The Georgian Quaker farmhouse was built in 1761 in the Great Meadow of the village of Maidenhead for James Brearley, grandson of John Brearley, who came from Yorkshire, England, to the Delaware River Valley in 1682 as an indentured servant. Members of the Brearley family, distinguished citizens of New jersey before and after the Revolution, lived in this house for over 150 years. In 1978, Lawrence Township bought the property, and in 2000, with funds raised by the Lawrence Historical Society, Lawrence Township, and the New Jersey Historic Trust, the house was restored.
Today the house hosts events throughout the year. In October and May, Lawrence Middle School students participate in archeological digs in the Great Meadow and around the house. Public tours of the house occur on the first Saturday of every month from 10 AM to noon; school and group tours can also be arranged. In early December, the house is decorated for a Holiday Wassail Party. On New Year's Eve a Hogmanay Bonfire is lit at dusk in the Great Meadow. Brearley House and its peaceful meadow at the end of an 18th century dirt road are available as an idyllic setting for meetings and social events.
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