 In 1834 Charles Wharton gave the estate to his son William (1790–1856), who resided there in the summer with his wife Deborah Fisher Wharton for two decades raising their family.It was a working farm of , situated in rolling hills, with house, barn, sheds, vegetable gardens, orchards, fields, and farm animals.The manor house overlooked a small valley and brook that flowed into the Schuylkill River.