Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-07-03
Benedict Arnojd's Mansion.

Mount Pleasant, in the East Park.
near Columbia avenue entrance, which
IS almost equally we'll known to park
visitors as Arnold's mansion. is TO be
the headquarters of La MOriganta
klambo. the newly formed organiZa-
tor of fashionable women motorists.
Few buildings in the park equal
Mount Pleasant in interest and none is
older. 1t is one of the few wellpre
served country mansions built in this
country ir colonial times. AS speci-
men of architecture modelled upon the
style made popular by Sir Christopher
Wren it is one of the half dozen or less
which remain in this country.
The house. which John Adams-who
dined there in 1774-declared was the
most elegant in Pennsylvania was
built tor Capt. John Macpherson in
1862 In 1879 MACPHERSON grew tired
Of the place and sold it to Gen. Bene-
dict Arnold. who had married Peggy
Shipper. In it's time the mansion has
borne three names. Macpherson called
it The Hills and also Clunie, and sub
sequently it was known as Mount
Pleasant.
Capt. Macpherson was one of the
most original men in the province. If
he had not been immensely wealthy he
probably would not have been toler-
ated; but as a priVateerSman in Eng
lands wars with France and Spain
before the revolution he was lucky and
came home with q genuine gold GAL
leon. He had two sons. One was an
officer in the British army. but re-
signed mis- commission on the break
ing out of the Revolution and became
a major in the Continental army. The
other son was with the cOlOniStS from
the beginning Of the struggle and was
killed at the attempt to take Quebec,
being the first Philadelphia of impor-
lance to give his life for the cause.
Old Capt. MACPHERSON made himself
tiresome to Congress, begging for
command of ship. but did not gain
his desire. He published the first di-
rectory of Philadelphia in 1855. This
nook is really one of the curiOSitieS of
iii orature, for the captain canvasscd
the city himself and printed the replies
he received ut each door In answer to
his request for names. lie died III 1892
and lies in st. Paul's churchyard.
When Arnold married Peggy Ship
pen. daughter of Edward Shipron. sub
seourntly chief justice of Pennsyl-
wanna, he bought Mount Pleasant and
settled it on himself for life. with the
remainder to his wife and children. At
the time Arnold was military COVER
nor of Philadelphia. and Judge Peters.
who occupied Belmont. the seat across
the Schuylkill from Mount Pleasant.
accused the general of having con-
.n,.t. to, mi ..e
having used this toward the purchase
of Mount Pleasant.
Arnold did not long remain at Mount
Pleasant. After his treason he of
course had to leave the country, and
the state " Pennsylvania confiscated
his life interest in the beautiful estate
Baron de Stcubcn became the next
tenant of the place and Arnold's life
interest was sold to Col Richard
Hampton for $3.50.
In the Shippen correspondence, pub
liGhcd a few years ago, there are sew
oral references to Mount Pleasant. In
17S5 in 4 letter from Mrs. Arnold to her
father il appears that Arnold had an
idea of privately getting title to the
property for his family. He changed
his mind. however, and suggested that
the place be sold at public sale for as
much as it would bring In 11?;
Mount Pleasant was sold. but for bare
ly enough to satisfy the mortgages
upon it.
Gen, Jonathan Williams, Revo-
lutiorary patriot, and commercial
agcit Of the United State in France
from I'LL to 1855. bought the country
seat and lived there for years. The
property remained in his family for
many years and was purchased by the
park commission by virtue of the act
Of 1867 which permitted the acruisi-
ton OF what are now park properties
Philadelphia Ledger.