Part 10 (2/2)
Across the street at number 3012 lived John Abbott, who came from Philadelphia with the transfer of the government in 1800.
At number 3016 lived John Mountz who was Clerk of the Corporation for sixty-seven years, from the time of its beginning in 1789 up to 1856.
Across the street again is the quaint little Stone House which has caused so much discussion. For many years tradition had said it was there that Major L'Enfant had his headquarters while he was mapping the new capital city. Then, someone said it had never been proved. So now we are waiting for proof. From its looks it was most certainly standing in those early days. If only it could speak and tell its own history!
We do know it was bought as lot 3 in June, 1762, by John Boone for one pound, ten s.h.i.+llings. Two years later, as he had not improved it, it was bought by Christopher Leyhman for the same amount, and presumably, a house was built about that time. Apparently, by inheritance, it came to Rachel Furvey (formerly Rachel Leyhman), and in June, 1767, by deed, it became the property of Ca.s.sandra Chew, who made it over to her two daughters, Harriot, who married Richard Bruce, and Mary, who first married Richard Smith, and later, Mr. Bromley. Mary's daughter, Barbara Smith, married John Suter, Jr., and they lived in this house. This is supposed to have something to do with the claim that has been made that this building on lot 3 was Suter's Tavern.
Almost next door on the west Mr. Claggett had a house. Again, across the street, on the southeast corner, is the building which, until recent years, housed the Farmers and Mechanics Bank. It was founded in 1814.
When the Mexican War came, this bank enabled the government to pay the war debt. It has now been absorbed by the Riggs National Bank and moved further up the street. Before the building of the bank, John Peter, a nephew of Robert Peter, had a house on that corner. His house was a simple frame one, and back of it he had rabbit warrens and pigeon houses. He used to go often in the evenings the short distance to his uncle Robert's house for a game of whist, of which the old gentleman was very fond.
Just above Bridge (M) Street on Congress (31st) Street stands the Georgetown post office, an imposing granite building. It is also the custom house of the District of Columbia.
Near the corner of Congress (31st) Street lived W. King, and at number 3119 was the house Thomas Corcoran built. He had come from Limerick, Ireland, to Baltimore in 1783 and entered business with his uncle, William Wilson, there. Soon after his marriage to Hannah Lemon, of Baltimore County, he came to George Town, intending to go on to Richmond, but being so impressed with the thriving little town, he decided to settle here. He first rented a house on Congress (31st) Street below Bridge (M) from Robert Peter, and started a business in leather. In 1791 he built this three-story house and there lived for many years. He was mayor five different terms from 1805, and also magistrate and postmaster for fifteen years until his death in 1830. It was in this house that a meeting was held in 1817 to found Christ Church.
The Union Bank was on the north side of this block.
On the southwest corner of Bridge (M) and High Street (Wisconsin Avenue) is the site of Gordon's Inspection House, and just west of here in 1791 were three large tobacco sheds covering three acres. Here was the ”Warehouse Lot,” used by circuses when they came to town.
Close by was the big warehouse of John Laird. It was after his death in 1833 that the trade in tobacco began to decline.
[Ill.u.s.tration: GENERAL JAMES MACCUBBIN LINGAN]
[Ill.u.s.tration: BENJAMIN STODDERT]
[Ill.u.s.tration: URIAH FORREST]
From 1792 to 1795, number 3221 was the home of Dr. William Thornton, the architect of the Capitol; the Octagon House, built by John Tayloe; of Tudor Place, and also of Woodlawn. He was later the first Superintendent of Patents from 1802 until 1807.
The old market stands where there always has been a market. Its upper stories used to be where the meetings of the Corporation of George Town were held.
At number 3300 was the home of Paymaster David Whann.
Midway between Market (33rd) and Frederick (34th) Streets, on the north side of Bridge (M) Street, General James Maccubbin Lingan had a large piece of property. I wonder if this advertis.e.m.e.nt inserted in a newspaper on April 22, 1801, describes this very place:
The subscriber offers for sale the houses and lots where he now resides. The improvements are a commodious dwelling house, office, kitchen, wash house, meat house, carriage house, a stable for five horses, likewise a large and well cultivated garden and clover lot.
He will also sell the upper wharf and warehouses, all of which have been lately built and well situated for receiving produce that may come down the river.
J. M. LINGAN.
General Lingan was of noted Scotch ancestry, the second child of Dr.
Lingan. He was born in 1751, in Frederick County, Maryland. On his mother's side he was related to the Maccubbins, and to the Carrolls of Maryland. He came to George Town as quite a young man and went directly into the tobacco warehouse of a relative. In 1776 he was commissioned a lieutenant in the army. After the victory of the Battle of Long Island, he was captured at Fort Was.h.i.+ngton on November 16, 1776, his breast being pierced by a bayonet at that time. He was sent as a prisoner aboard the _Jersey_--the ”h.e.l.l,” as she was called. The conditions on board were terrific, and many of the prisoners died. When the coffin was brought for the body of one of his friends, it was found to be too short--the guards started to decapitate the body to make it fit. Young Lingan stood over the body and said he would kill them with his bare hands. So they brought a larger coffin.
While he was still a prisoner there, his cousin, Admiral Sir Samuel Hood, of His ”Satanic” Majesty's Navy, as Lingan called it, visited him and offered him 2,000 (pounds) and high rank in the British Army if he would return to his former allegiance. Lingan's answer was, ”I'll rot here first!” And he almost did! He was cooped up in a s.p.a.ce so short that he could not lie full length, so low that he could not stand erect.
It was many months after his release before his cramped and agonized muscles allowed him to sleep except in an armchair.
The reasons for wis.h.i.+ng to obtain his defection were, first, the pride, and perhaps, affection of his connections in England. Lord North, himself, was one of these, and his cousin, Zachariah Hood was _persona gratia_ at the Court of St. James. Also, the affiliations and connections of his family in Maryland made his defection greatly to be desired. One of his sisters had married Thomas Plater, the son of Governor George Plater of Sotterley, and he was also related to the prominent Carroll family.
At the conclusion of the war, General Lingan returned to George Town and farmed two estates he owned, both named after battles in which he had partic.i.p.ated--Harlem and Middlebrook. He also was appointed collector of the port by General Was.h.i.+ngton himself. He was one of the original members of the Order of the Cincinnati.
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