Proprietary House, completed in 1764, served as the official residence of New Jersey’s last royal governor, William Franklin, the son of Benjamin Franklin. Though Franklin’s tenure as governor was marked by public works projects, including infrastructure improvements and the founding of Queen’s College (now Rutgers University), his Loyalist stance during the American Revolution sealed both his fate and that of the mansion. In 1774, he and his wife, Elizabeth, moved into Proprietary House, but their time there was short-lived. As tensions between Britain and the colonies escalated, the mansion became the stage for dramatic political conflict, including a failed attempt by Benjamin Franklin to persuade his son to support independence.
The interior of the Proprietary House has been redecorated to reflect its appearance as the royal gubernatorial residence.
In 1776, Franklin was placed under house arrest at Proprietary House before being removed, tried for treason, and imprisoned. Elizabeth remained in the mansion until British forces evacuated Perth Amboy the following year. During the Revolution, the house was occupied by both Patriot and British troops, serving at different times as headquarters for American General Hugh Mercer and British General Sir William Howe. After the war, it was abandoned, vandalized, and nearly destroyed by fire. Left in ruins, Proprietary House stood as a stark reminder of the Revolution’s upheavals before its eventual restoration, preserving its legacy as a site of both colonial governance and revolutionary struggle.
Stories from Royal Governor's Mansion
William Franklin, the loyalist governor of New Jersey and son of Benjamin Franklin, remained devoted to Britain throughout the American Revolution, even as his father supported the revolutionary cause.
The commander-in-chief of British forces in North America, Howe is now known for his failure to quell the revolution in the colonies during its early years and return loyalty to the British crown.
A Scottish exile turned American Patriot, Hugh Mercer rose from a fugitive of the Battle of Culloden to a trusted officer under George Washington. Mortally wounded while rallying his men at Princeton, his sacrifice became a symbol of American perseverance in the Revolution.