The Baltimore County union., 1875-11-27

VISIT Te AN OLD EsTATE-"THE CAvEs"-AN
ANCIENT HERITAGE, &c.-From an interesting
article lately published in the Baltimore Sun
day Telegram we make some extracts as fol-
lows:
"During the present autumn we had the plea
ure of calling upon Mr.. John Carroll at his res
idence at the the "Caves," and more interest
ing and delightful place to visit is not to be
found in the vicinity Of Baltimore. There are
to be found many curiosties of the past ages,
and they have been preserved with great care.
Mr.. Carroll drove us over portions of his es-
tate, conducted us through his residence and
showed many curious old books and ancient
papers relating to the Carroll family, extend
ing back to the days Of the monarchs OF Ire
land, from whom the race sprung. Among the
prominent immigrants to the colony of Mary
land in the early days of the eighteenth century
was Charles Carroll, barrister. His mind, with
regard to the permanent place OF settlement,
was not determined, though he then resided at
Annapolis until after he obtained patents for
large tracts of land in Frederick county, in
Anne Arundel county, near Annapolis, and in
and near Baltimore. Among the last named
was the present seat of Mr.. John Carroll and
known as the "Caves." 1t is located about
eleven miles from the city, and three miles
southeast from 0wings's Mills.
at comprises three thousand acres OF fertile
soil, and is beautifully situated, covering val
ley three miles long and two miles wide, and
is undulatng in it's entire length and breadth.
The patent was obtained in 1871, butit was not
until 1894 that he begun to improve 1T. The
house, which is now occupied by the present
proprietor, together with the barns and other
outbuildings, were then built, and the owner
has, as far as possible, preserved the appear
ance of the homestead as it passed down into
his hands. The house has a front of lis feet,
depth of 43 feet. The late owner, John IL. Car
ualt 10
which are portraits of his family for seven gen
erations. The family plate, some OF which is
more than two and half centuries old, is all
carefully kept, and the most curious OF 1t all IS
a set of silver OF ancient style, which was used
by Admiral Blake on board his vessel OF war IN
164S.
"The approach to the "Caves" is by beauLi-
fully embowered road through the forest for
more than a mile, and from the hill tops mere
is a magnificent view of the country Tor miles
around, reaching to Baltimore city ans TO Ca
louisville. The original tract has been divided
into four large farms, besides number OF
smaller places. On the homestead is an iron
ore mine which has yielded upwards of one
hundred and fifty tons of ore per day, and is
now supplying upwards OF fifty tons per day.
"This is probably the largest property IN the
State, in a single tract, VIII Ich has descended
intact from father to son thr. ugh so many gen
erations, and certainly the only one which has
undergone so few changes IN outward appear
snce. Mr.. John Carroll, of the "Caves," (the
chief of the oldest branch of the Carroll faml
ly, by his descent from Mary Clare Carroll,
the present proprietor, is yet young man, and,
blessed with ample means, Will not be likely
to disturb the heritage which has come down
to him. He manifests acommendable pride in
retaining all the old objects which were so dear
to his ancestors Himself and two sons, yet
small children, are the only living members OF
his branch of the old family, and Re takes
much pleasure in pointing out to visitors the
beauties of his ancestral home. Surrounded
as it is by high grounds, the broad fields with
silvery streams of pure water passing through
each of them, there seems nothing more re-
quired to com plete the contentmont which such
a possession should bring to its possesser.
"Charles Carroll, barrister the founder Of the
house in this country, was grandson OF Edward
Fitz Richard, the 18th Lord Athenry, and Earl
of Louth, which title, now in abeyance, is the
Barony. His mother was Clare Dun,
daughter of the great O'Connor (Dun), lineal
descendant of the last monarch of Ireland. In
a history of Ireland published in 1928, the ped
igree of the Carroll family is traced back to the
most ancient kings of Europe"