Henry Casdorp's family bought 600 acres (240 ha) on "Turkey Point," including the current farm site, on November 28, 1763, from Pennsylvania's proprietors, Thomas and Richard Penn for £60. They sold the land for £2,400 to Michael Hillegas and Jacob Winey on May 23, 1764. The property sold included a house, which was likely a log cabin built before the Casdorp purchase.[2] The new owners, in turn, sold 300 acres sixteen months later to Daniel Hiester who bought the property for his son John.
Daniel's sons were active during the American Revolution. His son Daniel became a brigadier general in the Pennsylvania Militia and was elected to the first four U.S. congresses, representing Pennsylvania, and was later elected to represent Maryland. The elder Daniel's son John fought at the Battle of Brandywine, and after the war was elected a major general of Militia. He was elected to the U.S. Congress in 1806, and John's son Daniel was elected to congress in 1808.[2]
The house has two stories plus an attic. The first two stories have exceptionally high ceilings for the colonial period, 9 feet, 7 inches for the first floor and 8 feet, 11 inches for the second floor.[2]