Moland House facts for kids
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Moland House
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Moland House, August 2023.
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | 1641 Old York Rd., Hartsville, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1750 |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| NRHP reference No. | 89000352 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 19, 1989 |
Moland House is an old stone farmhouse in Hartsville, Pennsylvania. It was built around 1750 by John Moland, a lawyer from Philadelphia and Bucks County. Even though it is in Hartsville, its mailing address is in Warminster Township, Pennsylvania.
This historic house was the headquarters for General George Washington during the American Revolutionary War. He stayed there from August 10 to 23, 1777. This was while his army was on their way to the Battle of Brandywine. The army's camp stretched along Old York Road and Bristol Road. The Battle of Crooked Billet also happened nearby on May 1, 1778.
Today, Moland House is owned by Warwick Township. The Warwick Township Historical Society works to restore and take care of it. They get help from the township, the state of Pennsylvania, the federal government, and private donations. The restoration started in 1997 and is almost finished.
Contents
History of Moland House
In the evening of August 10, 1777, about 11,000 American soldiers were marching. These soldiers were from the Continental Army and local groups called militia. They were heading towards Hartsville, Pennsylvania, planning to camp in New Jersey.
General George Washington then received important news. He learned that a large British fleet was near the Delaware Capes. This fleet had 260 ships carrying 17,000 British and Hessian troops. These troops were led by General William Howe.
Washington's Decision
Washington was not sure what General Howe planned to do. So, he immediately stopped his army. They set up camp around the bridge over the Little Neshaminy Creek in Warwick Township. Washington knew the area well. He chose the strong stone house of Widow Moland as his headquarters.
While at Moland House, General Washington held an important meeting. He met with his four major generals and six brigadier generals. This meeting was called a "Council of War."
Key Figures and the Flag
During their stay in Warwick Township, a famous story says the Betsy Ross flag was first shown to General Washington. This flag is an early version of the American flag. Local stories also say that the American flag was first flown at this very camp.
It was also here that two important people joined the American Revolution. They were the Marquis de Lafayette from France and Count Casimir Pulaski from Poland. Both of them later became very important in the fight for American freedom. They showed great bravery at the Battle of Brandywine and in many battles after that.
Moland House Over Time
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Moland House was seen as an important historical place. However, it remained a private home for many years. History groups often met there. For example, members of the Sons of the Revolution met there in 1903. In 1932, a group of French educators and military officers also visited.
Later, in the 1960s or early 1970s, Moland House stopped being a private home. It became a place where people could rent rooms. By 1985, the house was in very bad shape and was left empty. Because of this, a group of local people decided to help. They worked with a housing developer and local leaders to save Moland House.
Historical Marker
A special marker stands at Moland House to explain its history. It says:
Gen. Washington's headquarters Aug. 10-23, 1777, during the Neshaminy encampment of 11,000 troops. Here, the Marquis de Lafayette functioned for the first time as Major General at the Council of War on Aug. 21, and Count Casimir Pulaski of Poland met Washington for the first time. An experienced military commander, Pulaski was later appointed Brigadier General of mounted troops and is remembered as the "Father of the American Cavalry."
Preserving Moland House
The Warwick Township Historical Society is in charge of preserving Moland House. They work hard to keep this important historical site safe.
Experts have also studied the land around Moland House. These studies are called archaeological projects. They involve digging and using special equipment to find old objects. These projects help us learn more about the history of the house and the people who lived there.
See also
- List of Washington's Headquarters during the Revolutionary War
