| Notes |
- Mayors of Alexandria, 1801-46
George Slacum 1802-03
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Miller, Michael T., ed. “The Distressing Fire of 1810.” Pen Portraits of Alexandria,
Virginia, 1739- 1900. Maryland: Heritage Books Inc., 1987, p. 68.
1810- “The evening before last, about ten o’clock, the inhabitants of this town were alarmed with
the cry of fire. It began in a cooper’s shop near the wharves adjoining Union Street. A
workman, leaving a candle burning in the shop, went out for a handful of ashes. On his return he
discovered that the candle had fallen among some shavings. The cry of fire was immediately
circulated, but the adjacent materials were of so combustible a nature, it was found impossible to
stop the progress of fire; which raged till nearly two o’clock, before the inhabitants were able to
control it. Every building was burnt in the square, lying on Union Street and extending from
Duke to Prince Streets, bordering on the river. The houses west of Union Street several times
caught fire, but by the great and imminently dangerous exertions of several inhabitants it was
extinguished, and the destruction of perhaps a hundred houses prevented. There was no wind till
after twelve o’clock when a breeze sprang up bearing the flames to the river
George Slacum, one warehouse- $15,000.
“A report that one of the stores contained a large quantity of powder, tho’ erroneous,
prevented the saving of considerable property, and considerably checked the exertions of the
citizens for some time. No lives were lost, and little personal injury received. (Alexandria Daily
Gazette, Commercial and Political, September 26, 1810, p.3.)”
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Benham, Mary Louise Slacum. Recollections of Old Alexandria.
(Chapter VI- My Mother’s Widowhood) “My father’s books and papers, deeds and
securities all fed the flames of the fire that destroyed his valuable warehouses and their contents and insidiously entered with a death breath in to his system. Houses and ground rents were safe,
but the manifold complications of commercial life where constant trade of his several vessels
was involved, left my mother open to the aggressive assaults of demands for monies; and
accounts that had been settled were almost daily presented and sworn to. She had no relating
testimony. The shavings in a cooper’s shop, ignited by the carelessness of an apprentice, had in
a few hours inflicted on us evils present and evils to be apprehended.”
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1791-1801 Charles County, Maryland Will Book AK-11 Part 2 [Mike Marshall]; Page 329.
Samuel Harrison, February 7, 1796; February 19, 1796
I, Samuel Harrison of the town of Alexandria (VA) being at present very sick and weak, notwithstanding of perfect and disposing mind memory and understanding.
To brother-in-law Thomas Leftridge (or Leftwich)the colt which I own out of the gray mare to be delivered to him after my decease.
To wife Barbara, residue of estate.
Executor: wife Barbara Harrison
Signed: February 7, 1796 Samuel Harrison
Wit: George Slacum {Slacomb}, Philip Marsteller, Philip G. Marsteller
At a court of Hastings held for the town of Alexandria 19th Feby 1796, this last will and testament was presented….
I Peter Wagoner, Clerk of the court of Hustings for the Town of Alexandria do hereby certify that the foregoing is a true copy of the will of Samuel Harrison dec'd as taken from the records of the said court, given under my hand this 3rd day of March 1796
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Charles County, Maryland Land Records 1810-1811; Liber IB-9 {Abstract by Mike Marshall}; Page 233.
At the request of Jane Slacum, the following Deed was recorded February 25, 1811
Indenture made August 31, 1810; Francis S. Key now of Charles County of the one part and George Slacum of Alexandria, Virginia of the other part. Witnessed that whereas by a decree of the Chancery Court of Maryland bearing date May 23, 1808 Francis S. Key was appointed a trustee and authorized to sell and dispose of the real estate of the late John D. Scott deceased of CC for the payment of his debts and in pursuance of the said decree Francis S. Key did on August 22 1809 sell to George Slacum part of a tract lying in Charles County called "Poynton Manor" and for the sum of $3000 current money. This indenture witnesseth that Francis S. Key in consideration of the above recited premises and also in further consideration of the sum of $1 has sold the aforesaid tract of land late the estate of John D. Scott. Signed Francis S. Key in the presence of and acknowledged before H.H. Chapman, John M. Gantt
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Early Colonial Settlers of Southern Maryland and Virginia's Northern Neck Counties
1755 - 1810 (54 years)