The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-01-01

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 stQnr-.
and brick in the early sS. sthe pres
races staten ..I4Uttenvile. 1t was
..ssseybnt 1873 by Christopher Billop'
4 sturdy English sea captain VINO
owned small ship called the Bentley
which settled an interesting dispute
In 1865 there was a controversy re-
ga-ding the ownership of Staten Is
land, and TO settle it the duke or YORK
decided that if the island could be
within twenty-four
hours il should remain in his Jurlsdlc-
ton otherwise it should belong 10
New Jersey. Billop undertook the
task of sailing round the island, and
accomplished it within the "A hours
TINS securing II 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 MS
! ship, the Manor Bentley. The village
Of Tottenville, which occupies a part
Of the original estate, was originally
known as Bentley manor.
! " lille lining on his estate Billop
was appointed subcollector OF the port
az New York, but. like some otlce
!. SoaA~r. OF modern times. ne lost ms
position through making offensive po-
= lieScal speeches in public. In dis
gust he retired to his estate, where
he lived until 1852, 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 loyalists, the family being pro-
nounced Tories. For this reason
they we're 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. retired New York banker.
Old Mansion Little Changed.
The old mansion. which has wealth.
. cred the storms of nearly two and a
mas oeen 49, looks strong enough
It's Quaint rooms still c0nU...--- -.anpa
embrasured windows, with smali-paned
sashes, and curious cupboards, built
into the walls. At the right of the en-
. trance Is the room where the Revo'
u lutionary peace conference TOOK
. place. The kitchen, in the basement
= has a fireplace the entire width OF the
t. house in which several logs OF tree
Il size can easily be placed. In the MID
D. die is long crane of hand-wrougn'
!. iron holding two enormous kettles.
i. Under the main entrance there is
~ dark cellar, where, tradition says
IL Revolutionary patriots were confined
III and i'll treated by the Tory Billops
II Near the house are some oaks witt
u snarled trunks, looking centuries OLD
VI beneath which British soldiers one
made their camp.
Like all old houses. the Billop man
- sion has its fancied ghosts. One o
IL these is said to be the restless spin
III of a British grenadier. killed near D
v" in a skirmish between loyalists an
~ revolutionists.
TIC The other liant" is the spirit of
u' Bllop, beautiful bride. murdered b
III her husband in a fit of jealousy abou
III one hundred and sixty years ago. He
So body was said to have been buried o
the threshold, and, strangely enough
WI skeleton was dug up there som
~ years ago and reinterred in the ran
ne ily burial plot adjoining the hous
10 Here may be seen several moss-co
we cred stones, with half-oblitered inscri
a"' tons, dating from colonial times.