Keith House-Washington's Headquarters
Encyclopedia
The Keith House, also known as Washington's Headquarters or Headquarters Farm, is a historic house in Upper Makefield Township, Bucks County
in the U.S. state
of Pennsylvania
. It served as the headquarters for George Washington
during the American Revolutionary War
and was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1978.
for use by his family, but sold it in 1697 to a group of investors after he found people already living on it. The house was likely constructed sometime around 1742, with the land being acquired through an auction by William Keith in 1761.
During the American Revolutionary War
, the house was headquarters for General George Washington
from December 14 to December 24, 1776. It was the location from which Washington planned the crossing of the Delaware River and subsequent Battle of Trenton
. Legend has it that the Keith House's spring house
was where double agent
John Honeyman
was imprisoned to inform Washington of the plans of the Hessian troops in Trenton
.
The house was kept in Keith family for 133 years. After the death of John Slack Keith, the house was sold to John Paxon in 1893.
Bucks County, Pennsylvania
- Industry and commerce :The boroughs of Bristol and Morrisville were prominent industrial centers along the Northeast Corridor during World War II. Suburban development accelerated in Lower Bucks in the 1950s with the opening of Levittown, Pennsylvania, the second such "Levittown" designed by...
in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Pennsylvania
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...
. It served as the headquarters for 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...
during the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
and was listed on 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...
in 1978.
History
The 230 acres (93.1 ha) of land surrounding the Keith House was originally set aside by William PennWilliam 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...
for use by his family, but sold it in 1697 to a group of investors after he found people already living on it. The house was likely constructed sometime around 1742, with the land being acquired through an auction by William Keith in 1761.
During the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
, the house was headquarters for General 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...
from December 14 to December 24, 1776. It was the location from which Washington planned the crossing of the Delaware River and subsequent Battle of Trenton
Battle of Trenton
The Battle of Trenton took place on December 26, 1776, during the American Revolutionary War, after General George Washington's crossing of the Delaware River north of Trenton, New Jersey. The hazardous crossing in adverse weather made it possible for Washington to lead the main body of the...
. Legend has it that the Keith House's spring house
Spring house
A spring house, or springhouse, is a small building used for refrigeration once commonly found in rural areas before the advent of electric refrigeration. It is usually a one-room building constructed over the source of a spring. The water of the spring maintains a constant cool temperature...
was where double agent
Double agent
A double agent, commonly abbreviated referral of double secret agent, is a counterintelligence term used to designate an employee of a secret service or organization, whose primary aim is to spy on the target organization, but who in fact is a member of that same target organization oneself. They...
John Honeyman
John Honeyman
John Honeyman was an American spy for George Washington, primarily responsible for gathering the intelligence crucial to Washington's victory in the Battle of Trenton.- Early life and career :...
was imprisoned to inform Washington of the plans of the Hessian troops in Trenton
Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton is the capital of the U.S. state of New Jersey and the county seat of Mercer County. As of the 2010 United States Census, Trenton had a population of 84,913...
.
The house was kept in Keith family for 133 years. After the death of John Slack Keith, the house was sold to John Paxon in 1893.