A Well-Connected Family

Bucks County has lots of historic properties, many of which have very interesting connections. The Sunbury Farms property near the Neshaminy Creek was the home of the descendants of Anthony Taylor, who purchased the property in 1808. An article appearing in the Bristol Daily Courier in 1940 made note of some of the very valuable antiques that were housed on the property by its owner of the time, Houston Dunn, Jr.

First mentioned in a writing desk that had been used by Abraham Lincoln to sign his acceptance of the presidential nominatin in 1860. Apparantly, Calenb Newbold Taylor, one of the earlier Taylor descendants, had been a personal friend of Lincoln and had taken the desk with him to the convention. Lincoln used it as a favor to his friend and it remained in the Taylor family ever after.

Houston Dunn's young daughter slept on a bed that had been owned by Joseph Bonaparte, brother of Napolean, another friend of Caleb Taylor. Bonaparte had lived in Bordentown, New Jersey at one time and often visited the Sunbury farm. He left his bed to the Taylor family, along with a pair of Empire lyre-back chairs.

Several old sea chests in the house belonged to Benjamin Jones, another member of the family who was involved in trade in China in the 1830's. And just to make it really fun, there's a secret panel leading to a hidden stairway - and a tunnel under the old icehouse!