This house, dating back to 1710, stood on the east side of Cators Cove in Hoopers Neck (3 miles from the Slaughter Creek Bridge). The text and photos are from the book "The Chesapeake Bay Country" by Swepson Earle published in 1923.
The above painting of the LeCompte Manor hangs in a home on Taylors Island. A graveyard remains at the home site.
For those interested in genealogy of the LeCompte family:
Moses LeCompte born about 1664: Built LeCompte Manor on Taylors Island, next to Cators Cove. LeComptes and Cators both lived there over the years.
He was buried at Castle Haven, Dorchester County, Maryland. His estate was probated on 15 Mar 1720/21.
He was naturalized on 2 Mar 1664/65 at Maryland. He became blind due to the genetic disorder, Retinitus Pigmentosa. "Moses, the first of the family to become blind, began to [lose] his sight in his late teens and become totally blind in his early 20's. He was said to have had 11 children, 9 of whom were blind". "He was carried to Europe by his father for treatment but could not be relieved. Of the descendants of this branch of the family, forty-two became blind. In 1819, nineteen then living were blind." He purchased land at Oyster Point, Dorchester County, Maryland, circa Aug 1696. He left a will on 1 Jan 1717 at Maryland.
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/14303953/photo/dSCaKcVQ!!QXsAD3NIThPdkL8hm8vlsamyZjVlo4mV2TjdIZz9IfsKMMgD59loch
And his son:
"Moses LeCompte and Levina his wife" sold "to their son Mathew Driver" 1/2 of The Grove, on Oyster Creek, James Island, Dorchester County, Maryland, on 11 Aug 1731. Moses LeCompte is mentioned in the Land Records of Dorchester County, as owning this land on 11 Jun 1740 at Padanaram, Taylor's Island, Maryland. He purchased Patricks Progress, Taylors Island, Maryland, on 18 Oct 1763, purchases 144 acres from John Brohawn, on the east side of Hawtree Cove and south side of Oyster Creek, adjacent to Hog Pen Neck and Dover. He purchased Armstrongs Folly on James Island "excepting the 15sq. feet where the parents of Thomas Pattison are buried", as recorded in the Land Records of Dorchester County, McAllister on 13 Jun 1766. He was blind. Many descendants would also grow progressively blind as a result of Retinosis Pigmentosa. The genetic disorder seemed to manifest once family members reached adulthood. As the LeCompte "blood" grew more diluted with each passing generation the blindness became less common."
And Anthony LeCompte, the father of the first Moses:
See "Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore", Vol. 14, page 90 for more detail.
Driven out of France, lost his holdings, went to England, fought for England 11 years and was knighted by the king for valor. Came to Calvert County in America about 1655. Wife was French, Esther (Hester) Dottando.
In 1659, received a grant of 700 acres at Castle Haven.
See "LeCompte Family" write up from Maryland Historical Magazine.
Was Justice of Dorchester County 1669-1671.
Was granted much land in Dorchester County for transporting various individuals to the Colonies
For those interested in genealogy of the LeCompte family:
Moses LeCompte born about 1664: Built LeCompte Manor on Taylors Island, next to Cators Cove. LeComptes and Cators both lived there over the years.
He was buried at Castle Haven, Dorchester County, Maryland. His estate was probated on 15 Mar 1720/21.
He was naturalized on 2 Mar 1664/65 at Maryland. He became blind due to the genetic disorder, Retinitus Pigmentosa. "Moses, the first of the family to become blind, began to [lose] his sight in his late teens and become totally blind in his early 20's. He was said to have had 11 children, 9 of whom were blind". "He was carried to Europe by his father for treatment but could not be relieved. Of the descendants of this branch of the family, forty-two became blind. In 1819, nineteen then living were blind." He purchased land at Oyster Point, Dorchester County, Maryland, circa Aug 1696. He left a will on 1 Jan 1717 at Maryland.
http://trees.ancestry.com/tree/14303953/photo/dSCaKcVQ!!QXsAD3NIThPdkL8hm8vlsamyZjVlo4mV2TjdIZz9IfsKMMgD59loch
And his son:
"Moses LeCompte and Levina his wife" sold "to their son Mathew Driver" 1/2 of The Grove, on Oyster Creek, James Island, Dorchester County, Maryland, on 11 Aug 1731. Moses LeCompte is mentioned in the Land Records of Dorchester County, as owning this land on 11 Jun 1740 at Padanaram, Taylor's Island, Maryland. He purchased Patricks Progress, Taylors Island, Maryland, on 18 Oct 1763, purchases 144 acres from John Brohawn, on the east side of Hawtree Cove and south side of Oyster Creek, adjacent to Hog Pen Neck and Dover. He purchased Armstrongs Folly on James Island "excepting the 15sq. feet where the parents of Thomas Pattison are buried", as recorded in the Land Records of Dorchester County, McAllister on 13 Jun 1766. He was blind. Many descendants would also grow progressively blind as a result of Retinosis Pigmentosa. The genetic disorder seemed to manifest once family members reached adulthood. As the LeCompte "blood" grew more diluted with each passing generation the blindness became less common."
And Anthony LeCompte, the father of the first Moses:
See "Colonial Families of the Eastern Shore", Vol. 14, page 90 for more detail.
Driven out of France, lost his holdings, went to England, fought for England 11 years and was knighted by the king for valor. Came to Calvert County in America about 1655. Wife was French, Esther (Hester) Dottando.
In 1659, received a grant of 700 acres at Castle Haven.
See "LeCompte Family" write up from Maryland Historical Magazine.
Was Justice of Dorchester County 1669-1671.
Was granted much land in Dorchester County for transporting various individuals to the Colonies
The ruins of "LeCompte Manor" also known as " Cator Mansion" photographed in 2019. Pat Neild, who was born in 1930, has fond memories of playing in the house when he was a boy. The house collapsed sometime around the year 1950.
