The times., 1901-04-28
GILPIN MANOR OF MARYLAND.
The Abode of an Ancient Family in
Cecil County.
(From the Philadelphia Record.)

ttrOm tne Fnlauelphla kecoTO-)
| On the bank of the Big Elk about one
mile north of the town of Elkton, Cecil
| county, Md, in a part of the original
| tract of BelleCounell and almost hidden in
park of trees is the historic old home
| stead. "Giipin Manor where for genera
| tion5 have lived the descendants of Sam
uel Gilpin. founder of the Cecil branch Of
one of the oldest and most aristocratic
families in America. whose long line of
distinguished ancestors dates back to the
year 1900.
The mansion house is of stone. large
and spacious The arched doorway of the
main entrance, fashioned after Kentmere
| Hall. one of the ancestral homes of the
Giipins in England, is attractive fea-
ture. Built in l740 and remodeled in later
years. il stands today a fair and finely
preserved type of the architecture of the
| Colonial period. Stands also as a remind
er of the good old days of open house"
when the latchstrfng hung outside. The
grounds surrounding the house, carefully
| laid out many years ago, retain much Of
their former beauty. The trees and shrub
berry bear evidence of great age
Crossing the threshold it is easy to
fancy visions of fair women and noble
men-silYer snuff boxes powdered wigs
and all. Room after room, a Yertiabe
labyrinth. Even the kitchen 'befO de
a ghost was seen" Leading down from
it is the staircase. undoubtedly conceal
ing mysterious panels" 10 the cellar
which if one had but the courage to pene-
underground passag geways.
On the whole, "Gilpin Manor is most
picturesque. most romantic. overlooking,
as il does. on the one side the Big Elk
place of departed ancestors for "GiIpil
Manor too, has its family burying
ground guarded by solid granite walls,
its mounds marked bS substantial grave
stones bearing odd Inscriptions. many of
Thich came from England
tn the year 1906 Joseph Gilpin with
l. F.
children. emigrated to America from Eng
land, and settled in Birmingham, Chester
county, Pa. JOSeph-WaS Quaker, and
the persecution Of tffe Friends in Eng
land led him TO seek another country.
With his family. he landed at New Castle
and set out afoot through the forests for
their new home-then a wilderness. While
some distance from it darkness came on
and they were compelled to remain over
night in Indian wigwam.
Reaching their tract of land one of Jo-
seph's first considerations was to provide
temporary shelter for his family. TO aC-
ComDlish this he constructed q cave by
the side of a rock. In il they continued
10 live for a considerable time. The first
house he built was burned. In 1870 he
built another, "Kentmere," which is still
standing. { was at this same farmhouse
General Howe made his headquarters af-
ter the battle of BrandyWine
Joseph Gllpin was sole agent and
Friend in settling all Of one township in
Chester county, to wit: New Garden, and
a part of Kennel and Marlborough, for
which he had only the reward of well
done good and faithful servant %" He
was lineally descended from Richard de
Guylpyn, of England man eminent in
his time, both in a civil and military ca
pacity- To this Richard the Baron of
Kendall granted the Manor of Kentmere
in Westmoreland county. for his achieve
ments in Staying wild boar which in
Tested the forests Of WestmOreland and
Cumberland. Thereupon he took for his
arms: In field or a Laughter or Boar,
Stalant sable, languid and tusked gules;'
his posterity have ever since borne the
same.
Joseph's eldest son. Samuel. born in
England. June T. 1888, emigrated from Bir-
mingham to Concord and subsequently,
in 1913, removed to Cecil county, Nd. and
settled al Gilpin's Falls, III the Great
Northeast. on a tract of 100 acres, pre-
Viously purchased. He married Jane
daughter Of John Parker, of Philadelphia
Pa. Their son, Thomas. a Quaker de-
cllned TO do military service during the
Revolutionary war was. with twenty 9TH
ers likewise situated, eXiled from Phila-
Winchester. Va, where he died March 9
lfS. His brother George. was at the
same time colonel of the Fairfax Militia,
and endeaVOrcd, ineffectualIv to inter
cede for his liberation. He was also a
close friend Of General Washington. their
intimacy owing to the fact that the
Washiugtons and Gilpins had intermar-
ried in England.
Joseph Gilpin CNo. q. eldest son Of
Samuel, was a patriotic and public-spirtt-
ed citizen. He represented Cecil county
In the Provincial Conventions Of the early
days, and for years was Chief Justice OF |
the Court. He married Elizabeth Read
November 8, 176t Died March 30 1880
leaving a large landed estate in Cecil |
county, Maryland also in Western Penn |
syivania and Virginia.
His son. John, to whom he willed GIL !
pin Manor" married May, daughter of |
Col Henry HOllingswOrth. of Revolution
airy fame. He was a Presidential electOr |
for John Adams. also for Jeffersons two /
terms. He represented Cecil county In the .
Assembly for several years.
Most of the descendants of Samuel Gil /
pin reside in Maryland. One exception.
however, is the case of the present owner
Of "Gilpin Manor" Oliver W. Gilpin of /
Pa who inherited the prop
erty from his grandfather, the late DR. !
John Gilpin