The Hermitage

The Hermitage played a role in the Revolutionary War, standing at the center of a region torn between Patriot and Loyalist control. During the conflict, the home was managed by Theodosia Prevost, wife of British officer James Marcus Prevost, who remained away on military duty. Despite her Loyalist ties, Theodosia kept the property safe through diplomacy and resourcefulness as Bergen County became one of the war’s most contested corridors, with raids, skirmishes, and troop movements from both sides passing through the area. In July 1778, she invited General George Washington and his officers to stay at the Hermitage after the Battle of Monmouth; Washington accepted and stayed for four days. The house became a gathering point for notable figures including James Monroe, Alexander Hamilton, Lafayette, William Paterson, and Aaron Burr, who later married Theodosia at the Hermitage in 1782.