The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-03-16
An,nieres,Ins ,etser FROM ..ordenao.sn

Anniversaries s.effcr from Tsordeniowu
Would the readers of the MONITOR bt
interested in few facts concerning an ole
New Jersey town and some historic char
acters once residing here
First and foremost. of course, is Joseph
Bonaparte, king of Naples and Spain,
who made it his home for many years.
He had intended settling hear Trenton,
but through The influence of Admiral
Stewart came about 1870 to BoIdentown
instead. He bought 1000 acres for his
park ard sraied neither money nor labor
in identifying it, LAYING it out in the man
ner With which lie was familiar in the old
world. with fountains, ststuarr, rustic
bridges. underground passage ways and
nearly twelve miles Of drives and bride
paths.
On a little lake, a gentleman tells me
lie remembers how the Count in skating
time, would amuse himself by throwing
pieces of money ON the ice and watch the
CHI ildren scramble for them.
lie built his mansion near the edge of
Crossw ieks creek on what is called Point
Breeze This was partly destroyed by
fire in 1920, through the enclosures of
guest, out by the efforts of the neighbors
the furniture was saved. In construct
| ing the new house the Count made use of
his stable, and with changes and additions
it was not inferior to the first one. ear
| / = 4. 81 hon
he would examine the work every night,
and where any part did not snit him, he
would hazel; it with his Ratchet, and the
next day ii wonld have to be changed
He returned Ia France and died in Flor
ence 1914; when his grand son known as
Prince Joseph came into possession Of the
park, who soon sold it with the other
farms. Louis Maillard was the Counts
faithful secretary for thirty six years, and
after his death acted As executor. p,rfofm-
ing every trust with the greatest fidelity.
His home as enlarged, Is no@ the Military
Institute" Mrs Maitland Was SISTER TO
Mrs. Julia Ward Howe and Mrs eraw-
ford, the noyelists mother.
In 1850 the Bonaparte Park was bought
by Henry Beckett. son Of Sir John Beckett,
of Lincolnshire, Eng. The first Mrs.
Beckett was a daughter of Andrew Hamil-
ton, Deputy Governor Of Penn Beckett
was not satisfied with the old Bonaparte
house and so had it taken down and re-
placed with modern residence costing
So, 600 All that was kept was two fire
places sent the Count by his uncle, Car
dinal Fesch, carved in Italy, and each
costing $500. Beckett was very exclusive,
living on his estate like an English lord,
entirely TO himself We have heard fills
making one call, en- near neighbor.
Before leaving he invited him 10 re-
turn it, and in a short time sent him
basket of handsome hot-houseN grapes.
Bnt before the gentleman could return the
cali he received an invitation to lis fun
oral, and only one other person was invit-
ed There were no services. and while
waiting they asked what they should do,
and were told to walk around aud look at
the statnary and paintings, which were
very iine. His wife, a bigoted Romanisf,
was in her room but did not condescend
to come down.
The park has been much reduced in
size from time to time, besides being sad
ly neglecte d; and shows few marks of its
former self except in MS natural features.
Three old hou ses built by Bonaparte still
remain ON the grounds, in semi-dilapi-
dated condition The LaZarists Of Ger
mantown, Pa. have recently purchase d
the park for a summer retreat, aud dnring
July and August quite number Of their
candidates for the priesthood occupy the
Beckett mansion.
Bonaparte's nephew, Prince Murat, son
of Joachim Murat, King OF the Settles,
also lived in Bordentown, in long low
rough.cast house with doymer windows,
on the street leading to the park. The
first floor front was ALI devoted TO eonser-
yatories. lie married Miss Frazer, a
BordeBtown girl, aud against the wishes
of both families: so they took the matter
III their own hands, drove of to Trenton
and We're married. Being reckless With
his money he became straitened in means;
and his wife and her sisters opened a Sc
lect boarding school II was patronized
mostly by southern young LADIES'. They
did not want pupils from the town, as
they would bring aud carry news,
{ v Inch had caused the breaking up
of the French school, nearly opposite, in
what WAS the Maillard house, A lady
who had been day b0arder Zone living q
little ont and taking dinner only, told me
the pupils were allowed to go down to
the Bonaparte place frequently, where she
always observed On the centre table in
every room handsome dish of c0nlection-
cries. About the time Of the French Rev
olution, 1913, AluFat returned to France
and soon sent for his family. The proper
T. has passed into other hands, and from
neglect and abuse, to-day shows no signs
that it was ever the home of a prince.
What " as his stable opposite has been
| converted into a dwelling.
Commodore Stewart, who played FRO
( minent part in the U. s. Navy at the time
Of the Revolution lived at"OId lronsdes,
about half a mile below o. the banks of
the river. \ daughter married Parnell,
one Of the English nobility, and their son
is Charles Stewart Parnell, of Irish fame.
Francis Hopkinson one of the signers of
the Declaration OF Independence, was a