Rockingham Historic Site

ROCKINGHAM HISTORIC SITE

MTLH Training Guide

Updated November 2013

CONTACT INFORMATION

Rockingham Historic Site

Laurel Avenue (also known as Route 603/Kingston-Rocky Hill Road), between Routes 518 and 27, outside Kingston

Mailing Address:P.O. Box 496

Kingston, NJ 08528

Phone:609-683-7132

Website:

Email:

Staff:Lisa Flick, Curator/Historian

If you are expected at the site at a certain time, please make every effort to be punctual. If you will be late, or cannot come as expected, please let us know by calling or emailing sooner rather than later.

IN CASE OF EMERGENCY

Medical

If a visitor requires medical assistance, ask someone to stay with the person and have all others leave the building. Notify Rockingham staff immediately to call emergency services. NEVER attempt to move an ill person. DO NOT administer medication or first aid to a visitor.

If a staff member needs medical attention, call 911 and the D&R Canal Park Office at 609-924-5705 (ask for Patricia, park superintendent)

Fire

In case of fire, pull the nearest fire alarm. There are two pull boxes in the office part of the house (one upstairs by the stair door; one downstairs by the staff entrance), one box at either end of the breezeway and three boxes in the historic mansion house (one by the double front doors and stairs; one in the back hall by the door; one at the top of the stairs). Clear all people from the house immediately and move away from the building. Rockingham staff will help you and meet you outside.

In any emergency, always act quickly and calmly.

POLICIES REGARDING THE HOUSE

(very, very, extremely important)

1. Photography and videotaping are NOT allowed inside the house.

1. Food and drink of any kind (including gum and candy) are NOT permitted in the house.

1. Cell phones should be silenced.

1. Objects in the museum are NOT to be touched or handled. As a docent, you are allowed to handle a short list of reproduction items, most of which are marked by a yellow dot. These items will be pointed out to you. If you are ever in doubt as to whether an object may be handled, don’t touch it. We ask visitors not to touch, lean on or brush against any furnishings or architecture.

1. NEVER make up information. If you are unsure about the answer to a visitor’s question, it is okay to say you don’t know. There are cheat sheets in each room with information about some of the furniture that you can consult, or ask a staff member.

1. When leading a tour, always be aware of how many people are in your group. Make sure all members of the group are with you in a room at all times. No one is to be walking around unsupervised, away from the group. If someone needs to leave the group, find someone who can escort them out, but do not allow them to leave the group unless you are right by the exit.

ROCKINGHAM’S HISTORY

The oldest part of Rockingham was built around 1710 as a two-room, two-story saltbox style house with a 1 ½ story lean-to at its back. This original section comprises the drawing room, Washington’s study, the two back rooms (1st fl.) and the rooms above. By 1735, John Berrien purchased the house. He did some minor improvements through his first marriage to Mary Leonard. In 1759, he married his second wife, Margaret Eaton, and together they had six children within 11 years. In the early 1760s, the Berriens added on a kitchen wing (the kitchen wing today is a reconstruction; the original was removed by the end of the 19th century) and 1 ½ stories of rooms along the west side of the house. John Berrien died in 1772, leaving everything in his wife’s care. Margaret Berrien moved into the family’s townhouse on Nassau Street in Princeton by summer of 1783 and put Rockingham up for sale.

In June of 1783, Congress had left Philadelphia and made Princeton their new capital. Everyone was waiting for the official end to the Revolutionary War, which would come in the form of a peace treaty being worked on in France. Congress asked General George Washington to stay in the Princeton area to meet with them. He arrived on August 23, 1783 with his wife Martha (who returned to Mount Vernon in early October), three aides-de-camp (military secretaries), a guard of two to three dozen soldiers and his “domestics,” including servants and slaves. Rockingham served as Washington’s final wartime headquarters. While he was here, Washington wrote “The Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States,” which he sent out on October 30 to be read to the troops at West Point on November 2. This document released all soldiers from service and announced Washington’s intent to resign from the military. Also, the final version of the Treaty of Paris was signed on September 3 to give America her victory and freedom though it took until October 31 for Washington and Congress to receive the word. Washington departed Rockingham on November 10, 1783.

Margaret Berrien eventually sold the farm in 1802 to the Cruser family. In the early 19th century, they added the two-story porch and raised the roofline (and most second-story ceiling heights) to incorporate a large, third-story attic.

By the late 1800s, a quarry had opened up near the house and, in the 1890s, Rockingham served as a boarding house for the Italian immigrants who worked in the quarry. In 1896 two women, Kate McFarlane from Rocky Hill and Josephine Swann of Princeton, spearheaded a committee of local citizens who wanted to preserve the house and its history. Naming themselves the Washington Headquarters Association, they raised the monies to purchase it, move it a few hundred yards away to the east, away from the quarry, restore it and open it to the public.

The State of New Jersey took over ownership of the property in 1935 and by 1956, the quarry had expanded to Rockingham’s new location. The house was moved to its third site, on Route 518. In 2001, the house was moved for (hopefully) the last time to its present location. It was never more than one mile from its original location.

Rockingham Historic Site

Time line

1702Property conveyed to Thomas Watson along the Millstone River, which includes what became Rockingham property.

1709Thomas Watson and Joseph Kirkbride sold tract that includes Rockingham property to Jediah Higgins.

c. 1710The first rooms of the house were built. It was a two-story, saltbox-style frame house, with a 1½-story lean-to on the back.

1735 John Berrien acquired Rockingham property by this time; first assessed this year for 130 acres, 1 cattle at site.

1740Road from Rocky Hill to Kingston to run past Berrien property (to east).

1744John Berrien married Mary Leonard of Perth Amboy.

1745 Berrien assessed for shop at Rocky Hill, 230 acres, 18 cattle, 44 sheep.

1757-58Mary Leonard Berrien died.

1758-59John Berrien married Margaret Eaton (they have six children, 1760 – 1770).

1760sRockingham is expanded with addition of kitchen wing to east and 1 ½-story section (4 rooms) to west.

1764John Berrien appointed Superior or Supreme Court Justice for colony of New Jersey by Royal Governor, William Franklin. Berrien had already served as Somerset County judge and Trustee of College of New Jersey and later served as NJ Assemblyman.

1772John Berrien died, leaving estate to be evenly divided between his wife and children.

1776Declaration of Independence signed in Philadelphia.

1783Late June – Confederation Congress arrived in Princeton, having vacated Philadelphia after Pennsylvania regiments mutinied there demanding back pay. They met at Nassau Hall on the College of New Jersey campus (present day Princeton University).

July – Margaret Berrien advertised Rockingham property (@ 320 acres) for sale in New York and, later, Philadelphia newspapers.

August 23 – General George Washington arrived at Rockingham, which Congress had rented from the widow Mrs. Margaret Berrien after inviting the General to join them in Princeton; Margaret was living in a townhome in Princeton at the time.

September 3 – Final definitive Treaty of Paris signed.

Mid-Late October – Washington wrote Farewell Orders to the Armies of the United States, giving thanks and praise to his troops and advice on their conduct in returning home, admonition to the states to attend to the soldiers’ due compensation and announcing his retirement from military service. They were then sent October 30 by courier to New York to be read on November 2 to bulk of remaining Continental Army camped at West Point and to be published in Philadelphia newspapers thereafter.

October 31 – Word arrived in Princeton, where the Confederation Congress was meeting, that the finalized Treaty of Paris had been signed.

November 10 -Washington left Rockingham for West Point, New York to oversee the disbandment of the remaining army.

Late November to Early December – Last British troops in former Colonies evacuate New York City islands. Washington rides into city to acclaim, bids farewell to some of his officers at Fraunces Tavern and then leaves for Mount Vernon, Virginia.

December 23 – Washington formally resigns his commission to Congress at Annapolis, Maryland (where they were wintering after Princeton) and arrives at Mount Vernon the next day as a civilian after eight years of war.

1802Rockingham finally sold, to Frederick Cruser. The Cruser family made last major changes to house with addition of 2-story piazza (porch) on exterior front, raising of all 2nd-story ceilings to same level and creation larger 3rd-story attic and addition and deletion of interior walls to create more rooms and a 2nd-floor passageway.

1841Cruser properties, including Rockingham, are offered for sale at Sheriff’s auction. Bought by Henry Duryee—c. 251 acres for $900.00.

1847Henry Duryee to James Stryker Van Pelt, 102.2 acres for $3,726.50.

1869Van Pelt to David H. Mount, 102.2 acres for $8,500.00.

1872David Mount to Martin A. Howell, founder of the Rocky Hill Quarry Company, 51.39 acres, including house, price unknown. Howell began quarrying the hill on which Rockingham was located. Quarry managers are lodged in the house.

1896Rockingham was used to lodge mostly Italian immigrant quarry workers and had fallen into disrepair. Its poor state and possible demolition attracted the attention of a Rocky Hill resident, Miss Kate McFarlane, who became determined to save the historic home. Under the guidance of Miss McFarlane and Mrs. Josephine Swann of Princeton, the Washington Headquarters Association was formed.

June – the Rocky Hill Quarry Company deeded Rockingham to the Washington Headquarters Association for $1,200 (the monies were donated by Mrs. Swann).

1897 By August – Rockingham was moved 300 yards east from original site to along Georgetown-Franklin Turnpike and a caretaker’s quarters were added to east end where kitchen wing once stood. The original site was quarried away sometime after 1935.

1905The stone kitchen was constructed at the second site to serve as a visitors’ center.

1923The Garden Club of Princeton made improvements to the grounds.

1935The WHA deeded the “old Berrien House” or “Washington Headquarters” to the State of New Jersey.

1956-7House was closed and moved to site over 1 mile east from original site, again due to quarry activity, which was causing the house damage. A heating system was installed. This site, too, eventually quarried away, though section of stone wall at entrance still remains.

1964The Rockingham Association was incorporated. The house was reopened to the public. The Stony Brook Garden Club begins its association with Rockingham gardens.

1970’s 18th-century washhouse, later converted to the Children’s Museum, was moved to the 3rd site from a local property.

1996Completion of Historic Structures Report.

2000Phase I of relocation and restoration of Rockingham began with the collection being moved into storage in New York.

2001 July 20 – the three buildings comprising Rockingham were moved 2.2 miles to along newly-created Kingston-Rocky Hill Rd., (County Road 603) near Kingston. The new site comprised over 27 acres.

2001Phase II began at Rockingham. This phase included the restoration of the mansion, installation of a parking lot and establishment of an infrastructure.

2004Rockingham reopened to the public for the first time since its move, after undergoing some much-needed restoration.

2007 Phase III began at Rockingham. This phase included restoration work/repairs to the Children’s Museum, conversion of the Stone Kitchen into a Museum Store/Visitor Center, fencing and outdoor lighting.

2008 Rockingham celebrated the 225th anniversary of General Washington’s occupation of the house as his final wartime headquarters.

ROOM GUIDE

The following pages will give you basic information about the rooms in the Mansion House and how they will be used for Candlelight Christmas. Many of the rooms will have people interpreting a period activity; explanations of these activities are included. Tour guides need only provide a brief explanation of the importance of the rooms. If people are interested in more information about the objects or history of the house, encourage them to return to the site during regular hours for the guided house tour.

DOWNSTAIRS

Kitchen: This room has been reconstructed, as the original structure was torn down sometime in the 19th century. Cooking in the 18th century was done over open-hearth fires, and baking was done in ovens like those in brick-oven pizzerias today. A display of produce and herbs grown in Rockingham’s kitchen garden is presented on the table and mantel.

Milk Room: The dirt floor in this space kept the temperature of the room between 50-55 for storing milk and crocks of butter and cheese.

Breezeway: Connects the reconstructed side of the house to the historic section.

1st Backroom: At the back of the house and close to the kitchen, this room was probably work space.

Drawing Room (Front Room): This is part of the oldest section in the house. As a parlor, the room served as an entertaining space, like a living room would be used today. The bed and the bright paint color were ways of showing off the family’s wealth to guests. The parlor would also be used as the family’s gathering space for activities like writing, reading and needlework. Guests would be received here, but most entertainment was done in the dining parlor across the hall.

Front Entry and Stairs Up: The double doors were installed when the Berriens were adding on to their house in the early 1760s. They served as the main entrance to the house.

[Tour continues upstairs at this point; rest of downstairs is done after]

UPSTAIRS

Study: This is the room we believe Washington used as his study or office and where he would have written the Farewell Orders. It would have been the Best Chamber, used by the Berriens as the master bedroom and for honored guests.

East Back Storage Room: This room and the next were one room in the 18th century, with a sharply slanted ceiling cutting this space to half the size it is now. It would have been used for extra furniture and seasonal item storage and, when needed, extra sleeping space, but would not have been set up as it is now.

Middle Back Storage Room: This room (joined to the previous one in the 18th century) displays items used to prepare a gentleman for the day. There is a curling iron, boxes for hair powder, a reproduction of Washington’s shaving kit box and a barber’s bowl (also used for bloodletting).

Hall: There probably was no hallway in the 18th century and the back section of the hall was part of the west back room. [Be aware of crowding or wandering visitors in the hall, as it is narrow and the rooms off the hall are difficult to see into.]

West Back Storage Room: This room was larger in floor space in the 18th century, incorporating the back section of hallway, though it too had a sharply sloped ceiling lowering the head room. It displays military items, such as gunpowder horn, canteen, saddlebags, cavalry saber and dragoon’s helmet (dragoon’s served as military police in the American army and Washington had a few with him at Rockingham).

Front Bedroom: This room had a larger floor space in the 18th century, including the hall area. The ceiling was full-height halfway, then sloped to the front from the roofline. It may have been the Berrien children’s room, thus the trundle bed (though nursing babies would usually be with the mother). However, the Washingtons had no children with them and this room may have been used by them or by overnight guests, thus the traveling trunk.

Landing and Stairs Down: A volunteer will instruct you when it is safe to lead a group back downstairs to the dining parlor.

[Tour continues and finishes on first floor.]

DOWNSTAIRS

Dining Parlor: This room was used both for taking meals and entertaining guests. The table in the room is laid out for the midday meal (main meal of the day, usually served mid- to late-afternoon) called dinner. After a meal, tables and chairs were pushed to the edges of the room to make space for entertainments like conversation, games, music and/or dancing.

Tea Room: This room was used for having tea, an important social ritual for the middle and upper classes, or light meals. Tea was the last item to be taxed by the English Parliament in the American Colonies, which was met with protests like the Boston Tea Party (though New Jersey had two tea parties of its own) and boycotts. Coffee, hot chocolate and “liberty teas” (herbal brews) were drunk instead of imported black and green tea.