East Bradford Township near West Chester in Chester County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Sconnelltown.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 29, 2011

1. Sconnelltown Marker

Inscription. Cornwallis’ division of the British Army halted here September 11, 1777, on its march to the Battlefield of Brandywine.

Erected 1915 by The Pennsylvania Historical Commission and the Chester and Delaware County Historical Societies.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • War, US Revolutionary. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 11, 1777.

Location. 39° 56.136′ N, 75° 37.513′ W. Marker is near West Chester, Pennsylvania, in Chester County. It is in East Bradford Township. Marker is at the intersection of Birmingham Road and Squires Drive, on the right when traveling south on Birmingham Road. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 204 Birmingham Rd, West Chester PA 19382, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Jean Kane Foulke (approx. ¼ mile away); Jefferis Ford (approx. 0.6 miles away); The Worth / Jefferis Rural Historic District (approx. 0.6 miles away); Battle of the Brandywine (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Jefferis Ford (approx. 0.6 miles away); Osborne's Hill

Paid Advertisement

Click on the ad for more information.
Please report objectionable advertising to the Editor.

Click or scan to see
this page online

(approx. 1.2 miles away); Osborne Hill (approx. 1.2 miles away); Everhart Grove (approx. 1½ miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in West Chester.

More about this marker. Located close to the ground and is one of the original bronze plaques erected by the Pennsylvania Historical Commission.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker.

Also see . . . Sconnelltown on State History Page. (Submitted on March 29, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1. General Howe takes a break
By the time the British Army under General Charles Cornwallis reached Sconnelltown at about 2:30 p.m., on September 11, 1777, they had traveled more than seventeen miles, marching in the full heat of the late summer since 4 a.m. The men were sore and tired. General William Howe allowed the various divisions to reorganize, rest and eat a meal for about an hour, until about 3:30 p.m.

Howe's decision to rest his army raised some eyebrows, and has been the object of second-guessing by historians ever since.

Photographed By Keith S Smith, March 29, 2011

2. Sconnelltown Marker

The delay near Sconnelltown allowed the Americans, who had been confused by poor intelligence, to regroup and shift their defenses into better position to face the flanking maneuver. Although the British Redcoats still won the battle at Brandywine, some experts speculate that their victory would have been greater if General Howe had arrived there sooner.

— Submitted December 2, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania.

Long gone Oak Tree in Sconnelltown image. Click for full size.

3. Long gone Oak Tree in Sconnelltown

This image is taken from the book: "Down the Eastern and up the Black Brandywine", by Chester County Lawyer, Wilmer W. MacElree, c. 1912. This book is available free online as a Google Book.

Original marker on the Ancient Sconnelltown Oak Tree image. Click for full size.

4. Original marker on the Ancient Sconnelltown Oak Tree

From Book: Down the Eastern and Up the Black Brandywine, c. 1912

Sconnelltown - Poem written in 1779 image. Click for full size.

5. Sconnelltown - Poem written in 1779

From th book: Down the Eastern and up the Black Brandywine, c. 1912

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 29, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,345 times since then and 62 times this year. Last updated on January 26, 2022, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 29, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. 3, 4, 5. submitted on December 16, 2011, by Keith S Smith of West Chester, Pennsylvania. • Mark Hilton was the editor who published this page.