A Portrait of Old George Town Part 6

For attendance at these performances and other social events, the ladies and gentlemen of George Town were naturally interested in this advertis.e.m.e.nt in the paper:

BY FAs.h.i.+ONS WE LIVE

JOHN JONES

Hair dresser for Ladies and Gentlemen. Begs leave to inform Ladies and Gentlemen of George Town and its vicinage that he intends carrying on his profession in all its different branches and fas.h.i.+ons; he also carries on the Cus.h.i.+on, Perriwig, Curls, Braids, false curls and Gentlemen's Bandoe making. The highest price given for human hair.

George Town, at this time, was even favored by the presence of one of the greatest portrait painters of his time, Gilbert Stuart. About 1803 he spent two years here. He painted Jefferson and the men who followed him in the Presidency up through John Quincy Adams. He had, of course, previously been much at Mount Vernon while doing his famous portraits of General Was.h.i.+ngton. It is said that Was.h.i.+ngton was the only person in whose presence Stuart was ever embarra.s.sed.

There were drawing teachers and dancing masters. "Mr. Carle, dancing master, may be spoke with on school days at Mrs. White's Tavern."

"Dancing School of J. B. Duclaviacq at his dancing room back of Mr.

Turner's Counting House."

Perhaps it was one of these two which advertised, "A night Dancing-School for the Reception of Gentlemen who are not at leisure to attend in the Day-time; will be kept the evenings of the School days; The Price to each Scholar will be Four dollars. A subscription is lodged with Mr. Peter Casanave."

Gaming at cards at private b.a.l.l.s and parties and toddy at dinner date back to the earliest knowledge of society in this vicinity. Card playing, horse-racing and other sports were fas.h.i.+onable and popular and had not abated in 1800 when the Government came.

In chronicles of Sir Augustus Foster, the British Minister in 1805 he notes the b.a.l.l.s in Georgetown "Cards for everybody, loo for the girls--brag for the men."

But all was not play, for in the _Times_ and _Potowmack Packet_ is this newsnote:

On the 13th inst. a daughter of Mr. Aaron Haynes of this town, a young miss in the tenth year of her age, spun 50 knots of good linen yarn, from sun-rise to sunset. An example of industry, highly honorable to herself and well worthy of imitation.

And speaking of youth here is an interesting item:

This day were baptized three male children (the uncommon gift of Providence at one birth) by the names of George Was.h.i.+ngton, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin.

Then this sad and interesting advertis.e.m.e.nt:

With regret and shame the subscriber finds himself under the necessity of advertising his wife. Although it is practised by some white people, yet he, though black, blushes at the thought of declaring to the world that his wife has run away. But disagreeable as it is, he does by these presents make known that Lucy, his wife, has eloped from his bed and board and forbids all persons harbouring or trusting her, as he will pay no debts of her contracting after this date.

Prince Hull.

On June 30, 1790 there was this announcement in the newspaper:

The gentlemen who have subscribed to celebrate the Anniversary of American Independency will be pleased to attend at Mrs. White's Tavern at Four O' clock tomorrow afternoon to choose Managers to regulate the proceedings of that day.

Scheme of a Lottery:

To raise the sum of One Thousand Five Hundred and Nine Dollars for the purpose of finis.h.i.+ng the Church between George Town and Bladensburgh, called Rock Creek Church.

All prizes not demanded in six months after the drawing, will be deemed generous contributions.

3000 Tickets at Two dollars each.

As the above is laudable it is expected that it will meet with approbation and support of the public. As soon as the tickets are sold the drawing will commence at Mr. John Suter's at George Town and the Prizes paid immediately thereafter on application to Thomas Beall Treasurer, in specie.

MANAGERS

Col. Wm. Deakins Robert Peter Benj. Stoddert John Peter Brooke Beall Bernard O'Neil John Threlkeld Anthony Hollmead Thomas Cramphin Col. George Beall Thomas Beall of George Treasurer

_The Times and Potowmack Packet._ November 25, 1789.

Five years before in September 1784 in the _Maryland Gazette_ there was an advertis.e.m.e.nt for the George Town Academy lottery:

Scheme of a lottery for raising $1,400 to be applied to the purchasing a house for the use of the George Town Academy.

The right education of youth is an object of such vast importance of freedom and happiness that there needs no strength of reasoning to recommend the above scheme which is meant to promote it to the patronage and encouragement of a liberal public.

Tickets may be had from Messrs. Robert Peter, William Deakins, Jr., Bernard O'Neill, Henry Townsend, John P. Boucher, Benj. Stoddert, Robt. Philips, Sam'l Davidson, Brooke Beall, and Dr. Walter Smith at George Town;

Wm. D. Beall at Bladensburg, Henry Lyles, Alexandria; Thomas Clagett, at Piscataway, Abraham Faw and Patrick Sim Smith, Frederick-town, and David Stewart and c.u.mberland Dugan and Mr.

Henderson at Baltimore.

David Crawford, Upper Marlboro; Alexander Clagett, Hager's Town.

The drawing will commence at George Town as soon as the tickets are all sold.

Managers are Robt. Peter Benj. Stoddert Wm. Deakins, Jr.

Who will faithfully execute the trust reposed in them.

Henry Stouffer advertised in 1789 his Stage to Annapolis, three times a week which took six or seven hours at the farthest. And in the same paper the Annapolis Packet run by Edward Thomas (of course by water) goes twice a week charging 7 s.h.i.+llings, 6 pence.

In the _Impartial Observer and Was.h.i.+ngton Advertiser_ of June 26, 1795:

George Town, Was.h.i.+ngton and Alexandria Packet--James Bull Master.

Will leave George Town every morning at seven o'clock and call at this place (City of Was.h.i.+ngton) on her way to Alexandria. Leave Alexandria every evening at 4 and call on way to George Town. 17 cents from George Town to Greenleaf Point, 33 to Alexandria.

Pa.s.sages engaged at Mr. Suter's or Mr. Semmes' Tavern in George Town; at Mr. Ward's, Greenleaf Point, and Mr. Thomas Porter's Store, Alexandria.

Ferry boats must not have pendent or any other colour flying or ring a bell on board so as to affrighten the horses and thereby endanger the lives of the pa.s.sengers. Penalty of $20.

_Sentinel of Liberty_, June 27, 1800:

The Stages will leave Light-Lane Number 3 adjoining the Fountain Inn every day (Monday excepted.)

Returning, leave Mr. Heiskell's, Alexandria, at 3 o'clock. Mr.

Semmes' at George Town at 5.

There were also stages going out to Rockville and to Frederick.

In later years there was a conveyance running to Rockville spoken of as "The Hack."

The license tax list discriminated in license value of one-horse chaise and two-wheel coach.

This thriving town had of course to be regulated and governed, and there are copies in existence of the ordinances and by-laws for making it safe and agreeable. One pa.s.sed on the 20th November 1791, related to "the going at large of geese and swine" and makes it "lawful to kill any such and give notice to the Mayor or one of the Aldermen, the offender to be sent to the public market house where the owner may claim within four hours, or if no claim in four hours, the finder take and apply to proper use. All goats running at large shall be forfeited to who ever shall take them up."