The following is an account of Vredens-Hof, written by the son of the last owner of the historic home. While it is written with obvious affection the reader should take many of the "facts" presented here with a LARGE grain of salt.

    The house in Judge Henry's day was called Vreden's Berg, (letter to Doctr. Reading Beatty, 25th Sept. 1789), and not Vredens-Hof. I suspect, but have no proof as yet, that the name was changed when William Camm purchased it from Jonathan Wynkoop in 1842.

    The Christmas Story presented at the end is full of inaccuracies. Judge Henry was a widower at Christmastime, 1776, his wife, Susannah Wanshaer having died in August of that year. He didn't remarry until 1777 and his second wife, Marie Cumming passed away in 1781, long before the end of the war. The story also fails to mention the British officer who also shared Judge Henry's hospitality at the same time.

    Enjoy the story as it is written. It is full of interesting background information, but you will find the facts have been glossed over a bit in favor of good storytelling.

    Chris

    WE are told by Oliver Wendell Holmes that "some things are good for nothing until they have been long kept and used." "Meerschaum pipes, violins and poems," he mentions as examples. This is true if they are sound and flawless in their green or new state.

    Now an Old House, well built, properly belongs in this class of things. One can almost feel the presence of the generations it has sheltered and protected. Each generation has left its marks of use and wear, silently testifying to centuries of usefulness and friendliness to folks long gone.

    Respect, veneration and admiration are inspired and we unhesitatingly trust ourselves to the friendly shelter of such an old house, remembering the storms it has braved

and the people protected in safety.

    When a house is distinguished by association with such sturdy and loyal characters as Vredens-Hof has been, it assumes a greater dignity; Washington, Lafayette and James Monroe having been guests, under its hospitable roof at the same time, at the close of the American Revolution.

    We can well imagine what a time of preparation there was before the arrival of guests of such distinction. Such housecleaning and cooking by the negro slaves of Judge Wynkoop, the host, and such an overhauling of the farm, to bear the inspection of as enthusiastic a farmer, as General Washington.

    A letter is preserved, from General Washington to Judge Wynkoop, acknowledging with thanks, the receipt, at Mount Vernon, of a Bucks County plow. The General had expressed a wish, during one of his visits at Vredens-Hof, for such a plow; to turn Virginia soil.

    Vredens-Hof bears the date 1739, it was a

great undertaking in those days, to build a substantial stone house, in Bucks County. Vredens-Hof was one of the earliest. Until 1730, Bucks County farmers lived in log houses. History records that Independence Hall in Philadelphia was begun in 1732, finished in 1741, and cost 2000£. All this time consumed, with the conveniences and workmen of what was then a great city. It was a greater undertaking to build Vredens-Hof twenty-five miles out in what was then a wilderness with no good roads. It is said that at that time the primeval forest grew close to the back door.

    The work was all done by hand, the greater part of the material gathered close by, and with a scarcity of workmen, we may suppose several years were necessary to complete the building. No wonder, its builder Nicholas Wynkoop, named the place Vredens-Hof, which translated from the Dutch, his native tongue, means "The abode of peaceful rest."

    As an early settler he had struggled with

the untamed wilderness, its wild animals and aboriginal inhabitants. It was natural in his period of prosperity to desire and hope for "peaceful rest."

    Judge Henry Wynkoop, son of Nicholas, born 1737, lived all his life at Vredens-Hof. The Judge attained great distinction as a patriot, Judge of fifty years' service in Bucks County Courts, member of Continental Congress and member from Pennsylvania of the first Congress of the United States of America in 1789. Judge Wynkoop was the friend and associate of such men as Washington, Rush, Franklin, Lafayette, Hamilton and James Monroe. Vredens-Hof was inherited by the Judge's fourth and only living son, Jonathan, in 1816, upon the death of the Judge.

    The Judge, like Washington, made provision shortly before his death, for the freedom of his negro slaves, but tradition has it, that they refused freedom, and their remains are buried under the ancient ash tree in the meadow.

    We are apt to forget the great changes that have come to pass since 1739, when the old house was built. Virgin forests surrounded the few scattered farms in Bucks County. The Indians were present in numbers. The famous Indian Walk began nearby, at Wrightstown, in 1756. It is on record that they assembled on Buckingham hill and left Bucks County in a body as late as 1775.

    Buckskin clothing was the best most people in Bucks County could afford in 1739. Wild animals, deer, bear and wild turkeys were plentiful, and were regular articles of food.

    Wheat and rye were harvested with sickles, and we are told that laborers were scarce, which has been true ever since.

    Horses were seldom shod and farmers pounded their corn by hand. The old blacksmith shop and forge remains, where Nicholas Wynkoop repaired his farming tools.

    The winter of 1740-41 is on record as being the most severe known for many

years. The Great Snow of that winter was long talked about as a record-breaker. So we may know that the shelter and protection Vredens-Hof gave, with its solid walls and great fire-places, was appreciated by its owner in the first year of its existence.

    Bucks County folks were famed at that time for their hospitality.

    So prominent and representative a man as Judge Wynkoop assembled many a cheerful gathering to his friends and neighbors at his cheery fireside.

    James Monroe, afterward President of the United States, found Vredens-Hof a haven of refuge, in which to recover from his wounds, received in the Battle of Trenton Christmas night, 1776. He remained the Judge's guest for four weeks. Tradition has it that he returned after the war to request the Judge's daughter Christina in marriage, but was disappointed as her affections were already pledged to another.

    The old house has been through exper-

iences of another kind, also. We are told, that in August, 1776, a marauding band of Hessians broke into the house at midnight, seeking the Judge, whom they desired to punish, for being a Patriot, incidentally seizing whatever else would be of use to them.

    The Judge was away from home at the time. His wife lost her life, being drowned while hiding in the well.

    The lock flew from the back door, with such violence, under the assault of the Hessians, that it struck a door on the opposite side of the hall, making a dent which is still shown.

    Having lived through such troublous times, and having been hallowed by the tread and reminiscence of men and women of such sincerity of purpose, and loftiness of character, first the courageous settler, wresting his state of prosperity from the wilderness, in spite of obstacles and hardships, then the unselfish Patriots who were ready to lay down all for their country and

fellowmen; let us hope and trust, that for the remainder of its existence, the Old House will experience only times of peaceful rest, that its name, Vredens-Hof, will come into a state of full significance.

    Appended, is a little story, based on facts and traditions, associated with Vredens-Hof. The essay was read at Miss Heacock's School, Wyncote, in the winter of 1897, and published in the Newtown Enterprise, November 19, 1898. We acknowledge the courtesy of the Newtown Enterprise, for their permission for the reprint.

    On Christmas night, 1776, Washington's band of twenty-four hundred men, were crossing the Delaware River, about eight miles above Trenton. The river was full of floating ice, and it was snowing furiously. But Washington, surrounded by a few of his officers, among whom was Lieutenant Monroe, minded not the weather. At last they had safely crossed, that little band of men, poorly armed, miserably clad and only half fed, already despairing of success. Reaching Trenton, they surprised a body of Hessian soldiers and took a thousand prisoners and a large quantity of ammunition, with very little loss. After the victory Washington, inquiring about the wounded, missed one of his favorite officers, Monroe.

Monroe was wounded, and Washington, immediately seeking him, found him lying in a tent very weak from loss of blood, otherwise the wound was not serious. The General, finding that Monroe needed care and rest, wrote to his friend, Judge Wynkoop, asking if Monroe might be entertained there during his enforced absence from the army. Then he sent Monroe with a strong guard back across the Delaware to Judge Wynkoop's home in Bucks County.

    James Monroe was then only eighteen years old. At the outbreak of the Revolution he was a student at the College of William and Mary, his home being in Virginia. He left his studies and joined the army to fight for his country.

    About 4 o'clock the little cavalcade turned into the lane. Lieutenant Monroe was very tired, but nevertheless he looked about him with interest.

    The driveway led straight to the stone mansion. As usual, the house faced the

south, and standing on a hill, looked down on a long, peaceful stretch of meadows and woodlands, while a little pathway led to a spring, from which bubbled clear, sparkling water. Behind the house a belt of woodland reached almost to the steps.

    Meanwhile the travelers had arrived at the door and Monroe, glancing eagerly at the windows, caught a glimpse of a girl of about fourteen. She had been spinning and had risen at the sound of horses' feet on the flagged driveway, and with one hand shading her eyes from the declining sun, looked with surprise at the horsemen.

    She was the picture of home, peace and comfort, far removed from the strife and hardships of camp life. As soon as she saw the soldiers she disappeared, and presently a lady opened the door and inquired their business, for in those times, the people must be careful whom they admitted to their firesides. At a sign from Monroe one of the guards handed the lady Washington's letter.

    Hastily glancing at it, she turned to the wounded soldier with a welcoming smile and said:

    "I trust you are not much hurt, young sir?"

    "If your comrades will kindly take their horses to the barn, methinks they will find a man there, I am very sorry. but my husband is away. I am expecting him home shortly."

    The men dismounted, and while Monroe followed Mistress Wynkoop into the house, they betook themselves to the barn. The dame led the Lieutenant into the large living room and thence into a bedroom that connected with it.

    Leaving him to rest after the journey, she went to attend to the wants of the guards. In the midst of this her husband appeared, and after reading General Washington's letter he went to Monroe. The Lieutenant was feeling much better and the Judge soon began to question him about the war.

    "What think you, Lieutenant, the out-

come will be? Shall we succeed or not?" asked the Judge.

    "I am sure we will with such a leader," answered Monroe. Thus they talked of the war, until Mistress Wynkoop came to summon them to the evening meal, for Monroe insisted on not playing the role of invalid. The men who had accompanied him remained over night and the next morning rejoined Washington at Princeton.

    The days of convalescence passed very happily for the Lieutenant. Most of his time was spent in the living-room by the side of the great open fireplace, watching Christine, the young girl he had seen at the window, spinning or sewing, or doing some household work, for she was rarely idle. He was deeply interested in this maiden of scarcely fourteen. She was tall for her age and slender, with dark hair and eyes, a sweet mouth and a rather decided chin.

    Judge Wynkoop had fully determined to join the army, and Christine, sitting by his side, listened eagerly to the plans discussed

by her father and Monroe. Many a tale of camp life and of battle was told by the roaring fire in that sitting-room.

    At last the day of departure came; Monroe had donned his uniform and impatiently and yet reluctantly waited for the hour to arrive. The horses were led to the door and the family gathered for a last farewell, not only to Monroe, but to the father who was to accompany him. With many regrets and grateful thanks the young officer sprang to his seat, such a contrast to the pale, languid soldier who had scarcely four weeks before dismounted at that very threshold.

    Monroe never forgot that picture framed by the old oaken doorway. The sweet, motherly wife of the Judge watching her husband until a turn in the road should hide him from view, and last, but not least, Christine, her face shadowed by the parting.

    At the close of the war Colonel Monroe again visited his kind friends with General Washington and General Lafayette. The

place itself was scarcely changed. Judge Wynkoop was older and grayer, and his wife's face, though sweet and lovely, was lined by time and care. But the greatest change was in the children. Monroe thought he would not have known any of them, except Christine. She had scarcely altered though now a young woman of more than twenty.

    While the others talked of the state of the country the new Constitution, and other affairs, Monroe and Christine, almost always accompanied by a young physician visiting there, scoured the surrounding country on horseback. Before he left Monroe determined to ask the Judge for his daughter's hand. So one morning he tried his fate, and the Judge answered: "My dear Colonel I would willingly give her to you, but she is already engaged to the Doctor. I am very sorry, but we thought you knew." And so Monroe again departed. And some years later he found a lady that consoled him for the loss of sweet Christine Wynkoop.

    Jan'y. 4, 1898. H. A. Q.

    The home of Judge Henry Wynkoop, referred to in the essay, is the present "Vredens-Hof," owned by J. T. Hammond, situated half way between Newtown and Richboro.

    VREDENS-HOF was built by Nicholas Wynkoop in 1739, upon the farm of 500 acres, which he inherited from his father Gerardus Wynkoop, original settler in 1717.

    It next came into the possession of Judge Henry Wynkoop, the only son of Nicholas, 1760, and so continued until the Judge's death, 1816, when it passed to his youngest and only living son, Jonathan Wynkoop.

    William Camm became the next owner of Vredens-Hof in 1842, purchasing the old house, with 153 acres of the original farm from Jonathan Wynkoop. It remained in the Camm family until 1906, when it became the property of the present owner, J. T. Hammond, Sr., by purchase from the Camm Estate.

Source:

Bucks County Historical Society
Spruance Library
84 South Pine Street
Doylestown, PA 18901

SC-14
No. 1583