THE OLD GARDENS OF PENNSYLVANIA 
VI.— THE WOODLANDS. 
FORMERCOUNTRYSEAT 
OF WILLIAM HAMILTON 
JOHN W. HARSHBERGER 
Professor of Botany, University of Pennsylvania 
jT IS regrettable that in the growth of our large American 
• cities so little attention has been given to the pre- 
servation of places of horticultural and botanical 
interest. With the death of the persons interested in 
their preservation and the associations connected with them, 
such places have been allowed at first to suffer from neglect 
and later to be absolutely destroyed by the growth of the city 
countryward. Of such regrettable change The Woodlands 
is a conspicuous example and the history of this American seat 
of the Hamiltons has a rather tragic interest for both the anti- 
quarian and the horticulturist. 
Andrew Hamilton, the first, purchased from Stephen Jackson 
a considerable piece of land in Blockley township along the 
Schuylkill River extending west to Nanganesy (or Mill) Creek. 
On his death, the property passed to Andrew Hamilton second, 
who died six years afterward, devising The Woodlands to 
William Hamilton. 
This William tore down the comfortable house which stood 
on the land and (some time before the American Revolution) 
built an impressive mansion which skilfully blended three 
different orders of architecture; viz: the Doric, the Ionic, and 
the Tuscan. The south portico, supported by six stately 
columns, commands a fine view of the lower reaches of the 
Schuylkill River, and in the early days before the building of the 
numerous factories which now disfigure the river front, the 
outlook must have been particularly pleasing. The grounds 
in 1830 had been reduced to about ten acres, and at that date 
were noted for a great variety of indigenous and exotic trees 
and plants. A winding walk leads through the shrubberies and 
copses. Nanganesy (or Mill) Creek was then shaded by fine 
forest trees and its banks were relieved by out-cropping masses 
of picturesque rock. Above the stream, near the old stable 
still remaining, stood the greenhouses, which measured one 
hundred and forty feet and contained about ten thousand plants. 
Griswold speaks of The Woodlands as “a very charming 
spot,” and says: “Mr. William Hamilton, who built the house 
and decorated the grounds, was a man of great taste in such 
matters, and embellished his beautiful mansion with such 
paintings and works of art as were obtainable in those days. 
His table was the frequent resort of artists and bon vivants. 
On graduating in 1762 at the Academy of Philadelphia (now 
the University of Pennsylvania) he gave a fete to his college 
friends, among whom were young men afterward celebrated, as 
Judge Yeates, Judge Peters, Mr. Dickinson Sergeant, the 
Reverend Doctor Andrews, Bishop White and others. The 
present mansion was not erected, so for their entertainment, he 
built a temporary building decorated with elegance and artistic 
effect, so that it claimed the admiration of all the invited guests.” 
His taste in matters pertaining to gardening and horticulture 
were well known through the colonies and, later, the United 
States. His interest in such matters is revealed in letters 
written to his private secretary.* To quote in part from a 
letter dated St. James Street, London, Sept., 30th, 1785: 
“ Having observed with attention the nature, variety 
‘Benjamin Hayes Smith, 1785-1806, grandfather of Benj. H. Smith, the 
author of a brochure, "Some Letters from William Hamilton of The Woodlands 
to his Private Secretary.’’ Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 
Jan., Apr., and July, 1905. 
The figures in the 
map indicate the 
locations of the 
gardens and their 
sequence in the 
series 
and extent of the plantations of shrubs, trees, & fruits and con- 
sequently admired them, 1 shall (if God grants me a safe 
return to my own country), endeavour to make it smile in the 
same useful & beautiful manner. To take time by the fore- 
lock, every preparation should immediately be made by Mr. 
Thomson who is on the spot, and I have no doubt you will assist 
him to the utmost of your power. The first thing to be 
set about is a good nursery for trees, shrubs, flowers, fruits, &c. 
of every kind. I do desire therefore that seeds in large quanti- 
ties may be directly sown of the white flowering Locust, the 
sweet or aromatic Birch, the Chestnut Oak, Horsechestnuts, 
Chincapins, Judas trees, Dogwoods, Hallesia, Kalmias, 
Rhododendron, Magnolias, winterberries, arrow wood, Broom, 
annonas, shrub St. Johnswort &c. ; of crabs, quinces, plums & 
a quantity thin shell’d almonds, & such others as may occur to 
you for Beauty or use. I desire also that a large quantity may 
be collected & put into a nursery of handsome small plants 
of Elm, Lime, Locust, sweet Birch, white pine, ash leaved 
maple, sugar maple, aspen poplar, Zantoxylon or tooth ache 
tree, magnolia, arrow wood, nine Bark, cephalanthus or dwarf 
Buttonwood, Azalea, Kalmia, Rhododendron, Hallesia, Judas 
tree, Dogwood, Broom, winterberry, clethra, mezerion, morel- 
loes, black Hearts, crabs, quinces (for stocks), raspberries, 
currants white & red, & as many as possible of Jasmine & 
Honeysuckles (Jasmines may be had in plenty at Mr. Ross’s 
place & at Woodford & Honeysuckles may be had in great 
quantities at Mrs. Lawrence’s near Frankford & of Dr. Joseph 
Redman). Too many of these cannot be propagated. 1 
would likewise have cuttings put into the ground of ye striped 
althea, Lombardy poplar (if alive) all the kinds of Grapes that 
have throve of those I sent, chickasaw plum, winter Haws, 
Jasmines, Honeysuckles, of that kind of Dogwood that grows 
in the Border on the south side of the kitchen garden on the 
other side of the valley (which was propagated by cuttings from 
the only tree which 1 ever came across & grows on the point 
just within the creeks mouth at high water mark & may be 
easily discovered when in Bloom by its corymbous flowers), 
of paradise apples, red & white currants (particularly the latter) 
the common raspberry & the twice bearing if it succeeded. 
Nor should a plantation be neglected of the different hardy 
perennial plants such as Yucca cornflag (Gladiolus) lilie, white 
narcissus (double & single) pinks, double sweet william, Lycni- 
dea [Manulea tomentosa of South Africa], french Honeysuckle, 
Foxglove, Lily of the Valley (from Bush LI ill), Paeonies, Colum- 
bines, Hollyhocks, polyanthos, Jonquils (from Bush Hill) 
Hyacynths etc. I before expressed a desire to have the Double 
oleander & double myrtle encreased as much as possible by 
cuttings & I would have you in the spring when the azaleas are 
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