Talk:Wallace House (Somerville, New Jersey)/Temp

The Wallace House is a Georgian style historic house in Somerville, New Jersey.

History
While living at the Old Dutch Parsonage Jacob Rutsen Hardenbergh sold 95 acre of land and a small farmhouse to Mary and John Wallace (?-1783). Wallace worked as a fabric importer and merchant. Between 1775 and 1776, Wallace purchased an additional 12 acre of land and built the eight-room Georgian style mansion now known as Wallace House. In the winter of 1778 George Washington's Continental Army camped at Middlebrook, New Jersey in the Watchung Mountains, 3 mi from Wallace House. Wallace house was used as Washington's headquarters. Washington spent 11 days at the home before leaving for Philadelphia. He returned in February of 1779 with his wife, Martha. It was here that Washington planned the 1779 campaign against the Iroquois League. Washington left on June 3, 1779 and Wallace was paid $1,000 by Washington for use of the house. Wallace continued to live in the house with his wife, Mary, and his mother-in-law, Mary Maddox (?-1783). Also in the household was his youngest son William Wallace (1763-1796). Two older children, Joshua Wallace and Anne Wallace lived on nearby farms. In 1783 both John Wallace and Mary Maddox died and Mary Wallace died in 1784. Their youngest son, William Wallace (1763-1796) inherited Wallace House. He lived there until his own death in 1796 at age 33. His wife, Sarah had died before him. Their three now orphaned children went to live with an uncle, Joshua Wallace in Burlington, New Jersey. Joshua inherited the house and sold the house and farm to Dickinson Miller in 1801.

In 1896 the Revolutionary Memorial Society purchased the home to use as a museum. In 1947, they gave the house to the State of New Jersey. The Old Dutch Parsonage and the Wallace House are both listed on the New Jersey and National Register of Historic Places.