Ryves Holt House (1665) is purportedly the oldest surviving house in the U.S. state of

Delaware Delaware ( ) is a state in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Maryland to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and New Jersey and the Atlantic Ocean to its east. The state takes its name from the adjacent Del ...

. It is located at 218 Second Street in

Lewes, Delaware Lewes ( ) is an incorporated city on the Delaware Bay in eastern Sussex County, Delaware, United States. According to the 2010 census, the population is 2,747. Along with neighboring Rehoboth Beach, Lewes is one of the principal cities of Delawar ...

. The building, which has been dated to 1665 using

dendrochronology Dendrochronology (or tree-ring dating) is the scientific method of dating tree rings (also called growth rings) to the exact year they were formed. As well as dating them, this can give data for dendroclimatology, the study of climate and atmos ...

, served as one of the earliest inns in the region. It was run for a time by Philip Russell, who was "recorded as a

cupbearer A cup-bearer was historically an officer of high rank in royal courts, whose duty was to pour and serve the drinks at the royal table. On account of the constant fear of plots and intrigues (such as poisoning), a person must have been regarded as ...

William Penn William Penn ( – ) was an English writer and religious thinker belonging to the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers), and founder of the Province of Pennsylvania, a North American colony of England. He was an early advocate of democracy a ...

". After coming to "Port Lewes" in 1721,

Ryves Holt Ryves Holt (1696 – May 8, 1763) was an American judge who served as chief justice of the Delaware Supreme Court from 1745 to 1763. Biography Born in 1696, Holt, a resident of Philadelphia, was involved in trade with the West Indies before being ...

, the first Chief Justice of Sussex County, purchased the house. The Lewes Historical Society currently owns and operates the building. On December 30, 2014, the Ryves Holt House was added to the

First State National Historical Park First State National Historical Park is a National Park Service unit which lies primarily in the state of Delaware but which extends partly into Pennsylvania in Chadds Ford. Initially created as First State National Monument by President Barack O ...

References

External links

Lewes Historical Society
{{authority control Museums in Sussex County, Delaware Historic house museums in Delaware Houses completed in 1665 Houses in Lewes, Delaware 1665 establishments in Delaware First State National Historical Park

See also

References

External links