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

Crooked Billet

Photographed by Pete Skillman, March 25, 2024

1. Crooked Billet Marker

Inscription. In 1684, William Penn deeded this property to Adam Stedham, who built a small two-room stone house on the land. Stedham's son, William, expanded the house into the Crooked Billet Tavern in 1702. George Washington and his troops stopped at the tavern on September 9, 1777. before facing the British at the Battle of the Brandywine two days later. The Crooked Billet closed in 1811 after construction of the new Kennett Pike shifted travelers away from the tavern. Crooked Billet became a farm, which the du Pont Family purchased in 1864 and owned until 2016. The property was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976.

Erected 2019 by Delaware Public Archives. (Marker Number NCC-247.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, US Revolutionary. 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 1684.

Location. 39° 46.245′ N, 75° 35.403′ W. Marker is near Wilmington, Delaware, in

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New Castle County. It is on Kennett Pike, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 3508 Kennett Pike, Wilmington DE 19807, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is 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: Saint Joseph on the Brandywine Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); Alexis I. duPont Middle School (approx. 0.4 miles away); Camp Brandywine (approx. 0.4 miles away); Henry Clay Village (approx. 0.6 miles away); Site of DuPont Airfield (approx. 0.6 miles away); du Pont Powder Mills (approx. 0.6 miles away); In Remembrance of Tower Hill School Alumni (approx. ¾ mile away); Transmitting Power With Line Shafts and Gears (approx. 0.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map

Crooked Billet Marker wide view image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, March 25, 2024

2. Crooked Billet Marker wide view

of all markers in Wilmington.

Also see . . . Brindley Farm - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form.

An inn or tavern, called Crooked Billet, is mentioned in a deed to this property dated 1792. Since 1750, only two families have owned it. The five-bay, main stone section is the oldest part of the house. A carriage house, also built of stone, is dated 1807. Other wings and outbuildings have been added by more recent occupants, but the original structure retains much of its earlier appearance.

(Submitted on April 23, 2025, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware.)

Crooked Billet Marker plaque nearby image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Pete Skillman, March 25, 2024

3. Crooked Billet Marker plaque nearby

Credits. This page was last revised on April 28, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. This page has been viewed 700 times since then and 51 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on March 25, 2024, by Pete Skillman of Townsend, Delaware. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.