Identifier: officialguideboo00west (find matches)
Title: The official guide book to Philadelphia..
Year: 1876 (1870s)
Authors: Westcott, Thompson
Subjects:
Publisher: Philadelphia, Porter and Coates
Contributing Library: The Library of Congress
Digitizing Sponsor: The Library of Congress

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rs betweenGreat Britain, France and Spain, before the Revolution,commanded several privateers which sailed out of the poi-tof Philadelphia, and which were lucky in making manycaptures and accumulating much prize-money, built for him-self on the east side of the Schuylkill River a fine mansionof stone, to which he gave the name of Mount Pleasant. Itis situated in the East Park, near to the eastern end of theReading Railroad bridge, a little east by north of the latter.John Adams, who dined there in 1774, described it as themost elegant seat in Pennsylvania. After the commence-ment of the Revolution, McPherson offered this house forsale. It was bought, with the surrounding grounds, by Major-General Benedict Arnold, who was at that time militarygovernor of Philadelphia. Arnold, upon his marriage withPeggy, the beautiful daughter of Judge Shippen, settled theproperty on himself for life, with the remainder to his wifeand children. When Arnolds treason was discovered, the 1-^ X Q a: H :^ O
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MT. PLEASANT—LEMON HILL—SOLITUDE. 333 State of Pennsylvania confiscated his life interest in the prop-erty. The celebrated Baron de Steuben, of the Revolutionaryarmy, occupied Mount Pleasant as a tenant in the fall of1781 and the spring of 1782. Arnolds life interest was soldto Colonel Eichard Hampton for £850. The Arnold title,however, was subsequently cut out by proceedings on a mort-gage which existed against the property when he bought it.General Jonathan Williams became the purchaser in 1796,and resided there for many years. He was a Revolutionarypatriot, and commercial agent of the United States in Francefrom 1777 to 1785. He was judge of the court of Common Pleasof Philadelphia, 1796. He became an officer of the regulararmy, was inspector of fortifications and superintendent ofWest Point Academy in 1801, being the first officer who hadcharge of that institution. He held the rank of colonel in theUnited States army in 1812. Returning to Philadelphia, hewas elected a member

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