Architectural evidence alone is sometimes conflicting and it is not the purpose of this paper to affirm indisputably certain dates of construction and physical appearances. Rather, the purpose is coordinate the architectural evidence at hand with the historical evidence that has been researched up to now, in order to gain a clearer picture of the history of the house as a whole and to elucidate the issues which will become increasingly important as restoration work proceeds. The first issue to arise is that of the original date of the house. Finding this location damp and unhealthy, they finished another house in 1687, five miles from the Delaware, the beginning of the Piedmont. This lintel is clearly from a house of English frame construction 2 and since the oldest section of the house is stone, conflicting evidence arises.
Several theories are possible.
That part of Bolton built by Phineas could have been of English frame construction and later rebuilt in stone in the early eighteenth century. It is also possible that the original house was indeed stone. Several factors become important to this issue. A strong case exists that is the original fireplace stack of the Phineas Pemberton house. Even if the original walls were taken down at some later date, this fireplace stack validates the 1687 date.