weighing three or four ounces, fell, and destroyed every. pane of glass on the north side of the houses in Alexandria: and, in the latter instance, many houses were blown down and trees laid prostrate, much to the terror of the British, who at that time held for 24 hours the occupation of the city.

We have no doubt that the degree of caloric has considerably increased, since the forest trees were cut down on our commons, and wide gravelled avenues formed: the difference of temperature in favor of the forest shade is, by some philosophers, reckoned at one fifth less than on an open space. Bordering as the District does on so many water courses, it may be naturally presumed, that its inhabitants, in the summer months, are not free from the annoyance of insects. The musquetoe is the most formidable of this de- scription ; but houses on an elevated site, or with a thorough draught of air, are seldom troubled with them. On the. low grounds, and on the borders of swamps, ephemeral insects, chiefly of aquatic origin, in swarms of va- rious descriptions, make their appearance; musquetoe curtains, however, so common in Carolina, are here very seldom required for the comforts of the bed chamber.

It may naturally be expected that the sudden changes of the atmosphere, . -- though in sound constitutions, they may harden the body,-yet with the more delicate, produce in winter and spring, colds, coughs, rheumatic affec -? tions,-and in the fall, bilious fevers, agues, &c .: nevertheless that part of

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476

GENERAL DESCRIPTION, &c.

the District in which Washington is located, is at least as healthy, if not more so, than any other portions of the Union, containing an equal number of inhabitants. .

ABORIGINES.

Of the aborigines of the District we have a very imperfect account, " In 1608 the first attempt to explore the Chesapeake and its tributary streams was made by Smith. Forty principal and subordinate tribes, occupied the shores of Virginia and Maryland at the time, of whom the Powhatans, the Manahoacs and Monacans were the chief. The Powhatans roamed from the shores of the Chesapeake to the Patuxent in Maryland: the Manahoacs and the Monacans on the territory contiguous to York and Potomac rivers. The Shawanees probably inhabited that part of Mary- land which lies between the Patuxent and the Patapsco rivers, and from the Chesapeake to the Alleghanies. The Susquehanocks, it is believed, lived on the banks of the Susquehannah in Harford county, Maryland, towards the westward, penetrating considerably into Pennsylvania. The Fockwocks and Nanticokes possessed Kent, Queen Anns and Talbot counties, Maryland, from the Sassafras river to the Choptank ; and the lat- ter tribe, Dorchester and Somerset counties.

The Manahoacs and Monacans were in alliance with each other, and waged a confederate and perpetual war against the Powhatans. It is pro- bable, and it is generally admitted, that they were occupiers of the terri- tory which forms the present District of Columbia. The Manahoacs, it is asserted by Colden, afterward assumed the name of Tuscaroras, deserted their country in Virginia about 1712, and [repairing to the west, joined the Iroquois. In 1669, when a census was taken, it was found that in sixty-two years, one-third of their number were wanting. The valley at the foot of the Capitol Hill, washed by the Tiber creek, the Potomac and the Eastern Branch, it is stated on the authority of some of the early settlers, was periodically visited by the Indians; who named it their fishing ground, in contradistinction to their hunting ground; and that they assem- bled there in great numbers in the spring months to procure fish. Green- lief's Point was the principal camp and the residence of the chiefs, where councils were held among the various tribes thus gathered together. The coincidence of the location of the National Legislature, so near the site. of. the council house of an Indian nation, cannot fail to excite interesting re- flections in the mind of the intelligent reader. It is highly probable that General Washington was acquainted with this tradition.

POPULATION.

In 1800

14,093

Slaves,

3,244

" 1810

24,023

Increase in ten years, 9,930

5,395

" 1820 33,039

= 9,060

6,377

" 1830 39,868

6,819

6,054

GOVERNMENT.

THE CONGRESS OF THE UNITED STATES is the Legislature of the District of Columbia, and the. President of the United States its highest

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ALEXANDRIA.

executive officer. The ordinary municipal control is exercised by a Mayor and Corporation.

Judiciary -- Circuit Court,

WILLIAM CRANCH,

Chief Judge,

Salary, 82,700

BUCKNOR THRUSTON, =

JAMES S. MORSEL,

THOMAS SWANN,

Georgetown, Washington, , Attorney, = Marshall,

2,000

Fees, &c.

HENRY ASHTON,

WILLIAM BRENT,

Clerk,

EDMUND J. LEE,

" Alexandria, Clerk,

The Chief Judge of the Circuit Court holds also a District Court.

Orphan's Court.

SAMUEL CHASE,

of Washington, Chief Judge, Salary, $1,000

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A new and comprehensive gazetteer of Virginia, and the District of Columbia, Part 63

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry Publication date: 1835 Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin Number of Pages: 1278

Author: Martin, Joseph. ed. cn; Brockenbrough, William Henry
Publication date: 1835
Publisher: Charlottesville, J. Martin
Number of Pages: 1278