Hannum, Col. John, House
Why it's listed
Built circa 1760 of fieldstone, this two and one-half story gable-roofed house in Marshallton, Chester County, has a Georgian plan with massive lipped gable-end chimneys, a recessed front entrance with an elliptical fanlight, and twelve-over-twelve sash on the first floor. Additions include a two-story wing, a hip-roofed section built into the hillside, and a fieldstone garage. Col. John Hannum built the house and lived there throughout a long career in public service. Political and military plans for the region were discussed within its walls. Hannum served as a Provincial Justice of the Peace, sat in the General Assembly from 1781 to 1785, and was a delegate to the Pennsylvania convention that ratified the Federal Constitution in 1787. He spearheaded moving the county seat from Chester to a more central site that became West Chester. During the Revolution he commanded Chester County battalions as Lieutenant Colonel or Colonel. He was captured by British forces, imprisoned in Philadelphia, and then escaped to rejoin his men.
Significance in brief: The house was the center of Col. John Hannum's public life in Chester County, where political and military plans were formulated and discussed. Hannum led local military units during the Revolution and held civic and legislative posts, including a role in moving the county seat that led to West Chester. The nomination also cites his capture by British forces and later escape.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 80003463, listed December 10, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Marshallton at 898 Frank Rd., East Bradford Township, Marshallton |
|---|---|
| County | Chester County |
| Listed | December 10, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80003463 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Georgian |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is marked good and the property is marked altered. |
| Acreage | 5.1 |
| Coordinates | 39.95018, -75.66066 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 80003463.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5141772
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.