Place of Smallwood in Early Washington Emphasized by Records

The National Intelligencer, Friday, October 4, 1824, printed the following: “Died yesterday morning between 3 and 4 o’clock, in the fifty-fourth year of his age, Samuel N. Smallwood, Esq., mayor of the City of Washington. He had been indisposed for several weeks, but his disorder did not assume a threatening aspect until a few days before it terminated his useful life. The deceased was universally esteemed as a private citizen and justly respected as a public one, the best proofs of which were his repeatedly receiving from the hands of his fellow citizens the highest honor and most important trust within their gift. This city, in his death, loses the services of a most efficient chief magistrate to his family the loss is irreparable. The friends and acquaintances of the family are requested to attend his funeral from his late residence, this afternoon at 3 o’clock.

In the column with the above announcement of the Rambler read what follows:

“At the opening of the session of the two boards of the City Council yesterday afternoon the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:

“Resolved, That we consider the death of Samuel N. Smallwood, Esq., mayor of this city, as a public loss of no ordinary character, and that we sympathize with his family and friends and our fellow citizens generally in the lamented event.

“Resolved unanimously, That as a mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, the members of the two boards will wear crape on the left arm for the space of 30 days and that the like testimony of respect be recommended to the officers of the corporation generally.

“Resolved unanimously, That the members of the two boards, with their secretaries, will attend the funeral of the deceased and that a committee to consist of two members be appointed to cooperate with his friends in making the necessary arrangements.

“Resolved unanimously, That the register of the city and all other officers of the corporation be requested and are hereby invited to join the two boards in attending the funeral.

“Resolved unanimously, That as a further mark of respect for the memory of the deceased, the two boards do now adjourn, and that they stand adjourned until Monday, the fourth of next month.

“Resolved unanimously, That the presidents of the two boards be requested to transmit to the widow of the deceased a copy of the foregoing resolutions.

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The Intelligencer of Saturday, October 2, published the following editorial:

“The funeral of our late mayor, S.N. Smallwood, esq., took place yesterday afternoon and was most respectfully and numerously attended. As a mark of respect to the merits of this citizen the shops on the Avenue were closed at 3 o’clock yesterday for the remainder of the day.”

Reading the Intelligencer to find the accounts of Mr. Smallwood’s death and funeral, the Rambler read a number of death announcements, and he passes them to you, believing they may give the name of one of your kindred or of a man or woman whom you heard your parents speak of:

“In this city, on Tuesday night last, Mr Enos Park, coachmaker of this city, an industrious citizen, whose death has left a wife and two small children in great distress.”

“At Petersburg, Va., on Friday night last, Mr. James Murphy (Miller), formerly of Georgetown, D.C., in his twenty-fifth year.”

“In the Gulf of Mexico, on the first instant, on board the schooner Col. Tenant of Baltimore and from Alvarado, George Biers, late master and superrarge of the above vessel, in the thirty-fourth year of his age.”

“On Thursday night last, after a tedious illness, Col. Thomas Lee, aged 50 years, formerly commander of the 95th Regiment, Virginia Militia, and for many years a magistrate of Norfolk County. Col. Lee was a native of Norfolk and has left an amiable consort to deplore his loss. He was much respected for his intelligence and integrity.”

“In Hampton, on the morning of September 26, just entering her twenty-third year, Mrs. Elizabeth B. French, wife of Dr. George B. French, and third daughter of Commodore Barron, after an illness of nine days.”

“At New York, on the 15th instant, much regretted, Mrs. Ann Ferguson, wife of Alexander Ferguson, formerly of New York and late of Baltimore. Her wound was received in the breaking down of a stage coach while on the way between that city and Philadelphia.”

“At Acton, Mass., on the 14th instant, Mr. Samuel Hayward, aged 79. He took an active and arduous part in the War of the Revolution and was one who fought and was wounded at the battle of Concord Bridge, where he had a brother and a brother-in-law killed by his side.”

“On the 9th of September, 1824, at the house of Maj. Cunningham, in Sevier County, Tenn., William Jobe. He was about the age of 65 years. When he was only 16 he enlisted and served five years in the Continental Army. He was one of the first settlers on French Broad River, was actively engaged in defending his country throughout the Indian wars and always supported the character of a brave man. He also went on several expeditions in the late war.”

“At Rossburg, Prince Georges County, Md, on the 27th ultimo, after a short illness, Mrs. Elizabeth Lanham, wife of Mr. Aquila Lanham. She has left many friends and relatives to deplore her loss.”

“At the house of Thomas C. Rector, Esq., near St. Louis, on Saturday night, 22 August, Mr. Abner Rector, son of Ludwell Rector of Fauquier County, Va.”

“At Harper’s Ferry, Dr. Charles Brown. His remains were attended to the vault (prepared by his own orders on the mount near Jefferson’s Rock) by a military and Masonic procession and a very large concourse of the citizens, when the usual ceremonies were performed. He has left the principal part of his estate to the Medical Hospital of Philadelphia.”

“At Philadelphia, Mr. Thomas Jefferson, of the Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington theaters, aged 27 years. He was the eldest son of Thomas Jefferson, Esq., our deservedly esteemed favorite comedian.” The Rambler also read announcements of the death of John Crabb, Esq., late captain U.S. Corps of Marines; Mrs. Margaret Stewart, relict of the late Capt. Samuel Noble Young; Miss Martha Plater, daughter of Thomas Plater, Esq, of Georgetown, and of the death “at Sweet Springs, Va.,” of Moses Mordecai, “of the vicinity of Raleigh, N.C.”

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When Mr. Smallwood died arrangements were making for welcoming Lafayette to Washington. Mayor Smallwood was the first named on the reception committee. To show you what was doing toward welcoming Lafayette, the Rambler takes the following from the National Intelligencer of October 1, 1824, -- which was the issue of the paper containing the resolutions passed by the City Council on the death of Mayor Smallwood.

“The committees appointed by the corporation of the City of Washington on nineteenth of August to make arrangements for the proper reception and entertainment of Gen Lafayette on his arrival in this metropolis have assiduously devoted themselves to the honorable duty assigned to them.

“To meet also the known wishes of their fellow citizens by making the reception of their guests as respectful and honorable as possible, the committee came to the resolution to invite, to unite with them in the reception of Gen. Lafayette:

“The heads of departments and the other members of the Government of the United States; all officers of the Revolutionary Army residing within the District of Columbia and in the contiguous States; the Mayors and members of the respective Councils of the cities of Alexandria and Georgetown; the judges of the respective courts of the District and their principal officers; the members of the Levy Courts of the District and the Reverend Clergy of the District; all officers of the Army and Navy of the United States at the Seat of Government; the officers of the Corps of Marines; the commanding generals of the Militia of the District; the uniformed military companies, both horse and foot, of the District; all other citizens of the District and its vicinity; the faculties of the colleges of the District and their pupils; the teachers of the several schools of the city and their pupils, both male and female.”

Deeper in the article the Rambler found this:

“The formal reception of the general will take place on the eastern portico of the Capitol, under the tend of Washington, by the Mayor of the Corporation of the City of Washington, in the presence of those citizens, civil and military, who are specially designated above. He will be met at the line of the District by the committee of arrangements, the Revolutionary officers and the military companies and escorted thence, under proper salutes, etc., to the Capitol. The rotunda of the Capitol will be appropriated to the exclusive use of ladies."

“When the ceremonies at the Capitol shall have been concluded the general will be conducted, under escort, as before, to the lodgings prepared for him at the Franklin House. Maj. Samuel Miller has been appointed marshal-in-chief, who will, with his aides, carry into effect the arrangements adopted by the committee in regard to the escort, the procession, etc.

“By order and on behalf of the committee.

“William W. Seaton
    Secretary”

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Turning back through the file of the Intelligener to August 19, 1824, the Rambler found that the Lafayette reception committee appointed then was as follows: S.N. Smallwood, mayor; W.W. Seaton, president of the Board of Aldermen; P. Force, president of the Board of Common Council; C.W. Goldsborough, and George Watterston of the Board of Aldermen, Edward S. Lewis and William Hunt of the Board of Common Council, Maj. Gen. Jacob Brown, Commodore Thomas Tingey, Daniel Carroll of Duddington and Richard Bland Lee.

Before finding the names of the committee the Rambler found the following paragraph on the “Ring of Washington”; “Mr. Custis of Arlington, we learn, is causing to be made a ring, to contain some of the hair of the Father of His Country, and will present the same to the general (Lafayette) when he shall visit the tomb of the Great Chief at Mount Vernon The ring will descend in the family of Lafayette, a token of the affection which subsisted between the father and son of American liberty. It is making in the shop of Mr. G. Gaither in this city and will be of plain gold, bearing simply the inscription, ‘Patriae Peter.’ The hair derives its date from 1790, the general being then the first President of the United States, and slightly shows the frost of time.”

In the Intelligencer the Rambler read a number of advertisements. One was the offer for sale of “the retreat and plantation formerly the residence of Daniel of St. Thomas Jenifer, esq., deceased.” It was written that “this body of land lies adjoining the town of Port Tobacco, Md.; and binds the creek nearly two miles, containing upward of 1,100 acres.”

The estate of Col. Daniel C. Brent, called Richland, was advertised for sale. It was described as being 11 miles from Alexandria and 20 from Fredericksburg and it was said that “to persons disposed to purchase it the farm will be shown by William Brent.” Advertised for sale was the tract, Sebastian Spring, 246 acres, on the turnpike road between Washington and Alexandria, half way between those cities. The advertisement tells that the Potomac River bounds one side of the tract and that possible buyers should apply to Charles Chapin, at Alexandria. The tract, Clear View, on Chappawamaic Creek, Prince William County, Va., was advertised. It was described as 3 ½ miles from Dumfries and bordering the turnpike road from Alexandria to Fredericksburg. It would be shown by Lewis Adie, living on the place, or by Hugh Adie, living at Stafford Court House. A tract of 1,101 acres, properly of William Dudley Diggs and being part of Chillum Castle Manor, was advertised at marshal’s sale. There was notice of a trustee’s sale of land “on which John Addison resides in Prince Georges County, Md., 3-1/2 miles from the Capitol, containing 373 acres.

I read that Union Tavern, Georgetown, was for rent and part of the advertisement follows: “This establishment is well known to be the most commodious and possessed of as many advantages and conveniences as any in the District. It was built expressly for a tavern and has been occupied as such for the last 20 years. It contains from 40 to 50 lodging rooms judiciously arranged, 8 to 10 private parlors with bedrooms adjoining, a large ballroom, several private dining rooms, excellent kitchen, larders, dry cellars, etc.” It was set forth that the tavern had “extensive stables, a large ice house filled with ice, a garden with a very fine spring of water” and that “the public stage coaches north and south start from and arrive at this hotel daily.” The advertisement was signed “Richard Burgess, acting for the proprietor.”

One of the advertisements was of a public sale of slaves of the estate of L.H. Johns at Newport Mills, Montgomery County, Md. John H. Carter of Benvenue, Fairfax County, near Little Falls, advertises for the capture of a fugitive slave named George Lane, and Benjamin B. Mackall of Prince Georges County offers $50 reward for the return of a fugitive slave named Basil.

It was advertised that the steamboat Potomac, Uriah Jenkins, master, was running from Washington and Alexandria to Richmond, making stops at Old Point Comfort, Norfolk and City Point. The Potomac left Washington every Wednesday afternoon at 4 o’clock an Alexandria at 5, and arrived at O., Point Comfort and Norfolk “the following afternoon, leaving Norfolk next morning at 6 o’clock, arriving at City Point and Richmond on the evening of the same day.”