George McHenry was born in Philadelphia Nov. 5, 1854 and was the brother of Alexander McHenry who at one
time was President of the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad Company and brother of James McHenry,
English financier and railroad man. Before the Cilvil War, George McHenry owned the property he called
Woodbourne (citation). He operated George McHenry & Company, Philadelphia, PA, an export and shipping
business between Philadelphia and Liverpool, was President of the Philadelphia Board of Trade, is described as
a Diplomat for the Confederate States of America and served as a Confederate Commercial Agent in London
during Civil War.(citation)
The Press July 17, 1860 page 2 carries an article
A Douglas Democratic Meeting in Chester
Resolved, That we repudiate and denounce the action of George McHenry and E.C. Enmens(?), who falsely
represented the Democracy of the Sixth district at Charleston and Baltimore, who voted, with the Disunionists
and Seceders, to overrule and set aside the Cincinnati platform and amendments presented to the party.....
(thanks to Sheila Jones for research)
time was President of the West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad Company and brother of James McHenry,
English financier and railroad man. Before the Cilvil War, George McHenry owned the property he called
Woodbourne (citation). He operated George McHenry & Company, Philadelphia, PA, an export and shipping
business between Philadelphia and Liverpool, was President of the Philadelphia Board of Trade, is described as
a Diplomat for the Confederate States of America and served as a Confederate Commercial Agent in London
during Civil War.(citation)
The Press July 17, 1860 page 2 carries an article
A Douglas Democratic Meeting in Chester
Resolved, That we repudiate and denounce the action of George McHenry and E.C. Enmens(?), who falsely
represented the Democracy of the Sixth district at Charleston and Baltimore, who voted, with the Disunionists
and Seceders, to overrule and set aside the Cincinnati platform and amendments presented to the party.....
(thanks to Sheila Jones for research)
The land where the Trumbauer Mansion now stands was owned by George McHenry who may have built a house
there. Architect Harry Murray found a reference in an 1860 book by the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania which lists a "McHenry, George, Woodbourne, Delaware Co., Pa."
as a subscriber to support the book's publication
In 1862, the land was taken by Sheriff's sale, possibly the result of the 1861 Confiscation Act, and researcher
Sheila Jones found this wonderful description:
TWENTY ACRES OF LAND. The improvements consist of a large BRICK MANSION HOUSE, or country seat,
25 by 50 feet, three stories high, with an observatory at one corner, four stories high, with brick wing
attached to the main building on the southeast side, 18 by 34 feet, two stories high; also, one on the
northwest side, 10 by 18 feet, three stories high. There is also a brick building 16 by 31 feet, part two and
part three stories high, with a frame building attached to the east end, 26 by 28 feet, two stories high, the
lower story being used as a wash room and the upper for a billiard room. The above named buildings are
all divided into convenient rooms and finished in the latest and most improved style, being furnished
with two bath rooms, the latest style of gas fixtures, with both hot and cold water in all the rooms where it
is necessary, the whole being heated from furnaces in the cellar and well ventilated. The main building
has a hall nine feet wide running from the front, and opening back upon a porch twelve feet wide, which
runs nearly around the main building, finished in excellent style. Under the wash room is a good well
from which the water is forced by a horse power pump to supply the house. The wash room is supplied
with a boiler and four permanent tubs, into which either hot or cold water can be introduced, and the
main building is all cellared under. There is also a frame lodge house at the entrance gate, 13 by 36
feet, one story high, with sitting room and kitchen back, 7 1/2 by 28 feet, and also wing attached in
front, 7 by 13 feet, with porch 7 by 15 feet.
There is on the premises a frame barn with stone stabling 23 by 46 1/2 feet, with harness and cow house
attached, 12 by 25 house adjoining 14 by 21 feet. There is also on the premises,
a stone cart house 14 by 21 feet, chicken house 8 by 19 feet, and ice house twenty feet square. The barn
is supplied with water from the house. On the east, near the house, there is a fine grove of large growth
trees, with an excellent spring of water near the centre. The above described property is situate about
half a mile from the terminus of Philadelphia and Darby Passenger Railway, and the same distance from
Clifton station on the West Chester and Media Railroad, fronting on the Springfield road, and running
back to Darby creek. It is one of the finest and most desirable country residences in Delaware county,
the buildings being so situated as to command a wide and extended view of Darby Borough, the creek
and surrounding country. The grounds about the house are handsomely laid out with gravel walks, and
planted with shrubbery and evergreens. There is also on the premises a
variety of shade fancy, and fruit trees, with grape vines, &c. Seized and taken in execution as the
property of George McHenry, and to be sold by N.L. YARNALL, Sheriff
As a side note, George McHenry died in 1880 and is buried at St James of Kingsessing, 68th and Woodland
Avenue, Philadelphia.
there. Architect Harry Murray found a reference in an 1860 book by the Historical Society of
Pennsylvania which lists a "McHenry, George, Woodbourne, Delaware Co., Pa."
as a subscriber to support the book's publication
In 1862, the land was taken by Sheriff's sale, possibly the result of the 1861 Confiscation Act, and researcher
Sheila Jones found this wonderful description:
TWENTY ACRES OF LAND. The improvements consist of a large BRICK MANSION HOUSE, or country seat,
25 by 50 feet, three stories high, with an observatory at one corner, four stories high, with brick wing
attached to the main building on the southeast side, 18 by 34 feet, two stories high; also, one on the
northwest side, 10 by 18 feet, three stories high. There is also a brick building 16 by 31 feet, part two and
part three stories high, with a frame building attached to the east end, 26 by 28 feet, two stories high, the
lower story being used as a wash room and the upper for a billiard room. The above named buildings are
all divided into convenient rooms and finished in the latest and most improved style, being furnished
with two bath rooms, the latest style of gas fixtures, with both hot and cold water in all the rooms where it
is necessary, the whole being heated from furnaces in the cellar and well ventilated. The main building
has a hall nine feet wide running from the front, and opening back upon a porch twelve feet wide, which
runs nearly around the main building, finished in excellent style. Under the wash room is a good well
from which the water is forced by a horse power pump to supply the house. The wash room is supplied
with a boiler and four permanent tubs, into which either hot or cold water can be introduced, and the
main building is all cellared under. There is also a frame lodge house at the entrance gate, 13 by 36
feet, one story high, with sitting room and kitchen back, 7 1/2 by 28 feet, and also wing attached in
front, 7 by 13 feet, with porch 7 by 15 feet.
There is on the premises a frame barn with stone stabling 23 by 46 1/2 feet, with harness and cow house
attached, 12 by 25 house adjoining 14 by 21 feet. There is also on the premises,
a stone cart house 14 by 21 feet, chicken house 8 by 19 feet, and ice house twenty feet square. The barn
is supplied with water from the house. On the east, near the house, there is a fine grove of large growth
trees, with an excellent spring of water near the centre. The above described property is situate about
half a mile from the terminus of Philadelphia and Darby Passenger Railway, and the same distance from
Clifton station on the West Chester and Media Railroad, fronting on the Springfield road, and running
back to Darby creek. It is one of the finest and most desirable country residences in Delaware county,
the buildings being so situated as to command a wide and extended view of Darby Borough, the creek
and surrounding country. The grounds about the house are handsomely laid out with gravel walks, and
planted with shrubbery and evergreens. There is also on the premises a
variety of shade fancy, and fruit trees, with grape vines, &c. Seized and taken in execution as the
property of George McHenry, and to be sold by N.L. YARNALL, Sheriff
As a side note, George McHenry died in 1880 and is buried at St James of Kingsessing, 68th and Woodland
Avenue, Philadelphia.
Photo by Sam Ricks