The Dey Mansion (pronounced dye), located in modern-day Wayne, Passaic County, New Jersey, United States, and originally known as Bloomsburg Manor, played an integral role in the American Revolutionary War. Built by Col. Theunis Dey in the 1770s, it served as Washington's Headquarters on several occasions. Today, the Dey Mansion is currently open year-round with guided public tours Wednesday through Sunday.
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In 1641 Dirck Janszen Siecken Dey, a soldier for the Dutch West India Company, of Denmark was the first of his family to settle in the colonies. His grandson Dirck Dey, a Denmark Dutch born planter, purchased 600 acres of land in Preakness Valley, now Wayne Township. By 1764 Dirck of Denmark passed the mansion onto his niece Denise. along with his wife, Hester Schuyler, raised ten children in the mansion.
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EST. 1641
HEADQUARTERS
George Washington stayed at the Dey Mansion during the American Revolution as one of his Headquarters. This area of the Preakness Valley was chosen because its location, as well as its abundance of food and forage in the surrounding area. On two separate occasions the Dey Mansion served as Headquarters for Washington, once from July 1 through July 28, 1780 and again from October 8 through November 27, 1780.
During his stay Washington and his advisers which included Alexander Hamilton, Robert H. Harrison, Tench Tilghman, David Humphreys and James McHenry used the four rooms on the south-eastern side of the mansion for their bedrooms as well as their military war rooms. Washington also had numerous visitors while at the Dey Mansion, those of which include the Marquis de Lafayette, General Anthony Wayne, Major General Lord Stirling, Benedict Arnold, General William Howe and the Marquis de Chastellux.
During Washington's time away from the Dey Mansion Major, General Benedict Arnold's treason became evident and his accomplice Major John Andre was hanged in Tappan, New York on October 2. Fearing that the British commander Sir Henry Clinton would seek revenge, Washington moved his army once again to the Preakness Valley's Dey Mansion, and arrived on October 8, 1780. He stayed there until November 27, 1780, when he moved his headquarters and a portion of his army to Morristown, New Jersey.[6] Alexander Hamilton would leave the Dey Mansion with Washington, but would travel to Albany, where he would wed Elizabeth Schuyler on December 14, 1780.
HISTORIC PEOPLE
George Washington
Commander-in-Chief