113 N Fairfax St
Alexandria, VA 22314, USA

Ramsay-Atkinson House, 113 North Fairfax St Alexandria, Independent City, VA

Court and family documents indicate that the house just north of Ramsay`s Alley was built by William Ramsay, before 1785. Ramsay was one of the founders of Alexandria, and served as trustee and Mayor. He was partner in the mercantile firm with John Carlyle and later John Dixon. He owned the Royal George Tavern and numerous properties throughout town. An old plat owned by descendants shows now he divided his original holdings of Lots 46 and 47 among his eight children, William Jr., falling heir to the dwelling and lot on the northeast corner of Fairfax St. and the Alley. William Ramsay, Jr. disposed of it to Guy Atkinson in 1795. Records of the Mutual Assurance Society of Virginia reveal that Atkinson added the structure at 115 N. Fairfax about 1797 and in that year his policies covered two 3-story dwellings with stores on the first floor. Interesting enough these shops are referred to a few years later as portrait studios of artists, Cephas Thompson and St. Memin.