The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1896-03-25
A HISTORIC HOUSE.
MOUNT PLEASANT, ONCE THE HOME
OF BENEDICT ARNOLD.

fihiit WINS lnt vi NbuuI iltU>-
mt. This fearless Scotchman was
mighty fighter In his day. He commanded
he privateer ship Britannia in 1857, when
war was raging with France, and, al
though cut all to pieces in terrific en-
yagcmcnt with n 80 gun French cruiser
N 1853, 40 Of his crew being killed or
wounded, and ego shot imbedded in tho
arboard side Of his vessel, he managed to
BRING her into Jamaica and so back tn
Philadelphia, where she was repaired and
This seems to have been the first and
ast of his rcvcrscs for during the follow
ing years Of 100 and 1860 and the first
part of 1861 he played havoc with the
French commercial marine and secured
operations were the West Indies, near Mar
Unique, and from there down to Laguayra
On the strength of this prize money the
clansmnn retired from sea life. In 1861 no
bought from Benjamin Mifllin 81 acres on
the cast side Of the Schuylkill river OPP
posito Belmont. He afterward added iS
acres more and built thereon II substan
tial stone house. The detached buildings
on each side of the main house were used
for kitchens, etc. Mcpherson called the
him and took dinner at the house in 1878
said that tho had the most elegant coun
try scat in Pennsylvania, n clever wife
and two pretty daughters. "
John Mcpherson made various efforts
TO secure command In the continental
army, but without success. His son, John
Mcpherson, entered the service early in
the Revolution and fell under General
Montgomery in the assault upon Quebec.
The other SON. William, held II commits
sion under Sir Henry Clinton, but sur
rendered 1t us soon as hustilities were de
clared and became brigadier general of
the Pennsylvania militia, MCPHERSON
Blues
After the death of his son John the old
gentleman made up his mind to part with
'Clunie." The property, which now con.
sisted of 1870 acres, and which cost $40, 900,
was offered for $780, 600, including some
mineral rights. Not finding any imme
diate purchaser, the mansion was leased
until 1879 to Don Juan de Merailles, the
Spanish ambassador to the United States.
In 1T79 Benedict Arnold bought the prop
erty and made II over rs a wedding pres
eut to his wife, Miss Peggy Shipper. Ar
mold at this time held no public Office.
His birth had been obscure, and his early
education very defective. Mr.. Edward
Shipper, the father, never fancied Ar
mold, according to some authorities, al
though his letters are neutral, but tho
daughter seems TO have fully returned Ar
nold's love She was the beautiful Mar
garet Shipper, one of the ladies of tho
mis- chianza," in whose honor the Brit
ish officers of the Philadelphia army OF
occupation tilted. Among the partici-
pants in one of these carnivals was Cap
tain John Andre.
From letter written by Edward Ship
pen to his father at this time-l77S-it
seems that the fashionable requirements
of his daughter were running his yearly
expenses up to $50, 900.
On Feb. 3, 1879, the charges to the con
tinental congress against Arnold were
made public, rejecting on his character as
an officer and u gentleman, but the prep
arations for his marriage went on in
spite of this contctemps. In March, 1873,
he borrowed money from "a member of the
French nobility and purchased the Nc
Pherson estate and settled it on himself
for life, with rcNcrsiOn after death to hi,
wife and children. IL looked like II ricl
| dover, but there had Ug,i. u very large en-
cumbrance placed upon the property by
| its first owner, and this, when it was sol,
out later by the sheriff, cut Mrs. A.1o'5
| off without penny. Arnold and Mis-
| Shipper were married on April of TIN
same year She was Arnold's second wife
so that Peggy Shipper became n step
mother to some grownup children.
After his marriage, except when attend
log the court martial, Arnold lived main
N for IA months at his estate, Noun
Pleasant He was also part of the time In
| ais Philadelphia house. In July, $780, h.
| eft for West Point, for whose commant
! y had made application. During thi
dime his child, Edward Shipper Arnold
was born. Mother and child both wen
with him to West Point when he assume
| command General Arnold now fell int
| great financial straits and made applica
ton to tho French king, through lie Che
Waller de LuZerne, ostensibly for loan
| but actually for grant of money. Thi
| was in 1880. NJ de Marbois, the secre
tary Of LuZerne, represented to Arnold
| that the service requested was of such
| character as TO degrade them both and de
clined the desired loan.
Failing in this plan, Arnold began hi
reasonable negotiations with the officer
| of the British army, Major Andre wa
one of Arnolds correspondents, Som
| writers accuse Mrs. Arnold of complicit.
| in the treacherous correspondence, and 9th
ers defend her against these charges. A
soon as he was safely aboard the Vultur
| Arnold wrote exculpatiRg his wife. Mrs
Arnold, when given the choice by Wash
ington of returning to her family in Phil
sdelphia or joining her husband, electe'
the former alternative. But the CONT
mental council, sitting in Philadelphia
served notice upon her, compelling he
to leave the state in IA days from tina
date Though strenuous efforts were mad
In her behalf, she was forced to leave an
lived with Arnold for II years, part of til
time in England. Four other childre
were born.
| In 1881 the property, having been cor
fiscated, was conveyed to Colonel Richar
Hampton for Arnolds life estate II
held it for two years. when 1t passed int
the possession of Blair McClenachan, VIII
sold the place in 1854 to Edward Shipper
chief justice Of Pennsylvania father {
Mrs. Arnold. 1t was retained by him III
til 1899, when he conveyed it to Generi
Jonathan Williams The sheriff mad
title to williams, and the title thus b.
came firmly vested in the family of Gel
eral williams until 1858. In 1866 1t WI
sold to the city of Philadelphia by his sol
Henry Williams.-Philadelp Cor. Me-
York Post.