The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1898-05-12
STAFFORD, OWNER OF
FAIRVIEW.

the following bit OF ancient history:
More than three-quarters of century
ago Robert Stafford, handsome, blue
eyed young fellow, went from the north
to Georgia, and so prospered in business
that he presently became the owner of
Cumberland island, off the Georgian
coast, famous for the production of the
wonderful fine sea island cotton, in great
quantities.
He amassed great wealth, acquired the
title Of colonel, and lived in princely state
in a mansion-the only one on the island
whose turrets overtopped the forest of
live oaks environing 1t, and commanded a
superb view of his whole domain and the
sea beyond it's borders
An army of slaves worked for and wait
ed upon him, and occasional guests, whom
he entertained royalty, returned to the
mainland with tales of the magnificence
OF his estate and the lavishness of his
hospitality, that could hardly be dupli-
Gated outside the Arabian Nights.
Colonel Stafford, with his vast posses
sions, high social standing and the ad-
vantage of youth and good looks, might,
according to contemporary report, have
welded any one of half a dozen charming
Georgian bellies, his equals in position
and property. But he fell desperately In
love with quadroon, said to be the
daughter of rich planter and slave wo-
man. She was almost as white as the
fairest Caucasian, of marvellous beauty,
and reputed very intelligent and fairly
we'll educated.
She was the colonel's property, but he
had too high a sense of honor to follow
the course usually pursued by southern
shareholders who were not in the habit
of calling on the church to sanction the
relations too often existing between them
selves and their bondwomen. He freed
Mary-for that was her name-and mar
ried her.
The wedding was secret, and was long
unrevealed, for If it had become known
Colonel Stafford would have been social
ly ostracised, and not improbably might
have felt the strong arm of the law, which
forbade, under severe penalties, the mar.
ital union Of whites with persons in the
slightest degree tainted with African de.
scent.
Six children were born Of the marriage
two handsome, manly boys, and four love
| ly girls, but as is often the case with the
offspring of such unions, they were dark
er than their mother The colonel, az
well as Mrs Stafford, desired to give
their sons and daughters a good educa
tion, but they had not been publicly ac
knowledged as legitimate, and there wer'
nc slpcatlonal advantages in the soutl
i for colored children; indeed, in most o
the slave-holding states they were pro
hibited from even learning to read, les
by increasing their intelligence they Nigh
become dissatisfied with their lot. Their,
was no way, therefore, but to take th'
young Staffords north; and so, when thu
eldest, girl, was about 18 years of age
the colonel decided to remove to New
England.
Sailing into New London harbor, h,
was struck with the beau9y of the Thame
river shores, and soon thereafter pur
chased a great estate on the Groton side
about three miles above the city. On tn
highest point of ground in the propert,
he erected a mammoth mansion, AM
called it Fairview.
The house was built in southern style
surrounded with broad verandas, upol
which low French windows opened from
all the rooms, and the roof was surround
ed by spacious cupola, from which wa
visible miles and miles of historic an
beautiful stretches of land and water, in
cluding the river, valley and harbor, an
the more distant Long Island and Fish
er's Island sounds.
There were twenty large and loft
apartments, with ceilings and walls fres
coed by noted artists. The massive stail
case in the central hall was constructe
of San Domingo mahogany, and every
thing about the establishment bore tn
: same evidence of disregard of cost. Nc
where in Connecticut was there NOR
complete or luxurious residence.
1t is still landmark familiar to thou
) sands of summer guests at New Londo
and visitors to the Yale-Harvard 'vsrsit
boat races, the course for which 1t oveI
looks.
: Money was lavished like water on th
ninety odd acres included In the estate
The fifteen acres Immediately surrouhC
, ing the residence were terraced and lai
, out as ornamental grounds, in accorc
: ance with plans supplied by distir
,, guished landscape gardner. Elsewher
the natural forest growths were trimme
, into groves, lawns were leveled an
turfed, winding drives and walks weI
; constructed, and every species of tre'
shrub and plant that would thrive the1
> was set out. The barns and stables wer
5 finished in hard woods, and the horse
and carriages were the wonder of th
3 surrounding country. Colonel StaffOr
succeeded in creating beautiful home
but it is doubtful If it was very happ
one.
Mrs. Stafford did not live long to enjo
a.