Friday, October 26, 2012

AUCTION SALES. Bel Air


February 10, 1846
Alexandria Gazette

AUCTION SALES. PUBLIC SALE OF LAND. By virtue of a decree of the County Court of Prince William, appointing me Trustee in the place of Barnaby Cannon, dec'd, in a deed of trust from Henry C. Slade to said Cannon for the benefit of John Gibson and John Macrae, I will proceed to offer at public sale to the highest bidder, before the front door of the Court-house in Brentsville, on Monday the 6th of April next, that being the 1st day of the April term of the County Court, to be held for said County, a valuable estate, in the aforesaid county, situated about six miles from the town of Dumfries, six from the Potomac river, eight from the Occoquan Mills—twenty two or three miles from Alexandria, and well known as the BELL AIR, and Keefe tract, lately owned by Dr. Davis of Dumfries. This valuable estate, formerly the property of Henry C. Slade and Col. Ewell, contains about six hundred and fifty acres, but will be sold in gross and without reference to quantity. It is one of the most comfortable estates in the lower part of the county, consisting principally of red land, containing a large quantity of low grounds on Neabsco Creek, susceptible of ready and extensive improvement, and about two hundred and fifty acres of fuel, pine and timber sufficiently near the Potomac to be boated to the District.--It is well watered, situated in a healthy neighborhood convenient to the Potomac trade and fisheries, and capable of convenient division into two or more farms. The improvements, besides some out-houses, consist of a large brick DWELLING-HOUSE, with several rooms on each floor, which at an inconsiderable expense can be suited to the purposes of a large family. The purchaser will be required to pay in cash the sum of four hundred dollars, and to secure by bonds, and a deed of trust on the premises, the deferred payments, which will be divided into two equal instalments carrying interest from the day of sale, and payable respectively in one and two years. No estate so convenient to the District offers such a field for speculation.

WM. M. WALLACE, Trustee
Prince William County, Va, feb 10—eots

Bel Air circa 1933
(Library of Congress Historic America Buildings Survey (HABS))
[In April 2012, Bel Air Mansion went up for auction once again. Built by Major Charles Ewell, a friend of George Washington, it is Prince William County's oldest home. Maria Stewart, wife of PWCo Board of County Supervisor's Chairman Corey A. Stewart, placed the winning bid.]

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