Painter, William, Farm
Also known as: See Also:Brandywine Battlefield
Why it's listed
A two-story brick house in Chadds Ford, built in 1808 by William Painter, a prosperous farmer from a Quaker family that had settled in southeastern Pennsylvania in the late seventeenth century. The house has two front doors on the north elevation, allowing it to be divided into two dwellings, and its original sash windows and doorframes survive. Its interior has been extensively altered, and it was later used as offices. Painter was an ardent abolitionist, and his home is said to have served as a station on the Underground Railroad. The family was active in founding the Concord Friends Meeting, and several of Painter's nine children gained prominence, including Dr. Edward Painter, who served as Indian agent to the Omaha Indians under President Grant, and the writer Margaret Painter Pyle, mother of illustrator Howard Pyle. The property also lies within the battlefield area of the Battle of the Brandywine in 1777, on the line of Washington's army's retreat.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant for its association with the Painter family, a Quaker family settled in southeastern Pennsylvania, and for William Painter's abolitionist activity, as his home is said to have served as a station on the Underground Railroad. It also cites family members of note and the property's location within the Battle of the Brandywine area.
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 71000701, listed July 27, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 2 mi. NE of Chadds Ford on U.S. 1, Chadds Ford |
|---|---|
| County | Delaware County |
| Listed | July 27, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000701 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1808 |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | National |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The interior has been gutted and modified for office use; the exterior brick has been painted white. |
| Acreage | 4.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.87835, -75.55231 (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 71000701.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8016540
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.