Blennerhassett Island

About a mile and a half below the city of Parkersburg, on the Ohio river, is 
an oblong-shaped island, narrow in the middle and broad at both ends, which, 
when first surveyed contained 297 acres. This island is reported to have 
been entered by George Washington in 1771, at the time he entered his tract 
now know as Washington Bottom, but not having it surveyed at the time, and 
with the Revolutionary War coming on, he failed to make his entry and to 
obtain a patent.  It was first surveyed in 1784 and had several owners in 
the following years.  In 1798 Harman Blennerhassett purchased the upper 
portion, containing about 170 acres, for $4,500 and soon moved on the island
with his wife and one child.  They lived in a large, old block-house, about 
half a mile below the upper end of the island, while a substantial mansion 
was being built.  The mansion was completed in 1800 and the island became 
known as Blennerhassett Island.
Aaron Burr, sailing down the Ohio river, in 1805, landed, uninvited, upon 
the island, and was received with hospitality by the family.  This visit was 
followed by other visits and a warm friendship developed between Burr and 
Blennerhassett.  Burr then enticed Blennerhassett into a plan he had devised 
for the formation of the western territory into a separate government, or an 
expedition against Mexico.  In short, a new empire with Burr as its head.  
Blennerhassett was led to believe this was an honorable undertaking and 
involved himself in enlisting men, preparing boats, obtaining supplies, 
arms and ammunition.  Burr made a fatal error by intrusting his plans to 
General Wilkinson, to whom he promised the position of second in command.  
General Wilkinson exposed the whole scheme.  Burr and Blenerhassett were 
then charged with treason but were found not guilty.  Burr became an 
unwelcome exile in Europe and lived past his eightieth year.  In 1811 the 
Blenerhassett mansion accidentally burned during the Christmas festivities 
of the black servants.  Blennerhassett later became bankrupt and moved to 
the Island of Guernsey where he died in 1831 at the age of sixty-three years.
Abstracts of Hardesty`s Volume 8

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