Henry Mason Cutting

Henry Mason Cutting, son of Heyward Cutting and Lydia Mason, born about 1864, NY, died Oct 1892, St Johns CO, FL in a boating accident, married 28 Nov 1888, Grace Episcopal Church, New York City, NY, Angela Mills, born 29 Sep 1869, NY, died 25 Jun 1956, St Augustine, St Johns CO, FL.

In 1886, Henry Mason Cutting purchased the property known as "Cherokee Grove," which was part of the Francis Pellicer Grant, in the northeast corner of what would become Flagler County, where Pellicer Creek meets the Matanzas River, from H. C. Slogett. Cutting also bought several adjoining parcels, including a point where he decided to build his lodge

Henry was a wealthy New England sportsman and had William M. Wright, a noted St. Augustine and New York architect, draw up the plans. The house, a large hunting lodge facing the water, was completed in 1888. There was a spring fed swimming pool, stables and tennis courts where he brought his young bride, Angela, educated in France, for the winter months.

They entertained lavishly many prominent families from New England and St. Augustine. However, they also met and knew the local people. Mary Ketus Deen Holland’s mother, Minnie Mae Johnston was born just across Pellicer Creek from the Cutting Estate in 1885 and as a little girl she attended affairs where the neighboring families were invited to the Estate. She remembered vividly a doll she received at a Christmas party at the Cutting's, according to Mary Ketus.

In October, 1892, Henry Cutting died on his boat, somewhere between St. Augustine and Cherokee Grove. His death has been attributed to several causes including appendicitis and an overdose of codeine. He left his estate to his 26 year-old wife Angela, and two infant children. Issue;

1. Heyward Cutting, born 05 Oct 1890, NY, married Constance Cleveland Roberson, dau of William Cleveland Roberson and Minnie LNU, born 17 Oct 1889, NY, died about 1926. He was an attorney in New York City. Issue:

(1) Heyward Cutting, Jr, born 03 Dec 1921, New York City, New York

(2) Constance Cutting, born 04 Feb 1924, New York City, New York

(3) Patricia Cutting, born 06 Apr 1925, New York City, New York

2. Henry Mason Cutting, 07 Oct 1892, New York City, New York

 

Angela Mills Cutting married 2nd , 1901, Palm Beach, Palm Beach CO, FL John Lorimer Worden, a wealthy New York stockbroker, born 09 Aug 1973, Mamaroneck, Westerchester CO, NY, died 1938, at sea between Providence, RI and New York City.

He was a Harvard graduate and grandson of Admiral John L Worden, commander of the United States ironclad Monitor during its famous battle with the Confederate Merrimac during the Civil War.

 

Her third marriage was in 1923 to exiled Russian Prince Boris Scherbatoff and she became known as a Princess, thereafter the estate was known as the Princess Estate or the Princess Place.

They granted a high school class the privilege of going to the estate for a picnic about 1932/33 and even providing vintage bathing suits for those who would like to swim in the pool and they granted each student the privilege of selecting a book from their library as a gift.

Lewis Edward Wadsworth and his wife Angela Agusta Carpenter bought the house and the 600 acre tract in 1954, about two years before the princess died. Lewis had hunted around the estate and his mother was a room mother for a group of school girls who were often the guest of the princess. The property was later sold to Conway and Polly Kittredge.

In October 1993, the Flagler County Commission purchased 435 acres of the Princess Estate with its land acquisition funds and $1 million in funding from the State of Florida. It was formally dedicated by Governor Lawton Chiles as the Princess Place Reserve in August 1994. The reserve, including the lodge and other buildings are now open to the public.

 

Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cited as her sources, Legends and Published Articles.

Additional sources used by the compiler: 1900 United States Federal Census, Newport Ward 2, Newport, Rhode Island; 1900 United States Federal Census, Manhattan, New York, New York; 1920 United States Federal Census, Manhattan Assembly District 15, New York, New York; 1930 United States Federal Census, Manhattan, New York, New York; World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918; New York City Marriages, 1600s-1800s, Marriage ID: 0000029626, Certificate Number: 13121; New York City Births, 1891-1902; The Miami Herald, Sunday, March 9, 1958, The Daytona Beach News Journal, Sunday, August 20, 1961; The Orlando Sentinel - Florida Magazine, Sunday, November 9. 1969; Flagler/Palm Coast News-Tribune, Wednesday, August 31, 1994; ; National Register of Historic Places Registration Form, signed by Christopher W Chinault, Flagler County Administrator, 24 Aug 1995; Florida Death Index, 1877-1998; New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957; and Border Crossings: From Canada to U.S., 1895-1956; United States Passport Applications, 1795-1926 and an email from Karl P Seidel, Park Ranger, Princess Place Reserve, 04 Dec 2007.

Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com