One of the most unique homes in Milford was known as the Three Sisters, a home that stood on the corner of Southeast Front Street and South Washington Street. The home was demolished in 1965.
The home was built by Colonel Robert Henry and Anna Jefferson Frame Davis who in both the 1860 and 1870 census were listed as living in Cedar Creek Hundred, near Lincoln. Robert was listed as a farmer on both censuses. In 1860, Eliza Doyle, age 60, was also living in the house in Cedar Creek.
Robert was born at Gravel Ford, the son of Thomas and Hester Davis. His father was of Welsh descent, and his ancestors were among the first to land at Cape Henlopen. The family settled in Cedar Creek in 1632, and the land remained in the Davis family for centuries.
Robert and Anna had nine children. Hester L. “Hettie” was born February 6, 1851; Thomas was born August 18, 1852; George Frame was born March 3, 1854; Anna Jane was borne March 26, 1856; Mary Ellen was born October 7, 1857; Nathaniel Williams was born August 31, 1859; Theresa Olivia was born August 12, 1862; Robert Paynter was born April 1, 1865; and Cora Burdella, born February 27, 1870.
In 1860, Robert is named on the Slaveholder Records with two slaves. There are no names on the record, but one slave was a 16-year-old female and the other a 14-year-old male.
In the 1880 census, Robert is listed as a retired farmer and living in Milford, which means the Davis family likely built the house downtown between 1870 and 1880. The family living in the home includes Robert, 56; Anna, 50; Hettie, 24; Thomas, 26; Nathaniel 21; Annie, 23; Mary E. 22; Robert P, 15 and Cora B, 10. No servants are listed so it appears the two slaves were freed and left the Davis home, likely after the Civil War.
The home where the Davis family lived was built in a Victorian style common to the period after the Civil War. It had a mansard roof with dormers and bay windows on the first floor. Robert served as Delaware State Treasurer from 1871 to 1875. In an interview with Delaware Gazette and State Journal, published on March 12, 1891, Robert talked about his time as state treasurer.
The interview appears to be to answer questions about a tin box that must have been part of an investigation at the time. Robert provides a detailed explanation that, while he was treasurer, the box was used to store Delaware bonds purchased with proceeds of land sold to create an agricultural and mechanical college in Delaware.
The oldest sister, Hettie, married George Polk Minors on January 8, 1885. It appears that Hettie and George had no children. Hettie passed away on February 13, 1892, at the age of 41. Her death certificate appears to read that she died of “debilitating chitharsis” which may actually have been what was known as consumption in that era. She apparently was debilitated and suffered from acute respiratory symptoms.
Thomas married Clara Springer on April 6, 1887, the daughter of James and Sarah Maria Rankin Springer. They had three children, Mabel Spencer, born in 1888; James Rankin, born in 1890 and Margaret, born in 1894.
After graduating from Delaware College, Thomas became the principal at the New London Academy before moving to Wilmington and studying the bar under Judge Charles B. Lore. In 1880, he was entered into the Delaware bar and remained active until his sudden death of a heart attack on June 7, 1928, at the age of 79.
George Frame married Sallie M. Rickards in 1864, and the couple had two children, Robert Henry, born in 1887 and Sarah Davis, born in 1888. George died suddenly on July 10, 1891.
“George Frame Davis died suddenly at his home between Milford and Frederica at the age of 37 years. Mr. Davis has for a long time been a sufferer of consumption and his death, though sudden, was not unexpected by his family and many friends,” his obituary read. “The deceased was born in this vicinity and has always made this his home. About six years ago, he wed Miss Sallie Richards, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James Richards, whom he leaves a widow with two children.”
George was buried in Odd Fellows Cemetery.
Nathaniel Williams became an attorney in New Castle. Just over four years after the death of his older brother, Nathaniel died of consumption at the age of 36.
“Mr. Davis had been an invalid for several months’ past. Every effort had been exerted, but without success, to save his life,” his obituary read. “Two months ago, he gave what appeared to be very definite indications of a return to complete health, but a subsequent relapse was followed by a gradual but sure decline in strength.”
Nathaniel graduated from Delaware College and began a career as a schoolteacher. He entered the law office of Chief Justice Lore and admitted to practice. He was prominent and active at the Grace Church Sunday School and also held the position of assistant superintendent of the afternoon Sunday school for four years.
Robert Paynter was a prominent lawyer, businessman and landowner in Sussex County. In addition, he was an unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic Congressional Nomination in 1928. He married Katherine Humes on November 4, 1896. The couple had no children.
On February 27, 1935, Robert died suddenly of a heart attack at the age of 68.
Theresa Olivia Davis, the third youngest child of Robert and Anna, died on March 25, 1988 at the age of five. There are no details on why Theresa died so young.
The last three sisters, Anna Jane, Mary Ellen and Cora Burdelia, never married. All three, who were known as “May,” “Jennie” and “Burdella,” remained in the home until their deaths. Anna Jane died in 1933, Mary Ellen in 1942 and Cora Burdella in 1963.
The three sisters were known to be eccentric and peculiar, but were members of high society in Milford. Burdella was a prominent member of the New Century Club and is mentioned often in social columns during the 1920s and 1930s. However, as they aged, the sisters became recluses and their home often looking as if it was unoccupied. Over the years, rumors began that the “Three Sisters” home was haunted.
The last of the sisters to pass away, the home was sold under the terms of Burdella’s will. Executors of her estate were her niece and nephew, Sarah Davis Evans and J. Rankin Davis. The land became the property of the City of Milford in 1965, and it appears the land transferred to the Milford Public Library in 1995.
