Ford Mansion The Ford Mansion is a classic 18th - century American home built by Jacob Ford , Jr . in 1774 and now owned by the National Park Service as a part of the Morristown National Historical Park . It was acquired by the Washington Association of New Jersey in 1873 . The Georgian styled mansion is known for being George Washington ’ s headquarters from December 1779 to June 1780 . The mansion is located in Morristown , New Jersey . Architecture . The Ford Mansion has a Georgian style exterior , but the interior kitchen and framing shows evidence of Dutch influence . According to Alan Gowan , " the boarding of the Ford Mansion was laid evenly painted and scored to look like a fine masonry with quoins at the corners . " The mansion was made with palladian window above the door and a stylish cornice . The fancy architecture was not created to look appealing , but to showcase the wealth of the family who owned the building . The headmaster ’ s section of the house was built with symmetrical rooms on both side of the foyer . The office is across from the library and the parlor is across from the dining room . On the second floor there are symmetrical bedrooms for each side of the hallway . The servant ’ s section of the house was near the kitchen and the pantry on the east side . The grand hall and the parlor are what categorized the house as a mansion . Unlike most mansions at the time , the Ford Mansion did not use bricks for the exterior , but painted flush board and clapboards . Location . George Washington and the Continental Army were obliged to set up an encampment in Morristown because of transportation problems . Washington liked Morristown ’ s " defensible terrain , important communication routes , and access to critical resources . " . The Ford family had businesses in iron mines , iron forge s , a gristmill , a , and a gunpowder mill that were all stationed near the house . These businesses were useful to the army in getting resources . The surrounding community was made up of 250 residents and 70 buildings . In 1777 many high - ranking officials rented these houses . Unfortunately , there was an epidemic of smallpox that spread through the town from the soldiers , making the townspeople somewhat bitter to Washington ’ s troops when they arrived in 1779 . Washington ’ s army was stationed at Jockey Hollow while Washington stayed in Ford Mansion . Jockey Hollow is five miles south of Washington ’ s Headquarters . Ownership . The Ford Mansion was originally owned by Colonel Jacob Ford Jr . He was given the deed to the two hundred acres of land by his father in 1762 , which was the same year he married Theodosia Johnes . Before serving in the war , Jacob Jr . and his father owned an iron forge in Whippany , New Jersey . Ford built the house just south of the Whippany River , making it easier to travel to work . Jacob was a commander of the Morris County Militia . Ford died from pneumonia on January 11 , 1777 in the mansion house . Thirty - five Delaware troops witnessed the death of Jacob Ford Jr . Before his death , Ford and his soldiers captured a bronze , six pounder field cannon from the British Army on January 3 , 1777 at the victory in Princeton , New Jersey . According to the Morristown National Park , " with artillery and arms in short supply , the victory at Princeton not only boosted the morale of the Continental Army , but it bolstered their scant arsenal of weapons . " . Jacob Ford Jr . is noted for his bravery in the various tours at the Morristown National Park Museum . Resistance of 1779 - 1780 . After Ford ’ s death , Mrs . Theodosia Ford gained ownership of the mansion . According to Pfister , " she was forced to accept a leadership role in the family . After her husband and father - in - law ’ s death , Mrs . Ford held the family together and kept the farm and family business a profitable endeavor . " Prior to Washington ’ s arrival , the house was considered a " great human tragedy for the Ford family " because in 1777 , the house was rented to an overabundance of Continental Army troops that developed smallpox . When Washington arrived he asked permission from the widow if he could stay in the mansion and paid her for rent . General Washington , Martha Washington , five aides - de - camp , and 18 servants stayed in the mansion . Theodosia Ford occupied two of the four upstairs bedrooms and reserved the kitchen for her own personal use . Her daughter , Elizabeth Ford , who was 12 when Washington stayed at the mansion , stayed in her mother ’ s room . During the winter months of 1779 to 1780 she read and learned a total of 25 stitches . Theodosia ’ s boys stayed in another room downstairs . The room featured two doors . One door lead to the servants ’ side of the house above the pantry and the other door lead to the center hall . The boy ’ s room was more of a recreational room with muskets and Chinese checkers , which is displayed in the Morristown National Historic Park Museum . The names of the boys were Jacob , Gabriel , and Timothy Ford . Jacob was eight , Gabriel was fifteen , and Timothy was seventeen during Washington ’ s stay . Commander - in - Chief . Washington arrived at Ford mansion in December 1779 . According to Pfister , the mansion was one of the biggest houses in town at that time . The location was perfect for Washington because the American capital was in Philadelphia and the British Army capital was in Manhattan . It allowed Washington to keep a close eye on the British and enabled him to send letters successfully to the Continental congress . Washington wrote many letters to congress explaining the poor predicament that his troops were in during his stay at the Ford Mansion . His place of work was in the private study , which was located on the first floor of the house . Washington ’ s Aides - de - Camp worked in the parlor , which became the military office . This included Alexander Hamilton , Robert H . Harrison , Tench Tilghman , Richard Meade and James McHenry . According to Pfister , the only record of Washington ’ s stay at the mansion was a letter from Richard Meade to Mrs . Ford dated July 26 , 1780 . The letter has been transcribed in the Library of Congress and reads : Madam : I have received your favour by Captain Tomas Pry . I communicated its contents to His Excellency and am directed to transmit you the inclosed certificate . I have the honour and [ the draft is in the writing of and is signed " R . K . Meade , A . D . C . ] I certify that the commander in Chief took up his quarters at Mrs . Fords at Morris Town the first day of December 1779 , that he left them the 23d of June 1780 , and that he occupied two rooms below ; all the upper floor , Kitchen , Cellar and Stable . The Stable was built and the two Rooms above Stairs finished at the public expence , and a well , which was intirely useless and filled up before , put in thorough repair by walling & c . Head Quarters near Passaick July 26th . 1780 .