Oxford eagle., 1902-09-18

manor house in 1850. The land rec
ords of Maryland show this gentle
man to have been man of great en-
eroy. having recorded II deeds for
land, built a mill, the ruins of which
still stand near the house, and TO
have been a member of the first court
of Montgomery county, Nd, also a
member of the committee of safety.
A granddaughter of this Charles
Jones, gent, Eleanor Selden, married
John Augustine Washington, the
granddaughter of Gen. Washington,
and last member of the Washington
family to own and reside at Mount
Vernon.
The estate of Clean Drinking manor
covered originally 1,4oo acres, but IL
has been divided among the various
members of the family, and sold, until
but 25 acres are left of the original
estate. The interior of the manor
house is of type well known in Mary
land and Virginia, containing large
square rooms of hospitable dlmen-
sions. In the drawing-room, which Is
entered directly from the porch, stand
numerous family heirlooms. On
high, triangular-shaped gilt-legged
table are pair of handsome gilt can
delabra. beside various other orna-
ments of rare and quaint workman
ship. Above the high mantelpiece is
long gilt-framed mirror and on the
table beneath a group of family por-
traits. One of the most interesting
of these represents handsome boy OF
IA. John Coates Jones, taken while a
cadet at West Point. He was born in
the manor in 1901, and his widow sur
vived him until within three years.
Built into a corner of the drawing
room is an old-fashioned cupboard,
inclosed by an arched glass-paned Win
dow. Beside this stands high backed
oak chair of our grandmothers' times,
and near it another of greater an
tiquity. The latter is of black walnut,
triangular in shape, with dark red
leather covered seat. 1t is more than
200 years old. From the drawing
room we passed through another large
square room, and thence visited the
family graveyard, which lies a few
yards to the rear of the manor. Here
are buried the remains of all of the
members of the family who have been
born. reared and died upon the estate.
Until recently there have been re-
tanned in the manor some of the heir
looms, the venerable widow of John
Coates Jones having taken great pride
in their preservation. She willed them
to the Daughters of the American
Revolution. There was a punch bowl
of India ware which once belonged to
Col. Robert Hanson Harrison, close
neighbor and friend of George Wash
ington. and it was recognized fact
that Washington had often been on
familiar terms with that same punch
bowl. There was also pair of f1uted
and irons which also belonged to Col
Harrison. The venerable widow who
so long dwelt as mistress of the manse,
until long past her ninetieth year, was
daughter of Copeland Parker, who
served in Washington's army. and also
as collector of customs at Norfolk
while Washington was president; and
who served in the same capacity DUR
ing Jackson's presidential terms
Whether the office sought the man in
those good old days doth not appear
in the family traditions. 1t is only
known that the man held the office.
Two hundred and twenty years have
elapsed since this estate became the
property of Col John Coates, and the
frame mansion has been the home of
generations for more than $50 wears.
Considering the fact that there is no
law of entailment in this country, it is
a remarkable fact that one family
should have retained possession for so
long a period of time. Members of the
family claim that there is no other
estate of that age: they use the word
antiquity, which scarcely fits anything
yet in this new world.
Visitors to this city might well spend
a couple of hours going to Clean Drink
ing manor. The driveways are excel
lent and the country beautiful all the
way. SMITH D. FRY.