I am a 7th generation Washington dc resident and my ancestry starts with a William Cumberland who came over from England ca. 1795. He married a Widow anne jirdinston with two small children boy and girl.
William Cumberland was a House builder by trade and he built a house (ca 1806) for a former General in George Washingtons command named James Lingen.
William Cumberland had 4 children: John, Charles, Anne and I dont have the info here with the 4th childs name right now.
William Cumberland died sometime between 1810-1820. The family geneology that my grandmother passed down does not say how or when he died. He did have a house on the corner of K st and 20th street NW.
The Cumberlands were known for their Goose Guns that were used to shoot Geese and Duck in season on the Potomac River. They were known as River Gunners.
The eldest son of William Cumberland whoes name was John along with his brother Charles took up Boat Building and were originaly located according to the Washington DC city Directory 1822 on the Rivers edge at what is now Constitution Avenue and 22nd street down the hill from what is now the US Department of State. He was forced to move over to what is now where the Kennedy center is on the River and reestablish his business when the Government started building the city Canal ca 1830. John Cumberland married four different times throughout his life and fathered about 15 children.
I will try to give what info I have to anyone interested and here is my email address:
sutonchef@gmail.com sincerely, paul