History Summary
Bostwick’s history began with the founding of Bladensburg in 1742 by an act of the Maryland General Assembly. Situated along the Eastern Branch or Anacostia River, Bladensburg became an important regional port for the weighing, warehousing, and shipping of tobacco. Sixty acres of land were purchased by the Town Commissioners and divided into one acre lots. Christopher Lowndes purchased several of these original town lots, upon which he constructed Bostwick in 1746. Lowndes had arrived in Maryland in the 1730’s as a representative for Liverpool merchants Henry and Edward Trafford. He later established Christopher Lowndes and Co. through which he sold dry goods and supplies. In addition, Lowndes owned a shipyard and manufactured rope and cordage for ocean-going vessels. This wealthy local merchant also owned several farms, numerous tracts of land, and he imported and sold slaves.
Christopher Lowndes died in 1785. His wife, Elizabeth, continued to live at Bostwick for four years, until her death in 1789. Ownership of Bostwick was then passed on to Lowndes’ daughter Rebecca and her husband Benjamin Stoddert, a Georgetown merchant and banker who was appointed as the first Secretary of the Navy by President John Adams in 1798. The Stodderts owned Bostwick from approximately 1799 until 1813, and during this period constructed the kitchen addition on the north end of the house. The house was rented by the Stier family from 1800-1802, while the family was building their nearby home Riversdale (visit website). Colonel Thomas Barclay, a British Army officer and Commissioner for the Exchange of Prisoners during the War of 1812, briefly lived at the house at the time of the Battle of Bladensburg in 1814.
During the nineteenth century, three generations of the Stephen family lived at Bostwick. John Stephen, who purchased the house in 1822, and his son Nicholas Stephen, who inherited it in 1844, were prominent local lawyers. In 1880, the house passed on to Nicholas’ daughter Juliana, who lived at Bostwick until 1901. Her husband, a Belgian artist, painted the landscape wall murals that can still be seen in the house’s parlor.
James Kyner, a Civil War veteran and wealthy railroad speculator, purchased Bostwick in 1904. Kyner made extensive colonial revival changes to the house, including adding the front porch that welcomes vistors today; he also made changes to some of the various outbuildings on the property. Bostwick remained in the Kyner family until it was sold to the Town of Bladensburg in 1997.
Additional materials and research regarding Bostwick’s history can be found in the Resources section.
Christopher Lowndes died in 1785. His wife, Elizabeth, continued to live at Bostwick for four years, until her death in 1789. Ownership of Bostwick was then passed on to Lowndes’ daughter Rebecca and her husband Benjamin Stoddert, a Georgetown merchant and banker who was appointed as the first Secretary of the Navy by President John Adams in 1798. The Stodderts owned Bostwick from approximately 1799 until 1813, and during this period constructed the kitchen addition on the north end of the house. The house was rented by the Stier family from 1800-1802, while the family was building their nearby home Riversdale (visit website). Colonel Thomas Barclay, a British Army officer and Commissioner for the Exchange of Prisoners during the War of 1812, briefly lived at the house at the time of the Battle of Bladensburg in 1814.
During the nineteenth century, three generations of the Stephen family lived at Bostwick. John Stephen, who purchased the house in 1822, and his son Nicholas Stephen, who inherited it in 1844, were prominent local lawyers. In 1880, the house passed on to Nicholas’ daughter Juliana, who lived at Bostwick until 1901. Her husband, a Belgian artist, painted the landscape wall murals that can still be seen in the house’s parlor.
James Kyner, a Civil War veteran and wealthy railroad speculator, purchased Bostwick in 1904. Kyner made extensive colonial revival changes to the house, including adding the front porch that welcomes vistors today; he also made changes to some of the various outbuildings on the property. Bostwick remained in the Kyner family until it was sold to the Town of Bladensburg in 1997.
Additional materials and research regarding Bostwick’s history can be found in the Resources section.