London Purchase Farm facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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John Chapman House
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London Purchase Farmhouse. November 2012.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
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| Location | PA 232 and Eagle Road, Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Nearest city | New Hope, Pennsylvania |
| Built | 1745 |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001757 |
| Added to NRHP | January 24, 1974 |
The London Purchase Farm, also known as the John Chapman House, is a historic home located in Upper Makefield Township, Pennsylvania. It was officially added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 24, 1974. This means it's recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
Contents
History of the John Chapman House
The oldest part of this stone house was built around 1735. The land itself was bought by the London Land Company before 1718, which is how the farm got its name, "London Purchase."
Sometime between 1718 and 1733, a man named John Chapman bought the land. We know this because his name appeared on a tax list in 1733. In 1736, his name was also on a road survey.
After John Chapman passed away in 1743, his son, who was also named John Chapman, inherited the property. This second John Chapman was both a farmer and a doctor.
The House During the American Revolution
During the American Revolutionary War, the John Chapman House played an important role. It served as a headquarters for two famous figures: General Henry Knox and Captain Alexander Hamilton. They were key leaders in the Continental Army.
In 1781, a map of Upper Makefield showed the estate was about 265 acres. It was located on a road called "Road Over Great Hill."
Later Owners and Changes
Not much is known about what happened at the house during the 1800s. However, in the 1930s to the 1950s, Henry and Paula Chapin owned the farm. They ran it with the help of their children.
Over the years, several families lived in the house. The O'Brien family owned the estate from 1969 to 1973. During this time, the property included 10 acres of land, plus another 74 acres where local farms grew crops like soybeans and corn. It was during their ownership that the house was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, the property includes the main house, a barn, a carriage house, and a pond. The current owners have added or are adding an extension to the house.
Gallery
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General view of the Farm.
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Barn.
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Entrance to the Farm.
