(For more complete information regarding the Battle of Brandywine, refer to the PA Historical and Museum Commission's account of the battle here or find a copy of 'Friends of Martin's Tavern' member Tom McGuire's excellent book on the battle here or at your favorite book source.)

In the late summer of 1777, British and Hessian troops under General William Howe landed in the vicinity of Elkton Maryland and marched north until they reached Kennett Square. There they faced the obstacle of the Brandywine Creek and the American army under General George Washington on the other side.

General Washington arrayed his troops on the high ground near Chadds Ford, thinking it the logical place the British would try to cross the small but nonetheless challenging creek.

Howe, likely with superior geographic intelligence from a local loyalist, left enough men behind to give the impression that he was still opposite Washington and marched the bulk of his troops further north and west and crossed the west branch of the creek at Trimble’s Ford, a crossing connected to Marshallton by the Great Valley Road (currently Northbrook Road) before crossing the east branch and then pressing Washington from the north.

Howe turned east and south as he crossed the two forks of the Brandywine and thus the tavern and Marshallton was spared the presence of British troops and any battles.  Two intelligence dispatches from militia members, one of which mentions the inn, did figure prominently in the early confusion of General Washington regarding the whereabouts of British forces.  In addition, a third message delivered in person by a local patriot who had lodged at the inn the night before the battle finally triggered the defense of the American flank from Howe’s advancing forces.

DISPATCH TO WASHINGTON FROM LIEUT. COL. JAMES ROSS

Washington first received the following dispatch, which he used as logic to order an attack at Chadds Ford on what he imagined was the small remaining force:

Sept. 11 ’77 Great Valley Road

                                                                                            Eleven o’clock AM –

Dear General,

            A large body of the enemy—from every account 5000, with 16 or 18 field pieces, marched along this road just now. This road leads to Taylor’s and Jeffries ferries on the Brandywine and to the Great Valley at the Sign of the Ship on the Lancaster Road to Philada. There is also a road from Brandywine to Chester by Dilworth’s Tavern–  We are close on their rear with about 70 men. Capt. Simpson lay in ambush with 20 men, and gave them 3 rounds within a small distance, in which two of his men were wounded, one mortally. I believe Genl. Howe is with this party, as Joseph Galloway is here known by the inhabitants, with many of whom he spoke, and told them that General Howe is with him.

                                     Yours, James Ross Lieut. Col.

DISPATCH TO WASHINGTON FROM GEN. JOHN SULLIVAN

Washington then received the following dispatch which caused him to order the cessation of the attack he had previously ordered, thinking his troops were now facing the vast majority of the British forces:

“Brintons Ford Sepr 11th 1777

                Dear General,

Since I sent you the message by

Major Morris I Saw Major Joseph Spear

of the Militia who Came this morning

from a Tavern Called Martins

in the Forks of the Brandywine

—he came from thence to

Welches Tavern & heard nothing

of the Enemy about

the Forks of the Brandywine &

is Confident they are not in that

Quarter…”

—Gen. John Sullivan to Washington.

COLONEL JOHN HANNUM & SQUIRE THOMAS CHEYNEY

Meanwhile two local militia members and prominent Chester County citizens and patriots, who had spent the night at the Center House/Martin’s Tavern, set off down the Great Valley Road from Marshallton.

John Hannum, who later founded West Chester, was colonel of the 1st Battalion of

Chester County Militia and Squire Thomas Cheyney was a county “sub-lieutenant,” responsible for organizing the militia.  The two were related by more than just the struggle for independence, however, as Cheyney’s brother was married to Hannum’s sister.

That Hannum and Cheyney would find themselves lodging at Martin’s Tavern/Center House is not surprising. Taverns were the typical gathering spots in the townships for news, mail, elections, and the militia.  The new owner of the tavern, Abraham Marshall, had just retired as a captain of a musketry company in the Pennsylvania militia under Colonel Samuel J. Atlee a year earlier. (Ref: http://www.wellsclan.us/History/generatn/RevWar.htm

Also, in marrying one Mary Bennett, Thornbury-bred Cheyney had joined one of Marshallton’s most prolific families, the Woodwards, and could call no fewer than 5 of his wife’s uncles or aunts in the immediate Marshallton area his kin.  Indeed, Cheyney’s wife was first cousin to the same Abigail (Woodward) Clayton whose initials and marriage date of 1750 were found (during renovation) on the gable of the original dwelling which later became the tavern.  (See the tavern history)    

As the two patriots approached Trimble’s Ford from the direction of Martin’s Tavern, they saw the mass of Howe’s troops advancing across the ford and Cheyney decided to dash on horseback to Chadds Ford with the news for General Washington.

The Hannum family history relates the event as follows:

“At the time the British army invaded Chester County, on its way from the Head of Elk to Philadelphia, Col. Hannum resided at the "Centre House" (now in the village of Marshallton), between the two main branches of the river Brandywine, and the night of Sept. 10, 1777, was passed by Thomas Cheyney, Esq., a relative of Col. Hannum, at the house of the latter. (At that perilous crisis it was not deemed prudent for Squire Cheyney to lodge at his own house.) Next morning being Brandywine battle day the two set out together to