The Mather Homestead, est. 1778

n 1778 Joseph Mather, son of Reverend Moses Mather, built this house, the Mather Homestead. Joseph Mather lived in this house with his wife Sarah, where they raised their 11 children on the 100-acre property.‌

The Mathers thought that they were safe from the Loyalist raids and plundering that occurred throughout the Revolutionary War because the Homestead is a good distance inland. Because of this, the Mather family and some friends and relatives hid money and valuables on the property. One March night in 1781, the Mather Homestead became a target of one of the raids, and the Loyalist troops found almost 100 pounds of silver and clothing hidden in the well, and even made Mrs. Mather cook them dinner before they escaped back to Long Island in their whaleboats.

The Homestead was passed down through the Mather family for generations until it was donated to the Mather Homestead Foundation in 2017. Notably, the house was occupied by Stephen Tyng Mather from 1905 to 1930. Stephen Tyng Mather was the first director of the U.S. National Park Service, and in 1964 Mather Homestead was named a National Historic Landmark in his honor.

To explore more, tours of the Mather Homestead can be scheduled online.