The Great Valley House History

William Penn received the royal charter for Pennsylvania from Charles II, in 1681. William Penn granted land to John ap John, the chief disciple of Quakerism in Wales. This tract of land was part of the original Welsh Tract that covered most of what is known today as the Main Line of Philadelphia.

William Penn deeded to William Mordaint, on 10/24/1681, a tract of 607 acres in Philadelphia, William Mordant later died leaving as heir Thomas Mordant.

During the period of time from 1681 to the 1700s there were many squatters and informal leases in the area. The original construction of the Great Valley House began prior to 1700 by undocumented tenants. This conclusion is based on the architectural feature of the stone sink built as part of the stone wall in the Old Kitchen. Sinks of this nature were typical of Welsh construction prior to the advent of the Dry Sink in the late 1600's

Thomas Mordant and Osmand Mordant by deed dated 1/28/1711 conveyed the land to John Evans. John Evans, by deed dated 3/5/1716 in Philadelphia, conveyed the property to John Moore.

John Evans was the Lieutenant Governor of Pa. and heavily involved in acquiring land during this period. John Moore was a whig and the Customs Collector. Evans had to return to Great Britain and transferred the land to Moore to sell for him. The Evans/Moore relationship was not strictly business as Evans married Moore's daughter in 1708.

John Moore by deed dated 7/7/1720 conveyed to Thomas James the tract of 607 acres. (deed was signed by Benjamin Franklin, Justice of the Peace, one of his earlier jobs)

Thomas James is the first person to take up legal residence in 1720. Thomas James lived a full life here and built most of the house, one stone at a time.

Thomas James by will dated 12/8/1750 provided as follows: "I give and bequeath unto Ann James, wife free and full use of this real estate during her natural life. And at her decease to Lewis James in fee." Ann James by deed dated 2/23/1753 conveyed unto John Kinkade tract of 322 acres.

John Kinkade's mortgage was foreclosed in 1760 in a suit brought by William Moore, Exr. of Robert Moore. The 322 acre property was sold to JOHN WILSON by Sheriffs Deed Poll dated 9/13/1760.

John Wilson was the owner during the Revolutionary War and he was a Tredyffrin resident who, we believe, was raised on the Wilson farm just east of here in what is now known as The Wilson Farm Park in Chesterbrook. John Wilson sub-divided his land, 30 acres going to Isaac Davis in 1760 (Chester County deed book F-2, Vol 30, pg 506), 112 acres of it going to his son David Wilson in 1779 (deed book Z, Vol 24, pg 287). A portion of the David Wilson tract of land, with the original house he built, had remained with Wilson family descendants until the death of Martha Wilson in 1997. The David Wilson house is no longer owned by Wilson's but is being restored and expanded.

Another 190 acres with the John Wilson house, AKA The Great Valley House, was sold to Fredrick Houseman in 1785 (deed book A-2, Vol 25, pg 178).

John Wilson and Judith, by deed dated 6/30/1785 conveyed to Fredrick Houseman messauge (dwelling house) and plantation in Tredyffrin

A date stone in the west peak of the house is inscribed "Fredrick Houseman 1791". The west part of the house was added by Fredrick Houseman and the addition, the "modern" part of the house, was completed in the year 1791.

Fredrick Houseman died 3/12/1800. All heirs filed that George Beaver son-in-law of decedent may accept same at $3664. George Beaver and Susanna, by deed dated 3-13-1801, conveyed unto John Zook and Christian Zook, messuage and tract in Tredyffrin, containing 190 acres. Christian Zook and Magdalena, by deed dated 1-11-1802, conveyed unto John Zook aforesaid tract. John Zook and Elizabeth, by deed dated 11-26-1811, conveyed unto William Thomas two tracts of land in Tredyffrin.

WILLIAM THOMAS left his mark, his initials with the date 1812 is carved on the mantle over the old colonial fire place. William Thomas died 1829 and left the property to Joseph Thomas who sold it with 93 acres for $8,111.

Many owners had the pleasure of this house from 1833 until we bought it in 1982. The acreage is now down to 4 acres and the purchase price was considerably more than the $8,111 that was paid in 1833.

We hope you can come and share our house with us.