Mill Creek Hundred near Hockessin in New Castle County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Cox-Phillips-Mitchell Agricultural Complex

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., October 3, 2020

1. Cox-Phillips-Mitchell Agricultural Complex Marker

Inscription. In 1726, William and Catherine Cox built a Flemish bond brick house named "Ocasson" on 350 acres of land acquired from Letitia Penn. William Phillips and his heirs owned the farm from 1766-1830 and added a bank barn by 1770. From 1830-1856 Quaker farmer and abolitionist Jacob Heald owned the property. Farmer and businessman John Mitchell acquired the farm in 1868 and expanded the barn for dairy operations. Mitchell's heirs retained ownership of a portion of the farmstead into the 21st century, The property reflects changes in agricultural practices over nearly 300 years. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2017.

Erected 2020 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NCC-252.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Colonial Era. In addition, it is included in the Delaware Public Archives, and the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) series lists. A significant historical year for this entry is 1726.

Location. 39° 47.664′ N, 75° 41.81′ W. Marker is near Hockessin, Delaware, in New Castle County. It is in Mill Creek Hundred. It is at the intersection of Old Wilmington Road and Farmstead Drive, on the right when traveling west on Old Wilmington Road. The

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address I used is across Old Wilmington Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1632 Old Wilmington Road, Hockessin DE 19707, 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

and on the Delmarva Peninsula.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

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 walking distance of this marker: St. John The Evangelist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hockessin Friends Meetinghouse (approx. 0.3 miles away); Sentinel Tree Planting (approx. half a mile away); Chippey African Union Methodist Church (approx. 0.7 miles away); Hockessin School #107C (approx. 0.7 miles away); First African-American Schoolhouse In Hockessin (approx. 0.7 miles away); Chair of Honor (approx. ¾ mile away); Veterans Memorial (approx. ¾ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hockessin.

Also see . . .
1. Cox-Phillips-Mitchell Agricultural Complex. Delaware Public Archives website entry (Submitted on April 25, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Marking history in Hockessin. Local news article about the installation of the marker. (Submitted on April 23, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)

Cox-Phillips-Mitchell Agricultural Complex image. Click for more information.

via National Register of Historic Places, April 25, 2025

2. Cox-Phillips-Mitchell Agricultural Complex

National Register of Historic Places Registration Form
Click for more information.

Photographed by Carl Gordon Moore Jr., October 3, 2020

3. Cox-Phillips-Mitchell Agricultural Complex Marker

Barn is in background.

Credits. This page was last revised on June 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 3, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. This page has been viewed 765 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 3, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. 2. submitted on April 25, 2025, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 3. submitted on October 3, 2020, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

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