For most of Graeme Park’s history, what happened to Henry Hugh Fergusson after he left America remained a mystery. We knew he petitioned the British government for restitution for “his” loss of Graeme Park when it was confiscated under the Confiscation Act of 1778. We knew he kept in touch with Elizabeth for a time, […]
On November 17 or 18, 1749 Sir William Keith, for whom the Keith House at Graeme Park was built, died in London. Death notices ran in the London Magazine (vol. 18, 1749, pg. 529) and the Gentleman’s Magazine (vol. 19, 1749, pg. 524). London Magazine reports his death as occurring on November 17, 1749 and […]
October 6 marks the anniversary of the marriage of Sir William Keith to Ann Newbury Diggs which occurred in 1704 at The Collegiate Church of St. Katharine by the Tower – a medieval church next to the Tower of London. While the church was demolished in 1825, it was rebuilt from 1826-28 as St. Katharine’s in Regeant’s […]
September 28 marks the anniversary of the death of the Graemes’ son-in-law, Charles Stedman, which occurred in 1784. Charles Stedman was born in Scotland in 1713, supported the Stuart cause and fought at Culloden. He escaped to Pennsylvania c. 1746 with his brother Alexander, with whom he ran a successful shipping business and engaged in […]
Written by Margaret Marshall Strawbridge, September 25, 1929 I am basking in the sunshine, gray squirrels are skipping along the fence, a proud hen is cackling from the barn yard, the starlings and blackbirds are whistling to each other from the branches above me and the woods near by. I am living in memory [of] […]
Dr. Thomas Graeme died on the grounds of Graeme Park on September 4, 1772 on the day Elizabeth had decided to tell him of her secret marriage to Henry Hugh Ferugusson. She wrote: I sat on the bench at the window and watched him coming up the avenue. It was a terrible task to prepare. […]
July 31 marks the anniversary of the 1740 death of Lady Ann Keith, wife of Sir William. After being removed from the governorship in 1726, Keith returned to England in 1728 to seek another appointment. Before leaving, he ensured that his wife would have access to all the rents and emoluments of Graeme Park for […]
On this day in 1772, at 9:00 p.m., Elizabeth Graeme and Henry Hugh Fergusson were married. The ceremony took place in the garden of Swedes’ Church (Gloria Dei (Old Swedes’) Episcopal Church) without the knowledge of Elizabeth’s father, Dr. Thomas Graeme. Elizabeth’s close friend, Dr. Benjamin Rush attended the wedding along with several other of […]
These photographs were among those submitted with the application to make Graeme Park a National Historic Landmark, back in 1974. The the landscape photos in particular are interesting, as they show the most change! The first photo below shows what is now our parking lot, back when it was nothing more than a driveway with a few […]
“My family went to church with Margaret at the Church of the Messiah in Gwynedd PA in the 1950’s and 60’s. She always wore a lovely hat. When someone inquired why she did this, she said “I think the Lord wants us to look our best”. She was a great support and friend to all […]