The goal of the archaeological work is to locate any possible walkways around the house as well as between the house and where the barn might have been according to the location of an existing well and old maps.  Lifeways and foodways of the wealthy owners of the 19^th century house are being studied, and the location of any 18^th century artifacts will be used to indicate whether the log structure was where the stone house is now or at least nearby.   There is also an unusual sub-basement building feature in the house that appears to pre-date the stone house, and archaeological work is being done to try and establish its use and approximate age.

During the first season at Stokes House, several test units were initially opened in the back yard near the doorway of the first block of the house to possibly establish a walkway location.  The test units produced a large number of oyster shells, whole and fragmented that may support the walkway theory and possibly indicate evidence of a carriageway or garden.  Also, artifacts found in these units indicated late nineteenth to early twentieth century occupation. These artifacts found above and within the shell layer included an engraved fork, possibly silver plated copper, which is strangely deformed.  The fork is engraved with the letter “R” and can be directly linked to a “Mrs. Mary Raphael” who owned the property from 1867 to 1893.  The fork having been found where it was has further strengthened the theory of the artifacts found dating to the late nineteenth century, along with the prevalence of white ware, transfer ware, a variety of colored glass fragments and a decorative pin with its clasps found in the same unit and level as the fork.  The minimal amounts of red ware fragments and kaolin pipe stem and bowl fragments make it difficult to initially conclude any eighteenth century occupation near the stone house.  A larger excavation unit was opened next to one of the test units to see if the shells continued along with the layer of artifacts further out into the back yard.  In this unit, the shell layer existed in one part with a possible later disturbance in the remainder of the unit, indicated by the presence of ash, medium to large stones and mortar fragments.  The area where the shell layer existed followed the same pattern as the previous test units with a layer of artifacts above and within, including an unusual lead “medallion” found in fragments and decorated with what appear to be “Celtic” symbols.  The medallion was found in close proximity and in the same level as an adjoining test unit where the fork was located.  The later disturbance exhibited no evidence of shells and similar late nineteenth century artifacts were being found. The mortar layer indicated either a later fill or evidence of the presence of a former structure.  The presence of a structure is very possible as there were several small outbuildings located behind the house.  A test unit was opened in the front of the house near where it appears a doorway may have existed in the first block.  Fill in this unit extended twenty inches in depth which was not surprising as it was known the ground levels were elevated when Welsh Road was filled in and widened.  The original ground level of this unit appeared to have evidence of a possible fire event as the soil at this level changed dramatically to a blackened coloration with bits of charcoal throughout and small fragments of glass.  This unit was temporarily closed and will be investigated in the future.  A test unit was also opened by the well to possibly establish a walkway between the house and former barn location, and this unit yielded a small post mold and as a result of this was extended another one foot to reveal a shallow layer of laid stone.

The sub-basement, after removing several inches of debris, revealed a carefully and tightly laid stone floor that is pointed with a hard dark gray mortar on the surface and a softer, sandier lime mortar below.  The stone floor is gently pitched so that any moisture on the floor would appear to be directed to a red ware ceramic “collection pot” imbedded in the floor in one corner.  A stone was lifted near the “pot” to reveal a sand and lime mortar layer, with small stone fragments mixed in, and at the bottom was bedrock with small chisel marks.  This evidence, so far, indicates this to be the original floor, as a second stone was lifted and yielded the same results.  Preliminary speculation is that this room was used for some type of refrigeration at least in the 19^th century. Limited removal of the sand and lime plaster that finishes most of the interior walls of this room revealed structural elements to further explain the evolution of this room.  It appears there are four layers of mortar on one of the walls with a whitewash directly applied to the stone under these layers which would indicate this room could have existed in the 18^th century.  The three corners of the room were investigated and one corner revealed the interlocking of stone between one exterior wall and another wall that was an exterior wall before the second block of the house was added.   This discovery further strengthens the fact that this part of the house is the first block.  The other two corners revealed the stone to be butting up against the outer walls of the first block indicating these two interiors walls were added at a later date, although one of these corners needs to be further investigated as there are indications of interlocking and butting at the lowest points in the room.  Also, in this same corner, there is a stone shelf that appears to have been added as indicated by its incorporation into the existing structure.

The second season at Stokes included further investigation of the laid stone around the back yard well.  Further excavation revealed a continuation of this one layer of stone extending almost completely along one side of the well.  The entire area around the well was excavated but did not reveal any more of this stone feature.  Preliminary speculation is that this feature may have been part of an “apron” or foundation for a well house.  Test units were opened along what was speculated to be a possible walkway area between the well and rose garden, but there were no indications of physical evidence of this path and very little in artifacts.  In the process of investigating the speculated walkway, in one of the units was found the remnants of a shallow stone foundation.  Another unit was opened nearby, but no evidence of a continuation of the foundation was revealed.  This foundation is speculated to be part of what was a small outbuilding.  Further investigation of areas near this foundation will take place in the future.  Two excavation units were opened to finish the season.  One unit was just outside of the rose garden and directly in line with the back door of the first block of the house.  It was speculated that a privy might be located in this area, but after full excavation no evidence of a privy was to be found.  The second unit was opened several yards north of the first as there was an obvious depression in the ground.  Again, a privy was speculated.  The unit has produced a mix of artifacts that appear to be dated between the 18^th and 20^th centuries with most from the latter.  The unit is beginning to reveal a large, dark circular soil feature that is almost entirely located in the unit.  It appears to be too large for a privy and may be a cess pool or old well.  Further investigation of this unit will take place this coming spring.

Weekly adult meetings are held Wednesday nights from 7:30 - 9:30 PM. Please come and join us.

For additional information,

please contact:

The Millbrook Society

32 North York Road

P.O. Box 506, Hatboro, PA 19040

(215)957-1877

milbrook@voicenet.com

Last modified: March 09, 2008