HOMELAND: the House of Benjamin Holme
Holmeland
410 Fort Elfsborg Rd.
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***This house is a private residence.***
***Please respect the privacy and property of the owners.***
The oldest part of this house was built circa 1729. In 1762, the house and surrounding property were purchased by Benjamin Holme. Holme went on to serve in the Revolutionary War as Colonel of the South Jersey Militia.
During the March 1778 occupation of Salem, Benjamin Holme was one of the seventeen Salem citizens who British Colonel Mawhood specifically threatened retribution against if the local militia did not stand down. [9]
The local militia did not stand down, and three days later, a British raiding party led by Colonel Mawhood set fire to this house, as well as to the barns and outbuildings.
Before burning the house, Mawhood had the valuable furnishings removed, including an elaborate 8'4" Wagstaff Clock which was taken to British General William Howe's headquarters in New York City. After the war, Holme reclaimed his clock, which is now exhibited at the Salem County Historical Society. (See next entry)
The insides of the house had been destroyed in the fire, but its walls remained standing, and so Holme rebuilt the inside of the house. In 1784, the tall wing of the house (seen in the right of the photo above) was added by Holme. [10]
