Samuel Fleming House facts for kids

The Samuel Fleming House, also known as Flemington Castle, is a very old home in Flemington, New Jersey. It was built in 1756 and is the oldest house still standing in the town. Today, it is a museum where you can learn about life long ago. This house is an important part of the Flemington Historic District.

Who Was Samuel Fleming?

Samuel Fleming was born in Ireland in 1707. He came to America and worked as a tavern owner. In 1741, he bought about 210 acres (0.85 km²) of land in what is now Flemington. He bought this land from Thomas Penn, whose father, William Penn, founded Pennsylvania.

How Flemington Got Its Name

Samuel Fleming built his house in 1756. After his house was built, the area became known as "The Fleming Settlement." Later, people called it "Fleming's." By the 1870s, the area was officially known as "Flemington," named after Samuel Fleming.

The House as a Museum

The Samuel Fleming House is now a museum. It shows what life was like in the 1700s. You can see a kitchen from colonial times, a ladies' parlor, and a tavern room. The museum helps visitors imagine how people lived centuries ago.

From Private Home to Public Museum

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a group that works to preserve history. They owned the Samuel Fleming House for many years. In 1927, the house was given to their local chapter. They used it as their office and as a museum. In 2005, the DAR sold the house to the Borough of Flemington. The town bought it for $138,000 to keep it as a public museum.

Uncovering the Truth: Myths and Facts

For a long time, people believed certain stories about the Samuel Fleming House. These stories said the house was a tavern, a stagecoach stop, and even a post office. It was also believed that General George Washington visited the house.

What Research Showed

In 2007, experts studied the house's history. They found that many of these old stories were not true. These stories likely grew from a newspaper article written in 1870.

• The Tavern: Samuel Fleming did own a tavern, but it was not in this house. Records show he got a license for a tavern in 1746, ten years before the house was even built.
• George Washington's Visit: There is no proof that George Washington ever visited the house. Old documents from that time do not mention him stopping there.
• The "Castle" Name: Samuel Fleming never called his home a "castle." The first time it was called "Fleming Castle" was in 1906, by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

This research helps us understand the real history of the Samuel Fleming House. It shows how important it is to check facts, even for old stories.