It’s a little known fact to most people – even most Perth Amboy residents at Harbortown Breeze, Harbortown Terrace, Harbortown Ports, Harbortown Sail, State Fayyette, Harbortown Heights, Florida Grove Arms, Harbortown Ports North East, Convery Gardens & Hidden Village – that the only remaining Royal Governor’s official residence can be found right here…in Perth Amboy! 

Out of all of the original 13 colonies, the only remaining official edifice is Proprietary House built in 1762 to house the British Royal Governor in the colony of New Jersey in the capital city of Perth Amboy back in the day.Combining English Georgian and American Federal architectural styles, Proprietary House has undergone and continues to undergo continual renovation to maintain it’s original construction and style. 

The Royal Governor of New Jersey at the time Proprietary House was completed was William Franklin (c.1730-1813), the illegitimate son of Benjamin Franklin. Father and son sadly did not enjoy a very close relationship as Benjamin Franklin would often visit his son William at Proprietary House in his efforts to convince him to side with the cause of independence. Sadly, his Loyalist son remained faithful to the British crown thereby sealing their lifelong division. Father and son were fated to never reconcile. 

After the Revolutionary war, Proprietary House was abandoned, vandalized, and nearly destroyed by fire. Exposed to the elements, the ruins stood as mute witness to the wrenching personal costs of the American Revolution. Yet, its fortunes would be revived along with those of the new nation. 

Click here to learn more about the full history of Proprietary House — from Franklin’s time to the present — and explore this amazing building’s many incarnations over the past 250 years.

If you would like to visit Proprietary House, click here to reserve a place as the museum offers tours every Sunday at 1pm, 2pm & 3pm and also offers an afternoon tea the last two Sundays of each month. 

Proprietary House also provides an elegant space in which to hold weddings, showers, luncheons and meetings for a maximum of 50 people in it’s beautifully appointed museum space. By clicking here you can learn more and contact the association about your event. 

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