Liebeknecht, William, Brian Seidel, and Richard Hunter

1996

Phase I Archaeological Survey Investigation, Soulie Gray Farm, Loci A and G (Sites 7K-F-163A and 7K-F-163G), Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, Delaware.

Prepared by Hunter Research, Inc., Trenton, New Jersey. Delaware Department of

DelDOT Archaeological Series No. 152 describes archaeological and historical research at the Soulie Gray Farm, located in Murderkill Hundred, Kent County, south of Barratt's Chapel. In the 1680s this area was part of a 600-acre tract of land, known as "Williams Chance," granted to Thomas Williams. Over the course of the 1600s and 1700s, the property was subdivided a number of times, and passed through a series of owners.

During the archaeological survey, remains of a tenant farmstead (1700 - 1750) were encountered in a portion of the project area designated Locus A. The farmstead probably represents a tenant farm because none of the property owners prior to 1740 were resident on the land. The farmstead included a landing on the Murderkill River which was used for general transportation and the shipping of agricultural products. Shortly after 1810, the Locus A tenant farmstead was abandoned. Artifacts and associated pit features from a prehistoric Woodland I Period, Webb Complex (AD 600 - AD 1000) occupation were also encountered at Locus A.

A prehistoric site was also found in a part of the project area designated Locus G. Artifacts recovered from the surface in this location provided evidence for a prehistoric Woodland I Period, Clyde Farm II occupation (2000 BC - 1200 BC) in Locus G, along the rim of a bluff overlooking the Murderkill River.

The remains from a house built in the 1800s were located in a portion of the project area designated Locus D. Sometime between 1810 and 1859, James Rush Lofland acquired the property and built the house at Locus D. Lofland (1823 - 1894) had a long career in local, state, and federal public service. He and members of his family lived in the Locus D house until 1899. Ownership of the house and associated property changed hands a number of times in the 1900s. The house was finally abandoned and demolished between 1971 and 1982.