Middletown transcript., 1875-02-27
The Old Knox Mansion.

W
Mansion, in Maine, and the Cornwallis House
in South Carolina, both now destroyed.
The Knox House steod on the banks
of the St. Georges River, in Thomas.
ton, near the site of an old fort erected
in colonial times, for defense against
the French and Indians. In the real
Of the mansion there were several neat
buildings-the stables. the servants
lodgings, and the cook k-house.
Beautifully at the waters edge sat
this sumptuous villa" writes the old
historian of the town, Gas it first caught
the eye and struck the lofty mind of
Mrs. Knox" A French nobleman
who was a guest here describes the
mansion as "a handsome, though not
magnificent structure" But the en-
thusiastic chronicler hastens to explain
that the Duke brought his ideas of
magni6cence from degenerate and lux
|
urious France
General Knox took up his abode
here, in 1895, and the family made the
journey from Philadelphia to Thomas
ton in sloop. Montpelier" as Mrs.
Knox called her new home in the will
dcrness, excited the wonder and admi-
ration of the village. The General
owned vast tract of land in this vicin-
ity, which he wished to settle with a
tenantry, after the English fashion. To
encourage the speedy settlement Of the
country, he interested himself in various
kinds of business. He built ships and
saw-mills, and engaged in brick-making
and lime-burning; he imported game
from Massachusetts, and new breeds Of
cattle and sheep from England. His
hospitality was unbounded, and his
house was thronged with guests, many
Of whom were distinguished foreigners. |
Wonderful stories are told of the grand
style Of living in vogue at the mansion.
It is said that twenty sheep we're often
consumed in a week, and that oxen
were roasted whole before the immense
fre-places; that the General kept 20
saddle-horses in his stable; and that
he had road cut for pleasure party |
to neighboring mountain, still fa-
vorite place for picnics, at the expense
of five hundred dollars, great sum in |
those days. 1t is even stated that he
extended bis hospitality SO far as to in-
vite the whole tribe of Penobscot In
dians to make him visit; and that
when these strange visitors had feasted
for weeks on the Generals bounty, he
remarked, "Now we have had a good
time, and you'd better 60 home" How
much Of all this is true, and how much
mere tradition, it is now impossible to
determine. But it is certain that the
General was very extravagant, and no
doubt the family lived in style which
in those days seemed little short of
princely. Mrs. Knox was naughty
and had little inter-
course with the towns-people, who al
ways called her Lady Knox. She en-
tertained her aristocratic friends, and
visited them in turn. spending the win
ters in Boston, where she was fond of
risking large sums of money at the
card-table. She was small in person,
but had so stately an air that people
were apt to think her very tall. Many
anecdotes are told in illustration of
Lady Knox's pride. One day, says
tradition. her carriage. the only one in
The village, broke down, and it was
necessary to dismoupt while some tenn
porary repairs were made A kind
hearted woman, who lived near the
scene of the accident, invited Lady
Knox to take refuge in her house, but
,he preferred to stand in the muddy
street. Near the mansion was an ancient
battle-ground, and the gravestones !.
we're constant eye-sore to the pleas /,
,re-loving lady. According to the
7illage historian quoted above, "they
Interrupted her gayety by the unwel- !
'ome thoughts of death )" but her hus- |
,and would not consent to have them
emoved. After his death the Offend
ng stones we're thrown down. Anoth-
y version has it that the deed was a
lone in the Generals absence from v
lome. and that when he returned, in G
lis vexation she tore his hair with
10Th hands" E
The extraordinary vocabularies en- il
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