George Plater V
A Throw of the Dice
(1797 - 1846)

There is perhaps no more controversial character in the Sotterley story than George Plater V. Sotterley Plantation had been in the hands of the Platers since George Plater II married the widow of James Bowles, its builder in 1729. George II with his wife Rebecca Bowles Plater left the plantation to George III, who became the sixth Governor of Maryland. George III with his wife Elizabeth Rousby Plater in turn left everything to their son George IV. It appears that Sotterley suffered a steady economic decline during the reign of George IV, known to be a man who loved gracious living, gaming and lavish entertainment. At the time of his early death in 1802 at the age of 36, the estate of George IV was worth $15,535.00, and most everything was sold to pay more than $15,000 in outstanding debts. George Plater IV's wife died shortly after him, leaving the two children, George V, age 5 and Ann, age 3 orphans. The children would eventually come under the guardianship of their uncle, John Rousby Plater.

Under the guardianship of John Rousby Plater, the estate of these young children took an increasingly downward turn. The War of 1812 had a devastating effect on crops and property. Fourteen Negroes were taken away by British troops, and several seeming improprieties to the estate by John Rousby Plater for care of the two children, left them severely in debt to their uncle. (For example, the estate was charged for 20 gallons of whiskey for the then 15-year old boy.) In 1820, George V mortgaged Sotterley to John Rousby Plater to cover his debt. From January 1822 until July 1822, George V had a steady number of transfers of his property, including Negroes, personal property, land, and animals until finally on July 6, l822, Sotterley itself was transferred to William Somerville.

There is some controversy regarding the events that led up to the transfer of Sotterley to Colonel Somerville. According to legend, the plantation was lost in a single throw of the dice. George Plater V, deserted by Lady Luck, lost, and signed over the last of his inheritance-the grand manor house.

The legend continues that George became a wanderer and an outcast who in a state of intoxication and half crazed fever, dragged himself back to Sotterley on a rainy night in order to die under the roof of his old home. Die he did, in one of the outbuildings on Sotterley property. The year was 1846. It is said that his ghost still haunts the manor house and gardens today.

Those who have slept in the bedroom at the top of the Chippendale staircase claim to hear the unmistakable sound of horse hoofs, and then a man's heavy boot steps wandering the rooms of the rambling manor house.