Mark David Richards
The First Five Councils
January 2003

The First Five Councils:
A List of All the Officers of the Corporation and the First Municipal Budget of Washington City in the District of Columbia
1802-1806

Introduction

Congress passed (Nathl. Macon, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abraham Baldwin, President of the Senate, pro tempore), and President Thomas Jefferson signed, an Act to incorporate the inhabitants of the city of Washington in the District of Columbia on May 3, 1802.

The Act of Incorporation specified that the mayor would be appointed by the President. The City Council would be elected annually, "by ballot in a general ticket, by the free white male inhabitants of full age, who have resided twelve months in the city, and paid taxes therein the year preceding the elections being held." The Council would consist of twelve members, seven members in the first chamber and five in the second chamber. The second chamber would be chosen from the whole number of councilors elected by their joint ballot.

On February 24, 1804, Congress passed and President Jefferson signed a supplementary act of incorporation, extending the charter fifteen years, and changing the number of Council members from twelve to eighteen members, nine members each in the first and second chambers, to be chosen by distinct ballots. The supplementary act provided a method for filling vacancies.

The following information is from Acts of the Corporation of the City of Washington, passed by First through Fifth Councils, to which is prefixed The Act of Incorporation, printed by order of the Council, Washington, Printed by A. and G. Way, 1803-1806.

Mayor Robert Brent, Appointed by President Thomas Jefferson
on South G Street between 9th and 10th Streets, West.
(June 1, 1802 - June 8, 1812)

Thomas Herty, Register
corner of Pennsylvania avenue and west 15th Street, on the President’s Square.

Washington Boyd, Treasurer
West 12th Street, Square 322.

The First Council
Elected for one year, on Monday the 7th of June, 1802

Members of the First Chamber

James Barry, President, East 2nd Street, Eastern branch.
George Blagden, New-Jersey avenue.
Nicholas King, on Square 169, North G Street, between 17th and 18th Streets, west.
William Brent, New-Jersey avenue, near the Capitol.
A.B. Woodward, 10th Street, west, Square 348.
Samuel H. Smith, Pennsylvania avenue.
Thomas Peter, K Street, near the old bridge, on Rock creek.
Thomas Herty, Secretary, corner of Pennsylvania avenue and West 15th Street.

Members of the Second Chamber

Daniel Carroll of Dudington, President, Square 736, New-Jersey avenue.
Benjamin Moore, New-Jersey avenue.
William Prout, Navy-yard; James Hoban, North F Street near the treasury department.
John Hewitt, North F Street, near the bank.
James Hoban, Secretary, North F Street.

Washington City’s First Budget, 1802

(Note: In original, line items are not sorted by category. I sorted the line items into categories for analysis.)

Personnel, management, and elections – $1,319 dollars: 34% of total budget

• For compensation to register, 50 dollars
• For compensation to treasurer, 9 ½ per cent ($374 estimate)
• For compensation to supervisors of markets, 50 cents per day (.50x250 days=$125x3 supervisors=$375 dollars estimate)
• For compensation to secretaries, 2 dollars per day ($2x250 days=$500 estimate)
• For defraying the expenses of elections of the city council, 20 dollars

Poor relief - $950 dollars: 24%

• For compensation to overseer of the poor, 150 dollars
• For providing for the poor, 600 dollars
• For the further relief of poor, 200 dollars

Fire and water - $750 dollars: 19%

• For repairing pumps, 400 dollars
• For procuring ladders and fire-hooks, 50 dollars
• For procuring fire-engines, 300 dollars

Streets - $550 dollars: 14%

• For opening West 14th Street, 200 dollars
• To keep in repair avenues and streets, 100 dollars
• For placing lamps on avenues and streets, 100 dollars
• For keeping streets and avenues in repair, 50 dollars
• For the repair of streets, 100 dollars

Weights and measures - $360 dollars: 9%

• For procuring weights and measures for centre market, 100 dollars
• For procuring weights and measures, 60 dollars
• Additional, for procuring weights, &c., 100 dollars
• For procuring scales, &c. for the West market, 100 dollars

Total budget, $3,555 dollars (not including treasurer)
Plus 9.5 percent for treasurer=$374 dollars
Approximate total 1802 budget, $3,929 dollars

The Second Council
Elected for one year, on Monday the 6th of June, 1803

Members of the First Chamber

John P. Van Ness, President, Pennsylvania avenue.
William Brent, New-Jersey avenue, near the Capitol.
John Hewitt, North F Street, near the bank.
Samuel H. Smith, Pennsylvania avenue.
Charles Minifie, Square 1046, corner of Pennsylvania and Georgia avenues.
Daniel Rapine, corner of South B. Street and New-Jersey avenue.
Joseph Hodgson, West 20th Street.
Thomas Herty, Secretary, on Square 226, corner of Pennsylvania avenue and West 15th Street.

Members of the Second Chamber

Daniel Carroll of Dudington, President, Square 736, New-Jersey avenue.
Nicholas King, on Square 169, North G Street, between 17th and 18th Streets west.
Benjamin Moore, New-Jersey avenue, between L and M Streets South.
Joel Brown, on Pennsylvania avenue, near the West market.
George Hadfield, Greenleaf’s Point.
John Gardiner, Secretary, Pennsylvania avenue, near the war department.

Trustees of the Poor
Joseph Hodgson, West 20th Street.
Griffith Coombe, New-Jersey avenue.
John Kearney, North F Street.

Overseer of the Poor
Benjamin Burch, Capitol Hill.

Sealer of Weights and Measures
Benjamin Burch.

Supervisors of Markets
Jacob Crawford, Supervisor of the Centre market
Philip Williams, Supervisor of the West market
William Howard, Supervisor of the East market.

Wood-Corders
William Howard.
Nathaniel Breshears.
John Doyne.
Azariah Gatton.
Thomas Taylor.

Hay Weighters
Joseph Hodgson and Josepth Middleton, Hay Weighters on the West Side of the Tyber.

Pump Repairman
Andrew Rinehart, Contractor to keep pumps in repair, on 19th Street, between F and G Streets.

The Third Council
Elected for one year, on Monday the 4th of June, 1804

Members of the First Chamber

Samuel H. Smith, President, Pennsylvania avenue.
George Blagden, New-Jersey avenue.
Samuel N. Smallwood, South N Street, Square 700.
Joseph Bromley, West 20th Street, Square 119.
Henry Herford, North E Street.
Daniel Rapine, corner of South B. Street and New-Jersey avenue.
Robert Alexander, corner of 6th Street East and South Carolina avenue, Square 845.
Thomas Carpenter, Pennsylvania avenue, Square 225.
Peter Lenox, corner of 11th Street West and North G Street, Square 346.
John Gardiner, Secretary, Pennsylvania avenue, near the war department.

Members of the Second Chamber

Nicholas King, President, on Square 169, North G Street, between 17th and 18th Streets west.
William Brent, New-Jersey avenue, near the Capitol.
William Woodward, Pennsylvania avenue, near the Centre market.
Alexander M,Cormick, East Capitol Street, Capitol Hill.
Charles Jones, Pennsylvania avenue, near the Centre market.
James C. King, 27th Street.
Joseph Hodgson, West 20th Street, near the West market.
John Sinclair, on South N Street, Square 533.
George Andrews, North E Street, near the Great Hotel.
Thomas Herty, Secretary, corner of Pennsylvania avenue and West 15th Street.

Superintendent of Police
Cornelius Cunningham, Superintendant [sic] of police, on North C Street, Square East of Square 87.

Sealers of Weights and Measures
Benjamin Burch, Capitol Hill.

Supervisors of Markets
Jacob Crawford, Supervisor of the Centre market
Philip Williams, Supervisor of the West market
William Howard, Supervisor of the East market.

Wood-Corders
William Howard.
Nathaniel Breshears.
John Doyne.
Azariah Gatton.
Thomas Taylor.

Hay Weighters
John Burns, Hay Weigher on the east side of the Tyber
John Mechlin, Hay Weighter on the west side of the Tyber.

Pump Repairman
Andrew Rinehart, Contractor to keep pumps in repair, on 19th Street, between F and G Streets.

The Fourth Council
Elected for one year, on Monday the 3rd of June, 1805

Members of the First Chamber

John Dempsie, President, Virginia avenue, between 3d and 4th streets, east.
Charles Minifie, 14th street East Pennsylvania avenue.
George Collard, 1st street East near the Eastern Branch.
William Prout, corner of 7th street and L street, East.
Joseph Bromley, 20th street west near Pennsylvania avenue.
Alexander M’Cormick, East Capitol street.
William Emack, East Capitol street.
John M’Gowan, Pennsylvania avenue, near the president’s square.
John Gardiner, Secretary, 18th street West, near the president’s square.

Members of the Second Chamber

Samuel Hamilton, President, North Capitol street, near the Capitol.
John Beckley, 1st street East near the Capitol.
Griffith Coombe, New Jersey avenue, south.
Robert Cherry, New Jersey avenue, south.
Peter Miller, square 771 near the Eastern Branch.
Azariah Gatton, 7th street East near the Eastern Branch.
Nicholas Voss, M street East near the Eastern Branch.
Phineas Bradley, Pennsylvania avenue, near the six Buildings.
Michael Nourse, corner of I and 18th streets West.
Nicholas B. Ban Sandt, Secretary, square 799, near the Eastern Branch.

High Constable
Richard Spalding.

City Constables
James B. Heard.
Jacob Crawford.
Clement Venable.
Zephania Wade.

Trustees of the Poor
Peter Lenox.
Henry Ingle.
George Collard.
John Woodside.
William Prout.

Inspectors and Measurers of Lumber
George Collard.
Benjamin Perkins.
Peter Lenox.

Board of Directors for Fairs
James Hoban.
Henry Ingle.

Sealer of Weights and Measures
Benjamin Burch.

Supervisors of Markets
Jacob Crawford, Supervisor of the Centre market.
Philip Williams, Supervisor of the West market.
William Howard, Supervisor of the East market.

Wood-Corders
William Howard.
Nathaniel Breshears.
John Doyne.
Azariah Gatton.
Thomas Taylor.

Hay Weighters
John Burns, Hay weigher on the east side of the Tyber
Joseph Mechlin, Hay weighter on the west side of the Tyber.

Pump Repairman
Andrew Rinehart, Contractor to keep pumps in repair, on 19th Street, between F and G Streets.

Directors of Fire Companies
Thomas H. Gillis, First ward.
James Hoban, Second ward.
Nicholas Voss, Third ward.
Griffith Coombe, Fourth ward.

The Fifth Council
Elected for one year, on Monday the 2th of June, 1806

Members of the First Chamber

John Dempsie, President, Virginia avenue, between 3d and 4th streets, east.
Samuel N. Smallwood, South N street.
Samuel H. Smith, Pennsylvania avenue.
Frederick May, New Jersey avenue, square 489.
James Hoban, F street, north.
Robert Alexander, corner of 6th street east, and South Carolina avenue.
Jeremiah Booth, South Capitol street.
William Prout, cornder of 7th street and L street east.
John Gardiner, Secretary, 19th street West.

Members of the Second Chamber

Nicholas King, President, North G street, between 17th and 18th streets, west.
Alexander M’Cormick, East Capitol street.
Peter Lenox, 11th street, west.
Henry Ingle, New Jersey avenue.
Matthew Wright, 8th street, east.
Phineas Bradley, I street north, square 77.
Joseph Bromley, 20th street west, near Pennsylvania avenue.
John St. Clair, 5th street, west.
Henry Herford, Pennsylvania avenue.
Henry Johnson, Secretary, North F street, on square 243.

High Constable
Richard Spalding.

City Constables
James B. Heard.
Stephen Parry.
Jacob Crawford.
Zephania Wade.
William Prime.

Trustees of the Poor
Peter Lenox.
Henry Ingle.
George Collard.
John Woodside.
William Prout.

Inspectors and Measurers of Lumber
George Collard.
Benjamin Perkins.
Electius Middleton.
Peter Lenox.

Inspector of Flour
Samuel M’Intire.

Sealer of Weights and Measures
Benjamin Burch.

Supervisors of Markets
Jacob Crawford, Supervisor of the Centre market.
Philip Williams, Supervisor of the West market.
William Howard, Supervisor of the East market.

Wood-Corders
William Howard.
Thomas Taylor.

Coal Measurers Until the 18th October, 1806
William Howard.
John Doyne.
Josias Taylor.
George Sanford.

Board of Appeal
James Hoban.
George Blagden.
Daniel Brent.

Vendue Masters
Nicholas L. Queen.
John Steven.

Hay Weighters
John Burns, Hay weigher on the east side of the Tyber
Joseph Mecklin, Hay weighter on the west side of the Tyber.

Pump Repairman
William Yates