The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1915-01-08

been humiliating in the extreme to
the pride and arrogance Of George the
Thirds government to be obliged to
receive this prescribed rebel as the
first minister plenipotentiary of the
United States of America.
House Built in 1873.
The old house, solidly built Of stone
and brick in the early colonial style,
faces Staten Island sound, and is
about half mile south of the pres
ent village Of Tottenville. 1t was
built about 1878 by Christopher Billop,
sturdy English sea captain, who
owned a small ship called the Bentley,
which settled an interesting dispute.
In 1868 there was a controversy re-
garding the ownership of Staten Is
land, and to settle it the duke of York
decided that If the island could be
circumnavigated within twenty-four
hours 1t should remain in his jurisdic-
ton, otherwise it should belong to
New Jersey. Billop undertook the
task of sailing round the island, and
accomplished it within the "a hours,
thus securing 1t for the duke. In re-
turn for the service he was granted
1,163 acres at the extreme end Of the
island, which was called, after his
ship, the Manor Bentley. The village
Of Tottenville, which occupies part
of the original estate, was originally
known az Rent1ey manor
While living on his estate Billop
was appointed subcollector of the port
Of New York, but. like some office
holders of modern times, he lost his
position through making offensive po-
litical speeches in public" In dis
gust he retired to. his estate. where
he lived until 1882, when he sailed for
England in his ship, which was lost
on the voyage.
His daughter, Eugenia, married her
cousin, Thomas Farmar. who assumed
the name of Billop. During the Revo-
luton his son commanded regiment
of 1oyalists, the family being pro-
nounced Tories. For this reason
they were declared traitors, and at the
close of the Revolution the estate was
confiscated, and the Billops moved to
Canada.
After its forfeiture the property was
purchased by Philip Van Cortlandt in
1894 Since that time it has passed
through several hands, until only a
small part Of the original estate re-
mains. The present owner Is Charles
Leland, a retired New York banker.
Old Mansion Little Changed.
The old mansion, which has wealth
cred the storms of nearly two and a
half centuries, looks strong enough
to last another century. Little change
has been made in it since 1t was built
It's quaint rooms still contain the deep
embrasured windows, with small-paned
sashes, and curious cupboards, built
into the walls. At the right of the en-
trance is the room where the Revo-
lutionary peace conference took
place. The kitchen, in the basement.
has fireplace the entire width of the
house, in which several logs of tree
size can easily be placed. In the mid
die is long crane Of hand-wrought
iron holding two enormous kettles.
Under the main entrance there is
dark cellar, where, tradition says,
Revolutionary patriots were confined
and ill.treated by the Tory Billops.
Near the house are some oaks with
gnarled trunks, looking centuries old,
beneath which British soldiers once
made their camp.
Like all old houses, the Billop man.
sion has it's fancied ghosts. One of
these is said to be the restless spirit
of British grenadier, killed near by
In a skirmish between loyalists and
revolutionists.
The other cha Mt" is the spirit of a
Billop, beautiful bride, murdered by
her husband in a fit of jealousy about
one hundred and sixty years ago. Her
body was said to have been buried on
the threshold, and, strangely enough,
a skeleton was dug up there some
years ago and reinterred in the fam
lily burial plot adjoining the house.
Here may be seen several moscow
cred stones, with half-oblitered inscrip-
tons, dating from colonial times.