Want to see some of the animals in this farmstead? There is a great video on YouTube!
Thompson-Neely House, American Revolution Soldiers' Graves. Photos by Nature Photographer Pam Hirst at PKH Photography. Writing by Freelance Content Writer and Travel Blogger Meghan Hirst at Meghan Hirst, Writer.
This area of the park is across from Taylorsville. It is also very close to a remarkable tower and our favorite nature preserve. We will be presenting both next :D
The Thompson-Neely House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It played a crucial role for George Washington's troops during 1776 and 1777 because it was used as a hospital. Washington's cousin William was treated here along with the U.S.'s future fifth president James Monroe. Both soldiers had sustained wounds during the battle at Trenton.
John Simpson purchased the house and farmstead around 1740. He became rich from farming grain, milling it into flour, and exporting it. Simpson died seven years later. His widow Hannah married another man named Robert Thompson. Like Simpson, Thompson also raked in money from farming, milling, and exporting. His daughter Elizabeth married a man named William Neely. Due to several expansions that Simpson and Thompson had made on the property, the Thompson and Neely families were able to move in together. Robert Thompson Neely, Thompson's grandson, became the owner of the house and farmstead after Thompson passed away in 1804. Unfortunately, he was not as successful in becoming wealthy and had accumulated debt before dying in 1848. Generations of Neelys resided on the property until the Pennsylvania government obtained it in 1926.
You can easily get to the American Revolution Soldiers' Graves on foot after visiting the Thompson-Neely House (my mom and I did just that!) You will get to see part of the Delaware Raritan Canal while doing so. This graveyard was constructed in memory of the soldiers who tragically lost their lives in the hospital. Grievously, all of their names are unknown except for one: a captain of Alexander Hamilton's Artillery Division named James Moore. As you would do at any graveyard, we ask that you please be quiet and respectful while you are here.
Have you ever seen a historic hospital or historic building that used to be a hospital?
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