Original Landowners of Washington

The land which became the City of Washington was acquired by the following eighteen people between 1663 and 1703.
ATCHESON, WILLIAMUNNAMED TRACT OF LAND
BEALL, NINIANINCLOSURE, BEALL'S LEVELS, & ROCK OF DUMBARTON
CLARKE, ANDREWMEURS
EVANS, RICHARDBARBADOE
EVANS, WALTERNAMELESS
HOUP, WALTERHOUP YARD
HUTCHISON, WILLIAMTHE VINEYARD
JOWLES, HENRYTHE GRANGE
LANGWORTH, JOHNWIDOW'S MITE
LEWGER, JOHNLAYTON STONE
PEERCE, JOHNJAMAICA & PORT ROYAL
PINNER, RICHARD & WILLIAMFATHER'S GIFT
POPE, FRANCISROME
THOMPSON, GEORGEDUDDINGTON MANOR, DUDDINGTON PASTURE, & NEW TROY
THOMPSON, WALTERTHE NOCK
TROOPE, ROBERTSCOTLAND YARD
WADE, ZACHARIAHBROTHER'S PURCHASE
WATSON, JOHNNEWBOTTLE

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.