Preserving History - Kent County

Kent News March 28th 1908

Preserving the Past - Talbot County

Compton, a Talbot County treasure, never just a house but a home that has been truly loved and maintained through time since it’s construction. The beautiful manse stands as testimony to the workmanship of the original artisans who built it and the stewards who have loved and maintained it. 

In the beginning, Compton was a 100 acre land tract originally patented to Andrew Skinner in 1663. It was passed back and forth in exchange for debts owed between many owners until the spring of 1679 when it was officially conveyed to William Stevens. The Stevens family was Quaker, as were their neighbors, the Dickinson’s and the Powell’s. Their plantations combined covered the area between two creeks of the Choptank River which would be known as Grubin Neck. These families would be hosts to George Foxx on his visits to Talbot County holding meetings in Meetinghouse Field, their homes and finally in the Quaker Meetinghouse at J.D. or what we now know as the village of Trappe. Not only were these families friendly amongst each other, but with the families across both creeks, including the Indians whose village was on the waters of the Choptank River on land held by Lord Calvert called Wolsey Mannor.

The Stevens family obtained other land tracts in the “neck” called Edmondson’s Cove, Edmondson’s Lower Cove, William’s Lott and Elvard’s Purchase. In all, a plantation of over 300 acres bound with the waters of Dividing Creek passing by on their way to the Great Choptank River and back again, was referred to as Compton.

For generations this plantation passed through the Stevens family when in 1742 Thomas Stevens inherited and became sole possessor and he immediately began the process of making Compton a sound tract free of any questionable bounds and making it his home and a home for generations to come.  Thomas filed a patent for Compton in 1750 along with his certificate of survey. He had already built a home being made of logs with brick chimneys to live in while constructing all of the other buildings necessary to run a plantation.  They were making bricks, felling trees and sawing beams, boards and lathe with the aid of a horse mill. A brick cellar and milk house had already been built. A sizable quarter with a center brick chimney had been built. The tobacco house and shed were old and the garden fencing was in terrible shape. But the work had begun of creating the plantation of Compton.

By the 1770’s Thomas Stevens’ vision had been realized.  He had made a home for his family, so strategically planned and placed on the shores of Dividing Creek.  Protected from the battering winds like the shores of the Choptank River, but settled as to catch every breeze as it blew up the creek. With a view that allowed him to assess all navigation in and out the creek without any obstruction of sight. Thomas had successfully created Compton, his home and a life far away from the activities of the growing county on a plantation that provided all of the amenities of a wonderful country life.

Part of Thomas Stevens’ vision was the house at Compton, being built of bricks, a two story home from the beginning, being a “two over two” basic floor plan with a lot of windows overlooking the creek and plantation alike. The main part of the structure measured 40 feet by 20 feet. The kitchen was a separate structure until sometime between 1832 and 1840 when a closed passage connected the two. In addition to the house there was a kitchen, milk house or dairy, quarter, fowl house and barn. There was an orchard of walnut, plum, peach, cherry, pear and quince trees.

Thomas’ eldest son John obtained a neighboring plantation called Kingston where he and his wife raised their family. Kingston was at the head of the “neck” and in close enough proximity that the Stevens children could easily wear a path between home and their grandfather’s farm.

In 1782, Thomas Stevens died, being laid to rest in the family burying ground at home, at Compton.  He devised his home to son John.  Although Compton was his boyhood home, John had already settled at Kingston and that was now his family's home, so he continued to reside there.

In December of 1794, when Samuel Stevens was but 17 years old, his father John Stevens died.  Samuel was his eldest surviving child and his heir to both Kingston and Compton.  Samuel continued to live at Kingston, first under the guardianship of Joseph Martin, and as a young adult.  The house Compton had been neglected of love since the death of Thomas.  It had tenants through the years, but wasn't “home” again until Samuel decided to repair and improve his grandfather’s plantation.  He chose Compton.

Through the years plantation buildings were added. Most notably the stables that would be home to the horses Samuel would be known for.   It appears that Compton had been revitalized and his family took up residence just prior to his being elected Governor of Maryland.  He loved Compton. It is written and stated often, that he longed to be at home on Compton.

Samuel lived in and loved Compton until his death in 1860. His son Edwin had lived at Kingston, but did not survive his father. Samuel’s will was not upheld by the court and both Compton and Kingston were now the property of his only surviving child, Louisa Stevens James and his grandchildren, the children of Edwin. None of Samuel’s heirs would live on and love Compton. Louisa died just eight years later and his grandchildren lived in Cambridge with their mother. It was now up to the courts to decide who would be Compton’s next resident and owner. A legacy of the Stevens family - a legacy of 200 years.

A hundred years later, Compton would be considered a treasure again. It’s obvious as Compton continues to strategically stand proud on the shores of Dividing Creek and at the end of its entering allee, that it is loved again. Loved and maintained by its present steward, great comfort to those before him. 

The picture shows the milk house or dairy dated 1740-1750 and the house, 1770's, and kitchen of Compton.