USA > Maryland > First settlements of Germans in Maryland > Part 5
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On June 11th, 1736, Tasker gave his "bond in writing obliga- tory," to convey this entire tract of 7000 acres to Abraham Mil- ler, Daniel France, John George Lye (Lay), Joseph Smith, Peter Laney and Jacob Stoner for the sum of two thousand pounds.
For some cause, the sale was not consumated to these parties, but on February 30, 1744, "at the instance and request of Miller and others concerned in the purchase," the tract was conveyed to Daniel Dulaney for and in consideration of the sum of 841 pounds, 11 shillings currency, and security for the payment of the further sum of 941 pounds, 2 shillings, principal and inter- est. It was agreed between Miller and the others, that the prop- erty should be conveyed to Dulaney to the end and purpose that he and his heirs shall be invested with an estate of inheritance in fee simple in the property until the money advanced by Dulaney, together with the secured payments should be fully satisfied.
It would appear by the instrument from which I have quoted, that Mr. Dulaney was simply acting as the surety of the parties named, but the subsequent documents issued by him show that he was the exclusive owner of the property.
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The price he paid for the land, according to this paper, was about $1.20 per acre, and yet, as we shall see, he sold it in tracts of 100 acres and more at a price not over one half this sum. Indeed, Joseph Brunner bought 303 acres for 10 pounds, about 163 cents per acre. This can only be accounted for on one or two suppositions: either that he had miscalculated the market value of the land, or that these first settlers had acquired some rights in the land by virtue of having actually located upon and improved them.
I was unable to find a conveyance of any part of this tract by Mr. Dulaney earlier than 1746, although some of the settlers evidently, as intimated, had occupied the lands for some years. In almost all the earlier deeds it is recorded that the grantee "is now in actual possession." A large number of deeds were made during the year 1746, as will be seen by the following list:
Daniel Dulaney conveys to Jacob Stoner, July 28, 1746, a tract of land called "Mill Pond," part of Tasker's Chance, now in his possession, containing 292 acres; also a tract called "Bear Durburg," part of Tasker's Chance, 1721/2 acres; consideration twenty-five pounds. These lands adjoined the lands of Stephen Ramsberg and Abraham Miller.
To Gilbert Kemp, July 28th, 1746, a tract, a part of "'Tasker's Chance," called "Water Land," containing 100 acres; consideration twenty pounds. This tract began at the south line of Tasker's Chance and adjoined the land of Conrad Kemp.
To Jacob Brunner, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of "'T'asker's Chance," called "Puck Levelis." containing 248 acres; consider- ation fifteen pounds. This tract commenced in the roth line of Tasker's Chance, and joined John Brunner's and Tider Laney's land.
To Conrad Kemp, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of "Tasker's Chance," called "Kemp's Purchase," containing 190 acres; con- sideration twenty-five pounds. This tract commenced at the 11th line of 'T'asker's Chance, at the northwest corner of Jacob Brun- ner's land.
To Stephen Ramsberg, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Mortality," containing 473 acres; consideration fifteen pounds. This tract, commencing at the southeast of John George Lay's land.
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To John George Loy (Lay), July 28, 1746, part of Tasker's Chance, containing 213 acres; consideration ten pounds.
To John Henry Nave, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, containing 35512 acres; consideration fifteen pounds. This tract adjoined Henry Hood's land.
To Caspar Meyers, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, containing 273 acres; consideration twenty-five pounds. This tract commenced in the 9th line, Tasker's Chance, and ad- joined John Yost Smith's land.
To Henry Brunner, July 58, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Carroll Creek," containing 186 acres; consider- ation thirty pounds. This tract commenced at 300 perches in 6th line Tasker's Chance, and adjoined the lands laid out for Benja . min Hopleman and Henry Sinn, and east of Joseph Brunner's land.
To John Brunner, July 28, 1746, a tract of land, part of Tasker's Chance, called "What-a-Will," containing 23214 acres; consideration twenty pounds. This tract commenced at eighty perches from the beginning of roth line and at beginning of land laid out for Joseph Brunner.
To Henry Roth, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Olio," containing 323 acres; consideration twenty pounds.
To Joseph Brunner, July 28, 1746, a tract of land, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Schiefferstadt," and now in his actual possession, containing 303 acres; consideration ten pounds. This tract commenced at the roth line of Tasker's Chance, then run - ning in a northerly direction to a line in the land of Peter Hore- man. [I tdink this is intended for Peter Hoffman.] It adjoined Henry Brunner's land on the west.
To Jacob Stoner, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "The Barrens," containing 103 acres; considera- tion twenty-five pounds. This tract commenced at the 60th line of Tasker's Chance, 160 perches from the Monocacy.
To Jacob Stoner, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Indian Field," containing 202 acres; considera- tion fifteen pounds.
To Christian Thomas, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Beaver's Den," containing 2094 acres; considera- tion thirty six pounds.
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.
To Henry Sinn, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Loom," containing 1254 acres. Consideration 25 pounds.
To Francis Vice, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Strife," containing 206 acres. Consideration 25 pounds.
To Peter Hoffman, July 27, 1746, { tract, part of Tasker's Chance, called "Rose Garden," containing 225 acres. Consid- eration 20 pounds.
In 1776 Mr. Hoffman sold this property to Governor Thomas Johnson, who erected thereupon a fine mansion, which is still standing. Mr. Hoffman removed to Baltimore and established the large dry goods house that eventually became the firm of Peter Hoffman & Sons. This farin lies about half a mile north of Frederick.
To Nicholas Fink, July 28, 1746, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, containing 170 acres. Consideration 30 pounds.
To Abraham Miller, July 28, 1746, a tract of land, part of Tasker's Chance, containing 294acres. Consideration 16 pounds.
Dulaney deeded to James Smith, May 17th, 1750, a tract, part of Tasker's Chance, containing 260 acres; consideration 60 pounds.
To Andrew Smith, May 23, 1764, part of Tasker's Chance part of "Dearbought," containing 200 acres; consideration 200 pounds.
To Stephen Ramsberg, October Ist, 1753, a part of Tasker's Chance, called "Dearbought," containing 3074 acres; considera- tion 100 pounds. This property was sold to Sebastian Derr, July 30, 1755, and is still in the possession of his descendants.
To Nicholas Fink, June 22, 1754, part of Tasker's Chance, containing 120 acres; consideration 50 pounds.
To Abraham Lingenfelter, August 3, 1779, a tract on Israel's Creek, containing 100 acres; consideration two pounds annually. Lingenfelter was to erect a house and plant an apple orchard of 100 trees.
This property came into the possession of Valentine Adams, a son in law of Lingenfelder, at whose death it was sold for Con- tinental money, which proved to be almost worthless.
Jacob Bentz owned a large tract of land, also a part of Tas- ker's Chance, immediately on the west site of the town. It ex-
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tended from Bentztown, of which it was a part, beyond the Hamburg road. In 1775, Jacob Bentz deeded to the German Reformed Church the ground now the old graveyard of that con- gregation. The father of this gentleman was probably Jacob, and the paternal ancestor of the family in Frederick county, and not Ludwig or Johannes, as I intimated on page 38.
The town of Frederick was laid out in September, 1745, on a part of Tasker's Chance, lying on both sides of Carroll creek. The lots were laid out 60 to 63 feet wide, and from 355 to 393 feet deep. The rate paid for them was 2 pounds 10 shillings and the further yearly payment of one shilling for 21 years, and after that time two shillings yearly.
To the year 1781 Dulaney and his son Walter sold about two hundred of these lots, when the successful termination of the Revolutionary War, terminated all their rights, not only to the remaining lots in the town of Frederick, but also to the vast tracts of land owned by them in various parts of the county.
Among the earlier names of those taking up lots in the town, I find in the records of Prince George and Frederick counties the following :
Robert Debutts (two lots), Robert Wickham, John Carey, Michael Stumpf, Valentine Black, Thomas Schley (four lots), Mrs. Walling, Peter Rench, Mrs. Everton, Peter Butler, Ludwig Young, Samuel Beal, Rev. Bernabus Hauseal, John Biggs, James Brandt, James Dickson, Susannah Apple, Jacob Schisler, Chris- tian Scholl, Jacob Swearinger, George Dickson, Daniel Schultz (four lots), Theobald Mertz, Jacob Schley, Michael Latz, Nicholas Hauer, Daniel Hauer, Peter Wearry, John Kephart, John Jacob Schley, George Burkhart, Michael Raemer, Jacob Marshall, Jacob Sproul, Demorest De la Vincindier and Samuel Duval.
May 10, 1750, there was deeded to the commissioners appoint- ed by the Legislature to purchase lands for building a court house in Frederick, six lots numbered 73, 74, 75, 76, 77 and 78. Consideration 18 pounds.
The Dulaneys owned other tracts in various parts of the county, as we have seen by the Getzendanner patent. They also had a tract of over 8000 acres on Monocacy Manor, north of Frederick. Charles Carroll, Dr. James Carroll, George Steuart, and others, also took up large tracts in various parts of what is now Frederick and Washington counties. In the latter, Lord
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Baltimore had reserved a tract of 10,500 acres, called Conago- cheaque. Leases were made of these lands at from two to six pounds per 100 acres annually.
It would appear that land had considerably advanced over price paid by the first settlers, but it must be borne in mind that these payments were in Maryland currency, which was then greatly depreciated.
As Frederick City as well as some of the largest and finest farms in its vicinity are located on "Tasker's Chance," it was thought it might be of interest to publish its courses and distances which are as follows :
COURSES AND DISTANCES OF TASKER'S CHANCE.
"Beginning at a bounded beech, bounded with nine notches, standing about two perches from the bank of Monocacy river or creek, and about six perches from the mouth of a large run called Beaver run [now known as Carroll creek], and from thence run- ning north, eighty degrees west, thirty seven perches; then south, fifty five degrees west, fifty-two perches; then south, sixteen de- grees west, eight perches; then south, seventy-five degrees west, sixty-six perches; then south, forty-five degrees west, eighty-six perches; then south, sixty-five degrees west, one hundred and forty-five perches; then south, forty degrees west, one hundred and six perches; then south, fifty-nine degrees west, two hundred and forty-seven perches; then north, fifty six degrees west, four hundred and forty-six perches; then north, twelve degrees east, four hundred and nine perches; then north, thirty one degrees west, one hundred and forty perches; then north, forty-six degrees east, one hundred and sixty perches; then north, thirty degrees east, one hundred and sixty perches; then north, fifteen degrees east, one hundred and eighty perches; then north, thirty six de- grees east, five hundred and forty-six perches; then south, seventy- seven degrees east, three hundred and sixty nine perches to the side of Monocacy river or creek; then bounding by and with the side of the said river or creek as said river runs then foll'g courses (viz. )south, twenty degrees east, fifty-six per. hes; then south, thirty - seven degrees west, seventy perches; then south, twenty-three de- grees west, one-hundred and twenty perches; then south, fifty- six degrees west, one hundred and thirty perches; then south, thirty degrees east, eighty perches; then south, sixty degrees east,
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eighty-four perches; then south, forty-six degrees east, sixty perches; then south, eighty degrees east, one hundred and twelve perches; then south, sixty-five degrees east, seventy-four perches; then south, twenty degrees east, one hundred and sixty-eight perches; then south, twelve degrees west, forty perches; then south, sixty-four degrees east, one hundred and thirty perches; then south, forty-three degrees east, forty perches; then south, twenty-seven degrees west, sixty perches; then south, sixty-six degrees west, one hundred and twenty perches; then north, thirty-nine degrees west, forty four perches; the west, forty perches; then north, fifty-five degrees west, thirty perches; then west, two hundred and four perches; then south, forty-five degrees west, forty perches; then south, four degrees west, fifty perches; then south, thirty-six degrees east, forty perches; then south, sixty degrees east, twenty-one perches; then south, forty-three degrees east, seventy perchcs; then south, seventy degrees east, one hunered perches; then south, thirty-six degrees east, thirty-six perches; then still bounding by and with the side of the said river or creek to the beginning tree," containing, &c., &c.
Surveyed 15th April, 1725. Patented 9th June, 1727.
Land Office of Maryland, Sct .:
I hereby certify that the aforegoing is a true copy of courses and distances of "Tasker's Chance," 7,000 acress, as recorded in Liber P. L., No. 6, folio 559, &c., one of .he Record Books of this office.
Seal®
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the Seal of the Land Office of Maryland, this 6th day of February, 1896.
PHILIP D. LAIRD, Commissioner of the Land Office.
It is stated in the records of the Land Office, that this entire tract of 7,000 acres was conveyed, January 30th, 1744, to Daniel Dulaney for and in consideration of the sun of two thousand pounds, but the consideration named in the Records of Prince George County was about 1682 pounds.
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THE OLD "WASHINGTON" TAVERN -- [FRONT VIEW. ]
THE OLD "WASHINGTON" TAVERN-[REAR VIEW. ]
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AN HISTORIC OLD TAVERN.
On the preceding page is a front and rear view of an old build- ing standing on west All Saints' street. It was formerly an inn or tavern, and a well-founded tradition asserts that here in 1755 Washington and Franklin met for the first time, and were called into consultation with Governor Sharpe and General Braddock, in regard to the campaign for the reduction of Fort du Quesne.
This venerable relic of the early days is now occupied by several colored families, and, as will be noticed, is in a delapida- ted condition. It sets back about fifty feet from the street, the rear grounds sloping down to the bed of Carroll Creek, upon the margin of which was, and is still a fine spring of water; this fact doubtless had some influence in the selection of the site for the building. The old road to Virginia and the South passed along All Saints' street in front of this building, thence by way of Prospect Hill, and through the mountains to the south.
The original road to Virginia from the Pennsylvania settle- ments, as I have shown, was by the way of the old settlement of Monocacy, and then through Catoctin Mountains at Fishing Creek Gap, thence down the Middletown Valley and through South Mountain at Crampton's Gap.
According to Scharf there were three taverns in Frederick in 1750, and this, doubtless, was one of them. Frederick was on the only direct road from the New England States, as well as from New York and Pennsylvania to the South; as travel between these points increased, a large number of taverns were erected in the town, as well as along the roads. These all did a thriving business until the introduction of canals and railroads, when the trade was diverted into other channels. Frederick itself had for many years a thriving trade with Georgia and other Southern States.
Within the recollection of the writer there were fifteen or six- teen of these taverns still in operation on Market and Patrick streets, and several in other parts of the town, besides which there were several public houses dignified by the title, "Hotel." All of them had ponderous swinging signs planted in front with expressive designs. The mournful creaking of these signs on their rusty hinges on windy days and nights gave due warning to the pedestrian to quicken his steps until he had safely passed them.
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THE OLD BARRACKS AS THEY WERE BEFORE 1869.
THE OLD BARRACKS.
Many of the residents of Frederick have been under the im- pression that the Old Barracks were erected during the time of the French and Indian wars, but this is not the fact. The Bar- racks, as shown in the engraving, were built under Chapter X, Acts of the General Assembly of Maryland, passed in 1777.
There is ground for the belief, however, that there was a stockade fort, or something of that character, on or near their site at the time of the French and Indian wars, similar to those erected by the early settlers near the present Clearspring and Williamsport, to which the women and children retreated when the Indians became troublesome. The Act of the Assembly referred to, provided for "the erection of Barracks to remove as far as possible the necessity of quartering troops in private houses."
Under this act there was «to be erected, in or near Frederick- town in Frederick county, a number of fit, convenient and proper barracks of plain brick or stone work, with a block-house
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at each corner and ditched and palisaded in, sufficient for the reception of two batalions, with officers." The act also provided for the erection of similar buildings at Annapolis and head of Elk.
Within the recollection of the oldest inhabitant of Frederick, the barracks presented the form and appearance as in the engraving of two L-shaped structures of stone two stories high, with walls three feet thick. The longest part of each L was 140 feet, the shortest parts being 60 feet long.
But I am of the opinion that originally there was a fourth side completing the parallelagram. This opinion is strengthened if not actually confirmed by the following among the items of in- terest referring to the old town quoted by Scharf: "June 26, 1797, the right wing of the barracks entirely destroyed" (by fire it is presumed).
Such a structure with "a block house at each corner and ditched and pallisaded" would form what evidently it was intended to be (besides quarters for troops) a fortress and a place of defense and security against attacks by Indians as well as trained soldiers.
During the War of the Revolution the barracks were used as a place of confinement for the British and Hessian prisoners cap- tured in the battles at Saratoga and Trenton, and afterwards at Yorktown. It is said that there was at one time as many as 1000 Hessian prisoners confined there and in huts erected on the sur- rounding grounds, which cover ten acres.
They were also occupied "by the French prisoners of L'Insur- gent captured by the Constellation in the quasi-war with France," also the prisoners captured in the 1812 war with England. These barracks were for many years used for the storage of arms be - longing to the State. An armorer was regularly appointed, who had the charge of them and the care of the buildings. An old cannon, eight or nine feet long, from Revolutionary times, laid upon Barrack hill for many years. On the occasions of 4th of July and other celebrations this old cannon would be raised from the ground into which it had sunk since last used and fired. Upon the election of General Harrison to the Presidency in 1840 some of his admirers raised the old cannon, one of whom, in the exuberance of his feelings, rammed it with clay, in consequence of which it exploded and he paid the penalty of his indiscretion with his life.
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By an Act of the General Assembly passed January, 1869, the State Grounds at Frederick, together with buildings thereon, were set apart for the use of the "Maryland School for the Deaf and Dumb." The school was opened in one of the buildings, but in a few years the needs of the institution requiring better accommo- dations, the present large, handsome and commodious buildings were erected. Unfortunately a portion of the old and venerable barracks had to be torn down to make room for the new build- ings, the east wing now alone remaining.
OLD COURT HOUSE, 1785.
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THE OLD COURT HOUSE.
By the act of 1748, creating Frederick county, the commis- sioners therein appointed were authorized to purchase three acres of land in or near Fredericktown whereon to erect a court house and prison. In accordance therewith the commis- sioners purchased from Mr. Dulaney, in Frederick, six lots num - bered from 73 to 78. These lots were each 62 feet wide and 393 feet deep, extending from Church Street to Second Street; the price paid to Mr. Dulaney for the same was 18 pounds.
Work on the court house was at once commenced, and it was nearly completed when the French and Indian War broke out, the exigencies of which caused labor thereon to cease, and it was not completed until 1756.
This building, which was one and a half stories high, and built mostly of wood, was located in what is now the bed of Counsel Street, and stood until 1785, when the building of which a representation is presented, was erected. This quite an imposing structure for that time, was modeled after the court house of Dublin, Ireland, by Andrew McCleary, descendents of whom still reside in Frederick. It was built about 20 feet south of the first building, and stood until 1861, when it was destroyed by fire, and the present building was erected upon its site.
The present Court House Square is much curtailed from its original dimensions. The bed of Counsel Street, as well as the Frederick College, and the residences of Messrs. Charles Ross and David Weinbrunner, has been taken therefrom.
The first jail, a rude structure, stood near the present residence of Mr. Ross, and the whipping post stood on the southeast cor- ner of the lots opposite the present Central National Bank. Before the erection of the first court house the courts, as else- where stated, were held in the log church of the German Reformed Congregation on Patrick Street. They were held also for a time at Mrs. Charlton's tavern, southwest corner of Market and Patrick Streets.
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