With the semiquincentennial on the horizon, South Jersey’s roots to the Revolution are shining through, including at Saddlehill Winery.
When Saddlehill owner, Bill Green, purchased the farm in 2021, the history behind the land held that General George Washington gifted it to his personal guard, John Stafford. Stafford’s family remained in control of the land at the corner of Evesham Road and White Horse Road for centuries.
However, Washington’s connection to the property was not entirely accurate, as the revolutionary leader never stepped foot on the land, nor had legal claim to gift it. In reality, the land was owned by the family of Timothy Matlack Jr., originally of Haddonfield. Matlack is the scribe known for his impeccable penmanship on none-other than the Declaration of Independence.
The land, known as “The Ridge”, sat 150 feet above the Philadelphia basin in New Jersey, and acted as a safe haven in the event of a British attack. Revolutionary troops used this high ground to monitor the British’s movement between Philadelphia and the coast. Known for the sandy soil, the dry road running through the property allowed scouts to observe enemy movement.
At the Battle of Germantown, George Washington’s guard, Lt. John Stafford, was struck down from gunfire and carried through the night to the safe haven of the Matlack family farm, where Hannah Wilkins, a Matlack by blood, tended to the soldier’s recovery. During this time, the farm acted as a hospital, sanctuary, and secret headquarters for Revolutionary War activities. In 1781, John Stafford married Hannah Wilkins, which is the true story behind Stafford’s claim. The Stafford Farm remained in the Stafford family, until 2004, before being sold to Voorhees Township, the State of New Jersey, and a nonprofit organization.
The history behind the land that Saddlehill Winery sits on is the theme of the newly-produced, AI-generated documentary, ‘The Scribe, The Sword & The Shield’. The fifteen-minute film provides an overview of each of these elements: the scribe (Matlack), the sword (Stafford), and the shield (The Ridge) and how their historic interconnectedness truly makes Saddlehill an agro-tourism destination.
The documentary has a VIP premiere on Wednesday, July 1, and will be accessible to guests every 30 minutes on the Fourth of July between 6 p.m. and 9 p.m.
Saddlehill Winery showcases exclusive bottles for the 250th semiquincentennial, honoring their land, boasting Revolutionary War-era roots.
