Rensselaer Union and Jasper Republican, Volume 8, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 June 1876 — Romance of the Revolution. [ARTICLE]

Romance of the Revolution.

The house which is now the residence of W. H. Mcßary, situated on the southwestern corner of Market and Third streets, is not only one of the ancient landmarks of Wilmington, but is intimately connected, .with a legend which commences in the days of the Resolution and continues down to our present lime. During the summer of 1781 the house was occupied by Lord Cornwallis as the headquarters of his army. On his Lordship's military staff was a gay young cavalier who had become enamored with a young lady whose father resided in South Carolina. Having declared his passion, it was afterward, if not then, as warmly returned. The two being separated by 100 miles or more, and the unyielding demands of an active military campaign making it uncertain when the young British Lieutenant could again see the object of his affections, he was occupied no doubt with thinking of her, and wrote her name upon a window-pane in his chamber with the diamond of his ring. The war at length over, and peace declared, the British Lieutenant returned to South Carolina, married tfie lady, and took his bride with him to England. After the lapse of a few years the young couple reembarked for America, and. made their home in the city of New York, Thirty or forty years ago a son of the couple was a visitor tdAVilmington, and was a guest ■of the late venerable- Dr. Thomas H. Wright, who owned and resided jn tl,ie house in question a lifetime, leaving it to his heirs. This New York visitor, by a singular coincidence, was put in the

chamber that had been occupied by the British Lieutenant. The pane of glass upon which the Lieutenant had written the lady’s name was still Intact, and the visitor at once recognized Ute nameas that of his mother before marriage. And now conics another incident of the legend. Recently a son of the New York visitor that was a guest of Dr. Wright thirty or forty years ago, ano a grandson of the British Lieutenant, being well informed of the story, came to Wilmington to search for the historic pane of glass. This gentleman’s name is John W. Barrow, of New York City. When he arrived he found that the ancient house had been remodeled by its present owner, and was informed by Mr. Mcßary that the old win-dow-sashes had been stowed away in the cellar. Search being made, the identical pane of glass was found, and Mr. Barrow took it baca with him to New York.— Wilmfnj/ion (A r . (7.) Journal.