This property at 371 Old Tulpehocken Road has a three century old history. The oldest section of the house dates to about 1725, when George Boone IV built a small stone dwelling, summer kitchen and gristmill to settle lands that eventually would become parts of both Exeter and Amity Townships. George was the eldest brother of Squire Boone, who would father famous American pioneer Daniel Boone, less than a mile south of this location.
George was born in 1690 in Bradninch, Devon, England and emigrated to America as a young man. He was already established here by 1713, as that is when he was recorded as marrying wife Deborah Howell in Abington, PHiladelphia meeting house. After settling here, he became instrumental in founding Exeter Friends Meeting house; which still sits about a quarter mile from his front door. Together the couple would bare 9 recorded children.
Upon George’s death in 1753 this section of his property was willed to oldest living son William Boone, with the provision that his wife Deborah remain there “in the best room”, which indicates there was likely a larger home constructed at some point after they outgrew the original one room cabin. William Boone had been born in 1724, and married Sarah Lincoln, daughter of nearby settler Mordecai Lincoln, who was the very ancestor of President Abraham Lincoln to settle in America. William was prominent in local affairs, being elected to public office as coroner and later sheriff of Berks County. William moved his family to Fairfax Virginia and later Frederick Maryland, where he died in 1770. Widow Sarah moved back to Exeter Township with their remaining seven children.
What happened next wasn’t initially clear. A 2016 “4 Centuries of Berks Historic Property Tour” guidebook article on the home mentioned that the front section of the 371 Old Tulpehocken Road, with a stone date block of 1782, was constructed by George’s grandson “Isaac Boone”. William and Sarah bore no sons named Isaac, but daughter Mary Boone did marry a man named Isaac Lee in 1777. A biography on Boone ancestry mentions that “Sarah (Lincoln) Boone died in 1810 at the home of her son-in-law, Isaac Lee, in Oley Valley.” Isaac’s 1829 will also mentions his property was in Oley Township, so we can rule them out for being the builders of the newer section.
However, there is a deed in the Berks County of Deeds recorded in 1770 of a property in Exeter Township between William Boone and John Lee, who strangely enough was Isaac Lee’s father. Then searching deeds for John Lee led to a 1777 transfer for the property in Exeter Township to a Isaac Boone. Isaac was the son of Joseph Boone, who would have been the younger brother of original owner George Boone IV. Therefor Isaac was a first cousin of pioneer Daniel Boone. Joseph Boone also happens to be my 9th great-grandfather.
Isaac constructed the new section of the home likely on the foundation of another structure originally built by grandfather George IV. He lived there with his wife Sarah until his death in 1792 and hers in 1796. The estate then sold the property to Samuel Lee, the brother of the previously mentioned Nathan Lee who sold it to Isaac. The property’s ties the Boone family ended with that deed transfer, and a variety of folks have lived (and died) there since.
In the mid-1800s a barn was constructed out back, as well as an addition which connected the old stone one-room home to the 1782 newer home. In 2001 a large modern kitchen was constructed onto the back as well, also encompassing the old summer kitchen into the house, in addition to a swimming pool and large garage and additional living space above. The home is currently on the market, and can be yours today for $1.2million.
Full photo album available for members here
