The Other Side of the Revolution: Inside the 1759 Vought House

New Jersey is the “Crossroads of the American Revolution.” Our state is dotted with sites honoring George Washington, General Knox, and the Continental Army. But history is rarely one-sided.

Hidden on a knoll in Clinton Township, just minutes off Route 78, stands a stone house that tells the story of the Revolution from the perspective of the losers: the Loyalists.

The 1759 Vought House fought its own modern battle for survival, narrowly escaping the wrecking ball. Today, it stands as a rare educational center dedicated to the families who remained loyal to the King—and paid the ultimate price for it.

The Master of the House

The home was built by Christoffel Vought, a second-generation German immigrant. Born in 1714 to Palatine parents, Christoffel was a pillar of his community. He was an elder in the German Lutheran church, a Hunterdon County Road Commissioner, and a wealthy landowner with holdings in New Jersey and New York.

In 1759, he purchased 285 acres in what is now Clinton Township and constructed this sturdy stone homestead.

The house is a classic example of Palatine German architecture. It is a “bank house,” built into the side of a hill so that the lower-level kitchen—featuring a massive cooking hearth—opens directly to the outdoors.

The Conflict

Christoffel and his son, John, were close friends with their neighbor, militia captain Thomas Jones. But war ruins friendships.

When the local militia refused to mobilize for the defense of New York in 1776, John Vought was blamed. On June 24, 1776, John retaliated by leading a mob of two dozen club-wielding Loyalists to attack Captain Jones’ tavern.

The consequences were swift. Christoffel and John were arrested and thrown in the county jail. Although John attempted a daring escape through a window in his nightshirt, he was recaptured.

Eventually, the father and son joined the British forces, leading a unit of roughly 60 Loyalists to fight with the New Jersey Volunteers. But their gamble failed. Christoffel was captured at the Battle of Two Bridges (in present-day Branchburg), and the Vought family was forced into exile in Nova Scotia.

In 1778, the victorious Patriot government confiscated the Vought house, land, and possessions and sold them at auction.

The Serpent in the Ceiling

While the history is fascinating, the architecture inside is nationally significant. The Vought House is believed to be the only home in the United States with four surviving wattle-and-daub decorative plaster ceilings.

Wattle and daub is an ancient building method using a lattice of wood strips (wattle) covered with wet soil, clay, and straw (daub).

The most famous feature is the hallway ceiling, which features a serpentine design with a snake’s head near the front entrance. It is a minor miracle that this fragile, 260-year-old plasterwork has survived centuries of renovations, neglect, and vibrations from the nearby highway.

Saved for $17.76

In 2005, the house faced a new threat. The Clinton Township Board of Education purchased the property to build a new middle school. The original plan was to demolish the Vought House to make way for a driveway.

Local historians and preservationists rallied. They argued that destroying a site with such a unique Loyalist perspective—and those rare ceilings—would be a tragedy. The State Historic Preservation Office intervened, and after six years of tense negotiations, the school board agreed to transfer the house to a non-profit.

In March 2012, the non-profit 1759 Vought House Inc. purchased the home for the symbolic price of $17.76.

Current Status: A Work in Progress

Restoring a centuries-old stone farmhouse is a marathon, not a sprint. While early hopes were to have the museum fully operational within a decade, the work continues today in 2026.

The non-profit has successfully stabilized the structure, removed modern stucco to reveal the original stone, and replaced the roof. Recent grants have funded archaeological digs in the kitchen and detailed architectural studies.

Unlike the finished museums at Morristown or Trenton, the Vought House is often in a state of “active restoration.” It is not open for daily tours. However, the organization hosts regular Open House events, “falling for history” festivals, and lectures where the public can don hard hats and see the progress firsthand.

How to Visit

Because the house is located on the grounds of the Clinton Township Middle School, access is restricted during school hours and the site is gated.

• Tours: Available only during scheduled events or by special appointment.
• Events: Check their website or Facebook page for upcoming “Open House” dates, usually held in the Spring and Fall.

For More Information:

• 1759 Vought House Inc. (www.1759voughthouse.org)