Evening star., 1927-05-22

at st. MaryS, the Jesuit missionaries
engaged in converting the Indians es-
tablished their headquarters at the
town after they had baptized the
queen. 1t was located almost in the
center of their territory and was con-
sidered safe for a permanent sta
ton. Six years later the Society of
Jesus was granted 1000 acres in the
vicinity of Port Tobacco. some of
which the fathers have held ever
since One Thomas Mathews, pre-
sumably member of the order, was
named trustee of this land, most OF
which lay just east of Port Tobacco
creek. There was established st.
Thomas Manor and a manor house
and large chapel Mere erected This
is the present Chapel Point, now "a
miliar to many Washington fishing
parties. There is still church there
and a convalescent home for Catholic
clergyman. But the parish church
has been established for approximate
ly 90 years at La Plata.
Following the grant to the Jesuits
came similar large grants to colonists.
One Thomas CORVALLIS. probably a
relative of the Lord CORVALLIS who
surrendered at Yorktown. w S
granted 1000 acres in the same year
and the next year a grant of 1000
acres was made to Nicholas Causine,
who established the now vanished
Causine's Manor
Tobacco Shipping Center.
From that time on the manor
houses in the neighborhood increased
in number and grandeur. A little
town grew up in the base of the cliffs
which loomed above Port Tobacco
creek This village became con-
venient center for the tobacco ship
pers few years after its establish
ment the colonial assembly at st.
Marys declared Port Tobacco one OF
the official towns where all citizens
must unlade and put on shore, and
sell. barter and traffic away" The
new town became the business rival
of the provincial capital, st. Marys.
and grew rapidly in wealth and intiu-
ence 1t came safely through Clai-
borne's rebellion and continued to
prosper until after the Revolution.
when the creek began to be less navi-
gable.
Distinguished men lived in the
neighborhood in those days. Some
of their houses still are standing on
the surrounding hills. There is, for
example, La Grange, on the road be-
tween Port Tobacco and La Plata
This was erected by DR.. John Craik,
the Scotchman who became the per
sonal physician of George Washing
ton during the Revolution, and who
afterward kept an office in AleXan-
dria. After DR.. Craik's death 1t
passed into the hands of the Stone
street family and now is owned by
Charles Fl. Stonestreet. The grave
ward of the family. completely car
peted with purple iris, is just back OF
the house.
On the other side of the town. also
On hill top, is the manor house OF
DR.. Craik's great rival. DR.. Augustus
| Brown, who was a judge and legls-
lator as we'll as the foremost physi-
clan of his day. At Rose Hill DIR.
Brown established one of the first
medical schools in the United States.
From this house he went on horse.
back. crossing the Potomac by ferry,
to the deathbed of George Washing.
| ton. DIR. Brown was q modest physi.
clan. and after the death of the first
! President, frankly admitted that he
| had been wrong in his diagnosis.
| 1t would be difficult to find a spot
| so symbolic of vanished glory as
Rose Hill. After the death Of DR.
| Brown the old place had a varied
| fortune. For many years past the
| house and farm have been in the
hands of various tenant families and
consequently have run down. The
| by a wealthy Cleveland family which
expects to restore it to its ancient
glory.
Rose Hill has what is probably the
finest boXwood labyrinth in southern
! Maryland or even the entire United
| states. Once it surrounded the rose
garden. now entirely gone, which
gave the place its name. DIR. Brown
is buried on the estate.
On the farm adjoining Rose Hill Is
Habredaventure, the old estate oi
| Thomas Stone, one Of the signers oi
the Declaration of Independence from
Maryland. 1t is a similar type oi
house. but has had a much better
fortune. 1t now is the home oi
| Michael Stone. former superintendent
Of schools of Charles County and &
descendant OF the original owner.
Both Mr.. stones family pride anC
his interest in American antiquities
nave led him to preserve the ole
! mouse as an example of early Ameri
can architecture. Some OF the origi
nal furniture used by Thomas Stone.
family still is in use.
on the other side of Port Tobacco,
Is Mulberry Grove, the old seat o
John Hansen, president Of the Con
tlnental Congress. Afterward it lon!
was the home Of the Ferguson fam
lily, and contains the old family grave
yard. Later still it suffered a fat,
similar to that Of Rose Hill. but a few
years ago was purchased by a wealth,
man, who has restored it at great ex
pense to It's original state.
The reviving interest in American
antiquities which leads rich familie
. to clutch at these vanishing skirts o
: history appears to be all that will saw
. the old southern Maryland for futur
2 generations, and hope is eXpresse
J throughout Charles County that NOR
OF the crumbiing old houses will b
purchased as family seats.
Such was the type of men that ono
! walked the streets of Port Tobacc
/. and that lie buried on the surround
1 ing hills. George Washington himse
: was frequent visitor to the old towI
e particularly as guest of Drs. Graf
l | and Brown. The present occupant:
!. of course, insist that the Father {
t His Country often slept In such an