Historic Quaker Houses of Chester County, PA
Derbydown: The Marshall Homestead
Birthplace of Botanist Humphry Marshall
Above: Birthplace of Quaker botanist Humphry Marshall, author of the first American book on botany. West Bradford Township, Chester County. Image source: Lee J. Stoltzfus
The stone portion of this farmhouse was built ca. 1707 by Abraham Marshall, the father of botanist Humphry Marshall. The senior Marshall was born in Derbyshire, England, and emigrated to Pennsylvania ca 1697. In 1703 he married English immigrant Mary Hunt. The Marshall couple moved here to this property, where they raised nine children.
Their son Humphry Marshall was born in this house in 1722. He married Sarah Pennock of West Marlborough in 1748. After their marriage, he managed this farm.
The original form of this farmhouse was a one-room stone structure before it was enlarged. In 1764, Humphry Marshall enlarged the house again, with a brick addition to its present 2-1/2 stories. He also constructed a small greenhouse adjoining the farmhouse. This was possibly the first greenhouse in Chester County. Humphry acquired the homestead tract in 1759. In 1773 he built a new stone house near Bradford Meeting and established his botanic garden.
Above: English ivy climbs an ancient oak tree at the Marshall Homestead in autumn. Image source: Lee J. Stoltzfus
A Sycamore at the Marshall Homestead:
Above: A sycamore overlooks a meadow at the Marshall Homestead. Image source: Lee J. Stoltzfus
1770s: Humphry Marshall Built a New Farmhouse
And Created a Landmark Botanic Garden:
Above: Humphry Marshall’s 1773 farmhouse at Marshallton, Chester County. Site of his landmark arboretum and botanic garden. Image source: Lee J. Stoltzfus.
The Bradford Quaker Meetinghouse:
Above: The Bradford Quaker Meetinghouse in Marshallton. Image source: Lee J. Stoltzfus
Abraham Marshall was a founder of the Bradford Quaker Meeting, which first met in his family’s farmhouse. Marshall then built a meetinghouse on his farm, before the meeting was moved to Marshallton with Abraham Marshall as a trustee. This meetinghouse was built in 1765. A porch was added to two sides of the building in the 19th century.
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