Chad House
Encyclopedia
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
.
, 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.
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.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. The house was built after 1712 and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
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
Battle of Brandywine
The Battle of Brandywine, also known as the Battle of the Brandywine or the Battle of Brandywine Creek, was fought between the American army of Major General George Washington and the British-Hessian army of General Sir William Howe on September 11, 1777. The British defeated the Americans and...
.
History
John Chadsey came to Pennsylvania in 1685 and bought 500 acres in Birmingham Township, then in Chester CountyChester County, Pennsylvania
-State parks:*French Creek State Park*Marsh Creek State Park*White Clay Creek Preserve-Demographics:As of the 2010 census, the county was 85.5% White, 6.1% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American or Alaskan Native, 3.9% Asian, 0.0% Native Hawaiian, 1.8% were two or more races, and 2.4% were...
, in 1696, from Daniel Smith who had bought the land from William Penn
William Penn
William Penn was an English real estate entrepreneur, philosopher, and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, the English North American colony and the future Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He was an early champion of democracy and religious freedom, notable for his good relations and successful...
. 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.
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
Wilhelm von Knyphausen
Wilhelm Reichsfreiherr zu Innhausen und Knyphausen was a general from Hesse-Cassel. He fought in the American Revolutionary War, during which he led Hessian mercenaries on behalf of the British Empire.-Biography:His father was colonel in a German regiment under the Duke of Marlborough...
's division feigned a direct attack across the Brandywine near the ferry and exchanged cannon fire with George Washington
George Washington
George Washington was the dominant military and political leader of the new United States of America from 1775 to 1799. He led the American victory over Great Britain in the American Revolutionary War as commander-in-chief of the Continental Army from 1775 to 1783, and presided over the writing of...
's forces in fortified positions above the house. Chad's widow Elizabeth remained in the house throughout the battle and survived until 1791.