Growden Mansion facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Trevose Manor
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Growdon Mansion, July 2012
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 5408 Neshaminy Valley Road, Bensalem, Pennsylvania |
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| Built | 1681-1685 |
| Architectural style | English manor |
| NRHP reference No. | 76001607 |
| Added to NRHP | May 24, 1976 |
Growdon Mansion, also known as Trevose Manor, is an important historical building in Bensalem Township, Pennsylvania. It played a big part in the early history of Bucks County. The mansion is located along the Neshaminy Creek in Bensalem, a town near Philadelphia.
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History of Growdon Mansion
The story of Growdon Mansion began in the late 1600s. On October 24, 1681, Lawrence Growden and his son Joseph Growden bought about 5,000 acres of land. They bought this land from William Penn, who founded Pennsylvania. The Growdens were a wealthy family from Cornwall, England.
Building the Manor
In 1683, Joseph Growden settled on this land. He built "The Manor of Bensalem" for his family. Joseph Growden had a son, also named Lawrence Growden, born in 1693. This younger Lawrence had two daughters, Elizabeth and Grace.
Grace Growden married Joseph Galloway. In 1753, Grace and Joseph Galloway inherited the land. This included Trevose, Belmont (Bensalem, Pennsylvania), and Richelieu in Bensalem. They also owned land with iron mines in Durham Township. The Growdens also had properties in Bristol and Philadelphia.
The American Revolution and the Galloways
During this time, women usually could not own property. So, Joseph Galloway became the sole owner of the land. Joseph Galloway was a Loyalist, meaning he supported the British during the American Revolution. When the war started to go badly for the British, Joseph left for England. He took their daughter, Elizabeth, with him.
Grace Growden Galloway stayed behind and fought hard to keep her family's properties. She wrote a detailed diary about her struggles. She faced many hardships, including losing her social standing and money. In August 1778, she was forced out of her home. Grace refused to support the American Patriots. She would not give up her Loyalist ties, even to receive money.
Grace Growden died in 1782, and Joseph Galloway died in 1803. Their daughter Elizabeth inherited the land. She sold it in 1848, and the house was changed quite a bit then.
Famous Visitors to Growdon Mansion
Joseph Galloway was good friends with William Franklin, who was Benjamin Franklin's son. Benjamin Franklin often visited Galloway at his estates. He would travel about 25 miles from Philadelphia to Trevose.
There's a local story that Benjamin Franklin did his famous kite experiment at Growdon Mansion. This experiment showed that lightning was a form of electricity. However, most people believe he did this experiment closer to his home in Philadelphia. Other important historical figures, like George Washington and John Adams, also stayed at the mansion.
Growdon Mansion Today
Over time, the Growdon property grew and changed. It was known as one of the strongest and most unique manors of its time. Today, Growdon Mansion is a museum. The Historical Society of Bensalem Township runs it.
The property includes a small building called "The Vault." This is where old deeds and county records were once kept. The main house still has bullet holes in its walls from the American Revolution.
