Maidstone (Owings, Maryland) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Maidstone
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Maidstone Plantation house, June 2007
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 Location in Maryland
Location in the United States
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| Location | Chesapeake Beach Rd., Owings, Maryland |
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| NRHP reference No. | 71000370 |
| Added to NRHP | June 21, 1971 |
Maidstone is a historic plantation house located in Owings, Calvert County, Maryland. The oldest part of this old home was built in 1751. It was constructed by Lewis Lewin, a farmer, on or near where an even older wooden building once stood. One brick in a chimney even has the date 1678 on it!
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Exploring the Maidstone House
Maidstone was built in a style common for old Maryland homes. It has a special roof that extends over the front and back, creating a porch. This style is often called traditional Maryland Colonial.
The property also has two smaller buildings. These buildings have old wooden beams and rough, horizontal siding. The grounds around the house are well cared for. You can also see very old boxwood plants growing there.
Who Lived at Maidstone?
Maidstone Plantation was first located in Anne Arundel County. This was before the county borders changed.
The Chew Family Era
The Chew family owned Maidstone for more than 60 years. Three generations of the family lived there. These included Benjamin Chew (from 1671 to 1700) and his son Samuel Chew (from 1693 to 1743). Samuel's son, Benjamin Chew (from 1722 to 1810), also owned the property.
The Whittington Family Era
In 1745, Maidstone was sold to Lewis Lewin, a farmer from Anne Arundel County. A few years later, in 1755, Thomas Whittington and his wife Wilhelmina Powell bought Maidstone. They used money from selling another family property to buy it.
The Whittingtons built their main house at Maidstone. They lived there for the rest of their lives. Maidstone then became the family home for three more generations of Whittingtons. In 1783, Thomas Whittington bought an extra 100 acres of land. This land was part of other areas known as Halls Hills, Mackalls Hills, and Maidstone.
When Thomas Whittington passed away in 1786, he left half of his land, including the Maidstone house, to his oldest son, John. His second son, Thomas, received the other half of the land. His third son, Benjamin, received money instead of land.
The Childs Family Era
John Whittington later bought more land for Maidstone. By 1817, the plantation grew to 340 acres. John Whittington stated this was "the plantation upon which I now reside."
After John Whittington passed away, Maidstone went to his second wife, Elizabeth Scrivener Whittington. After her death, it became the property of John Whittington's daughter, Mary. Mary married Henry Childs in 1820. This is how Maidstone Plantation became part of the Childs family. It was no longer known as the Whittington plantation.
Maidstone's Historic Recognition
Maidstone is an important historical site. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971. This means it is recognized as a place worth preserving for its history.
