Would you like to learn American History first hand? You will find it recorded in the story of the quaint old town at the broad end of the Delaware River. Upon the quiet streets beneath the old trees, have passed the makers of this nation's history- in peace, the lordly landowners, the estates of Berkeley and Carteret, or a poor run- away lad named Benjamin Franklin stopping for the night at Mr. Brown's house on his way to Philadelphia.

	The Clara Barton School House

Across the street from the Francis Hopkinson House lived  Patience Wright, first American sculptress. Her earliest experiments in modeling  were made, as housewife, in dough upon her cookie board. Later, having won fame in America, she went abroad to win greater fame in England under the patronage of George III and his Queen Charlotte.

It was a son of this same Patience, who became a friend of Washington, lived in his house, painted his portrait, and designed some of the first American coins.

On the bluff above the Delaware is Bonaparte Park, here a century ago lived an exiled king of Spain, Joseph, brother of  Napoleon. His castle has long ago disappeared, but still, in the crumbling ruin beneath the earth and pierced here and there by gnarled tree roots wind the arches of the brick tunnels which were built to provide escape from the king's abode if the enemies he feared should seek out his refuge here from across the sea.

Revered by the American public greater than any king or lord, was Clara Barton, the little woman who founded the Red Cross. She was first a school teacher and she first taught in Bordentown in the small red school house still standing. Writers, artists, soldiers, and sailors - if you call the role of  those who have made this town their home, you will list names honored throughout the world: Commodore Stewart, commander of "Old Ironsides''; Thomas Buchanan Reade, author of Sheridan's Ride"; Richard Watson Gilder, poet and editor; Frederick Waugh, great painter of the sea; the list lengthens indefinitely.

There are a few old towns where history has loved to play a distinguished part; such is Alexandria, Virginia: such is Concord, Massachusetts and such is Bordentown.''

By Harold Morrison Smith, Dean of the Bordentown Military Institute

Thomas Paine Statue on the Bluff above the Delaware River The Bordentown Historical Society was responsible for initiating this statue which  was only the third public monument to Paine in the United States. It was unveiled and dedicated with much public fanfare on June 7, 1977. For more interesting history on his Life and involvement in Bordentown History, Visit the Web site: Friends of Thomas Paine

Here still stands the great elm under whose shade they say Thomas Paine used to lie, pondering perhaps, on his
great philosophy of the rights of man or living over again his part gathering to the defense of New York in 76- the stragglers of Washington's army retreating from Von Donop's Hessians
who occupied the town as the center of the British line just before their defeat at Trenton; Washington and his generals riding through town on his way to victory at Yorktown; Lafayette triumphantly received in his visit to Bonaparte; Lincoln a traveler while in Congress on his way to New York.

In the old brick mansion still standing beneath two ancient buttonwoods lived the Hopkinsons - Francis, ''The Signer'' and Joseph his son. Both were eminent jurists, and both were writers of songs.

Look upon the Great Seal of New Jersey; Francis Hopkinson designed it. He probably designed too, the American flag of Betsy Ross. Over the grave of Joseph in the old cemetery of Christ Church is the inscription, ''Here lies the author of ''Hail Columbia."

Click here for Bordentown history Part 2

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