Milford chronicle., 1909-01-29
Facts and FamcieS Of Milford Neck
From Early Times to the
Present.


Another large plantation in Milford
Neck, which deserves especial mention
on account of its historical significance,
is that tract Of land known for nearly a
hundred years as the "Polk Farm" It
is supposed TO have been patented by
Mark Manlove aboat 1853, who came from
England, first to Virginia, then to Della
ware. It passed from him to his son,
Matthew Manlove, by inheritance, and
from him to Matthew Manlove (2nd) his
son, who was captain in Col. Samuel
Petterson's Regiment Continental Army
l77S. Captain Manlove,s men saw hard
service in the battles of Cowpens, Cam.
den. Guilford's Court House and Hob
kirks Hill and was so nearly anihilated
in this Southern campaign, that the shat
tered reminent was incorporated with
Captain Robert Kirkwood's s company.
This plantation of Captain Manlove,
situated on the bay shore and open to the
sea, was exposed to the insults, indigni-
ties and atrocities of brutal British
soldiery-always capable of any enOrmity.
The very fact of his being patriot, rem
dered his property and family less secure
from British incursions 1t was a com.
mon occurance for them to forage his
plantation, shoot down bis cattle on the
marshes and carry them away in their
barges to their shipping that lay in the
offing. Tradition informs us Of an event
shat took place near this plantation,
which is worthy of mention. During the
war a Spanish Galleon was entering the
bay freighted witch specie for Philade-
phia, consigned to Robert Morris, the fl
nancier of tie Revolution. This money
consisted OF Spanish Milled Dollars aud
was securely fastened in iron-bound kegs
and was being conveyed to the city for
the benefit of the ragged, shoeiess poorly
ed BY British man-of- war-ship, that was
hovering around the capes of Delaware
and was chased into the bay. To avoid
being ca7tmed by their persurers, the
captain and crew ran the Galleon aground.
inshore from what is now known to sail
ors as Blades Channel, and abreast the
iarm of Matthew Manlove, Ia order
20 deprive the British from getting pos
session of this treasure they threw the
kegs overheard into the bay. Much of
IL was afterwards recovered and carried
to a place of safety on the farm of Mr..
Manloye. Some of it, however, was never
recovered and it is said that many years
afterwards keg Of this money was found
by Lunn Manloye, an old slave, and
taken by him to his home on Cabin
Ridge. For the truthfulness of this story
the writer can not vouch, but it is-cer-
tain that several stray coins Of this de
nomination have been found along the
beach of this vicinity, in more recent
shines.
In early times the Manlove's in Mis-
pillion Neck we're numerous and inhuen-
-ial. From 400 to 1900, there were but
lew tracts OF land lying along the Mispil-
ion River, from its mouth to the New
Wharf, that was not at sometime owned |
by some member of the Manlove family. |
This can be shown by the records in the
offices Of Register of Wills and Re
corder of Deeds at Dover.
Several members Of this family were
prominent as holders of Public Offices
IN 1874 George Manlove of Revolutionary
fame, was collector Of taxes for Mispil- /
lion Hundred, and it is curious fact
chat the real estate of all this vast terri
tory was valued at less than S12, 1000 |
( 1911 ,82484 the amount of taxes being
sl93 10 It is wonderful to contemplate |
the great changes that have been wrought |
in this cycle Of time. The increase in the
value Of real estate, ircluding the towns
that have grown up since that day, is
simply enormous, probably aggregating |
at the present time more than one hund-
red million dollars. With no towns, few
+ any mills and no manufacturing estab-
ishments beyond the home circle, the
stylc Of living at that day must have been
gery primative indeed. And yet many
81 the citizens we're wealthy-large land
holders and the owners Of many slaves
qhich was, Is we Of the present genera
ion see it, less blessing than a curse.
ISAAC r. JESTER.