of Alexandria."

Snowden married Louisa Grymes of the prominent family of Grymesby,
Brandon, and Marmion on the Rappahannock. From this union there were
three sons, Edgar, Jr., Harold and Herbert, "each of whom in turn upheld
the traditions and honor of the old paper."[181]

[Illustration: The Vowell-Snowden House. The widow's walk is missing]

Edgar Snowden purchased the Lee and Franklin Streets property from
Lawrence B. Taylor, who had the house from Thomas Vowell Jr. In a deed
granted August 29, 1798, William Thornton Alexander and Lucy, his wife,
let this property with all houses, buildings, streets, lanes, alleys,
and so on, to Thomas Vowell Jr., for the yearly ground rent of $61.66.
The fact is cited that William Thornton Alexander had the property from
his father, John Alexander. In 1802 Thomas Vowell was released from this
obligation upon payment of L200.

In 1826, in a deed of trust, the house is referred to specifically as a
two-story brick dwelling, with other buildings and improvements. There
is doubt as to whether the present house was built by Alexander or by
Vowell. William Thornton Alexander mentions in the deed of 1798, "all
houses, buildings, streets, lanes, alleys, Etc." The front of the house
is a typical federal house, hardly earlier than 1790 to 1798, and
similar to the New City Hotel, built in 1792. The doorway is almost a
replica of the doorway taken from the tavern to the Metropolitan Museum
of Art and since restored. The transom above the entrance door, in a
deeply recessed arch, is interesting in design. The unusual cornice
excites attention.

Thomas Vowell, in partnership with his brother, John, operated for a
long while a successful mercantile business. The firm of John & Thomas
Vowell owned a large wharf on the east side of Union between Prince and
King Streets and sent out its own ships to the far corners of the earth,
advertising its wares upon their return. George Washington ran an
account with the Vowells and receipts preserved at Mount Vernon tell of
purchases made by James Anderson, his manager. One of Anderson's
dockets, dating from 1798, reaffirms in the inscription the age-old
system of barter, "For Lint seed Sold them & Salt in Exchange." Lean and
hard times were Thomas Vowell's lot. He overreached himself in
speculation--buying and selling property until "by reasons of losses and
misfortunates in trade" we find him mortgaging his warehouse and wharf,
even his house; finally