Echo of War of 1812
Incident of Gen. Ross’ Invasion of Capital
Fired on From Buildings
Troopers Entered City at Second and B Streets
Soldiers Burn Structure
Early Taxpayers in the First Settlement Days --
Mound Where Ross’ Horse Was Buried

In August 1814, the British army under Gen. Ross entered the capital for destructive purposes., and in a report Ross declared that he and his troopers were fired upon from the first houses in the city. They came into the city by way of Maryland avenue, which was then a meandering wagon track from the turnpike, extending northward from 15th and H streets northeast, and in places it was uneven and the little hills were avoided by the few teams of that day.

The point where he incident occurred was at the junction of Maryland avenue, B and 2d streets northeast, the houses being the Sewall house, at the northwest corner of 2d and B streets, and that erected by Gen. H. Dearborn, Secretary of War, at the northeast corner of Maryland avenue and 2d street. The latter house was at once wrecked and burned by the enraged soldiery. The three squares between 2d and 3d, B and C streets, with that part of Maryland avenue skirting square 757 and dividing squares 783 and 784, were then mostly rolling ground of somewhat higher elevation than the present street grade. This may be seen by the topography of some of the building lots, a number of houses being six feet or more above the street level.

For very many years the principal object of interest until the grade of Maryland avenue was cut down some fifty years ago, was a mound a little east of 2d street, beneath which had been buried the body of Ross’ horse. Many of our older residents were told by their parents the story of the invasion.

Cornfields Abounded
There was little else to tell of the locality until the middle of the century, for Gen. Dearborn’s house had no been replaced and there were but one or two small dwellings, with that of G.C. and William Thompson erected about 1825, and left standing on the north side of Maryland avenue between 2d and 3d streets. Some of the ground was inclosed by the rail fence, and good crops of corn and other grains were raised, but most of the ground was utilized for pasturage. Some ground, therefore was not producing the few cents charged on the tax collector’s books and was bought in at tax sale.

The largest of the squares, No. 757, comprising ten lots, fronting Maryland avenue, 2d, 3d and B streets, was divided in 1797, and Mr. Carroll was vested with the title to lots 1, 8, 9 and 10, and to the United States title to the others. Gen. Dearborn’s name appears on the tax books in 1802, listed for a one-thousand-dollar improvement, but not until 1804 did it appear on the land records at the court house and then lot 3 was conveyed to him for $500.

In 1802 the ground was listed at 3 and 4 cents per foot, but four years afterward it fell to 2 cents and less. The house of Gen. Dearborn was occupied by him till about 1809, then by R.R. Livingston, who had returned from France. However, the house was vacant at the time of the entry of the British. The shot fired at Ross was followed by the destruction of the house, and it was not rebuilt. In 1817 the lot was bought by Thomas Munroe.

Erected $1,600 House
In 1825 the east half of lot 2, on Maryland avenue was conveyed o G.C. and William Thompson, who erected a house upon it valued at $1,000, and the ground was listed at the rate of 2 cents in 1807.

Included in the many lots owned by Mr. Carroll, which were conveyed in 1829 to Tabbs, Weightman & Wallach, were four in this square. In 1837 four lots, 4 to 7, with many others, were vested in Georgetown College under the resolutions of Congress donating city lots to educational and charitable institutions. In 1839 John P. Pepper took tax title to lots 1 and 9 and in 1841 Mathias Jeffers owned another lot, and the next year E. King owned the west half of lot 2.

In the thirties there were on the south front of the square Col. Joseph Watson, for many years a pioneer claim agent; George W. Thompson, carpenter and builder, and Thomas Bowen, a tailor, John Courtney, a carpenter, was located on the 3d street front.

Land Listed at a Cent
On square 783 five lots in the lines of Maryland avenue, B, C and 3d streets were allotted to Mr. Carroll in 1796. In 1802 this ground was listed at 2 cents, and soon afer at 1 cent. Peter Howard paid tax for one-thousand-dollar improvements and William Adams for $130. In 1829 Tabbs et al. had power from Mr. Carroll to sell. In 1844 Mrs. Elizabeth Barnes owned in lot 4, the corner of 3d and B street, were she built a residence.

In the square south, 784, there were five lots, of which three were assigned Mr. Prout in 1796. In 1799 W.H. Dorsey had interess, and in 1803 Pratt Miller et al. At this time the assessment was 1 center per foot, which soon afterward was reduced. Peter Howard, a carpenter, who lived in the neighborhood for many years bout in 1812 lot 1, corner 4th and B streets. In 1825 John Graham was an owner of lot 4, on 3d street and in 1827 William Gunton owned lot 1. The latter was assessed for $100 and $50 improvements. Zachariah Hazle owned on 3d street lot 4 in 1840, but he had lived in the neighborhood many years before, and had been assessed for $200 in 1829.