The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1875-03-16
THE OLD KNOX MANSION.

The Knox House stood on the banks OF
the st. Georges River, in Thom aston,
near the site Of an old fort erected in
colonial times, for defense against the
French and Indians, In the rear Of the
mansion there were several neat buildings
the stables, the servants lodgings, and
the cook-houso,
beautifully at the waters edge sat
this sumptious villa" writes the old his.
torian of the town, "as it first caught the
eye and struck the lofty mud OF Mrs.
Knox" A French policeman who was a
guest here describes the mansion as ga
handsome, though not magnificent
structure" Bat the enthusiastic chroni-
ce- hastens to explain that the Duke
brought his ideas Of magniicence from
degenerate and luxurious France.
General Knox took up his abode here,
in 1895, aud the family made tho journey
from Philadelphia to Thomaston in a
sloop. Montpelier" as Mrs. Knox
called her new home in the wilderness,
excited the wonder and admiration OF the
village. The General owned vast tract
of land in this vicinity, which he wished
to settle with tenantry, after the Eng
lish 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-burniug; he i'm.
ported game from Massachusetts,, and new
breeds Of cattle and sheep from England
His hospitality was unbounded and his
house was thronged with guests, many ol
whom were distinguished foreigners
Wonderful stories arc told of the grand
style of living in vogue at the mansion
It is said that twenty sheep were often
consumed in a week, and that oxen were
roasted whole before the immense fire.
places; that the General kept twenty
saddle. horses 10 his stable; and that he
had road cut for pleasure party to 4
neighboring mountain, still favorltC
place for pcnics, at the expense Of five
hundred dollars. a great sum IN those
days. 1t is even stated that he extended
his hospitality so far as to invite the whole
tribe Of Penobscot Indians to make hin
visit; and that when these strange
visitors had ieested for weeks on thC
Generals bounty he remarked, Nov w
have had good time, and you'd better
90 home" How much of all this is true
and how much nero tradition, it is now
impossible to determine. But it is GER
tain that the General was very extrava
CANT, and no doubt tho family lived in {
style which in those days seemed littl(
short of princey. Mrs, Kuox was {
naughty English. woman, and had littl'
intercourse with the towns.people, wht
always sailed her Lady Knox. She en-
tertained her aristocratic friends, ant
visited them in turn spending the wnteI
in Boston, where she was fond of riskinI
large sums of money at the cardtable
She was small in person, but had so state
ly an air that people were opt to think
her very tall Many anecdotes are tolC
in illustration OF Lady Knox's pride
One day. says tradition, her carriage, thu
only one in the village, broke down, ant
it was necessary to dismount while som,
temporary repairs were made. a kind
hearted woman, who lived near the scene
of the accident, invited Lady Kuox t,
take refuge in her house, but she prefer
red to stand in the muddy street Neal
the mansion was an ancient burial.g ground
and the gravcstones were constant eye
sore to the pleasure.loviug lady. Accord
ing to the village historian quoted above
"they interrupted her gayety by the TN
welcome thoughts of death = but he
husband would not consent to have then
removed. After his death the offending
stones were thrown down. Another yer
sion has it that the deed was doue in III
Generals absence from home, ami tina
he returned, in his vcxatou "hc tore hi
hair with both hauds.'