- Chad House
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Chad House
Location: PA 100, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania Coordinates: 39°52′29″N 75°35′31″W / 39.87472°N 75.59194°WCoordinates: 39°52′29″N 75°35′31″W / 39.87472°N 75.59194°W Area: 4 acres (1.6 ha) Built: 1713 Architect: Wyeth, John,Jr. Architectural style: "Bank" house Governing body: Private NRHP Reference#: 71000698[1] Added to NRHP: March 11, 1971 The Chad House, which was built by John Wyeth, Jr. for John Chad (also spelled Chadd), is located in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. The house was built after 1712 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 11, 1971. John Chad's widow, Elizabeth, stayed in the house while it was in the line of fire during the Battle of Brandywine.[2]
Contents
History
John Chadsey came to Pennsylvania in 1685 and bought 500 acres in Birmingham Township, then in Chester County, in 1696, from Daniel Smith who had bought the land from William Penn. Chadsey did not take possession of the land until 1702, but then built a grist mill and a millrace on the land. He married Grace Stanfield in 1695 and they had six children before he died in 1713. Grace remarried in 1714 to Guyen Stevenson and died in 1727. Chadsey's oldest son, John Chad, reached legal majority in 1717.[2]
The initials J.W. Jr. are carved in the front of the house, and appear to indicate that the house was built by John Wyeth, Jr. Wyeth likely built the house for Chad sometime between 1713 and 1727. It is a "bank house" having been built into the side of a hill and remains essentially in its original condition.
Chad started a ferry service across the Brandywine in 1731 and operated it until his death in 1760. The ferry continued in service until 1828 when a bridge was built nearby. During the Battle of Brandywine General Wilhelm von Knyphausen's division feigned a direct attack across the Brandywine near the ferry and exchanged cannon fire with George Washington's forces in fortified positions above the house. Chad's widow Elizabeth remained in the house throughout the battle and survived until 1791.[2]
See also
References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2009-03-13. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ a b c Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, 1970, NRHP Nomination Form for Chad House Enter "public" for ID and "public" for password to access the site.
External links
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other 
Category:National Register of Historic Places • 
Portal:National Register of Historic PlacesCategories:- Houses on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
- Houses in Delaware County, Pennsylvania
- Pennsylvania Registered Historic Place stubs
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