This information is contributed by Sloan Mason
The Teachey Mac House Published in “The Rose Hill Beacon” November 17, 1961-page 6 By Thelma Mallard The old farm house known as the Teachey Mac Place is located in Duplin County, between magnolia and Kenansville and lies between Maxwell and Beaver Dam swamps. The house was built by Robert SLOAN on his property, just before he entered the Revolutionary War, according to family tradition. The above house is still standing so it must have been constructed of stout hearted timbers. The weatherboards are fastened together with hand wrought nail, as can be sent today. The plan of the house shows above two large rooms downstairs and two above with two shed rooms on one side. The main downstairs rooms and those above are heated by large fireplaces, the shed rooms having no provision for heat. The interior is finished in wood and has beamed ceilings. There is a downstairs porch across the front with a side piazza from which the winding stairs lead to a corresponding upstairs porch. Having weathered the ravages of sun and rain for nearly one hundred and eighty years, one concludes that he house was constructed of more durable timber than that of the outhouses which have fallen into decay for the most part. Apart from the main house stood the big kitchen which had several rooms, a wide porch, all of which resembled a Dutch farm house. Not far away was a smaller, two-room kitchen and dining room. A wire dining room was constructed by my grandfather, Teachey MCMILLAN, for summer dining. It stood under the thick shade of the towering beach trees and many large platters of meats and vegetables were carried by hand from the kitchen, some distance away, to this cool room. The present kitchen and dining room attached to the house may be called “recent innovations,” since they were built soon after 1900. A large log smoke house for curing meat was located near the high paling fence of the vegetable garden; near this was the “little” smokehouse, for storage of meat and lard. Still standing today is the original two story log barn, but he shed rooms used as corn crib have rotted away. As a child, the “old” buggy house across the road from the big front gate always interested me as well as the t stories about the trips taken in the rockaway a two horse conveyance which transported the early SLOANS to Grove Presbyterian church in Kenansville as well as the other places. The big, deep well was considered to have had very superior drinking water. A small wire milk house with oilcloth drop curtains for protection was connected with the well by a long trough and iron pipes. Everyone who drew poured a bucket of cold water into the trough affair, which was connected with the milk house. Large bowls of milk, cream, and buttermilk set down in the water, which had a drain pipe that prevented any overflow. The yard had many elm, beech, cedar, sycamore, and pecan trees. The spreading roots of the beech trees had crevices or holes which were kept filled with water fro the chickens to drink. The above described house was not handsomely furnished but there were several good pieces of colonial style that I remember. The pins blanket chest, with corners dove tailed together, held many hand-woven coverlets, wool blankets and quilts of intricate design. The spool beds were laced together with ropes to hold the mattresses in place, some of the mattresses were covered with natural colored linen fabrics made from flax grown on the plantation. The colonial mahogany sofa was covered with black mohair which used to scratch the legs of the children in the summer as the mohair cover was wearing out. In the same room with the sofa were several empire looking straight chairs with fiddle backs. The kitchen dining area had several Hepplewhite walnut tables, a large buffet and a walnut chins cupboard. The coin silver teaspoons and tablespoons were engraved with “D & SS” in fine script. T be taken upstairs to look at the old silk dresses, worn b the SLOAN girls, was quite an exciting adventure in my childhood. The dresses were black for the most part, highly boned, lined and conformed to the styles of 1840-1860. When the trunks were opened a dust arose as each dress was taken out for the moths had feasted on the fabrics for many years. Also in the trunk room were many books which had been used by the daughters of David SLOAN while attending the Female Institute at Clinton, N.C. An old report card of Elizabeth J.S LOAN, dated June 2, 1852, had an item stating the number of times absent from prayers. Among the books, as I recall, was a chemistry text and the the ever popular McGuffy Readers – the latter are about to cause a present day “Tempest in a Teapot” in a Midwestern town. Perhaps the most interesting relics to come from the old place were several daguerreotypes of some of the children of David SLOAN. Among them were Catherine S. DICKSON, Amanda S. MACMILLAN, Martha SLOAN, Robert SLOAN and of Teachey MACMILLAN, as a young man. Now for a few words about the builder of the above house and some of his family. Robert SLOAN was born near Belfast in Down County, Ireland in 11752. He lived in Duplin County most of his life with the exception of a short time spent in New Hanover. Robert SLOAN married Mary, the daughter of Ann and John GREER of Brunswick County. Mary GREER was a sister of Margaret GREER who married William CARR of Duplin County. Robert SLOAN died November 1, 1839. Mary Greer SLOAN died March 26, 1830. Mary and Robert SLOAN had the following children born in the house described above: 1) David, born November 16, 1791 and died March 8, 1863. He married Susan BONEY. 2) Margaret, born March 26, 1793 and married to William DICKSON. 3) Mary, born November 11, 1794 and married James HOWARD. 4) Susannah, born March 6, 1798 and married William NIXON. David SLOAN mentioned above and who married Susan BONEY, a sister of Wright BONEY had the following children born in the Robert SLOAN house: 1) Mary C., born November 24, 1824, married Robert DICKSON October 9, 1845. 2) Robert D., born April 11, 1826 and married Ellen WELLS May 18, 1848, died November 12, 1860. 3) William W., born January 23, 1828. 4) Margaret S., born August 20, 1829 and married Levi MOORE October 28, 1847. 5) Carolina Amanda, born October 3, 1833 and married Daniel Teachey MACMILLAN, September 27, 1855. 6) Martha A., born March 27, 1834, died July 2, 1893. 7) Elizabeth Jones, born March 11, 1836, and married George James MACMILLAN, February 28, 1858. 8) John Boney, born February 26, 1841, and died August 19, 1857. Robert SLOAN, who was born 1752, was a Revolutionary War soldier, having fought in the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge as well as having participated in other skirmishes. He missed the encounter nearest his home the battle of Rockfish, because he obtained a five day pass to go home and till his corn.
