Headquarters Farm

1763 Pineville Road, Newtown PA (National Register of Historic Places)

Also Known as the Keith House.

The image above (Headquarters Farm) is a reproduction from the original artwork collection by acclaimed Bucks County artist James Redding; it is presented here with his permission. To view more of Mr. Redding's artwork visit the website @ www.studio@jamesredding.com

Brief History of the Headquarters Farm

The Headquarters Farm is comprised of approximately 230 acres on Pineville Road in Upper Makefield Township Bucks County PA. The farm gained fame as the headquarters for General George Washington December 14-24 1776, prior to the daring and decisive Battle of Trenton. Washington’s Continental Army had been defeated at the Battle of Long Island earlier in August. This was followed by another loss at the Battle of White Plains. It was not looking good for the patriots. Washington retreated through New Jersey, across the Delaware River, and into Bucks County Pennsylvania. He placed his troops and officers at the Thompson-Neely Farm, a short distance away along the Delaware River, while General Washington worked on his plan to attack the Hessian Troops in Trenton. During the 10-day encampment, Washington would ride the short distance from the Headquaters Farm to the Thompson-Neely (T-N) Farm to discuss with his lieutenants the plans for the attack and to visit the sick and injured soldiers at the T-N House.

While at the Headquarters Farm, General Washington met with double agent spy John Honeyman, and housed him in the spring house under the pretense of a prisoner. Honeyman was able to inform Washington of the status of enemy troops in Trenton. General Washington also met with soon-to-be turncoat Benedict Arnold, to whom he gave upstate NY as his next assignment.

The Headquarters Farm was originally set aside by William Penn for use by his family. However, he decided to sell the farm in 1697 to investors after learning the farm was occupied by squatters. The house was built around 1742. The farm was purchased by William Keith by way of an auction. The Keith family owned the property until 1893, and then sold it to John Paxon. The farm was later acquired by the Sigafoos and the Poore families. Henry M. and Marietta Carter Thompson purchased the property in 1916. After Henry's death in 1928 at the young age of 52, Marietta sold the farm to Henry Bristol in 1933. The farm was sold to James Rendall in 1946. Unfortunately, the farm house was destroyed by fire in 1981. It was rebuilt and is listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

As an fyi, William N. Keith was father to Mary Keith, who married Abraham Slack. The Slack's son, John Keith Slack (1812-1893) changed his name to John Slack Keith through approval by the PA State Assembly. John married Isabelle Torbert (1820-1898), and their son James T Keith (1850-1893) married Mary Thompson Neely (1854-1922) in 1877. James and Mary had two sons, Dr. William Neely Keith (1879-1962) and John S. Keith (1881-1955). Mary was great, great, granddaughter of first-arriving Thompson family member of Robert Thompson and wife Hanna Delaplane Simpson Thompson.

Headquarters Farmhouse Before the Fire