The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1893-08-24
WHERE PEGGY sHlPPEN LIVED.

!"
It Is the Historic "Fowler House, nj
Oxford Furnace, N. j.
Tho oldest dwelling house nOw
standing in the state of New Jersey
is located at Oxford Furnace. Il is
the large mansion directly op posite
the store of the Oxford iron company
1t is known as the s.Fowler house"
and is occupied now as boarding
house. The house is known to have
been built in 1742 by William Ship
pen, who had some time previously
received a grant Of 10000 acres OF
land from King George of England,
says the New York Sun. 4
The mansion consists of two stories.
and a basement, with walls three feet.
thick. It was built to stand the raw
ages OF time, and SO we'll has it faced
the storms of ISL years that to-day
it is in wonderful state of preserva
ton. The great chimneys that start.
from the cellar and rear themselves.
far above the sloping roof resemble:
huge towers built within the house.
the fireplaces, seven. in number, are
large openings in the chimney walls.
and are lined with iron plates. The
back plates are ornamented with the.
British coat Of arms. When changes.
were made in the old house several
years ago these freplaces were walled,
up. John Jourdan, a Philadelphia
banker, spent summer at Oxford.
Furnace some years ago. While be-
ing shown through the house be-
noticed the coat of arms on the mid
die iron of the only fireplace nots
closed up. He received permission.
to remove the plate, and it now forms
a part of an interesting collections
owned by the Philadelphia historical,
society. The Shipper family who
originally built this house, came.
from England and settled in Phila-
delphia about the year 1885. They
were wealthy family and moved in
the best society.
t. During the revolutionary war;
while Philadelphia was in possessions
of Lord Howe, DR.. Shippen's was the,
social headquarters Of the officers
DR.. Shippen's daughter Peggy mar
ried Benedict Arnold. William Ship
pen, who built this house, was son
of DR.. Shipper and a brother-in-]aW
of Benedict Arnold. He occupied
the house for a number OF years With
| his family. Every fall friends would,
| visit him from New York and Phi}ar-
delphia and a grand hunt with
| hounds would take place. All dur
ing the winter the old stone house
would echo with sounds of revel1y,
as the guests warmed under the
stimulating effects of the we'll flied
wine cellars.
In this old stone house Judge Robe
son lived for some years, and heT%
his son, General George NJ. Robson,
secretary of the navy under President;
Grant, was born.
Shippen's wife was very fond OF
! wine and under its mellow influences
would become extremely hilarious
Shipper concluded that he would
break up these orgies by locking the
wine cellars. But she proved more
than match for him. During his
absence she set one of the colorea
male servants at work to cut a hole
through the stone wall that separated
| O11O h4uCACA LIZ pA1CO 1IOul U1lo "42SS
cellars. He first removed the iron
plate emblazoned by the British coat
of arms from the back of the fireplace
and then with a pick and crowba he
made a hole large enough to admit
the woman's body. After drawing a
supply from one of the casks she
would return to the kitchen and slide
up the iron plate in place. She drank
great deal before her method wae
discovered by her husband. In spite
of her fondness for strong drink she
was as thoroughly aristocratic as the
times would warrant. While taking
her morning walks she would be &C
companied by a colored boy named
James Burr, who carried her train
over his shoulder.
DR.. Shipper did not end his days
in Oxford. It is more than probable
that he returned to Philadelp
the home of his ancestors After his
departure the old house and rnagnifi-
cent surroundings fell into decay
and passed into other hands As the
years sped by many owners lived in
the old stone house, great changes
came about. until to-day the grand
mansion of a century and a half age
is nothing but an ordinary boar ding
house. The walls are as firm as
when first built, and there is nc
doubt that they will last, century
more.
.Belgian" Block Quarrled in America
Anyone asked where the Belgian
block comes from would say, why.
from Belgium, of course" but this is
far from the truth. Great quarries al
a point four miles above Sellersville,
Buck county, known as the Crooks,