Humphrey Marshall

Marshalton was named in honor of Humphry Marshall, a noted eighteenth-century scientist and stone mason whose botanical garden and home stand adjacent to the Center House property. His name appears on many tavern license petitions, and he may have contributed to the tavern’s remarkable stonework. His nephew, Abraham Marshall III, purchased the Center House from Joseph Martin in April 1776 but did not operate the tavern himself until 1786. Humphry Marshall gained worldwide recognition in 1785 when he published what is believed to be the first American essay on native trees and shrubs, Arbustum Americanum the American Grove, and, like his cousin John Bartrum, he devoted much of his life to the study, cataloging, and collection of North American plants. Although his contributions to science have often been overlooked, his impact on the region included public service, an interest in developing the Strasburg Road, and an enduring example of citizenship and personal character for the people of Chester County.

Marshallton, Pennsylvania · United States