Conference House
Franklin, Adams Talked Peace Here
With British Commissioner Howe
Shortly after the fall of New York to the British, the Conference House was the site of
peace talks between General Howe and three prominent representatives of the Continental
Congress - Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Edward Rutledge.
Having beaten the Americans and taken the key city, Howe thought he was entitled to a
peace settlement. He asked for a conference and the prominent Americans, representatives
in Congress of New England, the middle colonies and the South, were brought over on a boat
from Perth Amboy.
The Americans, having declared independence in July, considered separation from England as
non-negotiable.
The conference of Sept. 11, 1776, ended and the war continued for seven years.
The house was built by British naval Captain Christopher Billop in about 1680, and was
owned by his great-grandson of the same name during the revolution.
The house is something of a testament to the difficulty the British had in holding the
many miles of shore in the New York area during the long war. The younger Mr. Billops, a
Tory colonel, was twice captured by parties of Americans raiding across the Arthur Kill
from New Jersey.
After the two episodes, Col. Billop gave up trying to live in what is now the southernmost
point of New York City.
Address:
7455 Hylan Boulevard.
Borough: Staten Island.
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., March through
December.
Phone: 718 984-2086.
Fee: $2 adults, $1 children and seniors.
Transportation: Staten Island Railroad to Tottenville, end of the line.
(From Brooklyn side of the Narrows, take the R Train to Whitehall/South Ferry, the Staten
Island Ferry and the Staten Island Railroad to Tottenville. Walk south along the water to
Conference House Park.)
Area Map: