Gilbert Cope, an eminent genealogist and historian, was born in the house on this property. He wrote a number of genealogies of Chester County families, dedicated himself to preserving Quaker records and the archives of Chester County, helped found the Chester County Historical Society, and, with J. Smith Futhey, wrote a monumental History of Chester County. The property, called ‘Southdown,’ was named for the Southdown sheep Gilbert Cope’s father brought from England.