Washington’s Headquarters in Several Bucks County Mansions Began December

8, 1776

During the Revolution General Washington established his headquarters in no less than three of the old-time dwellings of Bucks County.

When Washington crossed the Delaware into Bucks County, Pennsylvania, with the rear guard of his army, Sunday, December 8, 1776, he took up his quarters in the country house of Mrs. Berkley, while the troops were stationed opposite the crossing.

This dwelling was built in 1750, in the village of Morrisville. The house is still in a fine state of preservation, occupies a commanding situation, with a farm of one hundred and sixty-two acres belonging to it, and is within the site once selected by Congress for the capital of the United States.

In this house, George Clymer, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, lived and died. It was then owned by his son, Henry Clymer, afterwards it became the property of the Waddells.

Local tradition, seldom at fault in such cases, points this house out as Washington’s quarters immediately after he crossed the river, and mementos of the troops have been found in the adjacent fields.

After Washington had placed his troops in position to guard the fords of the Delaware and prevent the enemy crossing, the headquarters of the army, and the quarters of the commander-in-chief’s most trusted lieutenants, were fixed at farm houses in the same neighborhood in Upper Wakefield Township, where they were always within easy communication.

General Washington occupied the dwelling of William Keith, on the road from Brownsburg to the Eagle Tavern; General Green was at Robert Merrick’s, a few hundred yards away across the fields and meadows; General Sullivan was at John Hayhurst’s; and Generals Knox and Hamilton were at Doctor Chapman’s over Jericho Hill.

The troops belonging to the headquarters were encamped in sheltered places along the creeks, and not far removed from the river.

This position for headquarters was selected on account of its seclusion, its nearness to the river and because of its proximity to Jericho Mountain. From the top of this mountain in the winter, signals may be seen a long distance up and down the river.

Here, too, Washington was near the fords, at which the enemy 862would attempt to cross, if pursuit was intended, and he was also within a half hour’s ride of Newtown, the depot of supplies.

The three old mansions in which Washington, Greene and Knox quartered, are still standing.

The Keith mansion was a two-story, pointed-stone house, twenty-four by twenty-eight feet in size, built by William Keith in 1763.

The pine door, in two folds, set in a solid oaken frame, is garnished with a wooden lock, fourteen by eighteen inches, the same which locked out intruders when Washington occupied the house. The interior is finished in yellow pine. At the time Washington used the dwelling the yard was inclosed with a stone wall. The property, containing two hundred and forty acres, and purchased by William Keith, of the London Company, December 3, 1761, has never been out of the family.

The Merrick house, a quarter of a mile distant to the east, on the road from Newtown to Neely’s Mill, is a pointed-stone dwelling, twenty by twenty feet, and kitchen adjoining. It was bought by Samuel Merrick in 1773, and was for many years owned by Edward, a descendant.

When General Greene occupied the dwelling, the first floor was divided into three rooms, and the family lived in the log end on the west. As the house was not then finished, the General had the walls of the rooms on the ground floor painted in a tasteful manner, with a picture of the rising sun over the fireplace.

At that time Samuel Merrick had a family of half-grown children, who were deeply impressed with passing events, and many traditions have been handed down to the present generations.

General Greene purchased the confidence of Hannah, a young daughter, by the gift of a small tea canister, which was kept many years in the family. They told how the Rhode Island blacksmith lived on the fat of the land while quartered at the house of their ancestor, devouring his flock of turkeys, and monopolizing the only fresh milk cow, besides eating her calf.

At the last supper which General Washington took with General Greene at the Merrick house, at which the daughter Hannah waited upon the table, she kept the plate from which the commander-in-chief ate as a memento of the occasion.

The Hayhurst house, where Sullivan quartered, was on the adjoining farm to Keith’s, where this plain member of the Wrightstown meeting lived with his family of five small children.

The Chapman mansion, the quarters of General Knox, is on the north side of the Jericho Mountain, a mile from Brownsburg. It is still in excellent condition.

Knox occupied the first floor of the east end, then divided into two rooms. Alexander Hamilton, then a youthful captain of artillery, lay sick in the back room.

A considerable portion of the Continental army found shelter in this 863neighborhood immediately preceding the attack on Trenton, Christmas Day, 1776, and Washington had his headquarters at a quiet farm house in the shadow of Jericho Hill.

In August, 1777, the Continental Army tarried thirteen days on the Neshaminy Hills, Bucks County, on the York road from Coryell’s Ferry, now New Hope, until it received notice of the departure of the British fleet, which had recently sailed from New York, and which was destined for the capture of Philadelphia.

During this time Washington was quartered in the stone house not far from the north end of the bridge over the Neshaminy, and on the left side of the York road going south. It was long since known as the Bothwell home.

A whipping post was erected on the opposite side of the road.

While Washington was quartered in this house Lafayette reported to him for service in the Continental army; and in it was held the first council of war at which Lafayette had a seat.

The army marched hence August 22, through Philadelphia, and then engaged the enemy on the field of Brandywine.