Newark in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Judge Morris Estate

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, January 9, 2016

1. Judge Morris Estate Marker

Inscription. This estate, now owned and operated by Delaware State Parks, was once known as Chestnut Hill and contains a manor house and approximately 500 acres of land. John Barclay acquired the property after the American Revolution and in 1792 built the main five-bay, two and a half story stone house. In 1808 the land was sold to Andrew Gray, a Delaware State Senator (1817 to 1821) and a founder of the University of Delaware. During the 1820s Gray added the one and a half story west wing of the house. The estate remained in the Gray family until 1865 when it was sold to Robert Cook who farmed the land for nine years until his death in 1874. For the next 60 years the house was occupied by a series of tenant farmers and it fell into disrepair. In 1934 Hugh M. Morris, a native of Greenwood, Delaware, bought the property as well as an adjoining 30 acre farm. He restored the structure in a Colonial Revival style and added the modern kitchen wing to the north side of the main house. Morris was a prominent lawyer and was appointed Judge of the U.S. District Court by President Woodrow Wilson. He served on the University of Delaware Board

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of Trustees from 1929-1959 and was the President of the Board for 20 years. After his death in 1966 Judge Morris' estate was left to the University of Delaware. In 1998 the State of Delaware purchased the estate and incorporated it into White Clay Creek State Park.

Erected 2013 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NC-196.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, and the Former U.S. Presidents: #28 Woodrow Wilson series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1792.

Location. 39° 42.189′ N, 75° 42.577′ W. Marker is in Newark, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is on Polly Drummond Hill Road, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Newark DE 19711, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Greater Wilmington and in Greater Philadelphia.

It is also in the American Mid-Atlantic,

on the Delmarva Peninsula,

and on the Eastern Seaboard. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, January 9, 2016

2. Judge Morris Estate Marker

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A different marker also named The Judge Morris Estate (approx. 0.2 miles away); Veterans Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away); Original Site of the White Clay Creek Presbyterian Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Meeteer House (approx. 0.7 miles away); All Saints Cemetery (approx. 1.7 miles away); Robert Kirkwood, Jr. (approx. 1.7 miles away); The Post Mark'd West (approx. 1.8 miles away); Site of Post Mark'd West (approx. 1.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Newark.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Judge Morris Estate (was about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Regarding Judge Morris Estate. Hugh Martin Morris (1878-1966) marker, referring to the same person, is in the Newark area at the Morris library on the University of Delaware campus.

Judge Morris Estate image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Bill Pfingsten, January 9, 2016

3. Judge Morris Estate

Credits. This page was last revised on August 3, 2020. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 965 times since then and 42 times this year. Last updated on July 30, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 9, 2016, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland.