The July 2026 updates to the History Project focused on Hopewell Borough in the Revolutionary War, including John Hart and the Old School Baptist Meetinghouse. This was part of the Hopewell Borough celebration of this America 250th year. (See Site Updates for more.)
Hopewell Borough Sites in the Revolutionary War
Hopewell Borough Sites in the Revolutionary War include multiple still-existing local places that connect back to 250 years ago. And yes, George Washington (and his army), indeed was here!
The sites are the Old School Baptist Meetinghouse (1747 / 1822) and its Revolutionary War monuments (1965 / 1876), the Runyon Farmstead / Hopewell Academy (c. 1732), the John Hart House (c. 1750), the Washington Encampment at the Hart & Golden Farmsteads (1778), and the Joseph Stout House / Weart-Hunt House (1752).
John Hart
As discussed above, John Hart is Hopewell’s signer of the declaration of independence. However, Hart was not a well-known figure, and died before the end of the Revolution.
While Hart’s signature obviously is recorded, no known authentic portrait of Hart has ever been discovered. Instead, The Faces of John Hart explains that various “artistic impressions” of him have been created, which have caused confusion when thought to be authentic portraits.
Also see the full History Brief on the Portraits of John Hart, Signer (PDF).
Old School Baptist Meetinghouse
As discussed above, the Old School Baptist Meetinghouse and cemetery has multiple connections to the Revolutionary War. Two new documents provide important historical in the site:
- Old School Baptist Church National Register Nomination Form (PDF) – Documentation for the recent listing on the National Register.
- Old School Baptist Meetinghouse: Cemetery Tour by Ian Burrow (PDF) – Map with identifications and associated descriptions of important monuments and grave in the OSB cemetery.
Please contact us if you have – or know of – other images and materials that we can share to help illuminate the history of our Hopewell Valley.
