Lewes-Rehoboth Hundred in Sussex County, Delaware — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
The Wiltbank-Watts House/Hiram Rodney Burton House c. 1720
Casa Wiltbank-Watts/Casa Hiram Rodney Burton c. 1720
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Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 29, 2026
1. The Wiltbank-Watts House/Hiram Rodney Burton House c. 1720 Marker
From its exposed brick foundation to its refined Federal-era symmetrical front facade, the Wiltbank-Watts House, previously known as the Hiram Rodney Burton House, is as visually impressive as its history.
Cornelius Wiltbank, the grandson of Helmanus Wiltbank, began construction of a Georgian house around 1720, possibly incoporating an existing structure dating to the 1690s. The home remained in the Wiltbank family until 1814, when Reverend James Wiltbank, second great grandson of Helmanus, sold the house to War of 1812 hero Capt. Thomas Rodney.
Following Rodney's death in 1820, the home and estate went to his wife, Sarah Burton and Rodney Short, who in 1863 left the house to their daughter, Ruth Hunn Rodney Burton. Ruth and her husband, Joshua Sheppard Burton, completed significant renovations, including the addition of a front porch. They left the home to their three sons, but the two youngest, Walter and Frank, sold thier shares to older brother Hiram Rodney Burton, a physician and early-20th century member of the U.S. House of Representatives.
During his ownership, Burton oversaw extensive remodeling
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Desde sus cimientos de ladrillo visto hasta su refinada fachida frontal simétrica de la era Federal, la Casa Wiltbank-Watts, anteriormente conocida como la Casa Hiram Rodney Burton, es tan impresionantne visualmente como lo es su historia. Originalmente en su sitio, los registros sugieren que Cornelius Wiltbank, nieto de Helmanus Wiltbank, comenzó a construir una casa georgiana en el sitio alrededor de 1720, posiblemente incorporando una estructura existente que data de la década de 1690.
La casa permaneció dentro de la familia Wiltbank hasa 1814, cuando el reverendo James Wiltbank, segundo bisnieto de Helmanus Wiltbank, vendió la casa al héroe de la
Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), October 29, 2026
2. The Wiltbank-Watts/Hiram Rodney Burton House
Tras la muerte de Rodney en 1820, la casa y la propriedad pasaron a manos de su amada esposa Sarah Burton Rodney Short, quien más tarde dejó la casa a su hija Ruth Hunn Rodney Burton. Ruth se casó con Joshua Sheppard Burton y vivió en la casa después de la muerte de su madre en 1863. Se cree que después de que ella se mudó, se hicieron importantes renovaciones en la propiedad, incluida la adición de un porche delantero. Ruth y Sheppard dejaron la casa a sus hijos. Los dos hijos menores, Walter y Frank Burton, vendieron sus partes a su hermano mayor, el Dr. Hiram Rodney Burton, un destacado médico y miembro de la Cámara de Representantes de los Estados Unidos de principios del siglo XX.
Durante su propiedad, Burton supervisó una extensa remodelación de la casa, basándose en léxicos de diseño arquitectónico colonial, georgiano, federal y griego. El edificio también fue el hogar de la hija del Dr. Burton, Leah Burton Paynter, una importante líder del Movimiento por el Sufragio Feminino. Leah vendió la casa a la familia Ott en 1930, que tenía un salón de té en la casa. Más tarde, la familia Watts se mudó a la casa y vivió aquí hasta que vendieron la propiedad a la Sociedad Histórica de Lewes en 1989.
Erected by Historic Lewes.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Colonial Era • Government & Politics • Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1720.
Location. 38° 46.603′ N, 75° 8.569′ W. Marker is in Lewes, Delaware, in Sussex County. It is in Lewes-Rehoboth Hundred. It is at the intersection of Shipcarpenter Street and 2nd Street, on the right when traveling south on Shipcarpenter Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 110 Shipcarpenter St, Lewes DE 19958, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on Delaware’s Beaches. 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, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Netherland, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Hiram Rodney Burton House (here, next to this marker); Votes for Women (a few steps from this marker); The Burton-Ingram House / Casa Burton-Ingram (within shouting distance of this marker); Frederick E. Hudson (within shouting distance of this marker); The Midway School / Escuela Midway c. 1898 (within shouting distance of this marker); Burton-Ingram House Addition (within shouting distance of this marker); The Doctor's House / Consultorio Médico (within shouting distance of this marker); The Plank House / Casa de Tablones (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Lewes.
Other markers no longer nearby. Milk House (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been permanently removed); Burton-Ingram House (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Thompson Country Store (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Credits. This page was last revised on October 30, 2026. It was originally submitted on October 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 13 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 30, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
