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Construction buliding of was proposed.
Board of the Proprietors of the Eastern Division of New Jersey
proposed to construct a fine mansion worthy of serving as the residence of the Royal Governors. -
John Edward Pryor arrived in America.
They hired the English architect and builder John Edward Pryor to design and build what they called the "Proprietary House in
Amboy." -
Period: to
Construction of Propriety House
Construction of property. -
Construction Begins
John Edward Pryor records in his log, "Set the labourers to digging." -
Constuction is completed.
Despite over budget problems and delays that almost destroyed Pryor Property House is completed. -
Period: to
Proprietary House was in use.
Proprietary House was leased to New Jersey’s chief justice,
Frederick Smyth, and then to another lawyer. -
Period: to
Revolution War Occupation
During the Revolution, Proprietary House had been occupied by
both Patriot and British troops and, for a time, served as
headquarters for both American General Hugh Mercer and British General Sir William Howe. -
Franklin and Provincial Congress
Franklin calls the colonial assembly into session to preserve his position. Franklin is exposed as a loyalist from a letter he wrote to Lord Dartmouth in England. -
Period: to
Franklin's House Arrest
The NJ Assembly ordered the Governor William Franklin held under house arrest at Proprietary House. -
General Assembly Meeting
Franklin's last effort to stop New Jersey colony from joining the Continental Congress. -
William's Arrest
The last day William was ever to see his wife, Elizabeth Franklin, and the mansion at his arrest. -
Elizabeth Franklin forced to leave manison.
Elizabeth Franklin is forces by British troops to evacuated Perth Amboy and moved to Loyalist-held New York City. -
Britain Spy and Restoration
John Rattoone, a businessman, purchased the structure after it was left in ruins after a fire. I was believed he was a British spy. -
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John Rattoone Possession
John Rattoone restores the mansion and lived there until 1808 -
Woodhull Possession
Developer Richard M. Woodhull receives possession of property. -
Brighton House
Richard M. Woodhull, a New York developer, transformed Proprietary House into an elegant resort hotel. -
Bruen Family Aquires Property
Matthias Bruen buys property from a sheriff's sale -
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Brighton House Residence
Bruen and his family lived in Brighton House until his death in 1846. -
Period: to
Civil War hospital use.
House is used as a hospital for Union officers during the Civil War. -
Civil War Era
Admiral David D. Porter, who spent a few weeks at the house for relaxation after many months of intense fighting. -
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Westminster Use
The Bruen family allows The Presbyterian Board of Relief for Disabled Ministers and the Wives and Orphans of Deceased Ministers use of house. It is renamed Westminster House. -
J.D. Holm Campaign.
Property is sold to J.D. Holm to preserve the mansion and its grounds as a historic site and musum -
Property Minimized
Most of the property's 11.5 acres sub-divided into building lots and Kearny Avenue was cut through its once great lawn. -
Registered as a historic place.
Property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. -
Museum Proposal
Dr. William Cole of New Brunswick, Chairman of the Historic Sites Committee, places a plan to turn the Westminster into a museum before the County Planning Board. -
The Proprietary House Association
The Proprietary House Association, initially named the Westminster Historical Society, was formed as a non-profit corporation dedicated to preserving and restoring the only remaining official royal governor’s mansion still standing in the original 13 colonies. -
Green Acres Program
The State of New Jersey purchases the property under the Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program. -
Period: to
Historic Places Listing.
The Proprietary House achieved listings in the State and National Registers of Historic Places. -
Department of Environmental Protection Leasing
The NJ Department of Environmental Protection leases Proprietary House. -
Restoration Begins
Volunteers began to reverse decades of neglect and
deterioration at Proprietary House. -
First Public Viewing and Re-enactment
The Association opens Proprietary House for its first public viewing with a bicentennial re-enactment of Governor William Franklin’s arrest by Patriot forces. -
Period: to
The Restoration Partnership of Boston Partnership
The Restoration Partnership of Boston proposed a public/private partnership plan under which the Partnership leased the building and 3.5 acres of surrounding land. -
Period: to
Events Open To The Public
Proprietary House currently holds tours, reenactments, teas, receptions, and other events.
http://www.theproprietaryhouse.org/Upcoming_Events.html -
Ghost Hunters Appearance
The home was featured on Syfy channel's Ghost Hunters and later investigated by the Jersey Unique Minds Paranormal Society (JUMPS), founded by Doug Hogate. -
October Event
On October 28th at 7:30 pm and 9:00 pm a tour of the ghost that supposedly inhabit Proprietary House.
