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View from Northeast of the Moland House The Moland House served as George Washington's Headquarters from August 10, 1777 to August 23, 1777. An estimated 11,000 troops were camped here and in the surrounding vicinity while waiting for reports as to the place where General Howe's Army would land to attack Philadelphia. It was there that both the Marquis de Lafayette and Count Casimir Pulaski joined the American Continental Army. It is also said that the American Flag was first flown there. During those thirteen days, constant communication was maintained with the Continental Congress. The Continental Congress sent several foreign volunteer officers to the camp for Washington's review and acceptance. During and after the encampment, Henry 'Light Horse Harry' Lee, father of Civil War General Robert E. Lee, asked for and received a Court Martial to address charges that had been made against him. He was exonerated. When the encampment ended with the knowledge of Howe’s intentions, the Army marched down to and through Philadelphia and then on to the Battle of Brandywine. To learn more about the colonial history of Moland House, click Here and read “The 13 Days of August”. John Moland, it is said with some uncertainty, was born in London in 1700. It was at the Inner Temple where he studied law and was then commissioned as King’s Attorney in Pennsylvania. In 1748, he became the leader of the Pennsylvania bar. In 1759, he became a member of the Pennsylvania Provincial Council. As an influential attorney in Philadelphia and Bucks County and having served as a Justice of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, John Moland, undoubtedly, had a heavy influence on those who studied law under him. George Read, one of the signers of the Declaration of Independence, representing Delaware, studied law at the Philadelphia office of John Moland. John Dickinson, known as the “Penman of the Revolution” also studied law under Moland, and went on to write many articles during the mid to late 18th century, including “Letters of a Pennsylvania Farmer” which was a series expressing the discontent of colonists under British rule. Dickinson served as governor of Pennsylvania and was the only member of the Continental Congress, who adopted the Declaration of Independence, to fight in the Revolutionary War. John Moland was responsible for the mid 18th century construction of the stone farmhouse for the purpose of a County seat and summer retreat, and that retreat would eventually become Washington’s respite in those hot days of August, 1777. John Moland died in 1761, and it was his widow, Catherine, who was there to welcome Washington and his Army. Archaeology - In June, 1997, The Millbrook Society was invited to become the Archaeology Department for the Moland House property, as named by Warwick Township. Since then, we have performed investigations in areas where restoration of the Moland House has been in progress. Our investigations on the south side of the house, where a porch once stood, revealed structural evidence of three different porches and their existence during various times in the life of the house. Underneath the porch area, was located a mystery stone foundation butted against the house. This feature could have existed before the stone house was ever built in the mid 18th century. Thousands of artifacts have been recovered, over the years, many from the 18th century, including redware, kaolin pipe stems and bowls, clothing pins, coins, buttons, dietary bone, oyster shells, imported china, porcelain, white ware, transfer ware, willow ware, and even evidence of military occupation – French and English gun flints. We located the remains of a brick foundation near the house, and many of the artifacts found near were dated to the early 18th century. We are presently investigating the area in front of the well house, which also is now undergoing restoration. Even in this area, we continue to find 18th century artifacts and features. |
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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
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