Original Landowners of Washington
The land which became the City of Washington was acquired by the following eighteen people between 1663 and 1703.| ATCHESON, WILLIAM | UNNAMED TRACT OF LAND |
| BEALL, NINIAN | INCLOSURE, BEALL'S LEVELS, & ROCK OF DUMBARTON |
| CLARKE, ANDREW | MEURS |
| EVANS, RICHARD | BARBADOE |
| EVANS, WALTER | NAMELESS |
| HOUP, WALTER | HOUP YARD |
| HUTCHISON, WILLIAM | THE VINEYARD |
| JOWLES, HENRY | THE GRANGE |
| LANGWORTH, JOHN | WIDOW'S MITE |
| LEWGER, JOHN | LAYTON STONE |
| PEERCE, JOHN | JAMAICA & PORT ROYAL |
| PINNER, RICHARD & WILLIAM | FATHER'S GIFT |
| POPE, FRANCIS | ROME |
| THOMPSON, GEORGE | DUDDINGTON MANOR, DUDDINGTON PASTURE, & NEW TROY |
| THOMPSON, WALTER | THE NOCK |
| TROOPE, ROBERT | SCOTLAND YARD |
| WADE, ZACHARIAH | BROTHER'S PURCHASE |
| WATSON, JOHN | NEWBOTTLE |
From research data of Bessie W. Gahn, 1936.
In the excellent book, The Center: A Guide to Genealogical Research in the National Capital Area, Christina Schaefer cites a work by Suzanne Hilton, published in Heritage Quest, Vol.55, pgs. 67-79, listing the names of owners of original lots auctioned by the Federal Government. This data is abstracted from the Washington Advertiser 1804-06, (available on microfilm). Also, the Office of the Recorder of Deeds, District of Columbia (441 4th St., NW, DC 10001, tel: (202)727-5374) has typed transcript copies of all the early deeds from 1792-1869. These would give geographical descriptions of the land parcels in question. I am unaware as to whether they maintain the original plat books. On this point, it is worth asking the Historical Society of Washington, DC Library tel: (202)785-2064.
Another excellent source for locating old street names of historical Washington City: Maps of the District of Columbia and City of Washington and Plats of the Squares and Lots of the City of Washington, printed in pursuance of a resolution of the Senate of the United States, Washington: Printed by A. Boyd Hamilton, 1852. A copy may be found at the Martin Luther King Library.