Palmetto Bluff – Richard Thornton Wilson Jr. & The “Marrying Wilsons”

November 12, 2026

By Don C. Schueler6 min readLate Industrial Era · 1900s

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Palmetto Bluff and the Marrying Wilsons

If you’ve recently been to the Bluffton, SC area, you might know about the Palmetto Bluff Development. This is a stunning, high-end property that combines classic lowcountry architecture with luxurious amenities. However, you might not be aware of its Gilded Age history. If that’s the case, continue reading.

The Marrying Wilsons and the Lost Grandeur of Palmetto Bluff

On a bend of a sleepy Southern river, a palace once rose. Built in 1902 by financier Richard Thornton Wilson Jr., the four-story, 72-room manor known as Palmetto Bluff stood as a monument to wealth and ambition. The land it occupied—stitched together from 21 former plantations—became a playground for America’s elite, a world of hunting parties, glittering weekends, and whispers of power drifting through columned halls.

Richard Thornton Wilson Jr. was born in New York City, but his family’s story was rooted in reinvention. His father, Richard Thornton Wilson Sr., had grown up in Habersham County, Georgia, and served the Confederacy as Commissary General during the Civil War. After the South’s defeat, Wilson Sr. reinvented himself in New York, becoming a successful railroad magnate and investment banker.

Richard Thornton Wilson Sr. (c. 1829 – November 26, 1910)

Melissa Clementine Johnston Wilson(wife of Richard Sr.)

With his wife, Melissa Clementine Johnston, he raised children who would trade on their fortune and Southern grit to climb even higher—straight into the inner circles of the Gilded Age aristocracy.

The Legend of “The Marrying Wilsons” Society dubbed them “The Marrying Wilsons.” The name was well earned. Each sibling made a match that was not just advantageous, but dazzling.

These alliances tied the Wilsons to the Astors, Vanderbilts, and even the British aristocracy. Their names filled the social columns. Their weddings were spectacles. Their dinner tables glittered with guests drawn from the very top of society.

Mary (May) Reta Wilson + Ogden Goelet

Mary (May) Reta Wilson wed Ogden Goelet, heir to one of New York’s great real estate fortunes.

Ogden Goelet and Mary (May) Reta Wilson

They commissioned Ochre Court in Newport, Rhode Island, in 1892.
Designed by Richard Morris Hunt in a grand châteauesque style, it was the second-largest mansion in Newport after The Breakers, costing about $4.5 million at the time.
In New York City, they lived at 608 Fifth Avenue.

608 Fifth Avenue (New York City) and Ochre Court (Newport, RI), still in use by Salve Regina University today

Marshall Orme Wilson + Caroline (Carrie) Astor

Marshall Orme Wilson captured the hand of Caroline “Carrie” Astor, daughter of the legendary social queen known as “The Mrs. Astor.”

Marshall Orme Wilson and Caroline Schermerhorn Astor

Their principal residence was the elegant Marshall Orme Wilson House at 3 East 64th Street on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.

It was completed in 1903 by Warren & Wetmore.
It is known for its Beaux-Arts limestone façade and a striking circular atrium.
The building is still standing today.

Marshall Orme Wilson House at 3 East 64th Street

Leila (Belle) Wilson + Sir Michael Henry Herbert

Leila “Belle” Wilson married Sir Michael Henry Herbert, brother of the 13th Earl of Pembroke and later Britain’s Ambassador to the United States.

Richard Thornton Wilson Jr. + Marion Steedman Mason

Richard Thornton Wilson Jr. married Marion Steedman Mason, a Boston socialite with an impeccable pedigree.

Richard Thornton Wilson Jr. and Marion Steedman Mason

In addition to Palmetto Bluff, they had homes in New York City and Newport, Rhode Island.
Richard was deeply involved with horses and spent significant time in Saratoga, New York.

15 East 57th Street (NYC) and Shady Lawn, 97 Narragansett Avenue (Newport, RI), still standing today

Grace Graham Wilson + Cornelius Vanderbilt III

Grace Graham Wilson scandalized society with her marriage to Cornelius Vanderbilt III, defying the disapproval of the iron-fisted Vanderbilt patriarch. It was a knock down - drag out fight - the video below is a very comprehensive view of what happened.

Cornelius Vanderbilt III and Grace Graham Wilson Vanderbilt with children

The couple resided in the Vanderbilt mansion at 640 Fifth Avenue, originally built by William Henry Vanderbilt.
In 1916, they extensively renovated and refaced it.
It became the epicenter for society gatherings and remained their home until it was sold in 1940.

640 Fifth Avenue (the Vanderbilt “Triple Palace”)

After Cornelius Vanderbilt III’s death, Grace moved into the William Starr Miller House at 1048 Fifth Avenue. She hosted grand events there before it eventually became the Neue Galerie museum, which is still standing today.

William Starr Miller House later Grace Wilson Vanderbilts home. (now the Neue Galerie)

In some cases, these marriages transformed the Wilsons from ambitious outsiders into fixtures of the Gilded Age aristocracy. Their name carried the weight of both new money and old titles, their influence stretching from Newport ballrooms to English country estates. And in the Grace Graham Wilson + Cornelius Vanderbilt III marriage it created serious generational rifts.

Fire at the Bluff

Palmetto Bluff was Richard Thornton Wilson Jr.’s crown jewel—a retreat where river breezes cooled wide verandas, and where the Wilsons could entertain away from the rigid social gaze of New York. But in March of 1926, disaster struck. A fire swept through the great house, reducing its 72 rooms to smoldering stone ruins. The grand manor, once alive with laughter, music, and the clink of crystal, was gone overnight.

Richard Jr. never rebuilt. Broken by the loss, he returned to New York, where he died just three years later in 1929. The ruins of Palmetto Bluff still stand, moss creeping over stone walls that once echoed with the ambitions of a family who married their way into history.

Interestingly, Richard and Marion were friendly with Bluffton’s Princess Henrietta Pollitzer Hartford Pignatelli. It’s not clear if Henrietta visited them at Palmetto Bluff, but there are records of Marion (after Richard’s passing) attending a large party Henrietta threw at her estate Seaverge in Newport, RI.

Henrietta Pollitzer

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Palmetto Bluff Today – a Lowcountry Paradise

Nestled along the scenic May River in Bluffton, South Carolina, Palmetto Bluff spans 20,000 acres of natural beauty and luxury living. This premier residential and resort community blends maritime forests, salt marshes, and pristine waterways, offering a tranquil escape steeped in Southern charm.

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Discover luxury homes in Palmetto Bluff, SC. Experience Lowcountry living at its finest. Find your dream property with us today!

At the heart of the community is the Montage Palmetto Bluff resort, renowned for its upscale accommodations. Guests can stay in cottages, suites, or village homes, all reflecting the rich heritage of the region. The resort boasts six distinctive dining venues, a Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course, a full-service spa, and endless opportunities for outdoor activities—from kayaking and fishing to biking. Longfield Stables provides immersive equestrian experiences for enthusiasts of all levels.