The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1875-04-10
THE OLD KNOX MANSION.

ICCTtOHST lOT MATCH HAS du ILLUSTRATED
paper on "Two Ancient Landmarks" the
Knox Mansion, in Maine, and the Corn
wallis House, in South Carolina, both now
destroyed.
The Knox House stood on the banks of
the St. Georges river, in Thomaston, 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 buildngs-the stables,
the servants lodgings, and the cook house.
Beautifully at the waters edge sat this
sumptuous villa" writes the old historian
of the town, "as it first caught the eye
and struck the lofty mind of Mrs. Knox"
A French nobleman who was guest here
describes the mansion as ga handsome,
though not magnificent structure" But
the enthusiastic chroncler hastens to eX-
plain that the Duke brought his ideas of
magnifcence from degenerated and lu1uri-
Gus France.
General Knox took up his abode here, in
1895, and the family made the journey
from Philadelphia to Thomaston in sloop.
new home in the wilderness, excited the
wonder and admiration of the village. The
General owned vast tract of land i'll this
vicinity, 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 distin
guished foreigners. Wonderful stories are
told Of the grand style Of living in vogue
sheep were often consumed in week, and
that oxen were roasted whole before the
immense fire-places; that the General kept
twenty saddle horses in his stable; and
that he had road cut for pleasure party
to neighboring mountain, still a favorite
place for picnics, at the expense of five
hundred dollars, great sum in those days.
1t is even stated that he extended his hos
pitality so far as to invite the whole tribe
of Penobscot Indians to make him visit;
and that when these strange visitors had
Toasted for weeks on the Generals bounty,
he remarked, Now we have had a good
time, and you'd better go home" How
| much of all this is true, and how much
| ic m M n
| determine. But it is certain that the Gen
eral was very extravagant, and no doubt
the family lived in a style which in those
| days seemed little short of princely. Mrs.
Knox was a naughty English woman, and
had little intercourse with the towns PEG
pie, who always called her Lady Knox.
| She entertained her aristocratic friends,
and visited them in turn, spending the
Winters in Boston, where she was fond of
rsking 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 dismount 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 she preferred to stand in
the muddy street. Near the mansion was
an ancient burial ground, and the grave
stones were a constant eye-sore to the
pleasure-loving lady. According to the
village historian quoted above, "they in
terrupted her gayety by the unwelcome
thoughts Of death;'' but her husband would
not consent to have them removed. After
his death the offending stones were thrown
| down. Another version has it that the
deed was done in the Generals absence
from home, and that when he returned, in
| his vexation she tore his hair with both
| hands,