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Researchers say Grouden timbers were felled in 1741–42; nearby ruin’s last ring counts to 1718
Summary
Researchers from the Mercer Museum and Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory reported that tree‑ring analysis shows most timbers in the main Grouden structures were felled in winter 1741–42; samples from a nearby ruin have a last ring counted at 1718, with further sampling planned.
Researchers working with the Mercer Museum and the Bensalem Historical Society said timber samples from buildings at Grouden show the main structures were felled in winter 1741–42, while a nearby ruin contains timbers with a last counted ring of 1718.
Clint Flack of the Mercer Museum opened the presentation and described the project’s partners and purpose. "For the last several months, we've worked with Bensalem Township, Bensalem Historical Society, exploring the buildings here at Grouden, trying to come up with the history when they were built, who lived here, etc.," he said.
The study’s lead analyst, Michael Cuba of the Oxford Dendrochronology Laboratory, summarized the sampling and dating results. "A few months ago, Dan Miles from the laboratory and myself came and took just over 30 samples from three of the structures," Cuba said. He said the team took "13 samples out of 10 timbers" from the principal building, with "eight of them dated to the winter of 1741–42" and a couple to the spring of 1742, indicating the bulk of the primary framing was felled in that period.
Cuba said the kitchen structure produced "identical results," with most timbers cut in winter 1741–42 and a summer beam dated to a season later. He described the ruin behind the main buildings as a separate case: "We didn't find bark edge anywhere," he said, noting that without bark edge a precise felling (cutting) date is not possible. "The only thing that we're able to offer currently is the last ring counted," Cuba said; in the ruin that last ring was 1718, which means the ruin "couldn't have been built before that." He added that the team plans to take additional samples when conditions permit.
The presenters framed the findings as important for local preservation. Flack said the Grouden complex is "an extremely important historical set of buildings here in Bucks County," linking the site to the Revolutionary era and noting the value of determining construction dates to guide conservation and interpretation.
Organizers closed the presentation by thanking local collaborators. A meeting participant called the findings "big news" and thanked volunteers and the historical society for helping to get the work done. Further sampling at the ruin is planned when there is no snow on the ground, according to Cuba.
Next steps: additional field sampling at the ruin to seek bark edge and more dated rings; no preservation decisions were recorded in the presentation.
