rn.

In November 1782, Mr. Beall announced that he was moving "into the large
Stone House near the Square, the best calculated house in town for
entertaining Gentlemen, Travellers, and Others."

And then Mr. Ignatius Simpson moved into the "House formerly occupied by
Mr. John Beall," and the next year, 1783, the Commissioners record
meeting at the "House of Mr. Ignatius Simpson." And in 1784 Mr. Simpson
had no license issued and the Commissioners met "at the House of Mr.
John Suter." It would seem that this same house had been a tavern ever
since Joseph Belt built a house there.

From then on Suter's Tavern became the best-known meeting place in town
and even the birthplace of the District of Columbia for there was signed
the agreement with the proprietors of the land for the Federal City.

Christian Hines says in his little book _Early Recollections of
Washington_ that Suter's Tavern was a one-story frame and stood on High
Street, between Bridge and Water Streets, a little east of the canal
bridge. Christian Hines as a youth of fifteen was an apprentice living
with the Green family just across the street from this building, and
although he wrote his Recollections when he was an old man, it is a
well-known fact that old people remember happenings of their youth
better than those of last month or last week.

It was a rather small building, a story and a half high, according to an
old print, and had a large Inn Yard at the side and back for the
accommodation of the coaches, wagons and steeds of its patrons.

John Suter was a Scotsman who had been living out in Montgomery County
but apparently from 1784 until his death in 1794 his tavern was a very
busy place. Here it was that General Washington stayed when he was
passing through.

This notice shows John Suter's standing in the community:

Georgetown, August 21, 1790

All persons having claims against the Estate of John Cornne,
deceased, are desired to bring them in legally attested. Those
indebted to make speedy payment to

John Suter, Administrator

From the _Times and Potowmack Packet_:

Meeting at Mr. Suter's Tavern in George Town, 14 December, 1790, for
erecting a New Warehouse contiguous to the Old Inspection on Col.
Normand Bruce's property in George Town.

Edward Burgess
Bernard O'Neill

For Sale. On Monday the 3d of January next will be offered for sale
at the House of Mr. John Suter in George Town