Scattergood/Wright House (Meadowview Farm)
Jacksonville - Hedding Road
SR 08/02/78

This stucco-covered brick building now looks like a typical central New Jersey house of the Federal period. It bears a datestone in the west gable reading "1808". Nevertheless, the house is believed to incorporate elements from at least two earlier building periods and is associated with one of Mansfield Township's earliest settlers.

Thomas Scattergood emigrated from England to America in 1685. He purchased 100 acres of land, on part of which this house stands, in 1686. According to tradition, he first lived in a bank cave in a hillside on the banks of Craft's Creek, as early settlers in Philadelphia are known to have done. In 1975-76, as a Bicentennial project, the Mansfield Township Historical Commission built a reconstruction of the cave on a neighboring property about 50 feet east of the location of the original cave.

The oldest section of the Scattergood/Wright House is believed to he the eastern section of the building. This was originally a 1 1/2-story structure with a 2-room plan. In 1808 this was extended to the west. This early 19th century addition was 2 1/2-stories high.

In 1824 the house passed out of the ownership of the Scattergoods and into the possession of the Wright family. The Wrights raised the eastern section to 2 1/2-stories and added a 2-story kitchen wing at the rear. They retained ownership until 1925.

The early 19th century alterations resulted in a 6-bay house with a central hall plan. This may, however, represent an alteration, since there are two contiguous doors at the south entrance, sheltered under a portico or small porch. Window openings still contain 6/9 or 9/6 sash on the first floor and 6/6 sash on the second. A molded water table and brick belt course have been obscured by modern stucco.

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